Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, what a week of mixed fortunes. It started with committee meetings for both Business Breakfasts and for the Prostate Support Group, followed by the monthly Board. It must have been a premonition because we decided to defer our Business Breakfast program until the Spring, hopefully October, due to Covid-19. We also decided to cancel the August market for the same reason.

The Prostate Support Group is progressing well. Julie, Mike and I agreed on marketing house styles etc., and we shall place printing orders once we are able to. We have almost sold all of the raffle tickets to help fund all this! The plan is still to launch at the beginning of October. On Tuesday I met with local celebrity Paul West, and we hope to have a feature interview on his ABC South East radio show mid-September to publicise our Group.

Also on Tuesday, I met with the Presidents of RCs Moruya and Batemans Bay, together with two of the Rotary Race Day coordinators. The Race Day is on Easter Saturday so a date for the diary. Importantly, we discussed Rotary Projects to be put forward for the proceeds of the Race Day. Be assured I was not backward in coming forward with our Support Group!

On Thursday we had an excellent dinner meeting with guest speaker Robin Burbidge on Natural Beekeeping. I, for one, was enthralled with his presentation and his obvious passion for his subject (see later report).

With the cancellation of the Business Breakfast, we decided to have Club Fun Night this Thursday at Lynch’s to savour the Nepalese Curry. Then along came 5pm Saturday! 

On Sunday, I was due to make a presentation to Taliya Smith of our local VRA on behalf of AG Adam De Totth. At the 2021 Rotary NSW Emergency Service Community Awards held on Saturday and streamed online, Taliya was announced as the winner of  the Rotary Emergency Services Youth Scholarship (see story below). Sadly with the lockdown her presentation has been deferred, but I have congratulated her on behalf of our Club and assured her of a special event once restrictions are lifted.

So where from here? We are obviously in lockdown for seven days at least, and our curry night at Lynch’s has been deferred. I have sounded you all out regarding a Zoom meeting, and the response has been entirely positive. So I shall polish up my Zoom skills ahead of time and John will send out his usual invites etc.

These are challenging times for us all, but let’s keep our chins up, and as ever, onwards and upwards mes amis!

The Week that Was

Narooma volunteer wins NSW Rotary award

Narooma local Taliya Smith, aged 19, was the only far south coast recipient among the eight winners of the prestigious 2021 Rotary NSW Emergency Service Community Awards (RESCA) announced on Saturday by Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott. The ceremony was streamed online. The community-nominated awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of emergency services workers and volunteers.

Taliya won the $1,000 Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship for an outstanding volunteer aged up to 25 for training and educational materials or equipment. The Minister described Taliya as “a courageous and dedicated VRA Rescue Operator trainee”.

Taliya was thrilled with the news. She joined VRA Rescue last year after the 2019-20 bushfires when she decided she wanted to help her community and saw a post calling for VRA volunteers.  Taliya will use the scholarship to support her training in indigenous mental health initiatives so she can contribute to her community’s resilience. She also wants to learn about Aboriginal fire management.

Taliya works at Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services and Narooma Home Timber and Hardware. She has previously received a NAIDOC award for leadership and responsibility.

It’s interesting to also note that Rotary NSW has established an additional emergency services scholarship for a PhD candidate to investigate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in emergency services workers and volunteers.

Last week’s meeting

Our guest speaker last week was Robin Burbidge who gave a fascinating talk about natural beekeeping. He started in conventional beekeeping but then “saw the light”, thanks to meeting his now mentor Adrian Iodice at Upper Brogo.

Robin had many of us quite mesmerised with his reverence for bees, praising their role in nature and their gift to the plant world. He explained that natural beekeeping is based on doing as little as possible to the swarm, trusting their intelligence. When some intrusion into the hive is necessary, he approaches the hive almost in a meditative state. We also heard about Kenyan Top Bar Hives which let bees build their own combs.

Laurelle Pacey toasted the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City Central in the Philippines, Zamboanga being the home of the Philippines’ first ever gold medallist, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. (A question in the Good Weekend quiz this week!)

Easter Rotary Race Days

The three Eurobodalla Rotary Presidents – Andrew, Chris Manahan (Moruya) and Nicole McDonald (Batemans Bay) – met last week with Easter Rotary Race Day organisers David Ashford (Batemans Bay) and Mike Dent (Moruya) to propose a project for proceeds from the Easter Rotary Race Day. Andrew proposed the Prostate Cancer Support Group, Batemans Bay would like to help fund a support vehicle for palliative care operating out of Moruya Hospital, while Moruya’s preference was for accommodation for carers and relatives in the grounds of the new Regional Hospital. All worthy projects.

Did you know…?

All metals used in the 5,000 gold, silver and bronze medals in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics were derived from precious metals recovered from 79,000 tonnes of electronic waste from all over Japan, including six million mobile phones. The waste yielded 31.8 kg of gold, 3,493 kg of silver, and 2,200 kg of bronze. Amazing!

