Narooma Rotary Beacon 28 October 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Taliya Smith receives her Dorothy Hennessy OAM RESCA trophy from President Andrew, joined by Dot Hennessy herself, Ron Browne the Chair of RESCA, and Assistant Governor Adam de Totth

Well what a week! The highlight was obviously the opportunity to give Taliya Smith her Dorothy Hennessy OAM RESCA trophy after so long. It was good to see many of her VRA cohort there supporting her. It was a real honour for me, and it was special that we were able to Zoom in Dot Hennessy herself, Ron Browne the Chair of RESCA, and our good friend Assistant Governor Adam de Totth.

This week is also of great importance as we have the Hat Day for Mental Health dinner. So dig out your ‘mad hatters’ garb, and drag along friends and partners for this very worthy cause. As you know this is a cause to which I actively support during my presidential year. We are all aware of the major mental health issues with the bushfires, Covid lockdowns, and related youth suicide rates. I propose that we have a donation collection for the cause at the meeting and, subject to Board approval, that the Club match what is raised on the night, with proceeds going to Australian Rotary Health which invests heavily in this area.

As we move into November, we have an exciting program. Hopefully Susanna Chung will officially join us bringing her skills and enthusiasm, we recommence the Breakfast Meetings with Jenn Black of Merivale on 18November, and on the 25th we have Dr Michael Holland speaking about the new Moruya Regional Hospital. We cap it all off with the first market for far too long. So a full and exciting month!

Please do not forget our AGM on 9th December and our Christmas Party the following week.

Yesterday, I was involved in a conference of Area 6 Presidents led by our Area Governor Adam De Totth. It was great to catch up with my fellow presidents and realise that we had all ‘done it tough’, but there was a real renewed enthusiasm. We discussed International Women’s Day in March, and also the Environment program trickling down from RI to us via DG Leo. I am currently assessing both of these and shall discuss at the November Board.

So we are back! We have a good program ahead of us, and so it really is “onwards and upwards mes amis”!

THIS WEEK 28 October

Our Club is having  its own ‘Hat Day’ at Narooma Golf Club to mark Australian Rotary Health’s ‘Lift the Lid’ on mental illness. Please bring family and friends to the night and encourage them to wear a hat, the zanier the better.  A prize for the best hat. Please give numbers top John Rungen by Tuesday evening.

All proceeds raised on the night will support Australian Rotary Health’s research into the causes and treatment of mental health, remove the stigma and generate public support and awareness. 

The Week that Was

The highlight was obviously President Andrew finally being able to present Narooma VRA Rescue operator trainee Taliya Smith with her trophy for the Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, one of Rotary NSW’s 2021 Emergency Service Community Awards (RESCA).

Taliya Smith holds the trophy, shown here with her mother Christine Fisk and Narooma VRA President Jacqueline Smith.

We were joined at Narooma Golf Club by her very proud mother Christine Fisk and several VRA well-wishers. What’s more, the technology worked, allowing Dot Hennessy (in Sydney) and Rotary D9705 Area Manager Adam De Totth (in Canberra) and Ron Browne the Chair of RESCA to also join us via Zoom. Taliya thanked everyone involved for the great honour they had given her.

The awards were announced mid-August when Sydney was in lockdown. She was to receive her trophy the following day in Narooma, but by then Narooma, like the rest of NSW, was also in lockdown.

Nineteen-year-old Taliya joined VRA Rescue last year after the Black Summer bushfires when she decided she wanted to help her community and saw a post calling for VRA volunteers. She now works five days a week at Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services and will soon start her Certificate 3 in Community Services. Taliya also works weekends at Narooma Home Timber and Hardware. Taliya will use the scholarship to support her training in indigenous mental health initiatives.

World Polio Day

Sunday 24 October was World Polio Day. Polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. Just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The GPEI’s new strategic plan for 2022–26 aims to interrupt all polio transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan by the end of 2023. However, the outlook for a continued vaccination programme in Afghanistan is uncertain and success also depends on stopping the virus in Pakistan.

Our Club would ‘normally’ hold a film night at the Kinema about this time each year to support the vaccination programme. The programme depends on full funding and political commitment; without that this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support these efforts, matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Out and About

Rotary supports our environment

Our District Governor Leo Farrelly has written to the 85 clubs in our District 9705 informing us of the launch of our Environmental Envoy Outreach program. Each club has been asked to nominate a Club Environment Representative.

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Club last week introduced a ‘Happy Moments’ as an alternative to the Sergeant’s session, just like we did at Ange’s instigation some years ago, where Rotarians pay up to recognise their happiest occasion over the past week. There have been mentions in recent months of us reintroducing this session but so far nothing has happened. Is it still a goer?

NEXT WEEK

There is no meeting next Thursday 4 November.

