Lynn’s Lines
This week’s business breakfast was a huge success. With five different businesses talking about the upcoming season’s challenges and various solutions. Great discussions on numerous issues by many attendees.
This Thursday is our dinner meeting with former and our future exchange student. Should be an interesting evening, I’m looking forward to it.
This Sunday is our market day, with lots of terrific gift ideas for those hard to buy for people on your lists! Also Rotary and NSW Police will have a stall for raising awareness of Domestic and Family Violence and encouraging Respectful Relationships. This Rotary campaign is across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands and runs November-December.
THIS WEEK
Thursday – Dinner Meeting 23 November: Please invite family and friends to hear our five speakers on their experiences on Rotary youth exchanges. This will be a great night. This is a forerunner to Lachie Penglase’s exchange to Japan hosted by the Rotary Club of Ogaki in Nagoya. They are Vicki Abbott (Narooma Rotary’s first exchange student), Dr Fiona Kotvojs, Meredith Macpherson and Susanna Chung plus Sally Hearder (the E- Rotarian who will be helping out with hosting our inbound student next year). Please book in with John by Tuesday 1pm and let him know numbers.
Sunday – Narooma Market 26 November
All hands on deck please. This is our last market before Christmas (where did the year go!). A roster will be passed around at Thursday’s meeting.
On our Club’s efforts with the Domestic Violence Action President Lynn has been working hard to have a stall at this market with NSW Police and other local groups
The Week that Was
Our Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday was a great success with a panel of five inspiring local business people. David McInnes was MC. We had 22 people. They spoke about their businesses, the coming tourism season, its challenges and how they might meet them. As expected, lots of questions and not enough time.
Teaghan Abbott of Easts Holiday Park said the increased cost of living was resulting in some cancellations . They have a steady number of staff. Normally they see an increase in theft over the season, especially of alcohol. They are very excited about the mountain bike track and what that will mean for year-round tourism.
Tash Clutterbuck of Oyster Farmer’s Daughter has established a destination venue with a good vibe. Ideally she said they would open seven days a week but they just don’t have the staff.. Also supply issues particularly with oysters being a natural product. Orders week to week, ingredients have short shelf life and she doesn’t have large cool room storage. Can’t foresee supply chain e.g. last year the potato shortage had a huge impact. Trade out of season is a major challenge; delighted with anticipated impact mountain bike track will have on business through the year. Looking at developing the business – have a DA in. Love to work with other local businesses.
Karen McLellan of Oakleigh Farm Cottages shares similar expectations of mountain bike track. Have five cottages at Mystery Bay they rent out. When they took over management, there was a big offseason with low occupancy. Achieved 100% occupancy in two years. Now back up to 75-80% after Covid and fires. They made a strategic decision not to employ staff, have one casual when needed. Encourage people to stay longer and don’t turn over too many cottages in one day. They don’t do sales. Pricing is difficult but it works. They aim for customer experience – ensure they know what cafes and restaurants are open throughout the week to avoid complaints ‘nothing open on a Monday’. She works at the Job Shop at Council helping people find employment – 77 new jobs created last week.
Tilba Chamber of Commerce President Jo Major of Tilba Sweet Spot took over the business in the middle of Covid. Has great staff. Major issue is getting stock – 300 jars of lollies many ‘old school’ and a lot of English manufacturers have closed down over the last few years. One of Tilba’s challenges is buses, sometimes three in a day all wanting to eat at the same time.
Jo mentioned a number of programmes that are now coming into play as a result of Tilba’s Strategic Plan (inspired by Narooma’s) and bushfire and Covid grants obtained by the Chamber e.g. theatre and fashion parade.
Our very own Annemarie Narraway of Narooma Audiology is on the Narooma Chamber committee. She said the Chamber wants input on how they can support local businesses better. They have Carols by Candlelight at Club Narooma, are encouraging people to shop locally, and reintroducing local Business Awards.
That was our last Business Breakfast until after the busy season, resuming Thursday 15th February.
Ange in Nepal
Meanwhile, Ange Ulrichsen has arrived in Nepal and will be mainly based in the village of Maidi in central Nepal for three weeks to assist with the Nepal Friendship Project under Project Leader Mary Brell of Orange. This ongoing RAWCS project will include continuing teacher training to villagers plus assistance in agriculture and health issues. The group includes a number of students from Wellington High which raised $20,000 for the project. Looking forward to hearing all about it on Ange’s return.
Out and AboutReport from CAERH AGMJulie Hartley represented our Club at the AGM of the Carers’ Accommodation or Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Inc. (CAERH). She reports that all committee positions were filled with Cr Rod Pollock was re-elected President. The highlight of the morning was seeing the MG electric car which is the prize in the CAERH Art Union. Moruya Rotarian Col Jay was responsible for arranging the car and the tickets will be available from this week. The car is registered with South Coast Autos who have been very supportive in providing the car “on loan” until the Art Union has been drawn. Tickets cost $50. All three Clubs will have tickets to sell; Julie hopes to pick up our tickets later this week.
Bega Rotary is supporting the ‘Bega Valley Says NO to Domestic and Family Violence’ Campaign of awareness on Friday the 1st December.
Next THURSDAY 30th November
Fly from Everest at the Kinema
Climbing the world’s highest mountain and then paragliding down is not everyone’s dream, but such a dream drove Berry adventurer and Rotarian Ken Hutt.
Ken will join us at the Kinema for the screening of his film Fly from Everest. The film is our fundraiser for the global ‘End Polio Now’ campaign; 6.30 for nibbles with 7pm screening. All tickets $20. Please book through the Kinema 4476 2352. Dress-ups encouraged but please leave paragliders at home.
Last year 62 year-old Ken Hutt hoped to become the oldest man to achieve that feat, but illness on Everest thwarted him. His other major aim was to raise awareness and funds to continue the global fight to eliminate the paralyzing disease polio. He returned in July this year with fellow paraglider Marcus Loane and legally flew from Lobuche Peak near Everest to complete filming for this movie by Joe Carter.
They received publicity and support from around the world. “Our main aim was to get the polio message out there that and we achieved that,” he said. Ken is immensely proud of his team’s efforts; they also raised $300,000 for the cause with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.