Narooma Rotary Beacon 22 February 2024

Lynn’s Lines

Last week’s business breakfast was very successful with good attendance. The information available to local businesses via Council’s Teresa Lever sounds very helpful for making better informed business planning decisions. (Please see report below.)

On the Rotary Ringlands Walk on Saturday – John Cunningham, David McInnes, Ange Ulrichsen and President Lynn Hastings.

On Saturday, six of us explored the Rotary Ringland’s Walk; for some of us it was the first time. The track meandered mostly along the foreshore in the shade with a gentle breeze. It was a magic feeling being in nature and the bush, and yet so close to town. There were a few issues that need some attention, but for the most part the track is in good condition. Issues include the small bridge, a little clearing in one place, and re-stumping a seat.

Creating the track was a Rotary project in 1995/96 and it has been maintained over the years thanks to occasional Rotary working bees, occasional Council work crews, Dalmeny Narooma Bushwalkers and some neighbouring residents.  

I look forward to seeing you this Thursday to hear our guest speaker Anne Comery talk about View Clubs.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 22 February

Dinner meeting 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.  Guest Speaker is View Club Zone Councillor Anne Comery who will talk about View Clubs – ‘Voices, Interests, and Education of Women’. Anne has held many positions in Eden View Club over the last 20 years, and been Zone Councillor for four years. Numbers to John please by midday Tuesday.

Sunday 25 February

February Market – All hands on deck please!

The Week that Was

Our Business Breakfast

At last week’s Business Breakfast – Skye Stapleton of Narooma Library, Laurelle Pacey, guest speaker Teresa Lever of ESC and Anine Leakey of Narooma Rocks.

What a great Business Networking Breakfast last Thursday with Teresa Lever as guest speaker. Teresa is Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation and a staunch supporter of our Business Breakfasts. She can provide businesses with a host of information that can assist with their business planning.

There’s the ID Profile based on census figures, but information from Localis provides real time data with accurate information about the numbers of visitors in the area and where they’re from, where they are spending, and what they are spending money it on.

She stressed that no one set of information is perfect but it is way ahead of what businesses had before which was of dubious value and based on a small sample size. Teresa can prepare a report for a business based on what is required. For example, part of the Narooma Oyster Festival detailed reports is generated from Localis information.

Some interesting points based just on central Narooma (not including Kianga and Dalmeny):

  • 48% of Narooma’s population is over 60. She said a number of projects are underway that should attract younger families to the area
  • 72% of Narooma’s population is in the lower/lower middle income bracket. This highlights the importance of the visitor economy and “Thank God for the bike tracks”
  • 32% of Narooma residential properties are owned by non-residents
  • 38.2% of households in Naroomna are ‘lone person’
  • Visitors are mostly coming from Canberra, but there’s increasing interest from Nowra and Sydney areas.

Teresa said mountain bike tracks will be huge for the local business economy, attracting visitors throughout the year. It also positions Eurobodalla as a desirable location for a younger generation to live.

If you don’t already receive it, Teresa publishes a very informative online monthly newsletter for businesses called ‘Business Update’.

Robotics teacher awarded scholarship

Narooma High Science teacher Gayle Allison has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship for professional development in STEM subjects (Science, technology, engineering and maths). She is looking primarily to robotics and 3D printing. The Toyota Community Trust STEM Teachers Scholarship, one of only nine awarded across Australia, recognises her outstanding work in education including with Narooma High’s robotics team the RoboRebels and their ongoing development.

Out and About

From Batemans Bay Club

Batemans Bay Rotary recently donated $10,000 to a new school in Timor at Sulilaran.

Interesting figures reported in the Bay’s Rotary Bulletin. Since 2017, when the Men’s Health Educational Rural Van (MHERV) began in regional NSW providing free health checks primarily for men, 12,236 people have been checked. Of those, 5,891 were found to be in need of treatment and 441 were in immediate danger of a stroke or heart attack. These were not necessarily older men; some were in their 30s. The MHERV will be at Narooma Plaza 28-29 February.

Interesting Batemans Bay Rotary has transferred their meeting transferred from Thursday 7th to attend dinner on the Friday with Rotarians from across the District attending the Combined PETS & Learning & Development weekend at the Soldiers Club.

