Julie’s Jots

Lynn, Gero and I had fun counting our 1,000 ducks in readiness for our annual Duck Race, this time on the Australia Day holiday Monday 27 January (we have the markets on the 26^th  and we can’t be cloned, unfortunately!). The results are in; 6 have gone AWOL!!! (It was 8 last year) so we are heading the right way! The numbers of the missing ducks will be cancelled on the ticket stubs and tickets removed. We are still searching for appropriately sized replacement ducks.  Thank you both for giving up your Saturday afternoon.

This week at our Club Dinner we hope to have Pina along to give us a rundown on the life of Pina!   

District Governor Elect Robert Shore (RC Batemans Bay) will conduct a day talking about community groups in Rotary on Sunday 20 October, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Eurobodalla Botanical Gardens in Batemans Bay. Lynn and I are going; if anyone else would like to go, I will be happy to take them.

Thursday 30 October is the fifth Thursday in the month so there is no scheduled meeting. Instead the Board has opted for a social night for anyone who would like to come along, maybe even bring a friend. Once I have secured a venue I will let you know.

The Board has decided to resurrect our Club’s Vocational Excellence Awards and we have a recipient in mind. That award will be given to them at a meeting soon.

THIS THURSDAY 10 October

6 for 6.30pm – Club Dinner at Narooma Golf Club. Hopefully Pina Prosperi, one of our newest members, will give us some insight into her life. Please let Gero know by noon on Tuesday at the latest if you will be attending (ordering from the Bistro) and if you will be bringing any guests. Gero will then inform the Club of numbers and that determines which room we have.

The Week that Was

Well done Narooma Rotary

Our Club received a letter plus certificate from DG Rob Uhl congratulating us for achieving being an Annual Donor to the Rotary Foundation  of  US$100 per member – Level 1.

On our Vocational Excellence Awards

Our Club has only occasionally presented a Vocational Excellence Award. Sadly the last one was in 2015 to Narooma architect the late Phil Rose. Phil was recognised for his vision for the pathways along our foreshore reserves and for the boardwalk, and his efforts in ensuring that vision became a reality. His work enriched our community by increasing Narooma’s livability and the health and wellbeing of our residents, as well as creating a valued tourist attraction.

More information to come on our current nominee.  Rotary Vocational Excellence Awards aim to:

1.     recognise vocational excellence

2.     honour the outstanding contribution by individuals or small teams of individuals for significant advancement in their vocational field.

3.     inspire further enthusiasm and give added reward to the exceptional achievers.

Out and About

More on Community Group meeting

The initial meeting of our Community Group 7 – Coast and Highlands Region (under the new regionalisation plans) is at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, just south of Batemans Bay, on Sunday 20 October (9.30-3.30). Lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided.

Our Group Leader DGE Robert Shore says the day is an opportunity to get to know other clubs in our Community Group and see if there are opportunities to support each other. There will also be opportunities to ask questions about Regionalisation and the Pilot. He says this is not about giving Clubs extra tasks but more about what Rotary, our District and Clubs in our area can do to support each Club.

It’s wonderful that Julie Hartley and Lynn Hastings will represent our Club. Robert asks attendees to think beforehand about the strengths of their club (what they’re doing well), challenges, current projects and major fundraisers.

Bega Book Fair success

Bega Rotary held a successful book fair recently in the temporary venue of Bega Public School hall. The venue proved well suited to the reduced size of the book fair and favourable weather helped make it a success raising just over $5,000. The book fairs are Bega Rotary’s major fundraiser. The Club hopes to hold a similar book fair in January and organisers hope they can get more involvement from members.

NEXT THURSDAY 17 October

7am: Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast is on Thursday 17 October at 7am at Narooma Surf Club (upstairs – finishes at 8). Our guest speaker Fiona Kotvojs will talk about their Gulaga Gold business and its growing success, including on the export market. Fiona and Alan Kotvojs established their truffière some years ago in the Dignams Creek Valley in the foothills of Gulaga. Their website says…

“The mountain, with its deep rainforest gullies, provides the pristine water which sees our oak and hazel trees thrive. Hidden among the roots grow the mystery which is the Perigord Truffle, our Gulaga Gold. From here begins our truffles’ annual journey to the tables of lovers of good eating.”

