The 1000km Walk.
Michael takes off for the 1000km walk in about three weeks time. Last week he spoke to the Cooma Rotary Club about the walk, this Thursday he will be at Batemans Bay drumming up support. Below is an article that appeared in some digital editions of the Narooma News about Michael’s presentation at Cooma.
COOMA ROTARY CLUB GIVES A HELPING HAND TO NAROOMA ROTARIAN
Last Wednesday (8 February) Narooma Rotarian Michael O’Connor attended the Cooma Rotary Club and received a great welcome from their President Mark Cooper and members. He and coach Murphy (his dachshund) travelled to Cooma on Wednesday to explain why he is walking 1000km, starting in about three weeks time.
Michael talked about why he is walking 1000km and how walking that distance with 22kg on your back takes some planning: preparing food; posting it to places along the Bibbulmun Track where he is walking and planning for all kinds of weather, snakes, ticks, spiders etc.
As one insightful Cooma Rotarian said to Michael, “You know there are easier ways to raise money.” His reply was “But I have the joy of knowing as I make my 1.5million steps over beaches, hills, forests and bush that I am walking for two causes I am passionate about, END POLIO and the kids in Rang’I Kenya.” He does admit that a bit of madness (in the nice sense) does help.
Cooma Rotarians passed his bucket around and raised $365 to go towards The Rotary Club of Narooma’s 1000km Epic Walk. What a sum of money from just 30 at the meeting giving that these Rotarians are constantly giving their time and money to worthy causes.
It got even better as he and Murphy went to have breakfast at, you won’t believe it, MURPHY’S CAFÉ in Cooma where Mark JN, the Sergeant at Arms for Cooma Rotary owns and runs it (Michael did not know this). He immediately offered if you have a collection box I will put it on the counter and we might get some more support for you.
It is experiences like that that makes being a Rotarian very rewarding according to Michael.
Michael said to Narooma News, I don’t mind if people think I am nuts at 68 years of age (closer to 69) to do this as long as they think “Wow if he is doing this for these causes they MUST BE WORTH SUPPORTING.”
You can donate to The Rotary Club of Narooma Inc PO Box 151 Narooma NSW 2546 or BSB 082-744 A/c 823614070 or on the Everyday hero website.
The Week that Was
The highlight of last Thursday’s meeting was the induction of Joan Morgan into our Club. Joan was introduced by Chris O’Brien and inducted by President Michael. Welcome to Joan and her partner Rob Wilson.
We were also fortunate to have Carl McEvoy our 2015 Tertiary Scholar with us. Carl gave a short presentation on his studies in Film and Writing at the University of Technology, Sydney. In the past year he has written a short screen play that was voted as outstanding by his peers as well as making a short film. This year he hopes to further develop his film making and writing skills.
President Michael gave the three minute talk, updating us on his preparations for his epic 1000km journey to raise funds to help end polio and to support Rang’I school in Kenya. Michael also passed around some samples of the food he will be eating along the way; all I can say is good luck Michael!Rang’I Kenya Rang’I Kenya Friends of Rang’I
Our guest speaker was Vic May. Vic told us about his struggles with drugs and alcohol and his determination to beat his addictions. He also told us how he had turned things around and now works with others to help them beat their addictions. Vic proved to be a brave person with a passion to help others – a most inspiring speaker.
The Winners
Pudding! Laurelle (10)
Wine Rod (28)
Port Mike Young (13)
Maltesers Anthony (15)
The Week Ahead
At very short notice we were able to secure the premiere of ‘Lion’ at the Kinema as a fundraising event to support Michael’s walk. A big thank you to John and Jeanette from the Kinema for offering us the premiere. Please invite as many friends as possible to come along on Thursday to support Michael’s walk and to have a fun night out.
Lion tells the story of five year old Saroo who gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of kilometres across India away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his last family and finally return to his first home.
Lion has been adapted from the true story ‘A Long Way Home’ by Saroo Brierley.
See the trailer below.
Clean Up Australia
The Club as volunteered to assist with Clean Up Australia on Sunday 5 March. The project has now been running for 26 years with volunteers having removed 331 thousand ute loads of rubbish at over 166 thousand locations across the country.
A great effort to clean up waterways, parklands and beaches in our beautiful corner of the world.
Our Club will be responsible for the section from Mill Bay to Apex Park. PP Ang is the coordinator for our Club. Please let Ang know if you can help out. Her contact details are ang.9dragonfly@gmail.com or mob 0422103757.
The clean-up will commence at 9:00am at Mill Bay on the 5th. Wear some sturdy shoes and bring along a pair of gloves.
Next Week
There will be no meeting next Thursday, instead we will join with Moruya and Batemans Bay Clubs at Moruya next Wednesday. Please let Bob Antill know as soon as possible if you are attending.
