Andrew’s Thoughts
All in all, it has been a busy week, albeit a very wet one!
On Monday, Ange Ulrichsen and Racehl McInnes went with Year 11 pupils from Narooma High to RYDA at Moruya Racecourse. As is our custom, we paid for the coach transport for the children.
Tuesday saw Sarah Lambert of the Cobargo Wellness Group join us at the PCSG and address the mental health issues of coming to terms with things. It was a small group, but there was lively discussion. Sarah will be talking to the Club after dinner in late May.
Wednesday was the rescheduled Australia Day Celebration organised by the Narooma Chamber. David McInnes did an outstanding job as MC. Along with a few other voluntary Community organisations, we were presented with medallions in recognition of our community efforts. For those who could not get there, Mike has medals aplenty!
Thursday should have seen me speak to RC Bega with my PCFA hat on. As many of you know, I have to cross the Wandella Creek to go anywhere – enough said!
So we roll into the Easter Holiday break, and may you all have a great time with your families. I head almost 12,000 miles west on Monday but shall obviously keep tabs on things from afar. I shall not be back until 16 May, when I really look forward to seeing you all again. So until then, it really is onwards and upwards mes amis!
THIS WEEK
Wednesday 13 April at 4pm: Board Meeting at Lynn Hasting’s home, chaired by Mike Young.
Thursday 14 April: Club Night at Narooma Golf Club 6.00 for 6.30pm. Please ensure you let John Rungen know if you will be there by Tuesday afternoon.
April Birthdays
We have three birthdays this month – Belated birthday wishes to David McInnes (5th), Frank Eden’s (8th). Coming up is Andrew’s on the 27th. Happy birthday for then Andrew!
The Week that Was
RYDA 2022
This year’s Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) at Moruya Racecourse last week was a great success with 330 Year 11 students from schools across the Eurobodalla Shire attending over the two days. Ange Ulrichsen and Rachel McInnes were among other Rotarians guiding Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay students to their modules on the Tuesday. Thanks to Coordinator Neil Simpson of Batemans Bay RC for his wonderful organising. Over the two days, there were 30 Eurobodalla Rotarians helping, including the cheerful Moruya crew doing the catering.
The thought-provoking modules led by local experts included: # Speed & Stopping – showing the relationship between speed and stopping on the road; # Drive S O S – Drive so others survive. Perspectives of other road users; # The’ ‘I’ in Drive – how personality impacts risk on the road; # Road Choices – Police led discussion on key risk areas, decisions and choices; # Crash Investigators – highlighting crash factors. Speed, mobile and loud music distractions, alcohol etc # Mind Matters – the role of mood as a toad risk factor and how to recognise harmful mind states and avoidance.
Ange said the final highlight for her was the release into its Nerrigundah habitat of a rescued 7-year-old male bower bird by WIRES volunteer Rachel.
Australia Day Ceremony
Last Wednesday’s Australia Day function (obviously delayed from January) honoured many volunteers in our community, including Narooma Rotarians. David McInnes as MC was fabulous, relaxed and funny. Bob Aston spoke about the Tertiary Scholarship and David and Julie Hartley on Rotary, including the Prostate Cancer Support Group. We have medallions for everyone in the Club. Ange Ulrichsen
Out and About
Annual Rotary Races
Next Saturday, Easter Saturday is our annual Rotary Race Day at Moruya Racecourse. Our Club has been asked to provide four ‘bucket rattlers’ on the gate, two from 1100-1230, and two from 1230-1400. That is the only task we’ve been asked to do. With so many other events on that day, our numbers are somewhat depleted so please if you are free at either time, please have a go. Please let David Ashford from RC Batemans Bay know as he is organising things.
Also on Easter Saturday
The organisers of the Tilba Festival on Easter Saturday (yes, it clashes with the Easter Races!) are running out of volunteer helpers due to sickness, covid isolation etc. Andrew had a ‘cri de coeur’ from Susan Gray who is the President of Visit Tilba. It was Susan who donated the generous $75 meal voucher for The Dromedary Hotel (which she owns) for our Movie Night raffle; she is a close “follower / sharer” of ours on Facebook. Can you spread the word locally? Please contact Susan directly on 0435 956 777 if you can help.
BowelCare 2022
This year’s BowelCare runs from 1 April to 30 June. As mentioned previously in the Beacon, Rotary is not now involving our pharmacies. You can order your kit from the BowelCare office during the next three months by phoning the BowelCare office Tuesday to Thursday, 9am – 3pm on 4341 6695. The purchase price of $25 is inclusive of postage and fees, pathology testing and notification of your result to yourself and your nominated doctor.
Volunteers needed for Oyster Festival
Narooma Oyster Festival organisers need more volunteers to help with this year’s world famous Festival on 6-7 May. Please spread the word among friends and family. Each of the preceding 14 events have been successful due to the wonderful work of our volunteers. This year they’re short on volunteers for a variety of reasons.
Volunteers are needed for everything from washing up and manual labour through to gate admissions, food and alcohol handling etc. NSW TAFE is also conducting a FREE Responsible Serving of Alcohol course in Batemans Bay on Saturday 23rd April for anyone interested. Volunteers make it happen and we need them to do so at such a fun event.
More information https://www.naroomaoysterfestival.com/volunteer-with-us/. The contact is Lyn Brown Mobile 0481472616. Email volunteer@naroomaoysterfestival.com
Call for Garden Shed help
Batemans Bay RC has asked for our help in the collection and distribution of garden shed to bushfire victims in our area. One hundred flat-pack sheds of various sizes, have been donated by the Rotary Club of Liverpool to specific residents who suffered from the bushfires of 2019/20. They’re being delivered to Batemans Bay RC but the original pick up arrangements on Easter Sunday have changed since Andrew’s last email on this due to the wet weather.
Moruya’s Bulletin this week reports the sheds will be placed in storage at the Bay for pick up in the couple of weeks after Easter. Apparently there are about six for us to pick up and deliver in our area. Anyone who can assist with a trailer will be greatly appreciated. We should have more clarity this week after the Board meeting on Wednesday.
NEXT WEEK
Next Thursday 21 April is our next Business Breakfast with guest speaker Carrie Taylor on the Visit Tilba Project / Narooma interface. There is a lot happening in Tilba at the moment and it will be good to hear how we might all work together on this. Cost is $10. Bookings via Andrew (yes, even though he is in the UK, he never stops!) are essential.