Andrew’s Thoughts

As reported last week, a major achievement for our Prostate Cancer Support Group was getting formal approval last Monday from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. As you know, this will be our main project for 2021/22 so we are off and running. Mike, Julie and I met this Tuesday to further plan, and an official opening and commencement at the Men’s Shed by the end of September is eminently doable.

To put our planned Group into context, our area has double the national average of prostate cancer sufferers, yet the nearest Support Groups are currently Yass and Shoalhaven. I am delighted to also announce that the Lighthouse Surgery (Braveheart Healthcare) will be the medical practice officially aligned with our Support Group.

Funding for the Support Group from sales of the Whale Watching raffle, thanks to Narooma Charters,  is going really well. We have raised over $1,100 to date. As ever, Ange is doing the heavy lifting but, to be honest, I think we should all be more actively supporting the cause.

On Thursday evening we hosted, helped by the very generous donation from RC Narrandera, a dinner of appreciation for BlazeAid at Cobargo Hotel (see below). Seven of us joined the dinner, which by any measure was a resounding success and will have generated much goodwill.

This Thursday we have our dinner meeting at the Golf Club and Robin Burbidge will tell us all about Bee Keeping. No doubt his talk will have a ‘sting in the tail’!

I am very conscious that Covid hangs over us like the Sword of Damocles. At this week’s Board Meeting we shall obviously be thinking long and hard as to how we may be affected. But regardless, it’s onward and upward mes amis!

THIS WEEK

Our monthly Board meeting is this Wednesday at the Golf Club at 4pm.

This Thursday is our first August dinner meeting at the Golf Club when we shall hear from Robin Burbidge on natural beekeeping. No ‘Honey’ or ‘Sweet’ jokes please! This is a delayed event so we look forward to finally catching up with Robin. Please let John Rungen know numbers by Tuesday PM.

The Week that Was

All Narooma Rotarians who ventured to Cobargo Pub last Thursday enjoyed the evening with Cobargo BlazeAid volunteers. Cobargo Pub is of course President Andrew and Lynn’s ‘local’. Everyone greatly appreciated the generosity of Narrandera Rotary Club, our ‘twin’ club, which sponsored dinner for the volunteers.

President Andrew told the volunteers, “we’re all so grateful for the job you amazing BlazeAid people are doing. What you’re doing really epitomizes this year’s Rotary theme of ‘Serve to Change Lives’.”

Cobargo BlazeAid coordinator Peter Provost said their volunteers have clocked up 102,000 man hours since early 2020, mainly fencing properties in areas burnt out by the bushfires. They hope to finish in December.

He said the Cobargo BlazeAid camp peaked last year at 100-120 people and 666 volunteers had passed through. At the moment Cobargo has 15 BlazeAid volunteers; six live in the camp and the others are locals who do a few days a week. Some have been involved since day one.

“What we all get from helping in this way is the satisfaction from helping people in their recovery as well as enjoying the camaraderie,” Peter said. “For some property owners, just having their fencing redone somehow seems to kick them into gear and help them move on from the fires.”

Since the start, feeding the volunteers has been a mammoth effort with some food and meals provided by various individuals and community groups, particularly Tilba and Cobargo CWAs, as well as occasional contributions such as Thursday’s dinner by Rotary. Our Club has previously provided a barbecue meal at the BlazeAid camp and paid for two meals from Cobargo Hotel.

You might be interested to know the Australian Bureau of Statistics values 102,000 volunteer hours at $4.26m. That is an absolutely extraordinary volunteer effort!

Out and About

Rotary Race Day

Rotary Race Day Chairman David Ashford has called a meeting with Moruya Jockey Club’s Ken Brown and the presidents of Batemans Bay Moruya and Narooma clubs to bring everyone up to date with the 2021 Covid-19 restricted Rotary Race Day. Proceeds of the Race Day are to go to community projects for the three Clubs. The meeting also will be an opportunity to discuss future Race Day community projects, particularly for 2022.

In the past over $170,000 has been raised for the community, going mainly to the Moruya Hospital Oncology Unit, Surf Clubs, defibrillators, Muddy Puddles and the Yumaro/Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels people mover. Hopefully well before next Easter, with vaccination, full Race meetings can return to the Jockey Club. The Rotary Race Day was moved from the Sunday before Christmas to Easter Saturday.

From Moruya Rotary

Covid-19 restrictions are extracting a heavy toll on Moruya Rotary’s fundraising efforts, as well as on our own. Running the canteen at Moruya Race Course is the Club’s major revenue source, but low numbers of racegoers are resulting in low takings at the canteen.

The Moruya bulletin reports last week’s takings were possibly their lowest ever. After they extract rent and food costs there won’t be much left for the charity account. The frustrating is the task of setting up and running the canteen is basically the same as for any other race day. They’re all hoping the next race on Sunday 15  August will be busier.

