Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday was a wonderful night with the inductions of Naomi, Julie and Victoria from the Commonwealth Bank, our first Corporate Member.  Thank you members and guests who attended the evening for making it a lovely relaxing time for our new members (see full report below).  

We also had the pleasure of hearing about Hilma’s fabulous trip into the red centre.  She had the best time and was truly beaming when she gave her presentation.  

Also last Thursday Narooma Men’s Shed invited me to a Men’s Shed muster at Club Narooma in my capacity of coordinator of our Prostate Cancer Support Group.  Both Andrew Lawson and I had an enjoyable time and it was highly worthwhile to be able to have information there for the many people attending.  Attendees came from men’s sheds from Ulladulla to Pambula, Bemboka and further west.  

This Thursday is our Business Breakfast, as listed below.

This weekend we have the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride with the information night at Club Narooma on Saturday evening and the ride on Sunday.

The Week that Was

As President Julie said, what a great night last Thursday with the induction of the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch as our first corporate member and Hilma’s great presentation of her experiences on the three week ‘Safari’ around Central Australia with side trips to Magnetic Island and Melbourne.

President Julie highlighted just how special this induction is by making a real ceremony where the Commonwealth Bank representatives Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin were each presented with their name badges and a Rotary apron by three members, including Hilma. It was earnest but fun. They were all then welcomed into the Club by each and every member present. A happy moment for our Club. We all look forward to their participation in the Club in many ways into the future.

Amazing that Hilma has been with us for nine months now… She said this three weeks away with all her new Youth Exchange friends from our District plus one other District was certainly the highlight of her year here. During a great PowerPoint presentation, she noted particular highlights including holding a snake, Kings Canyon, School of the Air, and them all having to cook something from their respective countries. Hilma cooked a traditional Finnish Blueberry Pie which by necessity had to be huge to feed them all. “It was so cool,” she said. “The places we saw, the things we did, the people we met. So special, so great. All thanks to Rotary.”

THIS WEEK

Thursday 15 May 7am:  Our Business Networking Breakfast

This follows on from our wonderful April Business Breakfast. It features Cath Leach of Catfish Creative and the Fish Tank Co-working Space in Narooma. Cath describes herself as “a graphic recorder, illustrator and mind mapper” who believes we need creative design and design thinking to help solve the complex challenges of our expanding world. Her driving passion is designing for change, evolved through a multi-faceted career path, a strong sense for the creative, world travel and a love of diving, the oceans and the natural world.

Please let Laurelle know by Monday 12 May if you are coming. She will assume you want breakfast ($10) unless she hears otherwise.

Saturday 17 May: Looking After Blokes

Canberra-based pharmacist Brad Butt and physiotherapist Jamie Boulding will outline the help that is available and how to access it at a special session ‘Looking after Blokes’ on Saturday evening, 17^th May at 5.30pm at Club Narooma. Everyone is welcome, men and their partners. Their talk is being held in conjunction with Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride the next day.

Mr Butt said prostate cancer can leave men feeling isolated and depressed, particularly in the regions, but early intervention, the right aids and a team approach can make a huge difference. Both have expert knowledge, experience and training in men’s urological health.

Sunday 18 May: Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

Cale Phelps of Narooma Motorcycles sees Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) as a celebration of both the wellbeing aspects of motorcycling and the importance of men’s health. “Motorcycling has so many health benefits – developing core strength and stimulating high level awareness – but it’s also about adventure, freedom and, as the Zen of Motor Cycle Maintenance puts it, ‘you’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore [through a window] and the sense of presence is overwhelming’,” he said. “There’s also a certain old world charm about ït.”

Cale Phelps has been a Narooma DGR supporter from Day 1. “Everyone was so impressed with the success of the first DGR last year, they want their friends to also come along. Some are a bit slow to register, including me, but I’m onto it,” he said.

The DGR helps raise awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, as well as funds for research and men’s mental health programmes. It brings people together to celebrate their bikes and the men and women who ride them.

