Narooma Rotary Beacon 3 February 2022

Andrew’s Thoughts

Our 2022 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholar Raichel Brodie with President Andrew.

As anticipated, it was a very full and highly successful week. 

After last Sunday’s very successful market, Wednesday’s Duck Race was soon upon us and what a great event it was. It really resonates with the local community and I had heaven knows how many calls asking for tickets or had they won. Even one yesterday morning! Anyway, a big thanks to Julie for leading the great team of Mike and Ange. Because of the late rush of excitement and desire to participate, perhaps we should hold some books back for nearer the event, and also consider increasing the ticket price. The Board will consider these issues, but we have ample time to plan! (More on the Duck Race below)

Thursday was our Youth Night and it was my first. It was a wonderful occasion and great to see our former Tertiary Scholar Carl McEvoy (2015) and our current Scholars Rory Spurgeon (2020) and Elise Dixon (2021) with their current or former mentors, Ange, Bob, and Lynn. A special thanks to Carl for bringing a bottle of crafted gin to raffle!

Of course, the main event was the announcement of our scholarship for 2022 which was awarded to Raichel Brodie who will study Psychology at ANU, and possibly transferring to law in due course. Raichel is a charming and worthy winner.

To top things off, Bob, Rod and I met with a new benefactor on Friday morning. This person, who wishes to remain anonymous, is generously providing an additional $3,000 to our successful scholar with immediate effect. To put it mildly, Raichel was ecstatic!

The long Rotary week ended in Wandella yesterday in perhaps not the most ideal weather! It was great to have seven Rotarians and partners and friends and a few regional officers from the CWA. Susanna’s delightful children even managed to feed the horses with carrots!

So to this week. Tomorrow sees the next Prostate Cancer Support Group meeting – some may have heard Julie on 2EC last week. We’re welcoming Jamie Boulding, a specialist Men’s Health physio down from Canberra.

Otherwise, it is a quiet week with no Club meeting.

Next Thursday will be a Club Night dinner and I urge you all to come as it will be an opportunity to discuss some pressing issues facing the Club and also to think about future plans. Finally, Paul West has confirmed he is coming to the Business Breakfast on the 17th; hopefully he will pull in a large crowd.

As ever, it is upwards and onwards mes amis!

THIS WEEK

On Tuesday, the Prostate Cancer Support Group meets

On Thursday, take a well-earned break. No meeting .

The Week that Was

We celebrate our Tertiary Scholars

Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholars Raichel Brodie (2022), front left, Elise Dixon (2021), Rory Spurgeon (2020) and former Scholar Carl McEvoy (2015); President Andrew, back left, Elise’s counsellor Lynn , Rory’s counsellor Bob and Carl’s former counsellor Ange.

Last Thursday was an inspiring evening to celebrate our Tertiary Scholars at our first meeting back at the Golf Club. President Andrew also announced Raichel Brodie as the recipient of this year’s Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship. Raichel thanked her friends, family and teachers (many of whom were at the event) for all their support particularly over the last couple of years, as well as Rotary.

Other speakers included current Scholars winners Elise Dixon (2021) and Rory Spurgeon (2020), and past Scholarship winner Carl McEvoy (2015). Elise is doing a Bachelor of Medical Science through the ANU and Rory a Bachelor of Science Honours degree at ANU. After several years in television production, Carl McEvoy is currently working in communications and media for a Sydney gin distillery.

We award a $9,000 three-year scholarship to a student from Narooma High each year, thanks to a bequest by Alexander Birch. Raichel is the 32nd student Narooma Rotary has helped pursue their studies and achieve their dreams. That assistance now totals over $270,000.

Ducks stay the course in the great Race

Many enthusiastic onlookers helped launch 1,000 ducks from Narooma Bridge for the great Rotary Australia Day Duck Race.

On the bridge was Race starter David McInnes, Duck Supremo Ange and President Andrew.

One of our Race organisers Mike Young was delighted that this year, with the timing being towards the end of the outgoing tide and with no wind the ducks stayed on course resulting in a more orderly race. Training obviously paid off for the winning duck which stayed focussed and held the centre of the course, gradually outpacing competitors.

Rachel McInness retrieved the winning duck…

The ticket for the winning duck 857 was held by Race Coordinator Julie Hartley winning $1,000; she promptly donated it to Rotary’s Tonga Disaster Appeal.