NEXT WEEK

Unfortunately the August Business Breakfast has been cancelled because of Covid-19 fears. We hope to resume the breakfasts in the Spring.

Andrew’s Thoughts

Exciting news!  The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has formally approved  our new Support Group. Now the hard work begins! Last week Julie, Mike and I had an excellent meeting with Bernie Perrett and Geoff Broadfoot at The Men’s Shed. Our Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet at the Men’s Shed on the first Tuesday of every month 6.30-8.30PM, hopefully commencing on 7 September.

Apart from that, it was a quiet week, what with five Thursdays. However, Ange continues to trail blaze with her raffle ticket selling!

This week, we shall be hosting, with RC Narrandera, a dinner for BlazeAid at the Cobargo Pub on Thursday at 6.30PM. Please feel free to join us!

Ange and I will continue to plan ticket selling days at the Plaza and hopefully Julie outside the IGA. As the Covid-19 lockdown continues, our August Market looks less likely and so we all need to help to clear the tickets.

So as ever, onward and upward mes amis!

THIS WEEK

About five of our Rotarians will join about 12 BlazeAid volunteers for dinner at Cobargo Hotel. 6 for 6.30pm. Our twin Rotary Club of Narrandera and Narooma Clubs will sponsor the BlazeAid volunteers’ dinners; Narooma Rotarians will pay for their own, about $25 a head.

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians heard from four Anglicare employees last week about homelessness in the local area. Last year there were 383 cases of homelessness involving 7,300 interactions, that is—interactions with police, employment services, Housing NSW and other government bodies. Typical clients would be couch surfing, living in tents or cars or totally without a home. All were treated under the Anglicare maxim of ‘Dignity, Respect and Integrity’. They said that problems are worse now as a result of Covid, working from home, and the chronic shortage and rising costs of rental accommodation.

Anglicare has four ‘transitional’ properties which can provide very temporary cover. Pauline Sullivan, who handles emergency accommodation, spoke of the basic needs of people in the most desperate situations – being unable to keep clean and very conscious of the smell of their poverty.

A ‘shopping list’ was distributed to each table at the Moruya meeting, the ‘Pantry Appeal’ listed ordinary bathroom toiletries. Thanks to Michel Nader’s generosity, the local branch has as a hub a quite large shop in the carpark beside the River restaurant. Initially it was stocked with a truck load of donated goods from Sydney immediately after the bushfires. Moruya Rotarians heard that as individuals, they could help keep the hub stocked by donating goods, particularly perhaps those listed in the Pantry Appeal. Providing showers and laundry facilities was more difficult; Moruya Rotarians were left pondering whether they could help provide either a fixed or mobile unit to wash and dry clothes and people. Courtesy the Moruya bulletin

NEXT WEEK 12 August

Our first August dinner meeting will be on the 12th when we shall hear from Robin Burbidge on Natural Beekeeping. Robin Burbidge is a Natural Beekeeper and joins us to talk about the beauty and wonder of the European Honey Bee. Robin will share his experience of growing and learning through connecting and working with Bees and how we can help support this amazing insect. No ‘Honey’ or ‘Sweet’ jokes please! This was postponed from an earlier date so we look forward to finally catching up with Robin.

Andrew’s Thoughts

Like all good married couples, Lynn and I shared everything last week including a horrible stomach bug, so I was unable to see you all. Thank you Ange for chairing the meeting in my absence.

By all accounts it was a really good meeting with Gero giving a great talk. It was also good to have a Visiting Rotarian, the new President of RC Coolamon (near Wagga Wagga) Albert Suidgeest who has bought a holiday house in Dalmeny and will be a neighbour of Lynn Hastings.

Ange was outside Aldi again on Saturday selling raffle tickets. What a star! Please feel free to help!

We have no meeting this week. However, our core Prostate Support team of  Julie, Mike and I will meet Bernie Perrett from the Men’s Shed  on Tuesday and some detailed planning will follow. I shall meet Dr Gundi Muller from the Lighthouse Surgery on Thursday with a view to that practice being part of the team too. We are looking to formally launch by the end of August.

Next Thursday is the BlazeAid dinner at Cobargo Pub. I have booked and, assuming there are no changes to Covid rules, then we shall certainly go ahead. You may have seen they have just passed 100,000 volunteer hours! So please come along and support these great people.

As ever, our plans will be governed by Covid, but stay positive. Onward and upward mes amis!

THIS WEEK

No meeting (was to have been the now postponed Greek dinner at the Men’s Shed).

The Week that Was

Our meeting last Thursday

It was lovely to have Mike Young back from Broome where he has been spending time with his family. Tourism there is “going gangbusters”, Mike said.

With the start of the Olympics, our International Toast by Julie Hartley was appropriately to the Rotary Club of Tokyo. They normally meet for lunch on a Wednesday at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel but are not meeting at the moment because of Covid-19 concerns and restrictions. They have 339 members (!).

