Lynn’s Lines

Last Thursday was our first Business Networking Breakfast after our winter break. We had a really good turn out and a very informative talk by Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor on the outcomes of the 2023 Narooma Oyster Festival and the ongoing challenges (see report below).

Last Sunday was our monthly Market and what a beautiful day it was until the wind picked up just at the end. Thanks everyone who helped out. Stall numbers are picking up again with the warmer weather and there were lots of people out and about including many visitors for the school holidays. Consequently the Rotary van was quite busy. Gate takings were $1,135.00, gross van takings $765, and the wishing well $66.00.

We have a busy week this week with the Cinders Trivia Challenge with Moruya Rotarians this Tuesday night in Moruya (hopefully we will return with the much coveted Cinders Trophy!), and the Special General Meeting for all members on Thursday.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday 26 September 6.30 for 7pm at Moruya Golf Club: Moruya Rotary hosts this year’s Cinders Challenge on all things trivial with Moruya Quizmaster Phil Smith. We’re all looking forward to a night of “rollicking” fun, as President Derek describes it. Dinner is $20 pp.

Thursday 28^th September 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club:  Special General Meeting of all members to approve the Club’s new Constitution and By-Laws, followed  by casual dining in the Bistro for those who choose to stay on.

The Week that Was

The Oyster Festival Wrap Up

What a fascinating presentation at last week’s Business Networking Breakfast of key outcomes from the 2023 Narooma Oyster Festival, southern NSW’s premium food and drink event. Narooma Rocks Carrie Taylor and team had crunched some impressive numbers.

• Of the 9,500 plus people who attended, 82% came from out of the 2546 postcode predominantly Sydney, Canberra, Illawarra and the Shoalhaven.
• 87% said the Festival was their sole reason for travelling to Narooma; 60% were attending the Festival for the first time
• 4.3 nights average stay for the weekend of the festival compared with three nights in 2022
• New waste management initiative where volunteers saved 800kg of oyster shells from landfill
• $3.4m plus was injected into the local economy.
• Interesting the demographics are becoming younger with more people coming from the 26 to 55 age group
• 14 regional oyster farming businesses were represented from nine estuaries
• Other local producers included seafood, dairy, chillies , seaweed and nuts, plus 16 regional breweries, wineries and distillers

The Festival would not happen without the considerable contribution of volunteers – 150 volunteers contributed pver 5,500hours before, during and after the Festival.

One staggering figure this year was the estimated media reach of 4 billion! Carrie said this was largely around the huge media coverage particularly across Asia for Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition and Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships.

This year the Festival cost $840,000 to stage. It can’t happen without community support (tickets) and sponsors who provide just under half the funding. The rest relies on successful grant applications.

Proposed changes for 2024 include a stand up cocktail event on the Friday instead of the Long Table dinner and having an Oyster Week around the Festival involving restaurants and farmer. Everyone who went last Thursday was emailed a copy of the Key Outcomes document.

Out and About

2024 District Seminar

District has advised that the combined President Elect Training and Learning and Development seminar will be held in Batemans Bay at the Soldiers Club on 8-10 March 2024. (Our Club had nine representatives at this year’s seminar in Merimbula. Hopefully we can match that in 2024!)

Coming Up – wear a hat!

Thursday 12 October 6 for 6.30pm: Dinner Meeting – our HAT NIGHT to ‘Lift The Lid On Mental’ Guest speaker is Australian Rotary Health Vice Chairman Stephen Humphries who will talk about Australian Rotary Health’s ‘breakthrough’ research into Mental Health.  He will be accompanied by his wife Judith. Please bring family and friends AND encourage them to wear a hat. Prizes will be given.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 4 October 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 5 October: No Meeting being first Thursday in the month

Friday 6 October 5.15pm:  Board Meeting, Narooma Golf Club

Lynn’s Lines

Last week our very own Gordon Bentley spoke to us about being a Vet, and I feel like we all got to know Gordon in a new way. It’s really great to get to know our members better; I also learned so much more about being a vet.

This week we have our business breakfast on Thursday with guest speaker Carrie Taylor the General Manager of Narooma Rocks talking about the 2023 and 2024 Narooma Oyster Festivals. We also have the Market this Sunday. Please let John know if you can help out if you did not get to put your name down on the roster last Thursday night.

The great annual Cinders Trivia Challenge against Moruya Rotary is on Tuesday 26^th. We need all the help we can get to reclaim the trophy, so please invite your friends, particularly those who champion trivia! Please let John Rungen know if you plan to attend and how many you are bringing so he can let Moruya know.

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 21^st is our Business Networking Breakfast, the first since our winter break. Guest speaker is Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor. She will present the outcomes of the 2023 Narooma Oyster Festival and discuss plans for the 2024 Festival and its ongoing challenges.

The Business Breakfast is at Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp. Bookings are essential by please emailing Laurelle on pacey@paceymedia.com.au by Monday 18^th September.  Should you want breakfast, it’s $10. PLEASE contact Laurelle if you book but then can’t make it.