The following Wednesday (10th) there is a Board meeting. We then have a dinner meeting on Thursday (11th) with guest speaker our very own Julie Hartley on ‘This is My Life’.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 21 October 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

The Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group key members are Narooma Rotary President Andrew Lawson, Mike Young, Julie Hartley, Dr Gundi Muller-Grotjan of Braveheart Healthcare and Narooma Men’s Shed with President Bernie Perrett and Geoff Broadfoot.

Well, what a difference seven days made, actually seeing each other in the flesh last Thursday after so long! I got a real feeling of optimism. It was also good to see the Golf Club like its old self too.

I had a good catch up with Bob Aston concerning the awarding of our 2022 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship. I am really looking forward to the selection process in December.

So, as we play catch up, the marketing of the Prostate Support Group is gathering pace and we are interacting with every medical practice and Men’s Shed from Eden to Batemans Bay.

This week’s meeting is going to be special and I really urge you all to come and bring partners and friends. We will belatedly present the Dorothy Hennessy Emergency Services Youth Scholarship Award trophy to Taliya Smith. Both Taliya and her mother will be our guests and I know tother members of the VRA will join us to cheer her on. If we can get the technology to work, we shall hopefully have Dot Hennessy herself zooming in.

The following week is our deferred Mental Health Hat Dinner to raise money for Mental Health Research. It is always great fun. More about that next week.

Finally, a reminder our AGM is on 9 December. Anyone looking to fill any role should get their application signed by a proposer. More information from John if necessary.

It is so good to be back and being able to push forward with our objectives and ideals for 2021/2022. So definitely, it’s onwards and upwards mes amis!

THIS WEEK

Taliya Smith

A dinner meeting on Thursday night at Narooma Golf Club when we will finally present Taliya Smith of VRA Rescue with her major 2021 Rotary NSW Emergency Service Community Award. Taliya was announced as the winner of the $1,000 Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship during the virtual presentation in August when Sydney was in lockdown. President Andrew was to have presented her with the scholarship award the next day, but by then we were also in lockdown.

So who is Dot? Dorothy Hennessy OAM initiated the Australian Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Wollongong. The awards started 10 years ago in the Illawarra as a pilot, and are now held at a state and national level.  The community-nominated awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of emergency services workers and volunteers. The Scholarship in Dorothy’s name is awarded to an outstanding volunteer aged up to 25 for training and educational materials or equipment.

A reminder there is no market this Sunday. Our markets resume in November.

Out and About

This Sunday is World Polio Day

Rotarians across the world take action on World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world.

When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent. Just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eliminating polio in these countries presents unique challenges including political insecurity, highly mobile populations, difficult terrain and, in some instances, vaccine refusal and misinformation. With sufficient resources, the commitment of national governments and innovations that improve access to remote areas, Rotary is optimistic that polio can be eliminated. Rotary has contributed more than $2.2 billion to ending polio since 1985, including funds raised buy our Club.

It is worth remembering the infrastructure Rotary helped build to end polio is also being used to treat and prevent other diseases (including COVID-19) and create lasting impact in other areas of public health.

Spotted – Merimbula Rotarians at work

Merimbula Rotarians hard at work last week in Merimbula’s Rotary Park

While walking around Merimbula last week with the Dalmeny and Narooma Bushwalkers, Laurelle and crew came across several Merimbula Rotarians spreading topsoil on the lawns in their Rotary Park. They included PP Sue Jellis and current President Andy Thorp. A couple of weeks earlier, they’d spread mulch on the park’s raised flower beds. Their Club polo shirts also had their names.

What was impressive wandering around Pambula and Merimbula was the number of projects in the area that bore the names of the Clubs. 

NEXT WEEK Thursday 28 October

We will hold our Hat Day or ‘Lift the Lid’ on mental health dinner  at Narooma Golf Club on Thursday 28 October, still within Mental Health Month. Please invite family and friends and encourage them to wear a hat.  All proceeds raised on the night will go to Australian Rotary Health’s (ARH) Mental Health Research.

ARH is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. Every year 1 in 5 people experience mental illness and one in three young people have had an episode of mental illness by the time they are 25 years old, and those figures are pre Lockdown.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 14 October 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, I think we can say that, at last, we will have a better week!! As NSW has reached the 70% vaccination rates, we’re starting to see the end of the tunnel, and hopefully an eventual return to normality by December. We had an unscheduled Board Meeting on Wednesday to consider the implications, the Golfie reopening and our Club getting back to business. This was followed by an excellent Zoom meeting on Thursday.

Our first dinner meeting will be this Thursday 14th October. I urge you all to come so that we can see “our smiling faces” again! Going forward we shall be presenting Taliya Smith with her State Emergency Award on the 21st October probably Zooming into Sydney, and we have Dr Michael Holland speaking to us on 25th November.

