THIS THURSDAY 15 December
Looking forward to your Christmas cheer at our Christmas Party this Thursday at 6pm at the new ‘Six and Out Café’ in Bodalla (the old Malibu Mex and more recently the Downward Dog). We’re out the back in the covered courtyard. There’s some parking behind and elsewhere along the highway. The Club is providing some wine on the tables (licenced). Please also note that, instead of the usual $10 Christmas present for another member, this year we’re asking for a $10 cash donation for the Narooma OzHarvest group to support local disadvantaged families in our Community through the Festive Season. See you there.
The Week that Was
Our Club moves forward
It is doubtful if our Club has ever experienced anything quite like last week… Despite some upsets in the first part of the Board meeting last Thursday, the Board managed to finish on a brighter note after adjourning for dinner and the AGM.
The AGM was a sombre affair. First members heard via Andrew Lawson’s email that he was stepping down as President and resigning from the Board for several reasons including ill health and spending much of the next six months in the UK; that was read by Julie Hartley in Andrew’s absence. Then members heard from Bob Aston that he will resign from the Club from 18 December after completing his involvement in this year’s awarding of the Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholarship. Their resignations were received with much sadness by those present.
The President’s report for 2020-2021 was read at the AGM (as printed in the Changeover Beacon) which was something of a slight tonic reminding everyone of just what we do achieve. The AGM will reconvene in a couple of months to approve the financial report once it is audited. (It was good having the advice of our Public Officer Rod Walker and our Area Governor Adam de Totth on hand.)
The elections for the 2023-2024 Board resulted in David McInnes as Vice President, Gero Mitchell Secretary, and Susanna Chung, Lynn Hastings, Laurelle Pacey and Ange Ulrichsen as directors. The President’s, Treasurer’s and President Elect positions are casual vacancies; the Club will see how the next couple of months develop.
The results of the Catering Survey were announced after the AGM. The majority of members favoured continuing catering at the markets and elsewhere. They also favoured purchasing a new catering van over a trailer and marquee. The Board will set up a subcommittee to expedite these.
Board Meeting resumes: After the AGM, the Board and other members reminded themselves of all the good the Club does in our community, especially with our youth, and of the Club’s excellent reputation earned over many years. Consensus was a determination that will continue. Decisions made at the Board meeting included:
- Topping up the money raised at the recent Kinema Film Night to $1,000 to donate to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative via The Foundation. [The recent Film Night raised $399 from tickets plus $175 from the raffle plus $40 donation from Andrew Lawson, making $614.] Interesting to note that will become $3,000 to the Polio Initiative with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation two-for-one contribution.
- Donating $1,000 to District 9705 Flood Appeal through RAWCS Project No: 32-2022-23 Central West New South Wales communities flood relief funds distribution Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS). (The specific purpose is to distribute donated funds to people affected by the floods in Central West New South Wales communities. Donations to this project are tax deductible, should anyone also like to donate).
We move on and look forward to a rejuvenated Club in 2023 after a Christmas-New Year break. There is a proposal to have a special Board meeting in early January (current board members will be consulted re time and place), and a Club picnic in Rotary Park in mid-January with possibly takeaways. More details to come.
School Presentations
The prestigious Bill Borlase Rotary Memorial Awards to the Boy and Girl Duxes of Narooma Public School were proudly presented last week to Eddie Heathcote and Sarah Brooks by Laurelle Pacey on the Club’s behalf.
The Club makes this major award each year, following money given by Bill to the Club in 1971 for this award. The Club also finances an honour board to record the name of each recipient at the school.
Ange Ulrichsen is presenting two Rotary prizes to students at Narooma High School on Wednesday this week. Each year our Club presents the Narooma Rotary Club Citizenship Award and the Jack and Joy Ings Art Prize (sponsored by former Narooma Rotarian and PDG Jack Ings and his wife Joy).
Our Australia Day Duck Race
Our annual Duck Race (organised by Julie and Mike) – we have many tickets to sell and then all hands will be needed on the day please. Publicity coming at the end of this week but all markets posters and adverts mention duck tickets will be on sale.
Out and About
From Moruya Rotary on Homelessness
In July, Moruya Rotarians heard about homelessness in the Shire from Anglicare which included their inability to cope with the numbers seeking shelter. This led to conversations with Council. Last week new Moruya Rotarian Rhonnie South from Council summarised how Council had responded.
Working with Homeless Support Services (SHSS) during the winter months, access to hot showers and free laundry services were needed. Council installed two PayWave Kiosks at Moruya and Narooma laundromat facilities, and paid for a commercial dryer at the St Vincent de Paul Society Support Centre in Batemans Bay. All three town centres now have facilities to wash and dry clothes. Council leased and installed two portable shower and hot water units at the North Head Camp to service the 50 homeless people reported to be living on site. This arrangement will end this December.
Coming Up
Thursday 29 December: Our December Holiday Markets (roster to be finalised at Christmas Party)
Early January: proposed Board meeting TBC
Thursday 12 January: proposed Club get together in Narooma Rotary Park for takeaways fish ‘n chips or whatever. TBC.
Thursday 26 January: Our annual Duck Race – many tickets to sell and then all hands needed on the day please
Thursday 2 February: Our Youth Night is our first night back after our holiday break. We will celebrate the 2023 winner of our Tertiary Scholarship, and as well as past scholars (see above). Hopefully we will also be joined by our MUNA (Yeshe Smith MacPherson, Jack Lenihan and Ella Hemstead) and RYPEN (Phoebe Coxon and Talon Keith) students again, their families and teachers.