Bookings are essential with Laurelle by Monday 14^th at the latest.  Breakfast costs $10 (please say if you do not require breakfast). 

Julie’s Jots

What a lovely night last Thursday with our guest speaker Rachel McInnes and her very informative presentation on the trials, pitfalls and absolute delights of being a WIRES carer. Rachel really is a credit to WIRES and, as we found out, it’s not always a feel good job.

Our Exchange student Hilma also gave us a run down on her week of work experience at Moruya hospital, including watching a baby born by caesarean section… that would have been very special!

THIS WEEK

Wednesday 2 October 6.30pm: PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Thursday 3 October: No Dinner Meeting.   5.15pm: BOARD MEETING

The Week that Was

More on last Thursday

Both Hilma and Ellie Penglase were thrilled with their work experience (through Narooma High) at Moruya Hospital that week. Hilma said it was so special for them both. They did different rotations; Hilma’s included rehabilitation, emergency and maternity including watching a caesarian.

Then we were treated to a great presentation on WIRES by Rachel McInnes. She joined WIRES in 2016 partly because of where they live at Potato Point, the carnage of native animals on Potato Point Road, and because her target shooting experience (never at live animals!) could be of some use to WIRES.

Rachel explained that WIRES is all about Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release, and only of native animals including snakes. A wombat may take 18 months to rehabilitate. Rachel spoke warmly of the wonderful moment when an animal is released back into the wild. Those that are not able to be rehabilitated with a view to release are euthanased.

WIRES volunteers are on call every day of the year. Their 28 branches in NSW work closely with other rescue organisations. Our local WIRES branch extends from Lake Conjola to Wallaga Lake. In 2023 they had 3,187 callouts; 50% were birds, 30% kangaroos and wallabies (road hits). Their busiest day that year was Sunday 7^th May with 24 callouts to mostly road kills when “it seemed to be raining joeys”.

We were introduced to the concept of “chicknapping”, that’s when a chick falls out of the nest and people don’t wait to see if parents are around; the parents will usually will look after such chicks. There are sometimes false alarms like a report of an echidna in the middle if the road that turned out to be a toy.

Rachel suggested several ways we could help our wildlife. When driving, she urged us to be particularly aware at dawn and dusk of possible animals by the roadside, and encouraged us to put one of the little pouches she had provided into our cars to increase the survival chances of baby animals once in the hand of carers.

We all gained an insight into the challenges, heartbreaks, and rewards in being a WIRES carer, as well as admiration for their passion and devotion. Rachel proved to be a special WIRES ambassador. She made special mention of David’s considerable support for her work.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary on cemetery restoration

Moruya Rotary and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) collaborated in a project to restore graves and fencing at the historic Toragy Point Cemetery at South Head Moruya, part of Eurobodalla National Park. The project is now completed and is written up in this week’s Moruya Mail. Chris Manahan initiated the project in his year as Moruya President (2021-2022) and has helped drive the project since. Chris said they hadn’t realised the paper work that would be necessary before any work could commence. NPWS took the lead in completing the Environmental Assessment, Project Plan and Heritage Impact documents.

Physical work started early this year. Rotary assisted NPWS with relocating headstones to their correct plinths on top of their actual grave sites and assisted with re-erecting some internal timber fencing and railing and replacing some. More recently, Service Staff (NPWS) replaced the perimeter fence which was upgraded to a new ironbark post and rail fence surrounding the graveyard.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Batemans Bay Rotarians inducted two new members into their Club last week, including past Eurobodalla Mayor Mat Hatcher who most probably will again be mayor.

On increasing and maintaining membership

A Rotary Club in Ohio made several adjustments to attract new members. One was switching from a lunch to a breakfast club which was more convenient for people who worked further way.  Another was making a highlight of meetings the monthly “get to know a Rotarian” presentation where members take the floor to talk about themselves.

The Club also increased the number of service opportunities to more than 20 fundraisers and projects each year. To quickly bring new members into the fold, the club surveys them about which committees, projects, and fundraisers they’d like to be involved with and they become involved from the start. All club members receive the same survey annually

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 10 October: 6 for 6.30pm – Club Dinner at Narooma Golf Club.