Our guest speaker Gero Mitchell, one of our recently inducted members, filled us in on her life to date, and what a fascinating story she told. Her roots are firmly in Narooma being one of the Mitchell family of sawmillers (hence Mill Bay); her father Ted Mitchell managed the family’s Batemans Bay sawmill. Her childhood and school holidays were largely spent in Narooma. School was in the Bay and then at Loreto Convent in Sydney. She graduated in pharmacy at Sydney Uni and travels followed. She spent a few years in New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands as Clerk of the Court. Then returned to Australia, a stint with Festival Records, being the ABC’s first female Concerts Officer. A few years with WEA Records followed where clients included Cold Chisel, Richard Clapton and Sherbet; that’s where she first did catering. “I learnt a lot about catering from my mother; she was a great cook and I loved to help her in the kitchen and my parents had the most wonderful parties.” Then London and from there to Greece where she stayed for 20 years where her work included organising concerts, functions and catering etc and became fluent in Greek.

Gero moved back to Australia in 2000 and established a small catering company in Sydney with her cousin Chris while also teaching cooking at evening college. But in 2015 she decided she’d had enough of Sydney and moved to Narooma in to be closer to her extended family Chris and her aunt Mina Watt. “It’s lovely being here in Narooma,” she said.

Gero tries to keep up her Greek. She studied Linguistics and Modern Greek externally through UNE and does regular Zoom linkups with friends in Greece.

Our visiting Rotarian Albert from Coolamon said he had only been in the Club less than 12 months when he was nominated President Elect (more common than we thought!). About 20-25 members turn up at meetings each week. A major fundraiser is through the annual Gears and Beers Festival around Wagga Wagga (Coolamon is roughly the half-way mark).

Out and About

From two of our Tertiary Scholars

Rory Spurgeon (2020) achieved amazing results with three High Distinctions. He writes:

University life was becoming much more normal [last semester] and I had chemistry labs and some lectures in person which was great. I was also volunteering doing chemistry ‘peer mentoring’ so I had quite a few contact hours with people in science (outside of Fenner Hall). COVID restrictions were also becoming much more relaxed. However all of this may be changing since the new outbreak so I’m not sure how the next semester will look. 

I am still having an amazing time at uni though and I’m keen to keep learning. I’ve been given permission to do my first research project this semester which I am especially looking forward to. Also I have had to speak to a sub dean to plan my degree (it’s a bit disorganised as I was doing health science first semester last year and a lot of the courses have prerequisites). I will still be doing a full load of three courses this semester.

Elise Dixon (2021) was hoping for better results than her three credits and a pass, but she was not disappointed in view of the times. She is finding it difficult under current circumstances travelling between Narooma and Canberra but is working to improve her results this coming semester. Elise is very thankful for Rotary’s support and looks forward to seeing us all again.

July to be Supporting the Environment Month

The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
It is now Rotary International’s seventh Area of Service with moves afoot to make Julys ‘Rotary Supporting the Environment Month’.
Categories of service activities are supported by global grants. Supporting the Environment joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
Our Secretary John sent an email to members on 24/7 on behalf of the chair of D9705 Supporting the Environment Team. The Rotary Clubs of Sydney are presenting another free webinar in their Climate and Peace series on 10 August with links to the District Support the Environment page and the D9705 home page, for registration.

NEXT WEEK Thursday 5 August:

We’re welcome to join BlazeAid volunteers for dinner at Cobargo Pub 6 for 6.30pm, Covid-19 restrictions permitting.

If you would like to go, please contact President Andrew by Monday evening; he will liaise re numbers with Cobargo Pub. The cost to Narooma Rotarians will be about $25 a head; the RCs of Narrandera and Narooma will be sponsoring the BlazeAid volunteers.

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well it has been a strange and almost conflicting week in some respects. First up, because of the Covid-19 threat, we cancelled our breakfast meeting. This was a very hard decision indeed. It was gratifying that our intended speaker Cath Peachy of Oyster Festival fame agreed that we’d made the “right call”.

• 

At the same time we decided to cancel this month’s market. That was an easier call what with the restrictions on Regional NSW and concerns of possible visits by ‘delinquent Sydneysiders’.

This Thursday we were due to have Dr Michael Holland speak about the new Moruya Hospital. But due to his work schedule he is unable to come, so we shall have a club night dinner. Feature speaker will be our very own Gero Mitchell on ‘This is My Life’. I might also be first up for a three minute talk on experiencing English pop stars!

Among all the bad news was our Board’s great decision to approve the prostate cancer initiative. On Saturday Ange and I sold whale watching raffle tickets at The Plaza. The response from the public was simply wonderful with great expressions of support, voluntary donations, and some heart breaking tales stories.

So very strange times mes amis! Let’s hope we clear this Covid hurdle soon and we can resume our normal schedule.