COMING WEEKS

Thursday 29 February: No Meeting

Wednesday 6 March: Prostate Cancer Support Group

Thursday 7 March: No Meeting

Friday 8-10 March: District 9705 combined President Elect Training and Learning and Development seminar at Batemans Bay Soldiers Club

Thursday 14 March: Club Assembly with Guest Speaker D9705 Governor Nominee on Rotary Membership in D9705. Robert is currently a member of Batemans Bay Rotary Club, and previously a member of Dubbo Club. He brings a wealth of knowledge and is passionate about Membership.

Thursday 21 March: Business Networking Breakfast with guest speaker Kelly Eastwood of Eastwood’s Bermagui on how she has pivoted her business to meet the challenges of recent years. Kelly has worked as a private chef to Royalty, Russian Oligarchs and other on the Forbes list, and then worked as a Home Economist and TV Food Producer for many shows. It was River Cottage Australia that brought Kelly to our region. When RCA finished she started up her own business in Bermagui.

Thursday 28 March: Dinner Meeting: to hear from our two RYDA students TBC

The next edition of the Beacon will be in early April.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 15 February 2024

Lynn’s Lines

Lachie made the local paper! Hopefully your editor has cropped it to the actual article…

Wednesday night was our monthly meeting of the Prostate Cancer Support Group which Julie Hartley held at Narooma Golf Club. Great to see Mike Young back home and involved again. Julie and Andrew Lawson are also helping the Bega Valley group.

Thursday was our Club Assembly. A few members were away so we met in the First Hole after ordering from the bistro. We talked about the many decisions made at the recent Board meeting.  These included:

  • Should anyone be available to help out at the Men’s Health Van Feb 28-29 which Lions is organising this year (two hour shifts), please contact Tony Fahey 0414 419 986.
  • Possibly co-hosting a Narooma Community Forum on the latest on the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital… either 30 April or 1, 2 May TBA.
  • For those interested… checking out the Rotary Ringlands Walk this Saturday 17th. Meeting 8:30am on the road into Ringlands. If you would like to go, please ring Laurelle.
  • The Club will cater a BBQ dinner for 20 Volunteers from Sydney on 11 March
  • The Pride of Workmanship is n Thursday 18 April (same day as our Business Breakfast at Club Dalmeny. Cost $52.
  • Changeover is on 27 June
  • Gentlemen’s Distinguished Bike Ride Sunday 19 May. More information soon.
  • RYDA date for Narooma has changed to 11 April
  • New Van is being fitted out and finishing touches added. Old Van to register, clean out, and find a new home!

This Thursday 15 February

Our Business Networking Breakfast’s guest speaker will talk about using readily available data to grow your business. Teresa Lever, Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation, says a lot of data readily available to local businesses can track the local economy, spend days, and the mobility of customers and so assist with business planning. Should be interesting. 7am sharp Narooma Surf Club. Bookings are essential via Laurelle

The Week that was

Lachie’s Club in Japan

The Rotary Club of Ogaki banner

Susanna Chung proposed an international toast to Lachie Penglase’s host club Ogaki Rotary. It meets Wednesdays for lunch at the Ogaki Forum hotel. Other Rotary and Lions clubs also meet here, such as the club of Ogaki west. The club has about 70 members, all of whom are businessmen. Lachie says everyone has the same meal and when you sit down a meal is already set on your table, which is very large and fancy. The club also has a pianist who plays music throughout the entire meeting! Lachie has sent a photo of the Ogaki Rotary’s banner with four colour panels.

More from Lachie

Japan honestly feels like a different planet compared to Australia! Everything here is so unique and different. It’s also really beautiful, especially at sunset. I was also really lucky to witness snow within my first week of being in Japan. The one thing I love most about Japan so far is the food! I haven’t had a single complaint so far, it’s all so perfect.

In school, you almost never move to another classroom for any subject. You just stay in the same classroom all day. You even eat lunch in your classroom (they don’t have recess). The only time I move to another room is when we do calligraphy, which is basically writing Japanese characters onto paper with ink. School finishes at 4:20pm on some days, which isn’t counting any clubs in which I’ve noticed a majority seem to participate.

Stop Press on RYPEN

Narooma High has nominated two Year 9 students to go the RYPEN Camp at Wagga Wagga  in March – Michael Amey and Macy Dudgeon, thanks to our Youth Director Ange Ulrichsen’s encouragement. Our Club will sponsor the two students. RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) is a 3 day camp and programme for Year 9 high school students. The aim is to communicate to these young people a series of ideas, problems and social experiences which will assist them in forming their own values and moral standards, and also broaden their horizons culturally, socially and academically.