Julie’s Jots

Sunday was another beautiful day for our markets. Thankyou to everyone in the team involved, especially our ‘Vice’ Market Manager David McInnes. Also great to see two new faces helping at the barbecue and in the van – John and Dianna Coll; look forward to seeing more of you John and Dianna. Sunday’s Market takings were Gate $795.00, Gross van sales $1,123.95. The loss of Riverside Pizzas from the markets was probably a contributing factor to the higher than normal van sales.

This week I’m looking forward to hearing from our good friend Rachel McInnes on her role in the volunteer organisation WIRES, including the high and lows.

Our Rotary Business Breakfast last week was well attended with 30 mainly business people coming along to hear guest speaker Cath Peachey of Narooma Rocks talk about the 2024 Narooma Oyster Festival and beyond. (See Report below)

The Week that Was

Our Business Networking Breakfast

It was great to see several new business faces at last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast, attracted by our excellent guest speaker Narooma Rocks (NR) Chair Cath Peachey. NR organises the multi-award winning Narooma Oyster Festival (NOF).

Cath reported on the analysis of the extraordinary amount of data on the NOF that can now be accessed, thanks to technology. This year’s NOF, Australia’s premier oyster festival and Southern NSW’s largest food and drink event, injected over $4m into the local economy, attracted 86% of visitors from outside the Eurobodalla, increased average stay, created a real buzz around the region, and continued to showcase local and regional produce.  It’s also home of Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championship and Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition. Narooma Rocks is a not-for-profit company that seeks to be a catalyst for tourism to the NSW South Coast and surrounding region and contributes to marketing the South Coast, particularly Narooma, as a year-round tourism destination. It couldn’t happen without the efforts of 150 volunteers.

Our Rotary Business Breakfasts are now firmly established and have enhanced Narooma Rotary’s profile and credibility in the local business community.

THIS THURSDAY 26th

Dinner Speaker Rachel McInnes on ‘Being a Wildlife Rescuer and Carer’. Rachel has been a wildlife rescuer and carer with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, since 2016. She will give us some insight into what wildlife rescuers and carers do and how they make a difference for our precious wildlife. (For those who love acronyms… WIRES stands for Wildlife information, rescue and education service.) 

6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club. Please make sure you book with Gero including any guests by noon Tuesday so she can notify the Club of numbers.

Out and About

From Bega Rotary Club

Bega Rotary’s next Rotary Bookfair, its major fundraiser, is on 4-5 October at Bega Primary School. Usually it’s at the Showground but current ongoing works there necessitated a change of venue.

District Conference in Mittagong

25-27 October: See https://www.discon24.com/about-8 for full details

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 2 October 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 3 October: No Dinner Meeting. 6.30pm: BOARD MEETING

The Week that Was

Julie was away so David was in the chair for both a fun and a serious evening. It was great catching up again with our Exchange Student Hilma, host mum Julie Penglase and daughter Ellie, plus we had a surprise guest DG Elect Rob Shore of Batemans Bay Club.

It was great to hear from Hilma about the last few weeks including going to the Snowy Mountains to ski (but finding hardly any snow!), joining the school’s volleyball team, going to watch an AFL match in Melbourne, and having her first swim in the ocean. Julie also mentioned Hilma’s great success in mathematics.

Ange Ulrichsen presented the banner from the Bali Action Club meeting she attended recently; it’s one of 22 Rotary Clubs in Bali and is an English speaking club that focuses on the environment

President Julie wants Magic Moments to be a regular feature of our meetings. Well for last week’s Magic Moments David encouraged everyone to tell something about themselves that no one else at the meeting would know. Well we heard some really interesting tales including Gero Mitchell building a toilet for Elton John in Greece, Lynn Hastings sailing from the US to Australia in a 44ft yacht (well she got off in New Zealand), Julie Penglase’s grandmother being born in the back of a covered wagon in the United States, Susanna being a Taiwanese dancer (and no, she’s not Taiwanese!), and Laurelle Pacey being Australian Ladies Tractor Pulling Champion (twice).

The serious part of the evening was a Rotary presentation on Working with Children. David urged everyone who has still not completed the paperwork to please do so.

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 19^th September

Our Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfasts resume (Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp) with guest speaker Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey.  Narooma Rocks is a not-for-profit organisation that organises the Narooma Oyster Festival each year. Narooma Rocks has analysed all the data and surveys from the 2024 Festival and Cath will share some insights from this data, as well as outline Narooma Rocks’ recently finalised Strategic Plan to 2028.