As agreed last week, Ange presented a beautiful bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates and a nice bottle of wine to Iris Domeier and Frank Eden. Our thoughts are with them both.

We recommence our Business Breakfasts on 18th November with Jenn Black of Merivale as the guest speaker. We shall finally launch the Prostate Cancer Support Group on Tuesday 7th December, and it is hoped our Federal MP Kristy McBain will be there.

We plan to have the Markets back on 28th November featuring the Summer Safety Expo. Chris is currently ascertaining the new ‘Rules and Regs’ for the market from Service NSW.

Special thanks  to Mike Young and Julie Hartley for all they are doing with the Prostate Cancer Support Group, to Susanna Chung and Bob Aston for taking on the website going forward, and to Julie Hartley for volunteering to lead the Duck Race team. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by us all.

So, it will be great to be back. See you all hopefully on Thursday and it really is “onwards and upwards mes amis”!

THIS WEEK

Back to Narooma Golf Club for this Thursday’s dinner meeting. Remember you must be able to show evidence you are double vaccinated before you will be admitted to the Golf Club. Please ensure you let John Rungen know if you are coming or not. It’s 6 for 6.30pm.

The Week that Was

More on ‘Lift the Lid’ Day

Last Sunday (10th) was World Mental Health Day, when Australian Rotary Health (ARH) ‘Lifts the Lid’ on mental illness with ‘Hat Day’ to support research into the causes and treatment, remove the stigma and generate public support and awareness. 

Our Club will have its own Hat Day at Narooma Golf Club on Thursday 28 October, still within Mental Health Month. The Board encourages members to invite family and friends to the night and to wear a hat.  All proceeds raised on the night will go straight into ARH’s Mental Health Research.

Here’s one programme that has benefitted from ARH funding. Innovative research by Professor Eoin Killackey from the University of Melbourne tested an intervention examining work and educational outcomes for young people after an episode of psychosis. Since then, there are now close to 50 workers practicing the intervention in youth mental health settings around Australia.

“There are now many many young people with mental ill health who have been reconnected with their education and employment, who otherwise would not have been,” Professor Killackey said. “I’m thankful to Australian Rotary Health for investing in novel ideas in mental health research, for giving my work that crucial early support.”

ARH is one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. Every year 1 in 5 people experience mental illness and one in three young people have had an episode of mental illness by the time they are 25 years old.

Far South NSW Business Awards

Congratulations to all finalists and winners in this year’s Far South NSW Business Awards announced recently. Awardees from our immediate area were:

  • The Dromedary Hotel at Central Tilba won the Excellence in Small Business Award. Congratulations to Susan Gray and Jeremy Corfield and their team.
  • Keira Marchini of Narooma’s Montague Café was a finalist in the Employer of Choice category. You may remember that Keira nominated Raam Pemberton, one of her employees, for a Pride of Workmanship Award in May. As Narooma Chamber President Dr Jenny Munro put it, Keira not only provides excellent coffee but is also highly regarded by her employees.

From Moruya Rotary

Our District 9705 Environment Team is progressing steadily, and word will soon be spreading to encourage all clubs in our District to support the Environment. This is timely with news last month from RI President-Elect Jennifer Jones pledging US $97m in grant funding for Rotarians’ Environmental and anti-poverty projects next year.

Moruya’s recent zoom meeting with council last Thursday regarding Homeless hygiene was positive. Representatives from St Vinnies, the Salvation Army and Southern Care were also present. Council has researched the extent of the issue and has asked what level of support these groups can offer. Considering that hot showers are available in our neighbouring shires we are hoping that council will fill the gaps when they next meet.

On a Lighter Note on travel

NEXT WEEK Thursday 21 October

A dinner meeting at Narooma Golf Club when we will finally present Taliya Smith with her State Emergency Award.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 7 October 2021

This is a really short Beacon for obvious reasons, but next week’s will be packed full of Narooma Rotary news.

THIS WEEK

The Board met via Zoom last night to discuss ‘opening up’ and our programme for the rest of the Rotary year.

Tonight (Thursday 7 October) we will have Club Assembly at 7.30pm via Zoom. Hope you can join us so we can all discuss our plans for coming months. You will all no doubt have some valuable additional input.

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya has 10 applicants for its Rotary Scholarships, seven from Moruya High School and three from Carroll College. Their interviews happen during October and the two winning applicants notified during November.

Eurobodalla Shire Council has also been in touch with Moruya Club regarding the Homelessness issue and Hygiene facilities. A zoom meeting this week with at least 15 participants from groups such as Anglicare, St Vinnies, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross will discuss possibilities. An Action Plan is on the Council’s agenda, and Moruya Club is looking forward to some positive results.