The last duck 267 was held by Clare Giffen, also of Narooma, who won $100.

Via our media release, Andrew thanked everyone who made the Duck Race such a fun event this year – the supporters who bought tickets, the hundreds of spectators, duck droppers and our amazing duck collectors who came in a flotilla of about 20 kayaks, a tinny, and NSW Maritime and Marine Rescue vessels.

Marine Rescue’s vessel, captained by a great friend of our Club Wayne Redman, acted as a mother ship for the kayakers. Here seen unloading hundreds of ducks to our waiting crew.

Proceeds this year will mainly go towards the recently formed Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group and Prostate Cancer research, with a donation to Bermagui CRABS (Cancer Research Advocate Bikers) who lend us the ducks each year.

Andrew also ‘rattled’ a bucket for Rotary’s Tonga Disaster Appeal, collecting $216 from onlookers during the morning.

The Duck Race organisers Duck Supremo Ange, Julie and Mike with President Andrew and the Tonga Appeal bucket..

Another Narooma High achiever

Abbey Dawson at last year’s Youth Night

Many members will recall at last year’s Youth night we were impressed to hear from the two Narooma High captains Abbey Dawson and Patrick Sly. Well Abbey last week represented Eurobodalla Shire in the Y’s annual Youth Parliament programme.

Abbey has just finished Year 12 and was one of 90 young people from across NSW chosen to participate in a week of legislative debate and decision making. Covid postponed the 2021 programme from July to January which was then switched from a face-to-face at Parliament House to virtual, again due to Covid.

Abbey enjoyed multiple debates during the week. She highlighted road safety as a key problem for young people in the Eurobodalla, while other key issues raised during the week included people living in poverty and imprisonment of First Nations young people. She volunteered for several leadership roles during the week and was chosen to be the ‘face’ of the programme next year when she will liaise with volunteers.

Abbey will study politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Wollongong.

Out and About

Rotarians protecting the Environment

In 2021 our District embraced the new worldwide Rotary International focus on ‘Protecting the Environment’ and formed a District team of experienced Rotarians called ‘Environmental Envoys’ to liaise with and support clubs interested in pursuing new environmental projects. We now have well over half of the 82 clubs in our District with a nominated Environmental Officer. Additional nominations of club representatives are being sought from the remaining club Presidents in early 2022.

One of the District Team’s initiatives was to establish a new Facebook group called the ‘Rotary D9705 Environmental Community’ that provides a platform to enable the members of the Rotary Family (and like-minded friends of Rotary) to exchange information and ideas about environmental projects. Please join if you are interested in the environment. At Moruya Rotary, President Chris Manahan and Derek Anderson have been involved with this project from its beginning.

More information will be available for clubs at the upcoming PETS conference and of course the District conference in Temora 18-20 March. Courtesy the District and Moruya Rotary Newsletters

NEXT THURSDAY 10th

A Club Night at Narooma Golf Club, 6 for 6.30pm. Please let John Rungen know if you are/ are not coming. See you there.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 27 January 2022

Andrew’s Thoughts

Well, after a period of relative inactivity, all hell is about to break loose!

Yesterday’s market was a resounding success. Our Markets Manager Chris O’Brien said it attracted many stallholders from out-of-town as well as locals. All Rotary food was sold, all remaining Duck Race tickets were sold, and we raised $1522.10 for the Tonga Relief appeal. There were a lot of disappointed people who were unable to buy Duck race tickets, some coming especially for that; perhaps going forward, we hold a few books back.

The Tonga disaster appeal collection was brilliant PR for our Club and Rotary in general, and the comments and compliments were truly gratifying. I hope to ‘bucket rattle’ at the Duck race and also at the Youth Night. I am liaising with AG Adam de Totth as to the best way to funnel these donations.

So, Wednesday is ‘le jour des canards’! It’s going to be great fun as usual, all come along and assist in ‘the launch’ and generally have fun. Perhaps a post-race brunch?

Thursday is a special day in our calendar and I urge you all to be there. It is our annual Youth Night where we welcome back our past Scholarship winners and their Rotary counsellors and in a ‘normal’ year students who have taken part in Rotary sponsored youth programmes. This year will be very special because we shall announce the year’s scholarship winner. All in all, a great night for celebration.

Finally, can I remind you there is open house at Wandella next Sunday. Can you please let me know whether you are coming, if not already done so.

