Ange’s Chat
Seasons Greetings! I hope you are all loving our Summer break.
Thanks everyone for helping at our bumper December market on the 27th. As PE Andrew said, “it shows what a great team can do”. What’s more it was great fun and was enjoyed by a large crowd including many holidaymakers. If you haven’t already seen it, please check out Bob Aston’s promotional video on the market on our Facebook page. Thanks Bob.
Running the December market really was all hands on deck. We’re particularly grateful to Rotary friends Dave Swilks, Wayne Redman and Robin McLaughlin for helping out. A special thank you to Chris O’Brien for doing such a great job organising our stallholders.
We finished selling all the Australia Day Duck Race tickets at the market, apart from a few books still with people. That must be a record. Thanks to Michael O’Connor for his superb selling support and to CharmaineWhite’s family selling tickets with such gusto at the December market. We took $1,260 at the gate, van $739.10 (gross), the wishing well $417.45, and $1,450.85 from Duck tickets.
Many thanks to our barbecue team of Bob Aston, John Rungen, Andrew Lawson and Mike Young for helping out at the special holiday event for kids on Bill Smyth Oval earlier this month. Well done for flying our Rotary flag.
We have lots happening over the next two weeks. We start back into the swing of things with a social get-together with fish and chips this Thursday 21 January at Quota Park. Please make sure you give Chris O’Brien your orders to expedite things on the day (have you seen the queues!). Suggest you also bring a chair (maybe a small table) and good cheer.
Then on Sunday 24th it’s our January markets. Bob has sent the roster around; hopefully we can fill in any holes this Thursday. Thanks Bob and all.
Then on the 25th January our 2021 Rotary Tertiary Scholarship winner will be announced at the Australia Day ceremony at the Golf Club.
The next day, on Australia Day, we have our famous Duck Race with a 10am launch off the bridge. No doubt our Duck Race Manager Charmaine will be calling for helpers at our get-together on Thursday.
Then the following Thursday is our Youth night (see details below).
Look forward to seeing you this Thursday. Ange
THIS WEEK Thursday 21 January
This Thursday we are having a social holiday get-together at Quota Park (near Quarterdeck) 6pm for 6.30pm.
If you haven’t already done so, please let Chris O’Brien by Tuesday afternoon if you are coming (on 0408 489 247 or chrisob2@bigpond.net.au) if you are bringing any guests, and what you and your guests would like to pre-order. There are three options, all at $12. Option 1: Blue Grenadier & Chips; Option 2: Salt and Pepper Squid and Chips; Option 3: Snack Pack of 1 seafood stick, 2 fish cocktails and 2 calamari.
The Week that Was
Remembering PP Ted Bladwell
Much loved former President of our Club Ted Bladwell died recently and his funeral was held on the 7th. Our Club sent flowers as well as a tribute to Ted which was read out.
Ted became a great friend of mine and a wonderful mentor, a friendship initially forged through Rotary. Ted was secretary during my year as President in 2007-2008 and I couldn’t have wished for a better secretary. His mantra was …. “We can do this”….. and we did.
Ted was President after me and during his year we celebrated the Club’s 50th Anniversary. Ted was a real ‘doer’ and always so considerate. Many members, past and present, remarked on the wonderful ‘Sam and Ted team’, as Sam also became a much loved member of our Club. Their years in Narooma are remembered as fun and happy times. Our members’ memories of Ted included his commitment to Rotary and its ideals, and how he made it a priority each market day to take Rotary donuts to the staff at the caravan park in appreciation of them storing our food van. We were all sad when Ted and Sam moved north, but many of us have visited them when within striking distance of Toowoomba. Laurelle Pacey
Out and About
Our Rotarians lend a hand
Our Rotary Club was invited to cook a barbecue for a holiday event for kids at Bill Smyth Oval on the 12th. It was sponsored by Campbell Page, Mission Australia, PCYC, Save the Children, Headspace, the NSW Police Force and Eurobodalla Shire Council. Thanks to PP Charmaine for liaising with Tanya Borge of Campbell Page which led to our involvement.
NSW Police provided the sausages etc while our expert team of Bob Aston, John Rungen, Andrew Lawson and Mike Young manned the barbecue. We cooked on our old gas BBQ because there was no electricity supply at the Oval amenities block due to major construction works at the site. Fortunately, the gas bottles were full but we identified the need for fitness classes for Rotarians after having to lift the gas BBQ over the oval fence (all gates were locked!).
PCYC organised activities for the children, including archery lessons (with the arrows pointing at targets away from roads and houses), inflated ‘bump balls’ where the kids could roll around inside a big inflated ball (like a donut) and bang into each other without any damage. It was hilarious to watch. So was the ‘backyard’ cricket which attracted all the sponsor representatives as well as the kids. Save the Children provided some fun activities for very young children, their parents and carers. It was a privilege to meet many of the kids and observe their excitement from taking part in this event. Headspace had a stand which offered mental health services for 12 to 24 year olds.
The numbers of kids were less than expected, perhaps highlighting the need for more promotion for any future event. The fact it was also a very good beach day may have affected numbers. A similar event was run at Moruya the day before and at Batemans Bay the following day. Mike Young
NEXT WEEK Thursday 28 January
Next Thursday is our annual Youth Night back at the Golf Club. It will be a great night with our 2021 Rotary Scholarship winner, some past scholars and Narooma High principal Fiona Jackson. Please let Rod know numbers by the Tuesday before.