THIS WEEK

Dinner meeting at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. Our guest speaker is one of our newest members Gero Mitchell. Her talk is ‘This is My Life’.

Coming soon hopefully, will be a similar talk by Julie Hartley who was inducted at the same time as Gero.

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians had their Club Assembly last week.President Chis Manahan listed four areas in which he particularly sought members’ ideas – Membership, Youth, International and Community projects. Chris saw Membership as the most important. Last week’s Moruya bulletin showed a table of ages in the Moruya Club which Chris identified the need to recruit younger members.

At the Assembly last week, they split into groups, each working on one of these four areas; the outcomes presumably will be incorporated into the Club’s plan for the year. A summary is in their bulletin this week.

While Moruya’s Membership plans are similar to our own, it was interesting to have them summarised so well.

Moruya’s Membership Report:

Leaflet and Publicity:  Perhaps Estate Agents should be approached to give a copy of the leaflet produced by Pauline Gleeson to new arrivals.

Retain Members by making meetings attractive: e.g. good speakers, Trivia nights etc.

Bring a Friend:  Encourage Members to bring a friend and ensure follow up.

Corporate Memberships: Approach businesses to sponsor employees to attend meetings.

Friends of Rotary: Some people might like to join us in activities especially those requiring physical efforts (given our aging membership!) or the Kiosk

President Chris also reported attending a meeting at Mollymook to discuss the initiative of Rotary International to make ‘Supporting the Environment’ a priority. Present were PDG and Chair David Brawn, AG Adam de Totth and Ulladulla Rotarian Peter Hodge. Each club in District 9705 has been asked to submit a list of projects that would come under the title of Environment.

NEXT WEEK

We had scheduled to hold the Greek Dinner at the Men’s Shed but that has been postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions.

So our next scheduled meeting is the Blaze Aid dinner at Cobargo on Thursday 5 August. Members are being encouraged to attend, Covid-19 restrictions allowing.

Andrew’s Thoughts

I really enjoyed our Club Dinner last Thursday at the Golfie. It was great to see everyone and feel a real feeling of camaraderie and a buy-in to what we want to do this year. We obviously majored on the proposed Prostate Cancer Support Group. Of equal importance was the keenness to look for ways to have fun!

This Thursday I was looking forward to the Business Breakfast with guest speaker Narooma Rocks and Oyster Festival Chair Cath Peachey but uncertainty wrt Covid-19 spread caused us to cancel. We can look forward to hearing from Cath in the near future about the fascinating data analysis they have done from the recent Festival.

The uncertainty surrounding the spread of Covid and the nature of the markets caused us to also cancel our July markets.

As I have mentioned before, the Rotary Club of Narrandera has kindly donated to ‘a ‘bushfire event’ and with their approval, we have arranged to host a dinner for the BlazeAid team at the Cobargo Pub on 5 August, Covid permitting. I urge as many of you as possible to come along and help salute these local heroes.

Last Friday I met with President of RC Bega Anne Ducray who is also a PDG. There was much bonhomie and we have proposed a joint Club meeting with Bega at Cobargo Pub on 25th November – so a date for the diary!

We have much to do, but I really start to sense a new chapter in the Club’s development. So as ever, upward and onward mes amis!

THIS WEEK

This Thursday’s Business Breakfast with guest speaker Narooma Rocks and Oyster Festival Chair Cath Peachey has been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.

Out and About

Donate books to Bega’s Book Fair

Some Rotary Rotarians are busy sorting books donated for their Book Fair 13-14 August at Bega Showgrounds. If you have any books you would like to donate, please drop them off at Andrew Constance’s office at 122 Carp St Bega, or Elders at 3/248 Carp St Bega. There is a limit of two to three bags of books in good condition (no encyclopaedias, Readers’ Digests or magazines please). COVID-19 guidelines mean they can’t accept books during the Book Fair.

From Merimbula Rotary

Merimbula’s Changeover Dinner in early July had to be postponed because of COVID-19. Merimbula President 2021-2022 Andy Thorp is delighted Noel Trevaskis has nominated for the position of President of our club for the 2022/23 year

NEXT WEEK

A dinner meeting at Narooma Golf Club with guest speaker Dr Michael Holland on Eurobodalla’s new Regional Hospital, Covid permitting. Dr Holland, well known obstetrician and gynaecologist, has long spearheaded the need for a Level 4 Regional Hospital for Eurobodalla. While the site has been decided near Moruya TAFE, the agreed Local Clinical Services Plan which included the new Level 4 hospital seems to have been overridden by a new Coastal Services Plan which demoted the new hospital to level 3 (what Moruya hospital now is). A disappointed Dr Holland says a new community campaign needs to be mounted to restore the Level 4 plan.

On a lighter note

A well-timed pandemic joke can help us make sense of the uncertain and traumatic times we are in. Here are a few you might like…

I never thought the comment “I wouldn’t touch them with a six-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!

