Bob’s Blog
Last Thursday Narooma High School’s Hospitality Class catered for us at the school. Under the watchful eye of their teachers, students prepared a most enjoyable meal for us all. We were also joined by Relieving Principal John Melville and five Student Representative Council Leaders.
The students answered our questions with authority and enthusiasm and we had an opportunity to tell them a little about the work of Rotary. Hopefully we got the message across about the range of youth programs Rotary offers. Profits from the dinner will go towards the purchase of equipment for the Hospitality Class. The hours put in by the students preparing and serving the meal will count towards their mandatory ‘on the job’ hours.
Our next Market is on Sunday 25 March. Rod Walker is managing the roster because John and Sandra will be away for the weekend. We still need a volunteer of two, so if you can help out please check the roster by clicking here.
Does the Eurobodalla have a drug and alcohol problem? Moruya Rotary, with the assistance of our Club and Batemans Bay Rotary, will hold a Drug and Alcohol Forum at St Mary’s Performing Arts Centre on Monday 9 April. Guest speaker will be Professor Gordian Fulde from St Vincent’s Hospital. Please support this event if you can.
This week, our guest speaker is Paul Payten. Paul is a dedicated conservationist who will talk to us about preserving our wonderful forests and national parks.
Have a good week
Bob
Out and about
International Women’s Day
At our top night last week at Narooma High’s Hospitality dinner, President Bob proposed a toast to women and International Women’s Day (IWD), as well as providing a potted history of women’s suffrage around the world and women in Rotary, especially our Club. The reason for this was that our meeting coincided with IWD (always 8 March), a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political divisions. Interestingly Bob reported that the day originated in socialist and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations. Narooma Rotary’s first female member, and then our first female President was Georgina Staley.
First DG for new District has been selected
The District Governor Nominating Committee has selected PP Michael Moore AM from the Rotary Club of Canberra as the first District Governor of our new District 9705 for 2020-21.
Applicants were interviewed by the Committee on 10 March. That committee comprised current District Governors, District Governor Elects, and District Governor Nominees from Districts 9700 and 9710, and was chaired by PDG Stephen Humphreys from District 9675. Should anyone wish to challenge the committee’s decision, they have until 26 March to lodge their objection to District Governor Steve Hill.
District 9710 Conference
The District Conference is at Mittagong 25-27 March. Conference registrations close this Sunday at 9pm. The link on the District Website will then be removed and no further bookings can be accepted.
Have a say on Health Service planning in Eurobodalla
Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) is developing a Clinical Services Plan (CSP) to provide direction and priorities for clinical services in the Eurobodalla over the next 10 years. They have invited our Club to have some input. They would like a Club representative to attend their care planning sessions, ideally someone to each session but not necessarily the same person.
The two Narooma sessions are:
Wednesday, 21 March 9.00am – 1.00pm: Rehabilitation / Aged Care Model of Care development – Narooma Community Health Centre Meeting Room
Wednesday, 21 March 1.00pm – 5.00pm: Surgical Services Model of Care development – Narooma Community Health Centre Meeting room
Other sessions are at Batemans Bay Community Health Centre on the Thursday and Friday – Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Model of Care development, Critical Care Services Model of Care development, Medical Care Services Model of Care development and Child and Family Services Model of Care development. If you are interested in going to any of these, please email your details to susan.walsh3@health.nsw.gov.au along with any special dietary requirements; lunch will be provided at all sessions (RSVP by 19 March).
They are also looking for general community feedback. Survey forms are available at Narooma Community Health Centre or online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Eurocommunity
Be kind to yourself – check your bowels
This year’s BowelCare campaign lasts from 1 April to 31 May with kits available from local pharmacies during that time for $15.00 each. This price covers pathology testing and notification of results to both the participant and their nominated Doctor.
It is recommended that ALL men and women over 40 have a BowelCare test every year. Australia has the world’s highest incidence of bowel cancer with 1 in 12 men and women diagnosed with bowel cancer by the age 85. Age is an important factor. The risk begins at age 40, doubling every 5 years and more rapidly as the person gets older. Statistics show 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully cured if detected at an early stage. Early detection leads to an improved prognosis and less severe treatment.
BowelCare is a not-for-profit Rotary community service which commenced with the view of providing the public with an affordable annual bowel screening program. Interestingly the involvement of individual Rotary Clubs in the BowelCare program has changed from a very ‘hands on’ approach to distributing kits and publicity, to last year’s head office not encouraging any local involvement. Maybe that was partly the reason for fewer kits being sold. This year we might resume our normal BowelCare publicity to encourage greater participation.
Cheers
Laurelle