Out and About

Distinguished Gentleman’s Bike Ride Sunday 19 May

Narooma Rotary Club is calling all folk interested in dressing dapper and taking the time to join us on the Distinguished Gentleman’s ride on Sunday 19 May AM. Should be great fun and hopefully attract riders from across the south coast.

Traditionally it’s an excuse to take your (motor) bike for a ride while raising funds and awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research, but we are happy to include anyone wanting to take their car for an outing. ‘Frock up’ and come on a tour for a great cause. More details to come. Will need lots of assistance. Françoise Cleret is our Club’s inspiration for this venture.

Next Week

Thursday 22 February

Dinner meeting 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.  Guest Speaker is View Club Zone Councillor Anne Comery who will talk about View Clubs – ‘Voices, Interests, and Education of Women’. Anne has held many positions in Eden View Club over the last 20 years, and been Zone Councillor for four years.

Sunday 25 February

February Market – All hands on deck please!

Narooma Rotary Beacon 8 February 2024

Lynn’s Lines

Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholar 2023 Milaina Cafe, her Club counsellor David McInnes, the Club’s 2024 Tertiary Scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford ad his Club counsellor  Françoise Cleret at the Club’s Youth Night.

 What a fantastic start to the year with so many of our youth from the many youth programmes we sponsor at our meeting last week. David McInnes our enthusiastic chair just made the night that much more enjoyable for everyone.

Gloria and Neil Jenkins have donated into our Tertiary Scholarship fund.

We all met and learned more about our newest scholarship winner Nico Van Delft-Twyford. Milaina Cafe updated us on her coming year and a few changes to accommodation, courses etc. Raichel Brodie was on a bus and could not join us in person. So she sent us a message updating us on how she’s doing.

Also joining us was Ella Marshall who attended MUNA last year and  Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team who spoke about the school’s future programme.

A big thank you to Chris O’Brien’s friends Neil and Gloria Jenkins from Melbourne for their generous $1,000 donation to our Tertiary Scholarship Fund.

Françoise, right, explains features of the new van to Laurelle

Our Club is now the very proud owners of a flash new food van. Some sorting out is needed and best storage methods determined, as well as signage done.. A huge thank you to Françoise and John for driving to Sydney to pick it up for us.

Our Board meeting on Friday covered lots of items which we will go over at the Club Assembly this week. Many stayed back to help clear out our stuff stored at the Golf Club and rationalise what we keep. Didn’t finish until after 7! Look forward to seeing you on Thursday at Club Assembly.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, 7 February 6.30pm: ProstateCancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club

Thursday, 8 February 6pm: DINNER MEETING – CLUB ASSEMBLY – 6 for 6.30pm

The Week that Was

More on our Youth Night

Celebrating Narooma’s youth and the many Rotary programmes to support them was a great start for Narooma Rotary’s year last Thursday. David McInnes’ passion for the opportunities the Club provides for Narooma High students was evident throughout his time chairing the meeting.

David Twyford, Nico Van Delft-Twyford, Iris Domeier, Francoise, John and Julie at our Youth Night last Thursday.

The three-year Tertiary Scholarship to a student from Narooma High each year is a major Club programme. “Selecting that student is such an uplifting experience,” he said. David is trying to make contact with all Narooma Rotary scholarship winners from over more than 30 years; our ‘Alumni’.

Our 2024 Tertiary Scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford of Bermagui said the scholarship will allow him to focus much more on his studies; his course through the University of Wollongong and TAFE will lead him to a career in cyber security.

Iris Dormeier presents Presifdent Lynn with a banner from her friend’s Rotary Club in Germany

Our 2023 Scholar Melaina Cafe is doing a double degree at the Australian National University, her favourite subjects last year being philosophy and ethics. A message from 2022 Scholar Raichel Brodie was read out during the evening.

The Club’s Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase has now started school in Japan and his father Tony shared Lachie’s news.

Teacher Dion Cafe praised the “wonderful” Rotary Youth Driver Awareness  (RYDA) programme for Year 11 students across the Shire. He has coordinated Narooma High students to RYDA for 16 years; “students get so much from it”, he would like attendance to be compulsory. 

Susanna and Patrick’s daughter Celeste, Susanna, Julie and Tony Penglase at our Youth Night

The Club also caught up with Ella Marshall, part of Narooma High’s team to the Model United Nation Assembly in Canberra last year, and Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team.