Bookings are essential. Please book with Laurelle by Monday 16^th at the very latest.  Breakfast costs $10 (please tell Laurelle if you do not require breakfast).

This Sunday 22^nd ROTARY MARKET

David will send around the roster with the link for you to hopefully fill in yourself.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Calling Narooma Rotary Golfers! Moruya has a Golf and Dinner Charity Day on Friday 25 October in aid of the Carers Accommodation at the new regional hospital, in association with Moruya Golf Club. More golfers are needed.

Moruya Rotary also has a new venture – their Community Grants Project. Moruya’s Steve Picton has developed guidelines and an application form. Typically a grant would be for up to $1,500 to help build or fix a community facility or perhaps run a volunteer event and would be within Moruya Club’s defined area. The website sets out the selection criteria and the financial details required. Successful applicants would be expected to publicise Rotary’s involvement and to keep the Club abreast of developments. Selection will be subject to the Board’s approval.

From Bega Rotary

Calling potential mature students! UOW Bega Valley Campus will be hosting a ‘University Taster Day’ on 21 September for anyone interested in learning more about university. Those that attend will receive information on the degrees offered, including Nursing, Teaching, Arts and Business, and will have the opportunity to explore the uni’s interactive learning spaces.  All are welcome and you can find the link on the Bega Valley Campus home page: https://www.uow.edu.au/about/locations/bega-valley/

District Conference

District Conference in Mittagong 25-27 October: See https://www.discon24.com/about-8 for full details. Rotarians from Moruya and Bega Clubs are going; anyone from Narooma?

Next Thursday 26^th September

Dinner Speaker Rachel McInnes on ‘Being a Wildlife Rescuer and Carer’. Rachel has been a wildlife rescuer and carer with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, since 2016. She will give us some insight into what wildlife rescuers and carers do and how they make a difference for our precious wildlife. 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.

Julie’s Jots

Exciting news for Michelle McNeill of Batemans Bay who has won the ‘Experience Narooma’ Community Raffle, valued at over $1,200. It was drawn on Saturday morning at Narooma Charters’ shop. Thank you to everyone who helped make our community raffle a success, especially our wonderful VP David McInnes.

At our meeting this Thursday, Hilma will give us a rundown on what she has been doing over the past couple of weeks, and David will show members how to use the digital market roster.

Happy moments will be returning to our meetings, but renamed ‘Magic Moments’. If you have something you would like to share with us, it will be a $2 donation; if it is longer than 2 minutes (cut-off at 5) it will be a $5 donation!

I also remind any members who have not returned their working with children check to Gordon, to please do so as soon as possible. Thank you.

THIS THURSDAY (12^TH)

Our Club Dinner 6 for 6.30pm: Please let Gero know if you’re coming or not by Tuesday noon at the very latest; it affects which room we have. Being a Club Dinner, we will order from the bistro.

At our meeting this Thursday, Hilma will give us a rundown on what she has been doing over the past couple of weeks, and David will show members how to use the digital market roster. David and Gordon will also do a presentation on youth protection paperwork.

The Week that Was

More on the Raffle

The Club’s Whale Watching Raffle has been a regular fixture in our calendar since at least 2013, an initiative of Ange Ulrichsen in association with Narooma Charters. For many years proceeds purchased ShelterBoxes for distribution to provide shelter for families affected by disasters. Since then proceeds have also been directed to other worthy community projects.

This year the raffle has been expanded with more prizes and embraced as a community raffle with the focus on ‘Experience Narooma’, organised by Vice President David McInnes and still including a whalewatching prize.

