NAROOMA ROTARY BEACON 22 AUGUST 2024

Julie’s Jots

What a lovely dinner we had at Lynch’s pub on Thursday.  I’m sure all those who went enjoyed themselves.    

President Julie Hartley

I attended the Carers’ Accommodation for the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital committee meeting in Moruya last Friday. Construction of the new hospital is now officially underway.  The committee is in the process of getting a website up and running over the next few weeks.

With our exchange student Hilma and one of her host mothers Sally Hearder, I attended a weekend in Canberra for incoming and outgoing exchange students and their families. This was an information weekend to help them adjust to their 12 months here and away. Our district has 11 outbound students and 7 inbound. Previous exchange students spoke about their experiences.  

I’m looking forward to hearing this week from our Narooma High team who participated in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra at the weekend. We sponsor a team from Narooma High each year to this amazing event, thanks to the efforts of Ange Ulrichsen who dropped in on the students at the weekend. It is always a great evening hearing back from these students so please invite partners and friends.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 22nd August: MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team reports back to us on their experience at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra. Please contact Gero and let her know by Monday night (cost $30) if you are coming or not and if you are bringing guests (she needs names as well as numbers).

Sunday 25th August: Our Market

David McInnes will circulate the Market roster through the week with any gaps still to be filled in finalised on Thursday night. 

The Week that Was

Narooma High students at MUNA

Our Narooma High team in action at MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team took part in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra at the weekend, thanks to their teacher Monique Wicks. The team of Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 represented the United Kingdom. Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay played the role of UN General Secretary.

As usual it was a great experience for our students debating UN Resolutions and mingling with other schools. At the official dinner on Saturday night, the Keynote Address was by Lorraine Finlay. Ange Ulrichsen

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians last week welcomed back distinguished violinist Reuben Levi Oddy and his family. Reuben was born in Moruya but is now based in Nuremberg. He specialises in German classical music, having studied under a host of esteemed tutors and professors in Germany along the way.  He is currently touring with Ukrainian pianist Elena Nikulina performing German classical pieces by Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn.

Distinguished violinist Rueben Levi Oddy

Moruya President Allan said it was a great pleasure to welcome back Reuben and his family. Moruya Rotary assisted him in the early days of his journey to where he is today in the heart of the classical music world. He greatly appreciates that early assistance judging by his dropping in on the Club when back in Australia.

Moruya Rotary assisted Reuben 10 years ago with a scholarship when he was first starting out on his musical journey. He has certainly grown both professionally and personally over that time. Moruya Rotarian Rohan Gleeson, then a District organizer of Youth Exchange, organised “some magic” with Berlin Rotary Clubs under the New Generations Exchange Program, so that Reuben would be accommodated by a German Rotary family while he applied for entrance to any of five Academies in Germany. Two years later, in 2016, he was home on semester leave from the Detmold Hochschule Für Musik. The Detmold Hochschule Für Musik set him on an academic path; he has completed his Masters and is currently studying for a pedagogy degree. He can be called on two or three times a week to play with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches young players. He began by playing the cadenza of a Bach Concerto, before speaking of his career and the extent to which he recognises Rotary in its formation.

What a great example of Rotary helping local youth achieve their dreams.

NEXT THURSDAY 29th August

No Meeting being the fifth Thursday in the month.