Youth Director Ange Ulrichsen read out a message from Narooma High Principal Fiona Jackson who could not attend. Ms Jackson said Narooma High’s year had started “with great excitement after the fabulous 2023 HSC results, and…  this has laid the foundation along with their sporting success to start an extremely first term.”

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya IPP Shirl Cornish has a new role as joint Chair of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) District. Last week at Moruya she spoke of some of the 34 active projects supported by clubs in D9705.

In January, Shirl spent two weeks on a School Immersion Mission (SIMS) in Cambodia to three villages of remote subsistence farmers, (1½ hours rough travel into the jungles from Siem Reip) on Sexual Health Education by Pictures (SHEP).  She provided all teaching material for her SHEP classes including 80 booklets.

Her next project is in April to join a large company in the Philippines. She will be one of ten trainers. She is off to a RACS Conference in Port Macquarie this week.

PETS and Club Assembly in the Bay

The combined  Presidents Elect Training and Learning and Development (used to be called Club assembly) weekend for incoming Presidents, board members and  new members is on at Batemans By Soldiers Club from Friday evening 8, Saturday 9, Sunday morning 10 March 

One great part of these weekends is the camaraderie and support gained  from other Presidents and Club members from the District.  These weekends are for all club members including new members.  This will help build team spirit and also all will gain a greater understanding of Rotary. Registration is necessary to ensure correct catering details.

NEXT THURSDAY (15th)  Business Breakfast

At Surf Club 7-8am. Our guest speaker will talk about using readily available data to grow your business. Teresa Lever, Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation, says a lot of data available to local businesses can track the  local economy, spend days, and the mobility of customers and so assist with business planning. Should be interesting. Bookings are essential via Laurelle. Breakfast costs $10 – please say if you don’t want breakfast otherwise you willbe charged.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 1 February 2024

Lynn’s Lines

And they’re racing! The start of the 2024 Great Austalia Day Rotary Duck Race. Photo by Marine Rescue crew member Kerry McDonald

Wow! What a great turn out for our Duck Race last Friday despite the grey skies and early drizzle. The whole flock, bar a very few cheeky ones, stayed the course even with the strong southerly blowing them towards Mill Bay!

We had so many retrieval vessels on the water, the ducks were all rounded up in no time at all. We had two very happy winners, the major winner was right there watching! It was one of the best Duck races we have done. Hats off to all involved. Thanks everyone.

Wonderful help to collect all (hopefully!) ducks

Sunday was our monthly market and the sunshine brought out lots of people and helped make a most enjoyable day. Lots of stalls with big crowds and long lines at the pizzas as well as a busy Rotary Food van.  Thanks again to our many Rotary helpers and Rotarians for their time and energy to make these events happen. Just love it…

This Thursday (1st February) is our Youth Night which is always a good night. All three current scholarship students will attend and possibly some students from MUNA, as well as Narooma High Principal Fiona Jackson and teachers Monique Wicks and Dion Cafe.  We will also get an update on our Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase, now in Japan; his family will join us for the evening.

This Friday is a huge day for the Club. Françoise and John are picking up the new food van in Sydney. We all really appreciate this considerable undertaking by them on the Club’s behalf.

Friday is our February Board meeting. There will be lots on the agenda. Another big week!

THIS WEEK

This Thursday (1 February)

Our Annual Youth Night at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. Our current Tertiary Scholars Raichel Brodie, Milaina Cafe and our 2024 scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford will be there, some MUNA students and teachers from Narooma High. Please invite partners and friends. Numbers to John Rungen please by noon Tuesday 30th.

This Friday 2 February 5.15pm

Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club.

The Week that Was

Our Great Australia Day Narooma Rotary Duck Race

Race Coordinator David McInnes reckoned this year’s Duck Race was “quite fast with the tightest group of racing ducks I’ve ever seen. They quickly formed a tight bunch, with no milling around, and headed for the finishing line.

Jeremy Westgarth with mum Sharon

“Duck 144 then shot ahead to be the clear winner.” The delighted ticket holder, Jeremy Westgarth of Hornsby, was watching the race with his family.

His mother Sharon Schweisfurth said they watch the race every year when they’re down visiting family in January. “We never miss,” she said. “It’s such a fun event.” Sharon bought seven tickets and divvied them up among the family, the lowest number going to the youngest etc. Jeremy has been saving hard for a new guitar; now his $1,000 prize means he can buy it.