Various local organisations have sold tickets in the raffle including WIRES, the Tilba School P & C, Bodalla Soccer, Narooma Lions AFL, Narooma devils JRL, MACS and Oz Harvest, with those groups retaining 80% of proceeds for their causes. The balance goes to Narooma Rotary to cover costs and to contribute to the Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs’ long term community project of the Carers’ Accommodation project at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital (CAERH). Three thousand tickets were printed and the bulk of these were sold, each costing $2.00.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, Michelle McNeill of Batemans Bay wins a substantial prize valued at over $1,200. The prize is:

• A whale watching tour for two (Narooma Charters)
• Two nights’ accommodation in a waterfront cabin* (Easts Holiday Parks Narooma) *Easts’ prize can only be redeemed outside of school holidays.  
• 2 x 4hr E-Bike Hire with Gourmet Picnic (Southbound Escapes)
• 2 x $70 Meal Voucher (Club Narooma/ Club Dalmeny)
• $30 voucher (Montague Coffee, Narooma)

The raffle is also supported by Narooma Chamber of Commerce. The whole model of the community raffles will be reviewed and possibly tweaked for subsequent raffles.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians are getting quite a reputation for their catering prowess. Last Wednesday Jan and Steve Young and their small band of merry helpers did a great job catering for the Meals on Wheels volunteers’ high tea. Rotarians donated goodies, made sandwiches on the day, shifted furniture, laid tables and generally made the venue look fabulous for the visiting volunteers from Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven South. There are 180 plus volunteers overall and they only had 70, which is a rather good turn-up. This was Rotary’s third year of doing this function so they are obviously doing something right!

Can anyone go to the District Conference

Bookings are now open for our District 9705 Conference on 25–27 October 2024 at Mittagong RSL. Keynote Speaker will be Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay. The first 300 registrations receive a special Conference bag. Information and bookings www.discon24.com

NEXT THURSDAY (19^TH)

Our Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfasts resume (Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp) with guest speaker Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey.  Narooma Rocks is a not-for-profit organisation that organises the Narooma Oyster Festival each year, now recognised as the largest food and drinks event in southern NSW and recently awarded the Outstanding Visitor Experience at Eurobodalla Business Awards. Narooma Rocks has analysed all the data and surveys from the 2024 Festival and Cath will share some insights from the data, as well as outline Narooma Rocks’ recently finalised Strategic Plan to 2028.

Bookings are essential. Please book with Laurelle by Monday 16^th at the latest.  Breakfast costs $10 (tell Laurelle if you do not require breakfast).

Julie’s Jots

Thursday was such a great night with this year’s MUNA students.  It’s always a fascinating night when they report back from such an extraordinary experience in Canberra. I know our guests, including parents and new Narooma High Principal Tracie Scobie, enjoyed it immensely.

It was also a night to catch up with Hilma and hear how she is settling in to life in Narooma-Bermagui. She also really enjoyed herself the previous weekend at her orientation weekend in Canberra; during a pause in the programme everyone celebrated Hilma’s as well as two other students’ birthdays.

Although I wasn’t at Sunday’s market, I hear it was a good market despite a few early drops of rain, beng traditionally our quietest market, the loss of Riverside Pizzas, and the footie finals on Bill Smyth Oval. Treasurer Lynn reports Gate takings $820, Wishing Well $100.50, and gross van takings $933.50. Thanks everyone who helped on the day, a great Team effort.

THIS THURSDAY 29^th August

No Meeting this week being the fifth Thursday in the month.

The Week that Was

MUNA continues to inspire

Narooma High’s three-member team have been inspired by their experience at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra the previous weekend. The team of Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10, with teacher Monique Wicks was sponsored by our Club. The venue was the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House – House of Representatives) in Canberra.

They impressed Rotarians, guests and parents last Thursday as they explained the challenges of debating a range of world issues from the United Kingdom’s perspective in a United Nation’s style forum against 14 other school teams representing other countries.  The resolutions included the current crisis in Gaza, the situation in the South China Sea, the state of global food security, and preventing crimes against the environment. The experience made them more aware of world issues, increased their confidence and made them new friends by mingling with students from the other schools.

The winning school was Macarthur Anglican School representing Sweden, followed by the Central Coast Steiner School with New Zealand, and Unity Grammar School with Russia.  The team from St Peter’s at Broulee, representing the Solomon Islands, won MUNA’s Totenhofer Peace Prize. This is presented each year to the delegation that contributed most consistently to world peace over the weekend. They were sponsored by Bateman Bay Rotary.

A highlight was the special dinner on Saturday night with the keynote address by Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay who had acted as UN General Secretary’’ over the weekend.