For our friends in the Greater Sydney Lock Down area…

I’m not talking to myself; I’m having a parent-teacher conference.

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, my first effort at hosting a Zoom meeting last week was a spectacular flop! Note to self – practice, practice! Our friends at the Rotary Club of Narrandera had a good chuckle, and we shall reconvene in August, after lots of practice.
As many of you know, RC Narrandera wanted to ‘donate a pig’ to help bushfire recovery. Well that went into their too hard basket and they are now making a donation instead. I have agreed with them that these funds will be used to host a dinner for BlazeAid at the Cobargo pub, and I encourage us all to join with them and recognise their amazing efforts (COVID-19 restrictions allowing…).

Ange and I are already out and about selling the Whale Watch raffle tickets; we plan to sell outside Woolis and Aldi on 17 July. All proceeds will go to our Prostate Support Group initiative, more about that later.

This week’s dinner meeting is very important when I would like to lay out suggested plans for our Club for 2021/2022; input from everyone will be much appreciated. Hopefully there will be a good attendance. These plans will then need to be endorsed by the Board at the 14 Jul meeting. At this week’s meeting we will hopefully meet Sussana Chung who is highly experience in Rotary and be possibly a new member.

THIS WEEK

This week’s dinner meeting at Narooma Golf Club (6 for 6.30) will discuss the Club’s proposed plans for 2021/2022. The outcome of this week’s meeting will be endorsed by the Board meeting next week.

Out and About

Recognition of Service through Rotary

The District Governors’ changeover dinner at Young on Saturday 26 June recognised many Rotarians from across the District. COVID-19 had a play in proceedings as the wearing of masks became mandatory from 6pm, just as the evening was kicking off. This didn’t deter those attending and it was a great night for everyone. Presentations made by outgoing District Governor Michael Moore included the following:

• District 9705 Rotarian of the Year – PDG Steve Hill of Hall RC
• For  Outstanding Service through Rotary
  • Fred Fawke – Belconnen RC: As many of us know, our old friend Fred is an inspiring Rotarian who devotes his life to Rotary and the people of the ACT and NSW. He is the driving force behind the District’s Recover, Rehabilitate and Reuse project which spans many Clubs. It rescues equipment not needed by its owners and provides it to people and organisations that need such equipment, both in Australia and overseas e.g. medical equipment, school uniforms, roofing materials. 
  • Two members of Pambula RC – Daryl Dobson and Mick Brosnan who have been at the forefront of bushfire recovery on the far south coast.  Among his extensive service to Rotary, Darryl led Pambula’s water & sanitation project for properties directly impacted by the bushfires overseeing the purchase, delivery and installation of 60 water tanks and 20 septic tanks as well as delivering food for people impacted by the fires and leading working bees on properties. Mick has worked tirelessly since the bushfires hit the local area. As an honorary member of Pambula Rotary and through his association with the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast, Mick has sourced and delivered 69 caravans to people impacted by the fires as well as homeless for other reasons, and then assisting to connect to services.
• PP Joan Graham (2^nd PHF – Sapphire) – Narrandera RC. Joan was awarded a Sapphire Pin recognising her service not only as an Area Governor but for being such a committed community member and outstanding Rotarian.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 15 July 7, 2021

A Business Breakfast at Narooma Surf Club (7am on the dot) Cost is $10. All members welcome. Covid-19 entry requirements.

Guest speaker will be Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey who will report on some fascinating figures from the data analysis to date from the recent Oyster Festival.

The following week, Thursday 22 July

Dinner meeting Narooma Golf Club. Guest speaker will be Dr Michael Holland who will talk about the new Moruya Hospital. He is frustrated the original proposal for it to be a Level 4 Hospital has been overridden by a new Coastal Services Plan which demoted the new hospital to Level 3, which is what Moruya hospital now is. He is now pushing to have the Level 4 Plan restored. Partners and friends welcome. Hopefully the current Covid restrictions in regions will be eased by then.

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, what an extraordinary week! Our changeover took place last Thursday and we were honoured to have such distinguished guests. It was a special moment for me to present Ange with her flowers and wine from us all at the club. She has been amazing during 2020/21 through such traumatic times; her effervescence and leadership have inspired us all. 

As I said last Thursday, I am humbled at becoming your President and also to be the Narooma Rotarian of the Year. I am very aware of the responsibility that goes with the office and I am conscious that we have much to do. Yet at the same time, I start to see new initiatives, new faces, and chins off chests.

This Thursday will be a club Zoom (usual time, log in info already sent) and hopefully we can ‘Zoom to Broome’ to see Mike. The 8th July will be our first dinner meeting, and I urge you to all attend if at all possible as these kicks off the year. I propose updating everyone on our vision for the year, the planned projects, and how we can all participate and importantly have fun. Please ‘ink into the calendar’.

So as I frequently say, “onward and upward mes amis”! Cheers Andrew

THIS WEEK

Zoom meeting this Thursday 6.30pm when we join Mike Young in Broome.