From Bega Rotary

Rotary Clubs in the Bega Valley Shire are of course already out of lockdown with business returning to near normal. Their meeting this Thursday is back at their normal meeting place the Grand Hotel. Guest Speaker is Sarah Bancroft, a youth officer with NSW Police who recently received the Rotary Inspirational Woman of the Year from Rotary Clubs of NSW.

Coming Up – Hat Night

Our Club will mark Hat Day on Thursday 28 October so please invite partners and friends and encourage them all to wear a hat, the crazier the better!

Hat Day is part of Australian Rotary Health’s Lift the Lid on Mental Illness campaign to raise vital funds for mental health research and create awareness about a topic that is not often talked about.

Although Australia Rotary Health’s annual Hat Day fundraiser is on 10 October (World Mental Health Day),Clubs are encouraged to hold their own Hat Day anytime during October which is Mental Health Month.

NEXT WEEK – Thursday 14 October

Our first Club Dinner for a while at Narooma Golf Club. Whoopee! 6 for 6.30pm.

Hope to see you there.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 30 September 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

I am not going to give a long post because I updated everybody on Friday about our Zoom discussions.

But it is clear that there is light at the end of the tunnel with Gladys’ announcements on Monday.  Next week’s meetings will focus on our steps back to the ‘new normal’.

At the 2019 Duck Race – Charmaine White and Ange Ulrichsen. Can you help for our 2022 Duck Race?

One thing which I did overlook in my email to you all is on Australia Day we have our annual Duck Race which generates about $4,000 for our charity account. In the past Charmaine White brilliantly ran the affair, but she has now moved on. So, I’m looking for someone to put their hand up. What is entailed is arranging the loan of the ducks, get the tickets printed, and be in charge on the day. We shall all be involved in the ticket selling. So come on Team!

As ever, it’s onwards and upwards mes amis!

THIS WEEK

Not even a Zoom meeting!

Out and About

From Batemans Bay Rotary

The Bay Rotary is calling for nominations from local businesses for their Pride of Workmanship Awards, with their presentation dinner at the Soldiers’ Club Thursday 4 November.  Nominations are due three weeks before.

Books for Babies’ Literacy Programme

Moruya Rotary has submitted the ‘Books for Babies’ Literacy programme for Rotary International’s 2021Literacy Awards. All babies born at Moruya Hospital receive their first books from the Rotary Clubs of Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay.

The programme was launched by Moruya Rotary in September 2005 during Steve Young’s year as Moruya president, assisted by Batemans Bay and Narooma clubs. Thanks particularly to Steve’s wife, Jan the programme is still going strong.

When the combined Club project was instigated by Moruya in 2005, Narooma Rotary president Richard Lovatt expressed his and our Club’s delight. “It expands on a similar project we did a few years ago where Narooma Club presented all babies born south of the Tuross River with a new book,” he said. “That was a little discriminatory so Narooma Community Health Centre took over distribution rather than the hospital. We were delighted when Moruya Club came up with the idea of all three Rotary Clubs in the shire sharing in the project so all babies born at the hospital received a book.”

Good luck Moruya!

NEXT WEEK

Board meeting via Zoom Wednesday 6 October at 4.30pm.

Club Meeting Thursday 7 October at 7.30pm. Hope you can join us.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 23 September 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well naturally, it has been a very quiet week. It’s a shame to see Eurobodalla Shire in lockdown still and with Covid in Narooma, while there’s been an easing down here in Bega Valley Shire.The important thing is that with 52% double jabbed and over 80% single jabbed, we can hopefully see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ and can soon revert to our usual meetings and see each other again in the flesh.

As for this week, Mike, Julie and I are Zooming to continue the planning of the Support Group. Don’t forget that we have our Club Zoom on Thursday, at 7.30 as already advised.

At last year’s Lift the Lid fundraiser – local milliner Anne Colquitt of Hat Savvy and Mike Young, with Bob Aston behind

A reminder that the Lift the Lid on Mental Health Day is on 10 October. Last year our special hat night was great fun and it confirmed what we suspected, that Mike was the ‘Mad Hatter’! It is obvious we shall not be able to participate in the same way on 10th October, but with the significant impact that Covid-19 restrictions have had on mental health, I suggest that we have our own fun when we are able to.

So, hang in there, hope for the best, and as ever, onwards and upwards mes amis!

THIS WEEK

A Club Zoom this Thursday to catch up with everyone at the later time of 7.30pm to see how that suits. Andrew has already sent invitations to you. Get back to him if you haven’t received one or since lost it.

The Week that Was

Taliya Smith receives part of her prize

Taliya Smith receives part of her recent prize

You might remember that local lady Taliya Smith of Narooma VRA was announced as the winner of the Rotary Emergency Services Youth Scholarship at the 2021 Rotary NSW Emergency Service Community Award ceremony some weeks ago. The lockdown though has prevented her receiving her awards.