Last was Duck 966, held by local busker Eddie Tierney who won $100.

One of three Surf Club vessels helping on the day

President Lynn Hastings was delighted with the race. “We love how much our community has embraced this event; it attracts hundreds of people each year.” She publicly thanked everyone who helped launch and recover the ducks, especially Narooma Surf Club and Marine Rescue members, adding the Club could not run the event without their assistance.

Proceeds this year go towards Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and other Rotary charities.

Sunday’s Market

Just to add to Lynn’s report above. It was another good market with a great summer vibe. Gate takings were $1,305, van sales $1,101.15 (includes square sales), Wishing Well $150.85. This was possibly the last market for our old food van.

Our Moruya Rotarian friends Wendy Smith, Jan and Steve Young at Sunday’s market.

Our Moruya Rotary friends Jan and Steve Young with Wendy Smith brought along the electric car that we are raffling to raise money for the community project to build Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. There was a lot of interest in the car. Julie Hartley and David McInnes have raffle books to sell.

NEXT THURSDAY (8 Feb)

Club Assembly 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.


Narooma Rotary Beacon 25 January 2024

Lachie arrives in Japan

Lachie was met at Nagoya Airport by some of his host Rotarians
Julie joined Lachie and his family at Canberra Airport

Our Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase left from Canberra Airport on 20 January, destination Japan. It was wonderful that Julie Hartley joined Lachie and his family at the airport. His counsellor Susanna Chung will be in frequent contact so we can look forward to regular updates through the year. Susanna beautifully described to Lachie that his exchange year would be “living a year of awesomeness” reminding him to “live in the moment”. She has assured him she is here if he needs anything. So here’s Lachie’s first update, via Susanna.

I’ve landed in Nagoya and I’m staying with a host family. I’ve met my counsellor and I’m staying in his son’s house and with his family. I’m staying with them until the 29th of January when I’ll be officially attending school. They said that it would kind of be a warm up or transition as they speak English pretty well. I also went to a uniform store to get a fitting for my school uniform. I’m going to a meeting with my principal today to talk about school and other things.  Lachie

All Narooma Rotarians wish Lachie a wonderful year of “awesomeness”.

Lynn’s Lines

Welcome back everyone! Hope you all had wonderful holiday seasons.

Gero Mitchell’s ‘Rotary Narooma’ focaccia was a hit at the barbecue.

It was great to see everyone at the Jan 14 barbecue here in Dalmeny. Special thanks to my neighbours Françoise and John who brought down their very heavy barbecue for the occasion. From all reports everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. Also, we possibly have a location for next year’s 😉.

It was wonderful Julie was able to see Lachie off from Canberra Airport on his big adventure to Japan. She said he was eager as ever to get there.

We’re all looking forward to the arrival of our new food van in early February. Thank you again to Françoise and John for volunteering to pick it up in Sydney and drive it back for us and to everyone involved in making this happen.

This Friday’s Duck race is all coming together. Only a few tickets are left and they are going fast online. Weather cooperating, we should have a big crowd on the boardwalk.

Two days later is our market. Please let John know when you are available to give a hand. See you all on Friday.

Cheers, Lynn

THIS FRIDAY 26th – DUCK RACE

The start of the 2023 Duck Race

The Great Australia Day Rotary Duck Race is on this Friday 26th with the drop off Narooma Bridge at approximately 1.30pm. It should again be great fun. It’s all hands on deck please.

David McInnes is our Event Organiser and the official race starter on the bridge.

The finishing line is out from the Apex Park Boat ramp. The winner will be judged by Laurelle Pacey from the shore who will indicate the winner to Rachel McInnes. She will then retrieve the winning duck and bring it to our officials at the ramp. After that ducks can be collected as they reach the finishing line. Steve Deck who will be in a blue kayak will judge the last duck. Laurelle will be custodian of the ticket butts.

We will be assisted in duck retrieval by Marine Rescue with Wayne Redman at the helm, and by the Surf Club with an IRB with Club President Brendan Maloney and a private vessel. There will also be various kayakers (including President Lynn) and other craft assisting. If you would like to join in with your kayak or whatever, please meet David at the Mill Bay Car Park at 1pm because you need to sign a waiver form. Many thanks in advance to everyone who will be involved.