Riders assemble from 9am on NATA Oval on Sunday 18^th so that’s a great time to check out the bikes. The ride starts at 11. Refreshments will be available as well as breakfast/lunch from the Rotary van until 2pm and there will be a Community Market.

All riders must register online before 18^th May to take part www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma and they must ‘dress dapper’. Donations for riders and pillions in the Narooma DGR can be made online. All funds raised by the DGR are invested by the official charity partner Movember in both local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programmes.

Out and About

Growing Rotary Membership

Interesting to note that Batemans Bay Rotary has just inducted their 12th new member for the year, the most impressive growth in the District. Moruya has inducted five new members this year to date, also a great effort.

NEXT THURSDAY 22^nd May

After our busy DGR weekend, we might take a breather and go out for dinner somewhere different for those who are interested. Gero is following up. TBC

THURSDAY 29th May

Dinner Speaker will be Laurelle Pacey who will talk about the long awaited Narooma Arts Centre. Construction begins at the end of this month. Please invite partners and friends. More in next week’s Beacon.

Julie’s Jots

Last Sunday our Club members and friends helped out at the Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast organised by the Chamber of Commerce, supported by Club Narooma. It was a lovely day down by Wagonga Inlet with music and food, and plenty of people enjoying themselves.

David McInnes (main organiser), Ann Hegerty and Annemarie Narraway had their Chamber hats on, while Lynn Hastings, Laurelle Pacey, Gero Mitchell and John Rungen flew the Rotary flag (some on Saturday), ably assisted by Friends of Rotary Liz Clydesdale, Diana Bachman and David Paull. Françoise Cleret and John Cunningham promoted the imminent Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in a big marquee with their motorbikes (see below).

Last week’s Board meeting incidentally approved the nominations of Diana, Jon Bachman, David and Liz as Friends of Rotary; we appreciate their extra assistance when needed.

I’m really looking forward to this Thursday when we induct our first Corporate Member and catch up with Hilma and her recent adventures.

We have a busy time coming up next week with the Business Breakfast next Thursday, a special information session on Saturday night (17^th) with a physio and pharmacist on men’s health, climaxing with the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride for men’s health on Sunday 18^th. 

THIS THURSDAY

This Thursday (8^th) we induct our first Corporate Member which is the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch with Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin. How exciting for our Club!  Naomi, Julie and Victoria are regulars at our Business Breakfasts.  

Our Finnish Rotary Exchange Student Hilma will also talk about her recent ‘safari’ with the other Exchange Students to Central Australia, a regular highlight of Exchange Students’ year in Australia.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 15 May:  Business Breakfast

This follows on from our wonderful April Business Breakfast. It features Cat Leach of Catfish Creative and the Fish Tank Co-working Space in Narooma.Cat describes herself as “a graphic recorder, illustrator and mind mapper” who believes we need creative design and design thinking to help solve the complex challenges of our expanding world. Her driving passion is designing for change, evolved through a multi-faceted career path, a strong sense for the creative, world travel and a love of diving, the oceans and the natural world. Starts 7am Narooma Surf Club.

Please let Laurelle know by Monday 12 May if you are coming. She will assume you want breakfast ($10) unless she hears otherwise.

Saturday 17 May: Access PC help

Canberra-based pharmacist Brad Butt and physiotherapist Jamie Boulding will outline the help that is available for prostate cancer sufferers and how to access it at a special session ‘Looking after Blokes’ on Saturday evening, 17^th May at 5.30pm at Club Narooma. This is a Narooma Rotary initiative.

Mr Butt said prostate cancer can leave men feeling isolated and depressed particularly in the regions but early intervention, the right aids and a team approach can make a huge difference. Both have expert knowledge, experience and training in men’s urological health.

“There’s a network of people able to support men with prostate cancer and their carers,” he said. “We will show how physiotherapy and pharmacy can work together, medicines as well as non-pharmacological things. Everyone is welcome, men and their partners. By holding it on the night before the Ride we’re also encouraging riders to make a weekend of it.”