Well, Mike Young caught up with Taliya this week at work at Narooma Home Hardware and presented her with the trophy she won for being a finalist in the Rotary Emergency Services Youth Scholarship.  President Andrew intends presenting her with the Winner’s trophy at our next face-to-face Club meeting, whenever that may be, hopefully with her family members present. Her $1,000 scholarship prize will assist her with further training and/or equipment to assist her community.

Rotary Rural Inspirational Women’s Award

Bega Valley Police Officer Sarah Bancroft of Millingandi was awarded the Rotary Rural Inspirational Women’s Award on Sunday. She was nominated by Pambula Rotary Club. Sarah works with PCYC in the Bega Valley Shire and is committed to helping young people troubled by drug use, mental health and other issues.

Sarah Bancroft

Sarah has been particularly focussed on the indigenous community, going way beyond the call of duty to help those youngsters and their families. Sarah also runs a before-school program two mornings a week where young people are given breakfast, fun and fitness. Sarah has also worked tirelessly to raise money to take two teams to the Rugby League tournament called Nations of Origin.

Hers was one of five Rotary Inspirational Women’s Awards presented by the Rotary Clubs of NSW at a virtual celebration on Sunday. The awards are open to all women across NSW who aren’t Rotarians and acknowledge and celebrate community service performed by women, through their various activities and endeavours, over and above their normal daily role.

Out and About

Pambula Rotary has Trivia night online

Pambula has been trying Club meetings with a difference. Last week they had an online trivia night which proved to be lots of fun,  the only question no one could figure out who won. With the fabulous prize of a lockdown haircut from one of the Rotarians (hairdresser!) on offer, the prize was unclaimed. Everyone appreciated though seeing everyone’s smiling faces .

From Moruya Rotary bulletin

Through Phil Armstrong’s efforts, Moruya Rotary will receive a AUD$30,000 grant from the Rotary International Britain and Ireland Disaster Recovery Trust towards the Moruya Showground kitchen renovation. The kitchen was the evacuation hub during the bushfires. This is a shining example of how Rotary funds cross the world.

The other news is the District 9705 Environment team has been progressing as well. Confidently led by PDG David Brawn and assisted by PDG Michael Milston, has nearly completed the District Environment plan. It will help Rotary clubs understand and implement the new area of focus ‘Protecting the Environment’.

Free webinar Mental Health Day 10 October

Australian Rotary Health will celebrate its 40th birthday and Hat Day on Sunday 10 October by hosting a free online webinar, joined by experts in youth mental health. Everyone is welcome. Special guests include Professor Michael Sawyer OAM, Dr Nicole Hill and Dr Lisa Mundy. Another guest will be announced at a later date. While free, a donation to Australian Rotary Health mental health research would be much appreciated. Make sure if you join in the webinar, you wear a hat to help everyone Lift the Lid on Mental Illness.

NEXT WEEK Thursday 30 September

No meeting at this stage.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 16 September 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Mike Young and Norm Ingersoll draw the 2021 Whalewatching Raffle

Our Board Meeting last Wednesday confirmed what we already suspected. In view of the continuing lockdown, we shall Zoom on the second Thursday of the month at 4.00pm, and at 7.30pm on the fourth. Let’s see how that works out; we’ll be flexible if needs be.

Both the Business Breakfast and Prostate Cancer Support meetings are deferred until we have some certainty going forward… hopefully November (he says with fingers firmly crossed!). The market for September has also obviously been cancelled; we plan to recommence as soon as possible. Finally, the Duck Race on Australia Day will be held as normal. 

On that note, after last week’s Government announcements, it is now clear that normality will only return after the 70%/80% vaccination levels. It is also clear our vaccination status is going to be linked to our NSW QR code readers upon entry to various locations, including the Golf Club. So I urge us all to get fully vaccinated so that we can enjoy our mutual fellowship again as soon as possible. 

It was excellent to see that Mike Young and Norm Ingersoll of Narooma Charters drew the Whale Watch Raffle last Saturday, all suitably distanced and fully masked. It was won by Dorothy Rule of Kianga who was suitably thrilled.  Thanks to all, especially Ange, for the ticket selling efforts which have raised almost $1,700 for our Prostate Cancer Support Group project.

Looking to happier times in the future, please make diary dates for our Christmas Dinner on Thursday 16th December (location to be advised), and on 9th January Lynn and I are hosting an open lunch for you all and your families in Wandella. 

The next Zoom will be on the 23rd at 7.30. So onwards and upwards mes amis!

THIS WEEK

No meeting this week, not even a Zoom meeting! Stay safe and hopefully sane… apparently we’re almost there…

The Week that was

Whale watching Raffle

As Andrew mentioned, our Whale Watching Raffle was drawn on Saturday by Norm Ingersoll of Narooma Charters.  Norm and Nick Ingersoll have been donating this prize since at least 2014, an initiative of PP Ange. The $1,692 we raised will assist the soon to be launched Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group.