This Sunday 24^th is our Rotary Market – Hopefully all available hands on deck

The Week that Was

Gordon’s talk last week impressed many members. He grew up on the northern beaches, but a Year 9 Careers Night, cattle farm experience as a third year vet student, and finally meeting Dianne in Dubbo  resulted  in a career as a vet in Dubbo spanning about 40 years.

Gordon started in Dubbo as a new graduate then became the owner of Dubbo Vet Hospital. Initially it was 60% cattle work with four vets and operating out of half a garage, but changed to 60% small animals, horses, sheep, pigs and 10% cattle. That change was largely caused by a huge drop in cattle prices due to the collapse of the US market. The practice went from eight vets to only three.

He said the reality of high overheads and self-funded equipment make a mockery of the public perception of vets being well off. His career as a vet was one of long hours, stress from patients and clients, few holidays, and the western heat, all of which took their toll on him and family life until he retired. Their purchase of initially a holiday house in Narooma was obviously a great move.

Gordon mentored many students and started a vet student weekend for Charles Sturt and Sydney University students to highlight Dubbo vet practices. That continues with great success.

Gordon had many funny stories from his time as a vet, like using their beagle as a blood donor that saved another dog, run-ins with problem horses including one which took revenge by backing up to his car and depositing manure on his car seat.

Even with all that, Gordon really enjoyed his career as a Dubbo vet,

Out and About

Vale two great Rotary ladies

Pam Rayner, widow of the Club’s great wordsmith and Beacon editor in the 1990s PP Paul Rayner, died at Dalmeny Estia in early September, a few days after turning 98. Pam was the Charter President of Narooma Inner Wheel Club in 1994 and was an enthusiastic host of Christmas in July lunches on the Club’s behalf after Paul died. Sadly Pam suffered from dementia in her final years.

Anne Barker, widow of the late PP George Barker who was a foundation member of our Club, died at Dalmeny Estia on 2 August, aged 87.

NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 26 September 6.30 for 7pm at Moruya Golf Club: Moruya Rotary hosts this year’s Cinders Challenge on all things trivial with Moruya Quizmaster Phil Smith. Please invite partners and friends. Moruya President Derek hopes our Club “brings carloads”, as does our President Lynn. Let’s not disappoint. Dinner is $20 pp.

Thursday 28^th September 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club:  Special General Meeting of all members to approve the Club’s new Constitution and By-Laws, followed  by casual dining in the Bistro for those who choose to stay on.

Lynn’s Lines

For a quiet week it was actually quite busy. First there was the resumption of the Narooma Rotary Prostate Cancer Support Group meetings on Wednesday. Julie Hartley reports a good response with a couple of new faces, as well as a few regulars. Lots of chat among them.

Last Thursday we had a meeting at Club Narooma for those who could make it; unfortunately I couldn’t. Those who attended folded all the Whale raffle ticket stubs ready for the draw on Saturday. Great work team! Thank you all for your efforts, especially Ange and Julie, and of course Norm Ingersole of Narooma Charters.

The whale watching raffle has become an annual tradition of our Club that continues to attract great support from our community. We’re grateful for Norm’s ongoing support. This year’s winner of two whale watching tickets is local Trish Delaney (ticket 816). Proceeds will be split between the carers’ accommodation project (a local Rotary initiative) for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.                           

Hot off the press… Our speaker this Thursday is our own member Gordon Bentley who will talk about his life as a vet. I’m really looking forward to Gordon’s talk. Look forward to seeing everyone there.

THIS THURSDAY (14^th September)

Our star speaker this week is our very own Gordon Bentley who will talk about his life as a vet, mainly his 36 years in Dubbo, including its highs and its challenges. Please invite partners and friends. It should be a good night. Please ensure you book all numbers with John Rungen by noon on Tuesday.

Our speaker who was scheduled for this week, Eurobodalla Shire Council General Manager Warwick Winn, had an important business meeting sprung on him so instead will join us in late October.

The Week that Was

Last Thursday

After deciding it was ‘a long time between drinks’, or some such, with a three week gap between meetings, a number of our members enjoyed a change of venue last Thursday with a meal at Club Narooma. Gathered were Françoise Cleret, John Cunningham, Gordon Bentley, Ange Ulrichsen, Robyn Miller, Gero Mitchell, John Rungen and Julie Hartley.

Vale Lin Morey

Former Narooma Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow Lindsay Morey passed away peacefully at Dalmeny on 4 September, just short of his 94^th birthday. Lin, together with his father and brother, had established a large orchard, packing shed and cool store at Grahamvale (near Shepparton) in Victoria which they sold in 1988. Lin held many positions within the three Rotary Clubs where he was a member (Shepparton, Mooloolaba and Narooma) including that of President of Mooloolaba in 1995/1996. Lin was passionate about Rotary and the values it holds. Our thoughts are with his family.

