Bob’s Blog
Hello Everyone
Sadly last Friday’s Oyster Festival Community Night had to be cancelled due to persistent high and dangerous winds. I know this must have been a difficult decision for the organisers; however, given the circumstances, I think they make the correct decision. Unfortunately for us we missed an opportunity to make some much needed funds for our charity account. Fortunately we were able to freeze the meat and donate perishables to other charities. Thanks to all those who volunteered to man the van and barbecue.
Also on a positive note we gave the van a great ‘spring clean’ inside and out in preparation for the Festival, thanks to John Doyle, Ashley and Laurelle who did a great job cleaning and polishing. The van is sparkling, especially after John and Ashley cleaned the roof.
Last Thursday’s meeting was a bit of a mixture. We started at Peter Bull’s place for another in our series ‘a Rotarian presents’. Peter talked to us about his work as a Chiropractic Radiographer; he reviews x-rays from all over Australia and even the UK and works for a company where everything is done remotely. Their radiographers and admin staff have never actually met and worked together face to face. Peter’s pride and joy is his dictation system that allows him to complete reports without having to use a keyboard.
When we arrived at the Golf Club for dinner, we were joined by PCYC Far South Coast Club Manager Jason Hough and three other Police representing PCYC. Their speakers gave us an interesting insight into the history and role of PCYC (PCYCs were originally started with the help of Rotary). One of the main issues for the Far South Coast is how the PCYC can effectively operate as an outreach service covering town and communities from Batemans Bay to Eden.
I will fill you in on the weekend’s District Assembly at Batemans Bay on Thursday.
Have a great week everyone
Out and About
Last week
Last week we had surprise guests from Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW (PCYC).They included CEO Dominic Teakle, Regional Manager Ian Kirk, Far South Coast Manager Jason Hough, and NSW Police Youth and Crime Prevention Command Superintendent David Roptel. We were lucky to have them as Dominic, Ian and David were on a familiarisation trip to the Far South Coast Club. It was only a chance conversation between President Bob and the local PCYC Manager Jason that led to them all (except Jason) joining us for dinner.
Jason spoke about the outreach model used by the Far South Coast Club, given that his area of responsibility covers both Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Shires. He said the Club has been running activities along the coast including archery at Narooma, Zumba Kids at Moruya and soon Junior Fitness at Eden and Bega. He will be forming two management committees, one for each Shire, and is looking for Rotary members to join those committees.
Dominic spoke about the long association between PCYC and Rotary beginning with the establishment of the first Police Rotary Boy’s Club in Woolloomooloo some 80 years ago. PCYC want to acquire two hubs in the Far South Coast from which to base their operations, with activities radiating out from the hubs as well as within them. He indicated that PCYC liked to own and manage their facilities so that other programs and groups could use then in PCYC downtimes (during the day when kids are at school etc) to maximise their use and to raise funds.
He also hopes to acquire two small eight seater buses, one for each Shire, to transport participants to their activities. To achieve this he is looking for a friendly car dealer who may be willing to provide buses at a reduced cost as part of a sponsorship program, as well as fundraise for their purchase.
Superintendent David Roptel has just taken up the role of Commander of the NSW Police Youth and Crime Prevention Unit and spoke about the value of engaging with local communities to strengthen relationships between Police and the public. He gave as illustration the support local indigenous residents gave to police in Redfern at a particularly difficult time for their community.
All in all a great night and the PCYC team has given a lot to think about and perhaps a different avenue to support our young people. Lynda Ord
Bega runs RYDA 15-17 May
Bega Rotary is coordinating RYDA for Bega Valley and the Monaro on 15-17 May at Frogs Hollow Go Kart Track south of Bega. This is where Narooma High students first attended RYDA before Batemans Bay and Moruya Rotary Clubs took up the challenge to run one in the Eurobodalla. The Bega programme runs over three days to accommodate the 500 or so Year 11 students from Bega High, Eden Marine High, Bombala High, Lumen Christi Catholic College, South Coast Anglican College, Monaro High, Jindabyne Central and Mallacoota P12 College.
Sydney Male Choir Concert in Bega for Tathra Fire Appeal
You are invited to a special concert in Bega on Thursday 10 May to hear the Sydney Male Choir. This is the first time the choir, one of the most respected in Australia, has toured to the Far South Coast. Bega Civic Centre has partnered with the Choir to present a fundraiser performance 2:00pm – 4:30pm in the Civic Centre Auditorium. Admission is a gold coin donation with all proceeds going to support the Tathra community through the Mayoral Appeal Fund. If going, please book through www.trybooking.com/380708
NEXT WEEK IS A PARTNERS’ NIGHT with special guest speaker RI Director Noel Trevaskis who will speak on ‘The Rotary Story; Yours and Mine’. Noel is currently a member of Narooma’s ‘mother club’, the Rotary Club of Bega. He is on the Board of Rotary International (2016-2018) representing Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia and the South Pacific Islands (Zones 7 and 8). He was our District Governor 2005-2006, and a past Board member and Chairman of Australian Rotary Health. Check out the bulletin’s calendar for more information on Noel.
On a lighter note, courtesy Peter Bull
I was in the express lane at the supermarket quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the person ahead of me had slipped into the lane pushing a trolley piled high with groceries.
Imagine my delight when the cashier looked into the cart and asked, ‘So which six items would you like to buy?’ Shame that doesn’t happen more often…