When Mike Young rang the winner Dorothy Rule of Kianga, she was absolutely delighted.  Mike said Dorothy has lived here for 20 years and never been out to Montague Island. With little time left of this year’s whalewatching season once we come out of lockdown, Dorothy can transfer the tickets to the 2022 season if she wishes.

Update on Prostate Cancer Support Group

Our launch of the Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group has obviously been delayed because of the Lockdown. The proposed launch is now Tuesday 2 November at the earliest, should the post Lockdown restrictions be sufficiently eased. Otherwise the launch will hopefully occur in December. The intention is for the Group to meet at the Men’s Shed on the first Tuesday in each month at 6.30pm

Our Support Groups Subcommittee consists of Andrew, Julie Hartley and Mike Young, with Gordon Bentley also volunteering to assist when he can. Gordon suggested some visitors over summer may also be interested in coming along. To find out more about the Support Group, please contact Andrew Lawson at narooma.pcsg@gmail.com.

Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship

Our Rotary 2021 and 2020 Scholars Elise Dixon and Rory Spurgeon

Bob Aston reported at the last Board meeting that all this year’s Year 12 students have information and application forms for our Narooma Tertiary Scholarship. With the Lockdown it is obviously difficult to do any follow up but having a really good Year advisor will hopefully help. We wish all Year 12 students the best of luck, clear heads and continued resilience through their studies and exams. Applications are due on 8 November with interviews 11 December.

Busking Competition

With the amount of preparation involved with organising a Narooma Busking Competition and the uncertain times we are in at the moment, the Board decided to not hold the Busking Festival in 2022. We hope to run it again in 2023 with widespread community support. These arrangements have been endorsed by the organiser of the Australian National Busking Championships instigator Alan Spencer of Cooma.

Out and About

Lift the Lid on Mental Health Day 10 October

Presumably showing Professor Michael Sawyer OAM, left, Dr Nicole Hill and Dr Lisa Mundy who will be taking part in the 10 October webinar on youth mental health.

Unfortunately chances are we may still be in lockdown so perhaps we could all wear a hat for our Zoom meeting on Thursday 14 October, the closest day to World Mental Health Day on 10 October. Watch this space!

Australian Rotary Health will celebrate its 40th birthday and Hat Day on Sunday 10 October by hosting a free online webinar, joined by experts in youth mental health. Everyone is welcome. Special guests include Professor Michael Sawyer OAM, Dr Nicole Hill and Dr Lisa Mundy. Another guest will be announced at a later date. While free, a donation to Australian Rotary Health mental health research would be much appreciated. Make sure if you join in the webinar, you wear a hat to help everyone Lift the Lid on Mental Illness.

World Polio Day is on 24 October

When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent. Just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The GPEI’s new strategic plan for 2022–26 aims to interrupt all polio transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan by the end of 2023. However, the outlook for a continued vaccination programme in Afghanistan is uncertain and depends on the Taliban’s position and the country’s security. Success also depends on stopping the virus in Pakistan, as the virus has often jumped back into Afghanistan just as the country was making gains.

The vaccination programme depends on full funding and political commitment; without that this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million. 

On a lighter note

Without freedom of speech we wouldn’t know who the idiots are.

What’s the difference between COVID-19 and Romeo & Juliet? One is a Coronavirus and the other is a Verona crisis. (Courtesy Moruya bulletin)

NEXT WEEK

It’s a Zoom meeting next week, Thursday 23 September, starting at 7.30 pm. The time is a bit of a trial to see how that goes. Feedback welcome

Narooma Rotary Beacon 9 September 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, not surprisingly it’s been a quiet week. I did manage to meet Mike and Julie in Wooli’s car park to hand over the Whalewatching Raffle tickets and monies, suitably masked and socially distanced!

We have an important Board meeting on Wednesday where we shall have to make some tough decisions. But we are where we are and have to accept reality. Restrictions will be eased at 70% / 80% vaccinated, the sooner the better when we can return to some sort of normality. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for November and December!

Still with fingers firmly crossed, and hopefully on a happier note, I would love you all to come to Wandella for an open lunch on Sunday 9 January. Bring spouses or lovers, spouses and lovers, family, children, dogs and importantly, healthy appetites! A few of the upper echelons of the area’s CWA will hopefully join us too.

We have a Zoom on Thursday which I urge you all to join, as we shall be reporting back on our Board meeting.

Keep your chins up, and onward and upwards mes amis!!

THIS WEEK

This Wednesday 4pm:  Board Zoom Meeting 

This Thursday 4pm: Club Zoom meeting. Please note the earlier times.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Our friends at Moruya have been busy during lockdown reorganising  their operations of Moruya Jockey Club kiosk (their main fundraiser), ready for when races and crowds are back post lockdown.

