Ange’s Thoughts
Last Thursday’s Rotary dinner was a full programme. Many attended including new faces Greg Heath and Nicole Keith who are interested in joining our club, much to our delight.
Our first speaker Lachie Penglase, who was accompanied by his father Tony, was our first speaker. Lachie, who turns 15 this year and attends Narooma High, took the initiative to approach our Club about hopefully becoming a Rotary International Exchange student. He spoke at length last Thursday about his keen interest in this wonderful global youth program. We were impressed by his apparent maturity and likeable personality which would support his aspirations culturally and linguistically to be hosted by families overseas.
Lachie’s preferred choice of country is Japan but he is aware that Rotary District has the final say. The next step in the process will be for Lachie to be interviewed at the District level to gauge his suitability. If successful, he would start his exchange aged 16. Thanks to Susanna Chung for following up with District about what is required. We wish Lachie good luck going forward and feel confident he would do our Club, Narooma High and Rotary proud.
After dinner, we enjoyed hearing David McInnes speak about his gold mine in the Central West, assisted by his technical cohort Rachel. Our loved geophysicist is such a dynamo. His enthusiasm for his new venture had us all riveted as he presented complex scientific data in this early phase of his exploration licence. Not only did he speak with passion about his gold mine, he then ran the wheel as well. What a great night!
THIS WEEK
Our Business Breakfasts resume at Narooma Surf Club this Thursday (16th) at 7am sharp. Our intended guest speaker Shaun Martyn of FairBreak Global is unfortunately not able to join us on Thursday. In Shaun’s stead we will hear from Lindsay Brown who is on the board of FairBreak Global (who I’m sure will be ‘channelling’ Shaun) and Karen Motyka who wrote the recently launched book about FairBreak, so it will still be a fascinating meeting.
Shaun runs this global organisation from his home in Narooma. FairBreak Board member Lindsay Brown will explain what FairBreak Global does and the challenges of running such an organisation from Narooma. FairBreak Global’s mission is to progress gender equality and equity on a truly global scale using cricket as their primary vehicle. They aim to create opportunities across sport, health, business, media, arts and education to empower women to pursue success in their chosen endeavour.
Lindsay will no doubt also mention the 2023 FairBreak Invitational tournament in Hong Kong 3-16 April when the biggest names in women’s cricket from all over the world will come together for a two-week tournament at the iconic Kowloon Cricket Club.
The Week that Was
Last Thursday
Ange has given an excellent overview of last week’s meeting, but a little more on David’s fascinating presentation. David’s latest passion is implementing geophysical knowledge gained over his 30 year career for his own company Weethalle Gold P/L, formed with a mate and their wives. They have a licence to explore for gold in an area near Weethalle, a small farming town on the Mid Western Highway, 60 km west of West Wyalong. His interest was sparked when glancing through some data collected at an earlier time, he noted a geological intrusion previously overlooked. He subsequently discovered it is an old gold mining area (1907 and 1927-1832). His ‘metal detector’ is a helicopter which when airborne suspends a large circular device (looks a bit like a giant peace symbol). The cost of exploration is ‘eye-watering’. What’s in it for David… seems to be more the thrill of the hunt rather a dream of than untold riches. At the end of David’s presentation, Mike Young challenged David to a show-down of his divining rods versus his helicopter metal detector. Watch this space…. .
On Clean Up Australia: Narooma Rotary has registered to do its usual stretch from Mill Bay to the Apex Park boat ramp and environs on Friday 3 March, meeting at noon at Mill Bay. Volunteers to date are Ange, Francoise, Laurelle, Gero and possibly David. If anyone else wants to help, please contact Laurelle.
On Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) on 4 April: Ange Ulrichsen and Nicole Keith have volunteered to accompany Narooma High Year 11 students on the day.
Out and About
Register for Merimbula Training
If you plan to go to District training at Merimbula on17-19 March, please register via the District website. This year, our District is inviting all club members to attend, not just the incoming Board. Everyone should find areas of interest in the Learning and Development sessions.
Julie Hartley is going for the whole weekend, a car load including Ange Ulrichsen and Laurelle Pacey (others still considering) will probably go just for the Saturday. The full programme is still being developed by the District team.
Our Rotary District’s flood response
While flood water has receded in the Central West and Riverina, communities in the most western parts of the district still have to deal with extensive water and damage to properties, crops and infrastructure. DG Geraldine Rurenga recently toured Eugowra. Relief action on a daily basis has ceased at Eugowra but some Rotary D9705 clubs continue to do things to help flood-affected communities.
- A Parkes Rotary team has cleaned up the sheds and sites used by Rotary over the last 10 weeks to manage physical good donations and provide kitchen and food services.
- Narrandera Rotarians are fencing with BlazeAid at Tichborne between Parkes and Forbes.
- The RCs of Forbes & Forbes Ipomoea have drawn on donations from Rotary clubs to provide cash card vouchers through the Rural Financial Counselling Service Catholic Care and Uniting Church Care. They are considering doing more of the same.
- RAWCS and the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS Project 46-2022-23) have purchased Gree air conditioning units to assist people getting back into the homes and doing further repairs. They’re being installed by volunteers.
- D9705 Flood Response Coordinator Tony Maple said District is considering further relief projects according to priorities identified by Eugowra community’s leadership. These include replacement kitchens, floor coverings, fences and garden sheds. District continues to welcome donations from Clubs in the District through RABS Project 46-3022-23.
NEXT THURSDAY – Cobargo Pub
We catch up with Bega Rotary’s President Phil McDonald and other Bega Rotarians at Cobargo Pub next Thursday (23 February) at 6pm. Please let Gero know if you are going. Some are car-pooling (make your own arrangements); departure from Narooma should be by 5.15pm at the latest. Hope to see you there.