Their talk is being held in conjunction with Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride the next day. Both events are organised by Narooma Rotary. Please tell your friends.

Sunday 18 May: DGR

Sunday’s Narooma Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a lot of fun while raising awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, as well as funds for research and men’s mental health programmes. Our DGR coordinator Françoise Cleret explains Narooma’s is one of over 900 DGRs held that day across the world to bring people together to celebrate these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ who ride them, men and women.

Riders assemble from 9am on NATA Oval on Sunday 18^th so that’s a great time to check out the bikes if you’re not riding. The ride starts at 11. Breakfast/lunch will be available from the Rotary van until 2pm and there will be a Community Market.

All riders must register online before 18^th May to take part and they must ‘dress dapper’. www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma Donations for riders and pillions in the Narooma DGR can be made online.  All funds raised by the DGR are invested by the official charity partner Movember in both local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programmes.

Any inquiries, please phone Françoise Cleret 0402 967 494.

Julie’s Jots

Initially it was a worrying time for our market at the weekend considering the weather forecast, but after a damp start on Sunday morning it ended up being perfect market weather. There were lots of people especially with the holiday weekend. Thank you to all those extra volunteers who rallied to assist us in manning the barbecue and van with a few of us being away. Thank you everyone.

Laurelle Pacey laid our Rotary Club wreath at the town’s Anzac Day morning ceremony at Club Narooma on Friday.

Last Thursday local naturopath Sally-Anne Bertram explain to us just what a naturopath does.  We all enjoyed the night and went away with a better understanding of her role in her patients’ treatments (please see report below).

This Thursday is our May Board meeting. Please note the later time of 6.30pm to try to cater for some of our Board members’ other commitments.

Meanwhile some of our members have been hard at work preparing for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in a few weeks time (the number iof registrations are steadily rising) and of course the Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast this coming weekend. Our VP David McInnes and Ann Hegerty are major organisers of the Big Breakfast through their Chamber of Commerce involvement.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 1 May 6.30pm: Board Meeting (President Julie has changed it from 5pm to the later time to enable more people to attend)

Sunday 5 May: Our Club will assist with providing some of the breakfasts at Narooma Oyster Festival’s Big Breakfast

The Week that Was

Naturopath and Nutritionist Sally-Anne Bertram’s fascinating talk at last Thursday’s meeting focused on demystifying naturopathy. She stressed it isn’t “some hippy thing”, but based on the oldest forms of medicine.

Sally-Anne is an accredited naturopath and explained the huge range of subjects studies required to become accredited. She said naturopaths take a holistic approach that considers the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the individual and then use natural therapies to support the body’s inherent healing abilities. These therapies include nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and counselling. Sally-Anne can be contacted through Grandpa’s Garden in Narooma.

Out and About

From Pambula Rotary

It’s always interesting to see how other clubs organise their meetings. For example, Pambula Rotarians meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at the CWA Rooms in Pambula. They hold meetings and social dinners on the other Tuesdays at various venues in Pambula, Eden and Merimbula, all within half an hour of Pambula.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Batemans Bay Rotary is having a free Staying Safe Online seminar this Wednesday hosted by the CommBank Batemans Bay Branch.  Bay Rotarians will learn how to:

• Identify scams and suspicious links
• Protect themselves from scams and fraud (online and telephone)
• Create strong passwords and keep them secure
• Safely access online banking
• Stay digitally safe while travelling.

From Moruya Rotary

In the latest Moruya newsletter, with the approach of the end of the Rotary Year, Moruya President Allan Veness reflects on what their Club has been able to achieve over the year. “The Club has not only survived, but it is now in a stronger position than before. We have a net increase in membership and we have raised our profile within the local community. However, one area still causes us concern. The running of the kiosk [at the race course] is our main source of funds which finances our donations to community groups. Without this income, our club would not be able to do a lot. As our membership slowly ages, filling the work roster for each meeting is becoming more difficult.”

