Lynn’s Lines
and Chris O’Brien at the District Conference last weekend
So much has happened over the last 10 days. The Falcon car show was a great success. We set up a bit early, but from 9am on the van was busy all day! Gross takings were just under $1,400.
The Business Breakfast talk by Vicki Abbott on the family business was a real eye opener to the world of fishing. From the good old simpler days, to the need for controls and fisheries fees to reporting every fish caught, to restricting boats use due to exorbitant fuel costs, to expanding to Vanuatu and helping the emerging industry there, as well as making friends and helping out wherever they can.
Three of us went to the District 9705 Conference in Queanbeyan – Ange, Chris and me. Speakers and food were fantastic. Lots of information on a wide variety of issues. One is Rotary partnering with NSW Police to raise awareness and advocate against domestic and family violence with a special campaign on 1st December – “Together we say yes to respectful relationships”. More details to come
Our Sunday Market was another success even with a few windy gusts thrown in. Very good results: gate $995, gross van $695, wishing well $77.55. Thanks to our Rotary friends who helped out at the weekend, as well as our Rotary team.
Last but not least…. our Food Van Grant has come through, thanks to Bendigo Bank’s sorting. The funds are being transferred as we go to print. Congratulations everyone! Thank you Laurelle, Francoise and David.
On another note, we need as a Club to make our thoughts on regionalisation known to District and vote on delegates before the end of the month. There have been several notes on this issue in Beacons over recent months, plus another in this week’s Beacon. Deadline is this Friday.
THIS THURSDAY 26th October
A dinner meeting with guest speaker Eurobodalla Shire Council General Manager Warwick Winn. Warwick will speak about his background and plans for Eurobodalla Shire. Please invite friends and family; many will no doubt have a few questions. It promises to be a top night. Please make sure you let John know by Tuesday early afternoon if you are coming/not coming.
The Week that Was
Business Breakfast – Vicki Abbott
What a great talk by Vicki Abbott from Narooma Seafood Direct at last Thursday’s Business Breakfast. Vicki told the story of the family’s fishing business from her father Des starting in Narooma in 1950 to now diversifying to include Vanuatu. It was so fascinating we almost went over time!
Vicki remembered as a five-year-old being on the boat with Des, helping with the catches. Des also had the ‘Island Run’ taking supplies out to lighthouse keepers and their families on Montague Island (the keepers only left the Island about once a year!)
Expanding the family business recently to Vanuatu was prompted by a loss of fishing areas, high costs and low prices. Vicki said unfortunately, as with many other industries, there is a general lack of young people interested in entering the industry. Three small boats owned by the business are there now, not only for fishing; one also provides a service transporting bodies between islands!
The Abbotts are helping Vanuatu fishermen better their local fishing industry with more effective equipment, safety equipment and staying up to date with technology.
They employ local fishermen in Vanuatu and work closely with their Fisheries. At the moment they are selling domestically but are waiting on an export licence. Then the part of Vanuatu catch will be imported directly into Australia. She said 85% of the fish purchased at Sydney Fish Markets is now imported. Rachel McInnes
Three Rotarians go to school
Six months ago, our Club donated $500 to Narooma Public School towards the $2,000 cost of kits for the Sammat Smart City STEAM Project. This targets 15 Year 6 High Performance Gifted Education students. The Micro:bit project is designed to help students get started with exploring the world of electronics with a focus on automation and the Internet of Things (IOT).
Julie Hartley, Gero Mitchell and Laurelle Pacey took up the School’s invitation to the Club to check out the Project. Each Monday for the last few terms, students have worked on the Project. The students have designed, engineered, collaborated and programmed their projects to fit in with the ‘Smart Home’ design. Students have designed and automated sections in their homes such as automatic lights, smart intruder detection and a working fan. This Thursday, these 15 students will go to Sunshine Bay Public School for an exhibition with a few other schools to showcase their projects and participate in a range of STEM challenges.
Teacher Sara Sadler thanks the Club for our support that enabled this project to take place.
Out and About
Moruya Rotary on Regionalisation
Moruya Rotarian Steve Picton was tasked with being Moruya’s ‘Expert’ on Regionalisation. He reported to Moruya Club last Tuesday. A summary of his report is published in their current newsletter, printed below.
RI Zone 8 covers Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. We are a trial zone set up by RI to pilot a new format for clubs. Why? Because the present arrangement of clubs and Districts is beset with clubs closing as members age and fail to attract young business and professional people.
Steve set us a series of questions. What are our strengths and weaknesses? What are our biggest challenges? From Charter member Michel to most recent member David there was agreement that our strength lies in our camaraderie. We can still undertake big projects but we are not well understood by our community.
So one answer is that we should form a Regional Community Group (RCG). A likely grouping would include Moruya, Narooma, Batemans Bay and potentially Ulladulla, plus any new clubs in that geographic area likely to be formed. It is too early in the planning stage to say how this might work — joint meetings, perhaps with zoom input? And, of course, shared projects.
We then considered secondary RCGs, not bound by geography of the first. An obvious one was that we would like to be involved with Rotoract clubs; another that our work on trachoma might be shared with clubs around Australia.
In the afternoon of Steve’s presentation, an email arrived from the Pilot team, stressing the need to make our views known to them, and to take part in the election of officers who will head the various bodies involved in the complex plan. The suggested timing is very tight.
Ange updates on Nepal
On 12 November, 20 of us will head to 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. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak (District 9705).
Key is empowering local villagers to enhance their subsistence farming. Last year some villagers were provided with water tanks ensuring readily accessible water to enable them to grow other nutritious during the dry season; during the wet season when they grow millet, rice and corn. Funds this year will target providing more water storage tanks to the 10-14 households still to receive tanks. The group includes health professionals, teacher trainers and an optometrist to check for cataracts, as well as educational resources.
Dream cricket will be played with disabled kids, many of whom are blind and love the game. All of us are invited (and expected) to play.
The highlight this year is the $20,000 raised by the five Yr 12 kids from Wellington. Mary has said Wellington RC was dying but these kids, currently doing their HSC, inspired the local Rotary Club and the entire community got behind them and revitalised the whole town. Ange Ulrichsen
NEXT WEEK
Wednesday 1 November 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group at Narooma Golf Club
Thursday 2 November: No dinner meeting being first Thursday in the month
Friday 3 November 5.15pm: Board Meeting in Narooma Golf Club