Here’s to a fine and wind-free day…

THIS SUNDAY – MARKETS

NEXT WEEK

NEXT THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY

This is our Annual Youth Night at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm. Our three current Tertiary Scholars Raichel Brodie, Milaina Café and our 2024 scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford have been invited, as well as our MUNA students, and Narooma High teacher Dion Cafe who organises Year 11 students for the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme. Please invite partners and friends. Numbers to John Rungen please by noon Tuesday 30th.

NEXT FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY 5.15pm:

Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club.

Narooma Rotary Beacon 4 January 2024

Lynn’s Lines

At the December Holiday Market on Thursday were Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship Coordinator David McInnes, 2023 Scholar Melaina Cafe, 2022 Scholar Raichel Brodie, and 2024 Scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford with President Lynn

Our December market on Thursday 28th was huge as always with 96 stallholders. That plus perfect weather and hordes of visitors topped it all off. A big thank you to all our usual wonderful team, especially to our market manager Chris O’Brien, and to David McInnes’ extended family who sold many raffle tickets and also helped in the van. Many hands definitely do make lighter work.

Our van certainly looked much better thanks to the recent cleaning detail by John Rungen, Gero Mitchell, Ange Ulrichsen, Laurelle Pacey and me. At the market, we collected $2,044.50 at the gate from stallholders, the food van grossed $1,418.59 (incudes Square), and $150.00 from the wishing well so a great result. Gross $3,613.09. We also sold $1,336.00 worth of Duck Race tickets.

Our first shift in action including Nico helping on the barbecue

It was also my great privilege at the Market last week to announce that our 2024 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship has been awarded to Nico Van Delft-Twyford of Bermagui (see more below).

I am still painting my railings on the deck in preparation for the pot luck dinner/BBQ at my place on Sunday 14 January (35 Eucalyptus Dr Dalmeny 5:30 for 7 eating). Could everyone please bring a plate to share of salad or sweets, and BYO meat and grog. Look forward to seeing everyone including our Friends of Rotary. Hope everyone can make it.

Our thoughts are with Lachie Penglase and his family as Lachie prepares to move to Japan for the year as a Rotary Exchange Student.

Here’s hoping we all have a wonderful 2024!

Some of our cleaning crew of Gero, Ange and Lyn getting the van ready for the big December Market

THIS WEEK

No meetings this week. The next function is an informal BBQ at Lynn’s place on Sunday 14 January (see above and below).

The Week that was

Our 2024 Tertiary Scholar

Our 2024 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship Nico Van Delft-Twyford wityh President Lynn

The 2024 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship has been awarded to Nico Van Delft-Twyford of Bermagui. In announcing Nico’s win at the markets, Lynn explained that the Club awards a three-year scholarship to a student from Narooma High each year, thanks to a bequest by Alexander Birch with additional funding recently from a local benefactor. It currently equates to $6,000 a year. Thirteen Narooma High students applied for the scholarship this year.

Nico is the 35th student Narooma Rotary has helped pursue their studies and achieve their dreams. With this scholarship, that assistance now totals over $330,000.

Nico sees huge potential in the cyber security industry in Australia; his studies for a Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security) at the University of Wollongong, in association with TAFE and a commercial company, should ensure his success in this field. 

First of new Club banners heads to Germany

Iris, Laurelle and Carstan swap Rotary banners

A Rotarian friend from Germany of Iris Domeier and Frank Eden visited Narooma at the weekend. Quick thinking Iris chased down one of the new Narooma Rotary banners for him to take back to his Rotary Club Bad Camberg-Idstein. Their friend, Dr Carsten Weilnau, is the current Club President and gave our Club one of theirs.

At his installation, Carsten gave an inspiring speech and underlined the role of music, art and culture as a unifying element in their society:  “Where there is music, the weapons are silent and people listen to each other,” he said. When asked, Iris said Carsten is not a professional musician “but a very fine trombone player”. They met when he was a Visiting Scientist at the ANU’s Laser Physics Centre and he went along to the Canberra City and Spectrum Band. Carsten is a European Patent Attorney and a European Trademark and Design Attorney.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sunday 14 January 5.30pm for 7pm: Informal BBQ at Lynn’s place at Dalmeny. BYO meat and grog, plus something to share like salad/dessert.

Friday 26 January Time TBC: Narooma Rotary’s Great Australia Day Duck Race. All hands on deck please. Arrangements to be finalised at Lynn’s place on 14th.