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 7 May: Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club – Cancelled

Thursday 8 May: Club Dinner and Induction of our first Corporate Members – the Commonwealth Bank Narooma Branch with Naomi Brown, Julie Drummond and Victoria Wilkin. 6 for 6.30pm

Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast delivered interesting insights into the challenges faced by those working from home, remote from their work office (see below), as well as the benefits. It also attracted what was possibly a record attendance.

Last Thursday I attended the monthly meeting in Moruya of the Carer’s Accommodation committee for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. The Hospital’s construction is on track and the committee is looking at new ways of raising money to fund construction of the Carers’ Accommodation.

Don’t forget we have the Market this week. Our new market banner is now on show at the roundabout. Thank you Rachel for the design and Laurence for the donation. Looks good!

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 24 April

Our Dinner Speaker this week is local naturopath Sally-Anne Bertram who will ‘Demystify Naturopathy’. Hopefully we will get a few extra people along to hear her.

Sally Anne has practised as a naturopath at Grandpa’s Garden since 2021. She is a general practitioner treating men, women and children with asthma, allergies, women’s health issues, men’s prostate, autoimmune etc. She uses herbal medicine, nutrition, diet and homeopathy. Sally-Anne has been a lecturer in herbal medicine, nutrition and clinical studies and was Head of Natural Therapies at the then well respected Nature Care College, and a clinical supervisor for over 10 years.

This Sunday 27 April

Narooma Rotary Markets – all hands on deck please. A few of our members are away so we will need all the help we can get.

The Week that Was

Last Thursday’s Business Networking breakfast, with a panel on Hybrid Working and Working Remotely, gave us all greater insight into what is becoming quite a normal way of working post Covid. While technology enabled it and Covid showed the way, it was the realisation that it’s possible to combine lifestyle without sacrificing careers that has seen this way of working flourish. Online Teams meetings are key. Cat Leach of Catfish Creative has summarised the meeting succinctly with a wonderful ‘live scribe’ done during the meeting.

Here are some highlights.

Françoise Cleret is Director of Cyber Security with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in Canberra. She spends about a week a month in Canberra; the rest working from home. Her skills are particularly in project management. She manages a team of 24 people who she has organised in four teams. Her biggest challenge is getting the right teams together that are able to work from home because it’s not for everyone. Another challenge is managing personalities.

Meredith Macpherson is Water and Regional Development Manager with the Central NSW Joint Organisation (CNSWJO), an organisation of 11 Councils and 1 water county council. Reliable internet is possibly her biggest challenge. She’s one of a team of nine, six of whom work remotely; she has a staff of one. Her office is in Bathurst. They meet online for an hour twice a week. Regular face-to-face meetings have fallen by the wayside replaced with frequent Teams meetings; over time Teams meetings have become more productive and meaningful. She travels to her region every 4-6 weeks and tries to coordinate all face-to-face meetings for that time.

Oliver Batten works with Destination Store a small team of seven destination specialists all of whom work remotely. Remote working allows him to juggle family life with work and noted the need for transparency. They do have an office in Surry Hills and they physically get together every quarter. Oliver works all over Australia in destination strategy, branding and managing online content. He uses the Fish Tank co-working space in Narooma.  

Graham Martin‑Dye is a Grain Broker with Delta Grain Marketing, working miles from any grain producing area. Regular communication with his grain producers and buyers is key. Reckons it was his 10 years working in the Harden area and his strong work ethic recognised by Delta that convinced the company he could work remotely and maintain the trust of his producers and buyers.  Graham also uses the Fish Tank one or two days a week.

David McInnes is a self-employed Consultant Geophysicist operating across Australia and overseas. Many of his clients are physically very remote in mines etc. His challenges are having the computer and internet capacity to handle up to 60GB of data. One of his biggest challenges is the lack of other geophysicists in the local area.

Out and About

Narooma Oyster Festival Big Breakfast

This is on the Sunday of the Oyster Festival 4th May, being organised by the Chamber of Commerce. Rotary is one of a number of organisations charged with delivering the breakfasts to several hundreds of Festival goers. If you can help, please contact David McInnes or Ann Hegerty if you haven’t already done so.

