Bob’s Blog
Hello everyone
We had a great turn out on Saturday to say farewell to Bob and Merinda Antill. It was especially pleasing to have past District Governors Maureen Manning and Phil Armstrong in attendance, as well as Phil’s wife Kim.
Bob and Merinda have made a significant contribution to Narooma in general and our Club in particular over many years. Bob has been president of our club on two and half occasions, and held many Board positions as well as being Assistant District Governor for the past three years. Bob has been the glue that has held the Club together for many years. He was the public face of Rotary representing us across the community. He also played a significant role in just about all of our projects and community events. Bob was also a highly regarded photographer, bus driver and landscape gardener for the past 25 years.
Merinda also played a significant role in Rotary as Bob’s partner. She often performed at Rotary events and meetings, taught us about music, playing for us and leading those who could sing to entertain us. Within the community Merinda’s passion for music was always evident. She led the community choir, helped students prepare for their HSC music exams, tutored primary school students in music and played a significant role in her church.
It was a great privilege to recognise Bob with a third Paul Harris Fellowship and Merinda with her first. We wish Bob and Merinda all the best in their new home at Lake Conjola.
This Thursday we were going to hear from Rotary International Director Noel Trevaskis, but in view of us having so many away, I have asked Noel to come later in the year, possibly in July.
Have a great week.
Out and About
Attendance at meetings
We haven’t worried too much about notifying apologies and the attendance of guests since we moved to the Golf Club. We discussed this at last week’s Board meeting and decided we should reintroduce the system of notifying apologies and attendance of guests. If you will be absent from a meeting or if you plan to bring a guest please notify President Bob by email by 4pm Tuesday. Thanks. Bob
Last Thursday – Inside Peace
Our special guest last week was Cheryl Walker who spoke about an award winning documentary ‘Inside Peace’ on the power of peace to change prisoners’ lives. The film tells of the experience of four inmates at Domenguez State Jail in Texas who attend a Peace Education Programme and begin to rebuild their lives. The programme featured in the film has been run globally in prisons, health, education and many other organisations. The programme is basically a workshop to help people discover inner resources and find personal peace. The film will screen at the Kinema on Friday 1 June at 7.30pm and Saturday 9 June at 2.30pm. Fifty per cent of ticket sales will go to Mental Health Research through Australian Rotary Health.
Cheryl is also looking to run the programme locally.
Busking Update
The signs are up and the excitement in our community is mounting with only about 10 days now until the Busking Festival on Saturday 26 May.
Festival coordinator Sandra reports that busker registrations have been rolling in from across the region, from Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong, Victoria and across south eastern NSW. As of last weekend she had 55 entries with a few more still on the way which translates to over 200 performers from the Plaza to the Flat. Entries range from country, blues, jazz and rock, to Scottish bagpipes, dancers, poets and circus acts. There are more bands this year compared with last, but Sandra is disappointed there are few entries from secondary students in Narooma.
The busking Festival is the final event in the River of Art Festival which will be launched this Thursday night in Narooma.
For those unfamiliar with the event, each act will play through the day at three or four of the 35 busker hot spots around town that are sponsored by the adjacent businesses. A programme detailing the location of each hot spot with a timetable for each act (9am-3pm) will be available online and on the day from an information stall opposite the Ice Creamery on the Flat, the Visitors’ Centre and from the roving Busker Vote sellers who will be wearing a Rotary vest.
Every spectator can vote for their favourite busker for the People’s Choice prize of $1,000 by buying a special busker vote from our sellers; each vote costs $1. Those votes are collected from each busker at the end of the day to determine the winner. The busker gets 10 cents from each $1 vote. Each busker keeps any coin they collect. Narooma’s four judges will be roaming around listening to all competitors throughout the day, with the overall winner’s prize also $1,000. The Festival culminates with a free concert at Narooma Golf Club by finalists at 5pm and the presentation of prizes.
Narooma Lions, Quota, CWA and VIEW Clubs are helping on the day, as well as many other volunteers.
From our 2018 Tertiary Scholar Alicia Bates
Secretary Sandra has received a note from the United States from our 2018 Tertiary scholar Alicia Bates who is enjoying a gap year before starting university in 2019.
I have been in the States for two months now and loving it. The culture is so different and such a worthwhile experience. I did my very touristy look around Texas within my first week. They really do do bigger. Cars, food, cities you name it. Cars, food, cities, I definitely see why it can be hard to find good too. I’m very settled into the small town of Como. Much more expansive than the size of Tilba considering they have the same population. The farm is gorgeous and the family are amazing people. Hope all is well back home.