Ange Ulrichsen reports this was the 25^th MUNA organised by the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. MUNA is organised and sponsored by Rotary Clubs across Australia to build international understanding and promote goodwill for world peace; in the process it builds student confidence in public speaking and debating skills

Toast to RI’s Polio eradication campaign

Françoise Cleret’s International Toast last Thursday was to Rotary International, recognising its initiatives to eradicate polio across the world, since taken up with partners in a Global Eradication programme that had resulted in a 99.9% eradication of the disease worldwide. Until recently, Afghanistan and Pakistan were the only two countries still registering endemic cases.

Francoise’s Toast was prompted by two things – her brother-in-law who had polio and the discovery of a 10-month-old in the Gaza strip with polio in an area that had been free from polio for 25 years.

Among the devastation caused by the war in Gaza has been the destruction of over  70% of its water sanitation facilities. The United Nations chief has called for a ceasefire in Gaza so 640,000 children can receive the two doses to ensure they are vaccinated against polio.

Rotary VP initiates Pop Bench restoration

There was rejoicing at the pool this week with the installation of the newly restored ‘Pop’s bench’ at Narooma swimming pool, a project initiated by Narooma Rotary VP David McInnes. The bench was restored by the Men’s Shed. Pop Brown was the driving force behind the Narooma community’s relentless campaign to cover the pool, opened in 1993.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 5 September 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 6 September:   5.15pm Board Meeting; No Dinner Meeting

Julie’s Jots

What a lovely dinner we had at Lynch’s pub on Thursday.  I’m sure all those who went enjoyed themselves.    

I attended the Carers’ Accommodation for the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital committee meeting in Moruya last Friday. Construction of the new hospital is now officially underway.  The committee is in the process of getting a website up and running over the next few weeks.

With our exchange student Hilma and one of her host mothers Sally Hearder, I attended a weekend in Canberra for incoming and outgoing exchange students and their families. This was an information weekend to help them adjust to their 12 months here and away. Our district has 11 outbound students and 7 inbound. Previous exchange students spoke about their experiences.  

I’m looking forward to hearing this week from our Narooma High team who participated in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra at the weekend. We sponsor a team from Narooma High each year to this amazing event, thanks to the efforts of Ange Ulrichsen who dropped in on the students at the weekend. It is always a great evening hearing back from these students so please invite partners and friends.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 22nd August: MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team reports back to us on their experience at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra. Please contact Gero and let her know by Monday night (cost $30) if you are coming or not and if you are bringing guests (she needs names as well as numbers).

Sunday 25^th August: Our Market

David McInnes will circulate the Market roster through the week with any gaps still to be filled in finalised on Thursday night. 

The Week that Was

Narooma High students at MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team took part in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra at the weekend, thanks to their teacher Monique Wicks. The team of Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 represented the United Kingdom. Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay played the role of UN General Secretary.

As usual it was a great experience for our students debating UN Resolutions and mingling with other schools. At the official dinner on Saturday night, the Keynote Address was by Lorraine Finlay. Ange Ulrichsen

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians last week welcomed back distinguished violinist Reuben Levi Oddy and his family. Reuben was born in Moruya but is now based in Nuremberg. He specialises in German classical music, having studied under a host of esteemed tutors and professors in Germany along the way.  He is currently touring with Ukrainian pianist Elena Nikulina performing German classical pieces by Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn.

Moruya President Allan said it was a great pleasure to welcome back Reuben and his family. Moruya Rotary assisted him in the early days of his journey to where he is today in the heart of the classical music world. He greatly appreciates that early assistance judging by his dropping in on the Club when back in Australia.

Moruya Rotary assisted Reuben 10 years ago with a scholarship when he was first starting out on his musical journey. He has certainly grown both professionally and personally over that time. Moruya Rotarian Rohan Gleeson, then a District organizer of Youth Exchange, organised “some magic” with Berlin Rotary Clubs under the New Generations Exchange Program, so that Reuben would be accommodated by a German Rotary family while he applied for entrance to any of five Academies in Germany. Two years later, in 2016, he was home on semester leave from the Detmold Hochschule Für Musik. The Detmold Hochschule Für Musik set him on an academic path; he has completed his Masters and is currently studying for a pedagogy degree. He can be called on two or three times a week to play with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches young players. He began by playing the cadenza of a Bach Concerto, before speaking of his career and the extent to which he recognises Rotary in its formation.

What a great example of Rotary helping local youth achieve their dreams.

NEXT THURSDAY 29^th August

No Meeting being the fifth Thursday in the month.