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

Plans are coming together, the number of registered riders are slowly growing as are donations. So here’s hoping for a great weekend 17-18 May. It will be a busy month with the Market the following Sunday.

NEXT THURSDAY 1 May

Board Meeting 5pm TBC – Julie is reviewing – may not have a quorum for this date.

Julie’s Jots

Last Tuesday was another great day when Ange, Chris and I attended the annual Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme in Moruya.  We accompanied the 140 Narooma High and Bateman’s Bay High Year 11 students on Tuesday.  It’s always a learning experience for both the students, teachers and volunteers.   This was my third year volunteering and I always come away knowing something I didn’t know before.

Planning for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is coming along well, thanks to Françoise and her team. I have put up posters in Bermagui this week and others are doing the local area.

We only had a small number at our Club Dinner last Thursday because quite a few members are away.

This Thursday is our Business Breakfast with an amazing 43 people booked to hear a panel five people speaking about the challenges of working remotely. We have such a great regular Rotary team who sets up and packs away each month; it’s a well-oiled operation. Thanks everyone.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 17^th 7am: Our Rotary Business Networking Breakfast with a panel on the challenges of working in this area remote from the office . Surf Club 7am sharp.

Saturday 19^th: Rotary Easter Saturday Races at Moruya – all proceeds to CAERH.

The Week that Was

RYDA again a great success

Over 300 Year 11 students from the five Eurobodalla high schools attended the two-day Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme last week at Moruya Jockey Club, the first organised by new coordinator Pam Williams of Batemans Bay Rotary.  

The three Rotary Clubs in Eurobodalla Shire collaborate on this wonderful service program with Moruya providing a wonderful lunch, Batemans By morning tea, and all Clubs providing volunteers and student transport.  This was the 17th year of delivering RYDA in Eurobodalla, with 3,500 students benefitting from the programme in this time.

Out and About

Encouraging DG Riders to make a weekend of it

We’re encouraging anyone coming to Narooma for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) on Sunday 18 May to think about making a weekend of it. Our DGR coordinator Françoise Cleret says speakers on Saturday night will talk about ‘Looking After Blokes’, showing how physiotherapy and pharmacy can work together to support men with prostate cancer, and in turn, their carers. Everyone’s invited, not just motorcyclists.

Pharmacist Brad Butt and physiotherapist Jamie Boulding from Canberra have expert knowledge, experience and training in men’s urological health.They’ll explore how early intervention, the right tools and a team approach can make a big difference. Please spread the word.

Special accommodation discounts on early bird bookings have also been organised for that weekend with Easts Holiday Park, Surf Beach Holiday Park, Whale Coast Realty and Ben Bate Real Estate.

Bega Rotarians and ANU students dance

Some neighbouring Rotary Clubs have a long and productive association with ANU Medical students training at our local hospitals. Last month Bega Rotary organised a very lively and enjoyable evening for ANU first year medical and psychology students at an old-fashioned bush dance at Kameruka Hall, part of their annual program of student experience in Bega. Twenty-three students spent four days in the Bega Valley gaining firsthand experience of a rural lifestyle; the idea was too encourage them to consider employment in the area once they are qualified.

This event was also for GPs new to the area, local medical staff, fourth year medical students and students on longer placements in the area. Bega Rotary supported the event by providing the BBQ for a total of 100 people ably assisted by hospitality students from the Sapphire Coast Anglican College. The next day Bega Rotary also supported medical students who were offering free blood pressure tests in Bega.

NEXT Thursday 24^th April

Our Dinner Speaker will be local naturopath Sally-Anne Bertram who will ‘Demystify Naturopathy’.

Sally Anne has practised as a naturopath at Grandpa’s Garden since 2021. She is a general practitioner treating men, women and children with asthma, allergies, women’s health issues, men’s prostate, autoimmune – you name it. She uses herbal medicine, nutrition, diet and homeopathy. Sally-Anne has been a lecturer in herbal medicine, nutrition and clinical studies and was Head of Natural Therapies at the then well respected Nature Care College, and a clinical supervisor for over 10 years.