Update on RYLA 2022

The D9705 RYLA Committee is working towards holding RYLA in January 2022, Covid-19 willing, the venue and format still to be determined it but will be Canberra.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) is an impressive programme that aims to empower Australia’s young emerging leaders. It’s a week-long programme where young people can meet life changing people, be enthralled by inspiring stories and develop skills through challenges and activities designed to put their leadership into practice, in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Applicants must be nominated, interviewed, and financially supported by District Rotary Clubs.

Our District still does not have exact costs for the week but every Club who sponsors a RYLA 2022 candidate will receive a $300 discount per candidate.  The RYLA committee wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the District Board for their belief in the value of RYLA and for their invaluable financial assistance.

On a lighter note

Read about an amazing lady in Meadowbank, Auckland who posted jokes or sayings in her local park throughout their lockdown for the enjoyment of her local community, a fresh batch every morning.  Here are a few…

Virtual meetings are basically séances… “There’s somebody who wants to join us… Are you there… We can’t hear you…. Can you hear us?”

What’s the best way to keep milk fresh? Leave it in the cow.

I had a fun childhood. My Dad used to push me down the hill in old tyres. They were Goodyears.

NEXT WEEK Thursday 16 September

Was to have been a breakfast meeting but not even a Zoom meeting!

Stay safe and hopefully sane… apparently we’re almost on the other side…

Narooma Rotary Beacon 2 September 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

It’s been a week where probably our worst fears have been confirmed. So it looks like it will be Zoom meetings for the foreseeable future. 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Andrew-1.jpg
Our noble leader Andrew

We had a good catch up last Thursday for the seven of us who Zoomed. It was good to see our old mate Gordon Bentley who managed to escape the clutches of Dubbo just before the lockdown and who will probably be around Narooma for a while.

So what for the future? We shall obviously formally adopt a draft programme at our upcoming Zoom Board Wednesday week, but we have to be realistic. Our breakfast program has been moved to Spring and it looks like the Prostate Cancer project will follow the same route.

In order that we don’t get totally Zoomed out, I am proposing only two meetings per month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. Let’s see how that works.

But let’s not lose what we have gained so far in 2021. We’re becoming a close knit group which is great, and we need to keep in touch, and care for each other. For those not comfortable with Zoom. let’s call them from time to time to see that they’re travelling well both physically and mentally. 

Keep those chins up, mes amis!!

THIS WEEK

Not even a Zoom meeting this Thursday.

The Week that Was

Our great Cobargo night keeps on giving

Our Club and Cobargo BlazeAid received more good publicity this week in the September issue of The Triangle, much to President Andrew’s delight. It was about our wonderful night at Cobargo Hotel with the Cobargo BlazeAid volunteers, hosted by Narrandera and our own Club.

Andrew also put in a plug for how we would welcome people from the Cobargo, Bermagui and Tilba area who may be interested in becoming Club members. Our story had previously run in local online papers Narooma News (as well as the hard copy) and the Beagle Weekly soon after the dinner.

Moruya on D9705’s Environmental Team

Moruya’s Rotary bulletin had an article this week about our District’s Environmental Team. You will recall that last year Rotary International added the Environment as a new seventh area of focus. In response this year, Rotary Down Under has been running a series of relevant articles under the heading ‘Our Earth Our Home’.

Our District has set up a committee under PDG David Brawn of the Rotary Club of Berry. Its charter is to encourage Rotary clubs in District 9705 to embrace the new area of focus and to initiate environmental projects in their areas. Moruya President Chris Manahan and Derek Anderson are members of the committee which hopes to recruit more members. Maybe it’s time for our Club to explore our Renewable Energy Expos again?

The photos that launched our Radar news

Our  former Exchange student Jui-Da ‘Radar’ Lin from Taiwan

Lynn Hastings recently spotted our  former Exchange student Jui-Da ‘Radar’ Lin from Taiwan on Instagram in a white coat with a stethoscope. So here are the photos! Radar was with us 2015-2016 during Bob Antill’s year as President. Bob and Lynn think Radar is studying medicine, possibly radiography, and would be about half way through his course, so he’s possibly doing an internship.

Out and About

More postponements due to Covid-19

Due to the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, RYPEN 2021 has been postponed. RYPEN Coordinator Darren Wallace said they are investigating possible dates for the camp in the first half of 2022, and will advise all clubs of the new dates ASAP. They plan on running another RYPEN in November 2022.

On a lighter ‘Lockdown’ note…

Now is definitely not the right time to start surrounding yourself with positive people.

Yeah, I have plans tonight. I’ll probably hit the living room around 8 or 9!

Never in my wildest of wild dreams did I ever think I would go up to a bank teller with a mask on and ask for money.

Chinese doctors have confirmed the name of the first person to contract Coronavirus. His name is Ah-Chu.