Thursday 1 February 6 for 6.30pm: Youth Night at Narooma Golf Club

Friday 2 February 5.15pm: Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 8 February 6 for 6.30pm: Club Assembly

Narooma Rotary Beacon 21 December 2023

Lynn’s Lines

President Lynn presents the Club’s outgoing Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase with the new Narooma Rotary banners as gifts for him to various Rotary Clubs in Japan, watched by his Club Counsellor Susanna Chung.

Last Thursday we had a lovely evening celebrating Christmas together in the old dining room at Bodalla Pub. Most members and many friends of Rotary were there.  We officially presented our Exchange Student Lachie Penglase with his Exchange Jacket and the new improved Narooma Rotary banners organised by Susanna Chung. The banners are fantastic and include a scan code (thank you Rachel) to connect to our website. Lachie’s family also joined us for the evening. The food and company was excellent and a fun night was had by all. Thank you again to Chris O’Brien for organising everything. Donations of $150 were collected for OZ harvest to help some of our local families with food for Christmas.

Our Tertiary Scholarship panel of Gordon Bentley, Julie Hartley and Lynn Hastings have a pre-interview catch-up at our Christmas celebrations last Thursday.

On Saturday Julie Hartley, Gordon Bentley and myself interviewed 13 applicants for our 2024 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship and David McInnes’ expert help kept things on track and moving in the right order. The decision was close and required some debate before our panel reached its final decision

Normally we announce our Scholarship winner at Narooma’s special Australia Day ceremony, but it seems that ceremony is not going ahead in 2024. Instead we might officially announce the winner at our Markets on 28th.

THIS WEEK

This Tuesday 19 December 9.30am:  Van cleaning at Van Village If anyone can help, please join us. More hands less work. Please bring your own cleaning stuff and gloves.

Thursday 21 December – NO DINNER MEETING – (next meeting at Narooma Golf Club is Thursday 1 February – Our Youth Night)

The Week that Was

Our Christmas gathering at Bodalla Pub

As President Lynn has already said, we had a great Christmas celebration at Bodalla on Thursday. It was the last time too that most of our members would see Lachie before he leaves for Japan next month. Just to remind everyone of what is happening…

Lachie Penglase of Bermagui, who has just finished Year 9 at Narooma High, is off to Japan in January for a most extraordinary year as a Rotary Exchange Student sponsored by Narooma Rotary. His Narooma counsellors are Susanna Chung and Gordon Bentley. He will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Ogaki in Nagoya and attend Ogaki Kita High School which is much larger than Narooma High.

Lachie chose to be an exchange student because he wanted to do something completely different to anything he had done before; he particularly wanted to go to Japan because he is intrigued by its unique culture and lifestyle.  He has been studying the Japanese language here and looks forward to expanding his knowledge and fluency as well as a learning more about Japanese culture. Since first meeting Lachie, Narooma Rotarians have been impressed with how much confidence he has gained just in the past six months. We all wish him well.

Here are a few more photos from last Thursday’s Christmas dinner at Bodalla.

Lachie with his twin sister Ellie at Bodalla last Thursday
David and Rachel McInnes amd John Cunningham

From Moruya Rotary Club

At Moruya Rotary’s Christmas Party last week, President Derek Anderson presented IPP Shirley Ann Cornish with a Paul Harris Fellowship for her outstanding contribution to Rotary and Humanity.  He was also able to finally present Alan Shephard with his Distinguished Service Award from ShelterBox. They also heard from their four Tertiary Scholars – one awarded last year, the others this year.

Out and About

Duck Race Raffle Tickets

A reminder we have 1,000 raffle tickets to sell before 26 January, so we will be making a mighty push over the next few weeks including at the Markets on Thursday 28th. Ange will sell at the Plaza (near Aldi) – mornings ofWednesday 13th, Saturday 16th, and Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st. Laurelle will make bookings with Council to sell outside Narooma IGA in early January (now that she has found the contact details!). Lynn has the books of tickets.

COMING UP – Dates for your diary

Thursday 28 December – December Rotary Holiday Markets. John has circulated the roster. Please help where you can.

Sunday 14 January from 5.30pm – Barbecue at Lynn’s place (cooking by 7pm). Please bring something to share, something for the barbecue and whatever you want to drink.

Friday 26 January – Time TBA – The Great Narooma Rotary Australia Day Duck Race. All hands on deck please.

Sunday 28 January – January Narooma Holiday Markets