Julie’s Jots

Last week’s Board meeting decided to donate $1,000 to ShelterBox for the earthquake affected areas of Myanmar. International disaster relief charity ShelterBox provides emergency shelter to those left homeless due to some disaster.

The Board also agreed to sponsor two Year 9 students from Narooma High to this year’s Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN); this year it’s in Sutton, ACT. Should that all go ahead, we can look forward to hearing reports from these students in late May.

Françoise also brought the Board up to speed on the DGR – see above poster and the report below.

This Tuesday Ange Ulrichsen, Chris O’Brien and I will join Narooma High Year 11 students to help out with Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) at Moruya Jockey Club. Our Club is paying for the two buses to transport students using funds raised from cooking breakfasts for the recent Honda Goldwing bike gathering.

I invite all Club members to a planning day for the new 2025-2026 Rotary year on Saturday 31 May at 2pm at Club Narooma. All Club members are encouraged to attend and have their say in what they would like to see our Club achieve.   If you are unable to attend, please write something down and submit it so that you don’t miss this opportunity 

THIS WEEK

Tuesday 8 April: Narooma High Year 11 students will attend the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme at Moruya Jockey Club, accompanied by three Narooma Rotarians.

Thursday 10 April 6 for 6.30pm: Club Dinner at Narooma Golf Club

The Week that was

Club ramps up for DGR next month

Françoise Cleret brought the Board up to date last week with plans for this year’s Narooma’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) for Prostate Cancer and Men’s Mental Health (Sunday 18th May). It’s our second and is shaping up to be even bigger and better than last year’s.

Last year 73 riders from Batemans Bay to Merimbula (many on classic or vintage styled motorbikes), ‘dressed dapper’, and raised $10,967 for these great causes. This year we’re expecting more.

Our DGR will be one of over 900 DGRs across 104 countries held that day. Francoise said they bring people together to celebrate these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ who ride them, men and women, while celebrating the power of community and making a lasting impact on men’s health worldwide.

All riders must register online before 18^th May to take part and ‘dress dapper’. www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma.  Should you wish to donate to the Narooma DGR, please also go online and support one or more registered Narooma riders or pillions. 

We’re also encouraging riders to come for the whole weekend with special accommodation deals, and we have special speakers organised for the Saturday night. More in the next Beacon

Recent District PETS and Club Development Day

Laurelle reported on some highlights for her at the recent District Day at Broulee, particularly the Membership session. DGE Rob Shore said on several occasions through the day: “Make sure every Rotarian in your Club is happy and proud to be a Rotarian. Get that right and our membership will grow.”

The membership session was presented by Simon Bernhard Yass Rotary President, up to that week the fastest growing club in the District. “ A couple of ‘memorables’ from Simon – “Membership is a marathon not a sprint.” “Membership doesn’t end with someone signing up… The total number of engaged members is what is most important.”

Laurelle also did a presentation on our Business Networking Breakfasts.

Out and About

After much negotiation, Moruya Rotary PP Shirl Cornish is off to the Philippines with two other Rotarians this week to finalise a Rotary Global Grant. This will be to support Roots of Health, a second generation US NGO with 44 staff, whose USAID funds were recently cut. Their programme has reduced the pregnancy rate in Puerto Princesa by 60%.

NEXT THURSDAY 17 April 7am

Our Business Networking Breakfast on the 17th will explore the challenges of remote and hybrid working from our area. Being able to work from home remote from the office has been a huge life-changer for many people, giving them the flexibility of combining their desired lifestyle with good jobs. It’s increasingly evident in our area. We will have a panel of five speakers.