Is September too early to put up the Christmas tree? I am up to date with everything else.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 8 September, a Board Meeting on Zoom at 4-6pm (please note earlier time).

Thursday 9 September, a Zoom Club meeting 4-5pm (please note earlier time).

Narooma Rotary Beacon 26 August 2021

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, the week was as anticipated what with lockdown which looks like it will be ongoing for some while.

President Andrew

With Zoom skills mastered, it was good to see everyone on Thursday. A special mention to Bob Aston, and Susanna Chung who both joined in after some while or eventually!

I have spoken with our AG Adam de Totth and confirm he won’t join us this Thursday via Zoom. He’s keen to see and speak to us face to face so his visit will be rescheduled for more certain times.

I shall send out Zoom invitations before Thursday; I suspect this will be the norm for some while. Please try to join in, as it is important that we remain connected and care for each other’s wellbeing.

Stay safe and keep fingers firmly crossed. So it’s onwards and upwards mes amis!

This Thursday

A Zoom meeting at 6.30, hosted by President Andrew. You should receive an invitation soon.

The Week that Was

Last week’s Zoom meeting

While President Andrew updated us on the Prostate Support Group last week, Bob Aston had an interesting and relevant Rotary story via Nyngan and Northern Ireland.

When Bob was a member of Nyngan Rotary Club, the Club hosted a student from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, probably 1997 or 1998. Jonathan Coulter stayed with the Astons for a couple of months during his Rotary Exchange year. Bob said initially he wasn’t that keen on staying with the local school principal, but he soon settled in. Jonathan lived with his parents and sister in Killymoon Castle, just outside Cookstown, a smallish town a little over an hour from Belfast.

When Jonathon returned home after his 12 months in Australia, he studied pharmacy at university. He was awarded a PhD in pharmacy from Queens University in Belfast in 2006 and now lectures and carries out research at the University. His broad area of research relates to the use of drugs to treat prostate cancer. Therese and Bob spent a week with Jonathan and his family during their overseas jaunt in 2016.  

Hopefully the Prostate Support Group launch will be able to go ahead at the Men’s Shed on 5th October.

Iris Dormeier and Radar at the 2016 Duck Race

Lynn Hastings also some news about Narooma’s former Exchange student Jui-Da ‘Radar’ Lin from Taichung in Taiwan. Radar was with us 2015-2016 during Bob Antill’s year as President. She spotted Radar on Instagram in a white coat with a stethoscope in a hospital but because the information was in his language she could not glean anything more. Bob says Radar is studying medicine, he thinks possibly radiography, and would be about half way through his course.

It was also great to finally see Susanna Chung. We all look forward to meeting her face-to-face sometime soon.

News from or Tertiary Scholar Cassidy Kerr

Our 2019 Tertiary Scholar Cassidy Kerr is doing a double degree in Law and Psychology at the University of Wollongong. In the last semester she received distinctions and credits. This is her last semester on our Rotary Scholarship. She wrote to Rod Walker, her counsellor:

I am extremely pleased with my results as this has been my highest achieving semester yet! Thanks for your support; I hope all is well during these trying times.

As this was my last payment, I just wanted to thank you again for providing me with this opportunity. This scholarship has supported me during times (like now) where work has been scarce and allowed me to focus entirely on my studies. It has kept me motivated throughout these three years and I cannot thank you enough for choosing me and supporting my ambitions. I look forward to the future and hope that all is well at Rotary.

Then President Rod Walker announces Cassidy Kerr as Narooma’s 2019 Rotary Tertiary Scholar at the Australia Day ceremony.

Out and About

Carers’ Accommodation for new hospital

Narooma and Batemans Bay Rotarians had been invited to Moruya Rotary’s meeting this Tuesday to consider the possibility of the three Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs assisting in providing accommodation for carers and relatives in the grounds of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. That meeting has, of course, been cancelled because of the lockdown.  Speakers would have been Phil Greenwood from Tuggeranong and Lyn Corbin from Pambula on their experiences in building carers’ accommodation in new hospitals. Hopefully this meeting can still go ahead ‘post lockdown’.

More on Bees

Last Saturday (21 August) was World Honey Bee day to celebrate these busy geniuses and their importance. Thinking of how much everyone enjoyed Robin Burbidge’s recent talk, a fascinating column in the ‘Traveller’ section of Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald was all about bees.  While Robin gave us some fascinating insights into their world, here are some other interesting aspects.

Did you know entomologists consider honeybees the smartest of all insects?

  • They’re capable of learning and solving problems
  • They can count up to four
  • They communicate with nest mates and indicate distance to a food source (as Robin explained)
  • They can recognise and distinguish between human faces (part of the reason possibly why bees see Robin as a ‘friend’).

NEXT WEEK

No meeting scheduled.