So a really great week is coming up, and I look forward to reporting on it all next week. As ever, it is upwards and onwards mes amis. Let us all contribute to 2022 being a breakout year for the Club.

THIS WEEK

Our annual Australia Day Duck Race Wednesday 26 January with ducks being dropped off the bridge at 8.15am.

This Thursday is our Youth Night at Narooma Golf Club which promises to be a top night.

The Week That Was

Sunday’s Holiday Market

The McInnes team of Rachel and David were on the barbie for part of Sunday morning.

What a great markets on Sunday in every sense. Lots of stallholders and lots of people, great weather and good returns for all our efforts. Thanks to our Rotary Team, especially our Market Manager Chris.

Treasurer Mike Young is thrilled, having deposited our earnings of $5,203.46. This includes for Sunday’s market. That includes our Tonga Disaster Appeal $1522.10 including (including $166.75 from Square transactions), Van sales $751.56 (including $89.26 Square), Stallholder sales $1775.00, Duck Race Tickets $1154 (including $9.80 Square).

Mike congratulates everyone for the effort they have put in, adding that all 1000 of the Duck Race tickets have been sold for in excess of $5000, including some extra donations. “Let’s make our Australia Day event a ripper,” he says.

Duck Race

Our ducks head off for a training session during the official count…

Big thanks to Julie Hartley, Mike Young and Ange Ulrichsen for spending three hours recently counting all 1,000 ducks and ensuring all were present and accounted for and all numbered correctly ready for the big Australia Day Narooma Rotary Duck Race. Mike has even given some an overdue face-lift to ensure they look their best for the race, in between training sessions!).

Facelifts plus

They will be dropped off Narooma Bridge at about 8.15am to race downstream. The time is estimated to catch the best of the outgoing tide. The first duck across the line wins $1,000 for the person who bought the ticket with the same number; the last duck $100. Proceeds will assist the new Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group and Prostate Cancer research.

Out and About

Rotary launches Tonga Disaster Relief Fund

Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) is working with Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS) and the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa (Tonga) to provide aid and assistance to the affected communities in Tonga.

The Tongan volcano

The effects of the volcano and tsunami on 15 January will be far-reaching, impacting the Tonga Community for months, possibly years to come. Communication remains problematic.

The aim of the joint Rotary project is to provide funds for humanitarian programs to assist the people in Tonga recover from the volcano and tsunami disaster. The aim is to get Tonga back to normality as soon as possible so they can look after their own communities again and longer term, restore their livelihoods.
RAWCS has registered a Rotary Australia Relief Fund project to seek financial assistance from Rotary Clubs, the public and private sector. Donations to the RAWCS Relief Fund are tax deductible.

Free Men’s Health Checks in Narooma

Free Men’s Health checks will be available on the south coast again from the Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV) during its February visit. It will be in Narooma at the Plaza Car Park on Friday 18 February 10am to 4pm. MHERV is supported by the Rotary Clubs of New South Wales, including Narooma Club.

A registered male nurse will check blood pressure, blood sugar levels and cholesterol to see if any follow up is needed.

D9705 Annual Conference in Temora

President Andrew is encouraging us all to join him at the Annual Conference in Temora 18-20 March. “Last year was a real eye opener to me to better understanding Rotary, and the quality of the speakers was excellent,” he said.Principal speaker is Dr Chadden Hunter who is a cinematographer who has worked for The Discovery Channel and significantly with Sir David Attenborough on many of his series. Anyone wishing to go should register at the D705 website / Annual Conference section where there are also more details. Andrew is happy to drive. The costs will be personal and not reimbursed by the Club.

Homeless Shower Facilities

Moruya Rotary reports their request for Council to investigate Homeless shower facilities is ongoing. Council has applied for a $25,000 grant and if successful, will hire a coordinator to supervise the shower service. Council has also applied for a $15,000 grant for a Laundry swipe card system which would operate in Laundromats across the Eurobodalla Shire.

Meanwhile Vinnies, Anglicare and other service providers are also looking into what else they can provide, also offering to coordinate if any of Council’s grant funding is successful.

Council is also looking into providing solar hot water at North Head Caravan Park. In the meantime hot showers are available at the swimming pools, but let’s hope something is resolved before the cooler months.

NEXT WEEK

On Tuesday

Next Thursday

Take a well-deserved break! Back at the Golfie the following week.