1.  Meredith Macpherson, Manager of the Water Utilities Alliance with Central NSW Joint Organisation (CNSWJO) – an organisation of 11 Councils + 1 water county council

2. Graham Martin‑Dye, Grain Broker with Delta Grain Marketing

3. Françoise Cleret, Director of Cyber Security with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in Canberra.

4. Oliver Batten, Lead Destination Strategy & Impact with Destination Store. (DS is a small team of destination specialists)

5.  David McInnes, self-employed Consultant Geophysicist with Montana GIS, operating across Australia and overseas.

Our Business Breakfasts start at 7am sharp at Narooma Surf Club (upstairs – finishes at 8). We will start the panel at about 7.15 to allow time for questions at the end. Bookings by COB Monday 11 April via Laurelle are essential (Breakfast $10). If you know someone who works remotely in our area, please invite them but make sure they book in (to ensure both breakfast and a chair!!)

Julie’s Jots

March has been a busy but very successful month in every sense. My thanks to our wonderful team for all their hard work. It’s wonderful to see Ann driving again after her recent surgery and relishing her return to independence. We all wish Gordon and Di Bentley a quick recovery from Covid, and Gordon also a full recovery from his recent surgery. We’re all thinking of you.

Last week sounds like it was a fascinating night with a focus on Cobargo moving forward post fires. Thank you to Ronnie Ayliffe for her talk on the new Cobargo Resilience Centre currently under construction.

Our Business Networking Breakfast on 17 April promises to be really interesting when a panel of five business people will talk about the challenges of remote and hybrid working from our area.

Also this month we’re ramping up for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) on Sunday 18 May, thanks to Françoise Cleret and her team. It promises to be even more successful than our first DGR last year. Hope you can help on the day.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday 2^nd April 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club: Prostate Cancer Support Group

Thursday 3^rd April 5pm at Narooma Golf Club: Board Meeting

The Week that Was

Last Thursday Ronnie Ayliffe spoke passionately about the new Cobargo Resilience Centre (CRC) currently under construction on the western side of Cobargo’s main street. Ronnie is Vice Chair of the CRC Committee which is the primary recovery project for Cobargo’s main street. The buildings previously on this site were destroyed in the bushfire five years ago.

Construction is funded by a grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. The architect is TAKT Studio. The CRC will include a small exhibition space, a commemorative courtyard, a retail outlet for work by local artisans with the themes of resilience and hope, and a theatrette with capacity for 30. There were many questions; discussion continued after the meeting including about how the community could come together to make best use of the new centre.

Out and About

On RYDA next week

Our wonderful Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme is on next Monday and Tuesday at Moruya. Narooma High Year 11 students will attend on the Tuesday; Narooma Rotary is funding the two buses to transport them to and from the venue, and 3 of our Rotarians will be volunteers on the day. Batemans Bay Rotary provides morning tea; Moruya Rotary lunches.

Moruya Rotary’s newsletter explained RYDA rather well. It aims to reduce the number of teenagers killed and injured on our roads each year. The RYDA programme is a one day school excursion which involves six interactive sessions presented by professional facilitators.

The sessions include practical demonstrations of speed and stopping and hazards and distractions; discussions about rights and responsibilities and personality and its effect on decision making, as well as a powerful presentation by a speaker about the crash that changed their life. The programme provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to their safe and responsible behaviour as drivers and passengers.

ShelterBox to Myanmar

International disaster relief charity ShelterBox is responding to Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar which has also affected Thailand, China, Bangladesh, India and Laos. Buildings collapsed and homes destroyed leaving many people homeless and isolated. A rare plea for international humanitarian aid has been made by Myanmar authorities.

ShelterBox is sending an assessment team to Bangkok but its focus would be on Myanmar. They will look at what’s been happening, where the needs are, and how they could get aid to the affected population.

ShelterBox CEO Sanj Srikanthan said the charity had “a lot of work ahead” but it was “absolutely essential” to provide emergency shelter to keep people safe. ShelterBox has launched an emergency appeal as support was “crucial in making this response possible”.

NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 8 April: Narooma High Year 11 students will attend the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme at Moruya

Thursday 10 April: Club Dinner

Julie’s Jots

We had two great highlights this week – a very successful Pride of Workmanship Awards night at Club Dalmeny and another fascinating Business Breakfast. Thank you everyone who made these two events such a success; it was a big day.

On the Awards night… people who grow businesses contribute to the lifeblood of Narooma and are a key part of retaining our younger population and making Narooma a desirable place to live. We are proud of all the participants and wish them the very best.

We have our monthly market tomorrow, so all available hands on deck please. We have a few of our regulars away, so will be drawing on some of our wonderful Friends of Rotary.

THIS THURSDAY 27^TH

Thursday 27 March 6 for 6.30pm: DINNER SPEAKER – Ronnie Ayliffe on the new Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre. The CRC is the keystone rebuild and recovery project on the area of western side of the main street of Cobargo that was destroyed in the bushfire five years ago. TAKT Studio are the architects; construction is being funded by a $4.8M grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.

The Week that was

Business Breakfast

Thirty people booked in for last Thursday’s Rotary Business Networking Breakfast to hear Teresa Lever from Council on hard spend data from the summer period and from Narooma Rocks Chair Cath Peachey on the rapidly approaching Oyster Festival.

Teresa is Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation. She accesses card sales data to show how busy the peak season was, where people came from, their spend etc, and compare them with past years.

For Narooma, for the December 2024-January 2025, period visitors came from quite a dispersed market. Most (66%) came from NSW (mainly Queanbeyan, Palerang, Wollongong), 25% ACT, and 5% Victoria. Top suburbs were Goulburn, Jerrabomberra, Kambah and Monash. Mountain bike trails is attracting people from across Sydney. She reported on total local spend in this period, compared with visitor spend. She described this summer as “çruel’’ in that the peak New Year week spend collapsed after that first week, which corresponded to the national trend.

Teresa produced an interesting quiz which included total population in the Dalmeny to Tilba being 8,500, total number of businesses 660.

Cath Peachey said there are many new things at this year’s Oyster Festival (check out the website). She mentioned the feature events (most of which have sold out), the great line-up of celebrity chefs, and the band line-up on the Friday and Saturday. They are still looking for volunteers. She also mentioned the Big Breakfast on the Sunday being organised by the Chamber in association with various community groups including Narooma Rotary.

The accompanying Rock Oyster Week has events across the shire with many more businesses getting involved , many being oyster related. One aim of the NOF and Oyster Week is to encourage people to stay longer and spend more.

Valued employees recognised at Pride of Workmanship

Ten local businesses recognised valued employees at our annual Pride of Workmanship Awards at a special dinner at Club Dalmeny on Thursday. Awards co-organiser Françoise Cleret said these Awards are a highlight of the Club’s year with good reason. Our VP and MC extraordinaire David McInnes said they give local business people the opportunity to publicly recognise one of their staff who goes above and beyond.

“The number of nominations this year was fantastic and shows how much local businesses appreciate these Awards,” he said. Recognised were:

• Lewis Baker of Dalmeny Designer Kitchens
• Jim Sharpe of Estia Health Dalmeny                          
• Sophia Moody of Hear Well — Live Well          
• Sue Piazzoli of Maven Dental Narooma                        
• Sebastian Mellish of Mr Bold Catering Company        
• Makhenzie Mathie of Narooma Fishing & Dive
• Irene Baxter of She Fashion                                    
• Ella Moore of Southbound Escapes                             
• Cash Graham of  Southern Euro Plumbing                
• Sean Stent of Swan Plumbing                                                                

Co-organiser Laurelle Pacey said she is always quite moved by what employers say when nominating an awardee, and this year was no exception. Southern Euro Plumbing Neil Graham coming to the mike and giving his own heart-felt appreciation of his apprentice, his son Cash.

Unfortunately awardees Makhenzie Mathie, Ella Moore and Sean Stent were unable to attend.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 2^nd April 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club: Prostate Cancer Support Group

Thursday 3^rd April 5pm at Narooma Golf Club: Board Meeting