The Week that was

Our Changeover

Our Changeover at the Golf Club last Thursday was quite uplifting and fortunately its timing just beat the changed COVID-19 restrictions. Again David McInnes did a great job as our MC. Guests included DG representative PDG Phil Armstrong, our Area Governor Adam de Totth, Moruya President Chris Manahan and his wife Jude, Cr Lindsay Brown and wife Lynn, Cr Phil Constable and Mandy, presidents of other local service clubs, and various members of Rural Fire Service and other emergency services.

Our retiring President Ange Ulrichsen said the 2020/2021 year began with great uncertainty as communities grappled with the challenges of navigating through COVID-19 restrictions and trying to return to some semblance of normality while still keeping everyone safe.

Many regular Rotary programmes had to be cancelled, but Ange said the Club was “thrilled to regain some ‘near normality’ with the resumption of monthly markets in September after a seven month’s absence”, holding the Duck Race and the traditional Youth night in January.  We still managed to donate over $25,000 in the year to local and international causes.

She credited members’ “will and enthusiasm”, several fun functions some with other Rotary clubs, the instigation of monthly Rotary Business Breakfasts and the drive of incoming President Andrew Lawson  for contributing to the Club’s success despite the challenges. In recognition of his contributions during his short time in the Club, Ange awarded Andrew Lawson the Club’s Rotarian of the Year.

New President Andrew said he was humbled by being a member of Rotary International and by the honours given to him. He is optimistic about the year ahead which he said would be one of focus, fun, communication and community, so enhancing Rotary International’s theme for the year – ‘Serve to Change Lives’.

He said a major project in his year would be the Narooma Rotary Prostate Cancer Support Group for individuals and families, drawing on the experience of the Rotary Club of Young.

PDG Phil Armstrong in his response to Andrew’s Toast to Rotary International said Narooma Rotary was “a great club that does some amazing things”. He also outlined some of the impressive projects clubs in our Rotary District 9705 still managed to do despite the year’s difficulties.

Sunday’s Market

There was a flurry of phonecalls and emails late Saturday afternoon after the NSW Government brought in tighter COVID restrictions; should we hold the markets, and if so, should we have the Rotary food van. The fact we were not in lockdown meant we implemented our COVID-19 Plan for the markets, operating only two entrances. The new rules were explained to people as they entered, people asked not to enter if they had been in the locked down areas in the past week, masks encouraged, registration essential, and hand sanitising requested. Social distancing was emphasised which also meant we did not operate the food van.

Everyone seemed pleased the market did go ahead and it was such a stunning day.

Moruya Changeover

Moruya Rotary’s Changeover on the Tuesday before ours was also a wonderful occasion. Special awards were presented to Honorary Rotarian Heather Chesher and Past District Governor Phil Armstrong, then PHF awards to three of Moruya’s valued members – Pauline Gleeson, Steve Young and John Spencer. Phil’s handsome “Excellence Award for Exceptional Service” certificate was for his chairmanship of the District Bushfire Recovery Committee (set up to financially support clubs in the recovery from fire devastation). The night was well supported by several members from Batemans Bay Rotary, Cr Rob Pollock and our Area Governor Adam de Totth.

Moruya has a huge board of 19 members; their photo almost needed a wide angle lens!

OUT AND ABOUT

Resurrecting Cobargo Cemetery

A joint project by the Rotary Club of Merimbula, Friends of Cobargo Cemetery and Bega Valley Shire Council has been completed at Cobargo Cemetery which was impacted by the bushfires. The work included the construction of a new pavilion to provide shelter from rain or heat for loved ones and volunteers, an upgrade to the internal gravel road, replacement of a storage container lost in the fires, repair of a bench seat and fencing damaged in the fires, the installation of a new water tank, and construction of a new reflective rock garden. The Merimbula Club also presented the Friends of Cobargo Cemetery with a new ride-on lawn mower and whipper snipper to replace the maintenance equipment lost in the fires.

Bega Valley Shire Council’s Cemeteries and Halls Officer Katrina Berenguer said Merimbula Rotary had done a fantastic job assisting with the project management as well as the upgrading of internal roads at Bermagui and Pambula cemeteries. Funding for the Cobargo project came from the Friends of Cobargo Cemetery ($10,000), the Rotary Club of Merimbula ($7,000), and the Australian Government under the Drought Communities Programme – Extension ($23,740).

NEXT WEEK

Board meeting on Wednesday 7 July 5pm at Lynn Hasting’s home.

Dinner meeting on Thursday 8 July 6 for 6.30pm.

This Week

This Thursday

Our 63^rd Changeover is Thursday night (24th) when we thank President Ange for her efforts over the past Rotary year and welcome incoming President Andrew Lawson. It will be in the Seahorse Room at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. David McInnes will be our MC. Bookings have been necessary $44 per person.