Julie’s Jots

What a great night last Thursday! First we heard from Rory Spurgeon, our 2020 Rotary Tertiary Scholar on his next academic adventure which will be 12 months at Oxford University!   Rory has been a delight since receiving his Scholarship, keeping us up to date with his studies and interests.  We wish him all the best for the future.

Our next guest speaker was our delightful exchange student Hilma Koskiniemi from Rovaniemi in Finland.   Hilma met those members of the Club she had not yet met and gave a wonderful presentation about her family, interests and her homeland.  We also celebrated her 17th birthday. I am sure she will have a wonderful year with us.

This coming Thursday we’ll have a relaxed get-together in the Dining Room in Lynch’s Pub.  Please let Gero know by Monday night if you are attending or not. Thank you.

On Saturday I will be going to Canberra to attend a training and orientation weekend for inbound and outbound exchange students and parents.

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 15 August – Lynch’s Restaurant 6.30pm booking.

Everyone invited. Order off the menu; please contact Gero by noon Tuesday at the very latest to say whether or not you are coming and whether you are bringing any guests.

Friday 16-18 August: MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team is off this weekend to the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra. Our Club is again sponsoring a team from Narooma High – Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 – with their teacher Monique Wicks. They will represent the United Kingdom.

Ange Ulrichsen says if you have never been to watch, it is well worth going.  Our students will report back to us the following Thursday, on 22August. It is always a great evening.

The Week that Was

Last Thursday

As President Julie has said, last Thursday was a top night. It was so good for all of us to finally meet Hilma Koskiniemi after looking forward to her arrival for so long. Hilma’s wonderful presentation gave us a great introduction to her family, her community, her city of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle (the ‘Gateway to Lapland’ and the rest of the Arctic area’) with 60,000 people, and the extremes of Finland’s seasons. Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus; loved that Hilma worked as a Post Office Elf in the Village. 

Where Hilma and her family live couldn’t be more different to here. In summer (June-August) with the long school holidays, there’s only a couple of hours of darkness (11pm-1am), while winter has only a couple of hours of light, the Northern Lights  and temperatures of -30 ºC but photos showed a winter wonderland. Needless to say, our winter doesn’t feel like winter to her and she’s looking forward to our summer and light, sun and surfing. Loves skiing, volleyball and boating with her family.  She speaks Spanish as well as English.

Hilma explained that Finland is a republic, a member of the European Union and recently became a member of NATO. Languages are Finnish and Swedish. It’s a land of lakes and forests as well as climatic extremes. She spoke of the indigenous people the Sami who inhabit an area across northern Finland, Sweden, Norway and part of Russia and have their own unique languages.

Despite the winters, the Finnish people were recently found to be ‘the happiest people in the world”. Part of the reason she suggested was that opportunities are the same for everyone, rich or poor.

Hilma thanked Susanna (as do we all!) for all her work that has resulted in her being here. It was also lovely to welcome the new Narooma High Principal Tracy Scobie last Thursday who has been most helpful in assisting Hilma into the school. We all know Hilma will have a wonderful and rewarding year with us.

Rory Spurgeon has made the absolute most of his time at the ANU, doing brilliantly academically graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Physics and Chemistry while at the same time having a great time on campus socially and with sports. His last year at ANU was spent on a research project in the Chemistry labs but brought in his Physics with modelling what was happening. No surprise then that he is now off to Oxford University to do his Masters. We all wish him well.

Prostate Cancer Support Group

Spring is in the air! Monthly get-togethers of the Prostate Cancer Support Group resumed last Wednesday (7/8) after a two month winter break. President Julie was pleased with the turnout, five men including one new face, as well as Mike Young and her. The next get-together is Wednesday 4 September 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.

Out and About

Registration is open for District Conference

The District 9705 Conference is in Mittagong, 25-27 October. Our District has 73 Rotary Clubs, 4 Rotaract Clubs and several Interact and EarlyAct Clubs.

NEXT WEEK

THURSDAY 22^nd August 6 for 6.30pm: Narooma High’s team to the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) will report back on their MUNA experience. Please invite partners and friends to what is always an uplifting evening, and please ensure you book with Gero by noon Monday 19^th.

SUNDAY 25^th August – our August Market David will circulate the roster over the coming week; hope you can