Out and About

A date for your diary

We have booked the Kinema on Thursday, 30 November for a film night to show Ken Hutt’s film of his paragliding in the Himalayas to raise money for the ‘End Polio Now’ Campaign. Please spread the word among friends and family. Proceeds from the night will of course go to the ‘End Polio Now’ Campaign. More details later.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Batemans Bay Rotarians and the Club recently donated funds for 42 backpacks and supplies for school children at the Omelai School in Timor Leste. Omelai is a remote mountain village a seven hour drive from Dili and is only accessible by road for half of the year.  The backpacks and supplies are being sourced from local shops in time for the opening ceremony of their new school on 25th September.

Batemans Bay and Berwick Rotary Clubs have assisted small charity Spend it Well build the new school this year. The school will accommodate 130 students with three classrooms, a teachers room, storage room, five toilets and hand-washing facilities. It replaces a derelict two classroom building with no windows and the Year 1’s dirt floored shack which fell down last year. There were no toilets.

NEXT THURSDAY (21^st September)

This is the first in our spring series of Business Networking Breakfasts. Our speaker is Narooma Rocks General Manager Carrie Taylor who will present the outcomes of the 2023 Narooma Oyster Festival.  She will talk about the highlights and benefits to our region, and discuss plans for the 2024 Festival and its ongoing challenges.

The Business Breakfast is at Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp. Bookings are essential by please emailing Laurelle on pacey@paceymedia.com.au by Monday 18^th September.  Should you want breakfast, it’s $10. PLEASE contact Laurelle if you book but then can’t make it.

Lynn’s Lines

Greetings everyone. It has actually been a very productive week.

The Board meeting on Friday covered many things. On seeking Donor Gift Recipient (DGR) status, the Board decided to take steps to establish a public fund within the existing Club structure, the Club being the sponsoring organisation, instead of trying to establish a separate Trust. This is quite common among many organisations.  It necessitates changes to our Constitution. 

Coincidentally, District had asked all Clubs in December to adopt new Constitution and Club Bylaws (rules) but we had not acted on that. The Board has now approved us adopting the new documents with some additions to enable the establishment of a Public Fund within the Club’s existing structure for DGR status. There will now be a Special General Meeting of all members on Thursday 28 September at 6.30pm to formally adopt the new documents. Emails informing all members will be sent with copies of the new documents and explanations of our additions.  

We need a few members to do the free Food Handler Basics certificate online through the NSW Food Authority. It takes about an hour. Anyone interested?  A number of our team have done training before, but it would be good to update that. We are upping our attention to ensure our food operations at the market fully comply.

Everything is in place for the 2024 Tertiary Scholarships, thanks to David and Julie. Applications are due 19 November.

After the winter break, meetings of the Prostate Cancer Support Group return this Wednesday as well as our Business Breakfast meetings on Thursday 21 September.

Exciting news… Ange is off to Nepal on 15 November on a RAWCS village project. See report below. The Board also approved a $1,000 donation to the project.

On future meals and catering at the Golf Club, an email will be sent to everyone regarding the new arrangements to be sure everyone is aware of the changes. No exceptions.

Chris O’Brien and I have registered for the District Conference in Queanbeyan in October and I believe Ange plans to attend on Saturday. Unfortunately this is also a market weekend. If you want to attend, perhaps we can contact more of our Friends of Rotary to see if they could cover.

Unfortunately the next RYPEN, scheduled for 13-15 October, has been postponed because they did not have enough return helpers. Hopefully the March one will go ahead.

The Board has suggested a social dinner at Club Narooma this Thursday at the usual time for whoever can make it.  Those who do can also help fold up Whale raffle ticket stubs ready for the draw on Saturday. Please let John know if you plan to attend.

Next week we have Eurobodalla Shire Council General Manager Warwick Winn as our guest speaker. Please invite partners and friends because it should be a really interesting talk. Please ensure yiou give John Rungen plenty of notice of numbers.

THIS WEEK

This Wednesday 6.30pm:  the Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at the Golf Club.

This Thursday 7th: No formal meeting. Instead a relaxed dinner at Club Narooma at the usual time for whoever can make it.  Those who do can help fold up Whale raffle ticket stubs ready for the draw on Saturday. Please let John know if you plan to attend.

This Saturday 12.30pm at Town Wharf: Draw of whalewatching raffle if you care to drop by.

The Week that Was

Ange to join RAWCS group to Nepal

Ange Ulrichsen is very excited to be joining a group of 20 volunteers on the Nepal Friendship Project in the Maidi area in central Nepal from 12 November to 4 December. This ongoing RAWCS project will include continuing teacher training to villagers  plus assistance in agriculture and health issues. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak (District 9705).

“I was inspired by Rob Uhl (now District Governor Nominee) at the ETS Conference at Merimbula in March,” Ange said. It’s a wonderful humanitarian project and I’m proud to be joining the group which comes from all over including a large contingent from Orange.”

NEXT THURSDAY

DINNER MEETING 6 for 6.30pm:  Guest Speaker Eurobodalla Shire Council General Manager Warwick Winn Warwick who will talk about his life and his plans for Eurobodalla Shire. Please invite friends and family. It promises to be a top night.