The special Changeover Bulletin will be emailed to those on our bulletin list after the Changeover.

This Sunday

Ange’s Chat

Our joint Board meeting scheduled for last Thursday had to be postponed much to Andrew’s regret. He had just returned from a flying visit to Queensland to connect with family, but as a key investor he had to prioritise UK business negotiations via Skype.  This important end of year Board meeting has now been rescheduled to this Thursday at 5pm at Lynn Hastings home (details emailed to Board members).

Nevertheless, six intrepid ladies braved the elements last Thursday and enjoyed a great chat over dinner in the 1^st Hole – Laurelle, Julie, Gero, Robyn, Lynn and I. We talked about many things including the Vocational visit to the Men’s Shed on Thursday 29 July. The men are really keen to take us on a tour of their premises followed by a fab Greek dinner courtesy of culinary expert Gero. She and I sussed out facilities at the Men’s Shed last week and we’re looking at a max of 30 people dining with their Board and our Club members. It promises to be a great night of fun, food, wine and music. This was my intention to bring wonderful services in our community together to share some joie de vie.

Dr Michael Holland, well known obstetrician and gynaecologist, has long spear headed the need for a Level 4 Regional Hospital for Eurobodalla. A site has now been agreed near TAFE Moruya. He has accepted my invitation to be our guest speaker on Thursday 22 July which promises to be a big night for our community. Rotary Eurobodalla is already on board for this important long term project, much to his appreciation.

As the end of this Rotary year rapidly approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to thank these wonderful Rotarians with whom we have shared so many good times – Frank Eden, Peter Bull, Rolf Gimmel, Charmaine White and Lynda Ord are all moving on. We wish you all the very best and thank you for being such vital and integral members of our Club. You all will be sorely missed.

THIS THURSDAY

Regrettably, due to unforeseen circumstances, our Breakfast meeting for this Thursday has had to be postponed. We hope to hear from our scheduled guest speaker later in the year. Zarina Fitzgerald from Apprenticeship Support Australia for the Far South Coast & Snowy Region was going to talk about government assistance for businesses employing apprentices and trainees. Our next breakfast meeting is scheduled for Thursday 15 July.

The Week that Was

From our meeting last Thursday

Robyn Miller referred to a fascinating article in the May issue of Rotary Down Under for her Rotary Toast last week. It was about Rotary’s association with the late Fred Hollows and the Fred Hollows Foundation.

In 1993 Fred was informed he would receive Rotary’s Highest Honour, the Rotary Award for World Understanding. Late that year, at the Rotary International World Conference in Melbourne his wife Gabby received the award posthumously for Fred plus US$100,000 from Rotary that helped launch The Fred Hollows Foundation.

In 2020, the Rotary Club of Melbourne started the End Trachoma Initiative, carrying on Fred’s work, encouraging Rotary Clubs in Australia to help end trachoma in our indigenous communities.

Then, in what approximated the old ‘three-minute talk’, Laurelle Pacey read out an article from her archives about financial assistance our Club gave in 1968 for surgery on the webbed hands of a 6-year old Aboriginal boy from Nerrigundah. At the time there were a number of Aboriginal families working at the Nerrigundah sawmill and picking beans on nearby farms. Apparently around that time Narooma Rotary also sponsored other medical treatment for Aboriginal families at Nerrigundah.

Out and About

Bega Rotary supports End Trachoma 

Bega Rotary is one of many Rotary clubs around Australia taking part in the End Trachoma Now project. Bega Rotarians recently put together 40 kits to help end trachoma, an eye infection that can lead to blindness. The kits are destined for young indigenous communities through schools around Alice Springs. Australia is the only developed country in the world with this disease. 

The kits comprise products such as soap and holder, towels, toothpaste and holder, shampoo, combs and a few extras to encourage young school goers to improve hygiene and reduce the incidence of trachoma. Four members of Bega Rotary – Dorothea, Maz, Suzanne and Chris – have been busy sewing and gathering supplies. Business people in Bega have been generous in donating various products for the bags, while Dr MacKinnon’s donation funded postage and helped in other ways towards the project.

Merimbula Rotary buys fire unit

In July 2020, the Rotary Club of Merimbula received an unexpectedly generous donation from the community of Lae in Papua New Guinea to put towards bushfire recovery efforts in the region.  Some of these funds were used to purchase two dual-axle galvanised box trailers. This Merimbula Rotary officially handed over a new purpose-built Trailer mounted Fire Fighting Unit to Merimbula RFS. This versatile Unit will be used for many important community-based activities, such as pile burns and asset protection. (From Merimbula Rotary webpage, from article & group photo courtesy of Merimbula RFS)

Merimbula Rotary has also supported the End Trachoma Now Project.

NEXT WEEK

Our 63^rd Changeover, when we thank President Ange and welcome incoming President Andrew Lawson, will be in the Seahorse Room at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. David McInnes will be our MC.