Andrew’s Thoughts
Well, it was both a reflective and fulfilling week. We obviously honoured the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. The highly anticipated presentation from Dianne McInnes which had been scheduled for last Thursday has been deferred until 24th November. So our dinner meeting was switched to this Thursday the 29th which is now an important Club Night to welcome Françoise Cleret as our new member. This will be the highlight of the evening and I know we are all looking forward to formally welcoming Françoise to the fold.
The sun certainly shined on the righteous on Sunday! After an indifferent week’s weather gone, and the forecast indifferent week ahead, Sunday was a glorious spring day which really brought in the Market crowds. A highly successful market yielded $2,092.05; many thanks, as ever, to all involved.
The highlight of the day was the Whale Watch raffle drawn by Norm Ingersole of Narooma Charters who had once again generously donated the voucher for two. The winner was Alison Gorman from Dalmeny who was absolutely thrilled. Many thanks to Raffle Queen Ange for leading the charge!
I look forward to a good turnout of members this Thursday to welcome Françoise. As ever, it’s onwards and upwards mes amis!
THIS WEEK
Club Night at Narooma Golf Club 6 for 6.30pm Club when we welcome Françoise Cleret as our new member with open arms. This will be the highlight of the evening.
The Week that Was
On Sunday’s Market
What a beautiful Market Day. We attracted a good crowd with many visitors in the area for the school holidays. With the spring weather, the numbers of stallholders are building up again including a welcome number of new faces. We took $1,181.00 at the gate, $763.30 at the van (food costs to come out), and $147.75 from the wishing well. Quite a few comments on the day about it being such an enjoyable and relaxed community event that many look forward to each month.
Andrew and Ange both expressed the Club’s great appreciation to Norm Ingersole of Narooma Charters on Sunday for his continued support for our whale watching raffle held at this time each year, Covid willing. Proceeds from this year’s raffle will go towards carers’ accommodation at the new Regional Hospital plus possibly other charities. Interesting we ran the first one back in 2012 when Darryl and Kristen Stuart had Narooma Charters. Norm was saying that so far the whales seem much further out this year.
From Moruya Rotary
Our very own David McInnes was last week’s guest speaker at Moruya Rotary where he spoke about Geophysics. This week’s Moruya bulletin reported he presented his highly technical subject with tremendous enthusiasm and some comprehensive images. David said the whole of Australia has been scanned by airborne Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). From that research, the skilled geophysicist can detect where various metals are likely to be found which is crucial to know as we move away from fossil fuels and into batteries. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are all used in batteries, and of these, lithium is currently the key. He spoke about its major issues. We can look forward to hearing David as our guest speaker some time next year.
Bay Rotarians go to Nelligen
Batemans Bay Rotarians are holding a ‘Pizza, Poetry and Plonk Night’ on Thursday 6 October at Nelligen Big 4 Caravan Park at 6.00pm and Narooma Rotarians would be most welcome. Cost is $15 per person which covers the Pizza and ice creams for dessert. It’s BYO Poetry (silly poems particularly welcome!) and Plonk (along with glasses for the Plonk). It is essential to book with Pam Thorpe on 0418 871 685 by Tuesday 4th October should you want to go (for pizza orders and code entry to Park).
Out and About
Narooma contributes to International Project
Recently our Club donated $500 to the D9705 Project to install solar panels, batteries and associated electrical infrastructure on a School in Fiji in early 2023. We were one of 22 District Clubs (and one Rotarian) who pledged a total of $45,000
Fiji’s Naiviivi Primary School supports 130 school children with seven teachers. The solar installation will provide them with 24/7 power; the savings made from elimination of diesel generation will enable them to buy schoolbooks and PC equipment. It is an international project that satisfies Rotary’s priority goals of protecting the environment and providing educational support.
Contributing clubs were Belconnen, Bathurst, Bathurst Daybreak, Berry, Canberra, Canberra Weston Creek, Coolamon, Cowra, Forbes Ipomoea, Gerringong Sunrise, Goulburn, Griffith Avanti, Hall, Jerra Rotary, Junee, Milton-Ulladulla, Molong, Narooma, Oberon, Orange, Orange North, and Pambula.
Bega Valley Rotarians support joint project.
Critical moves to increase the number of qualified aged care workers at Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care (SCCAC) facilities are being supported by a joint Project by the Rotary Clubs of Bega, Merimbula and Pambula. Rotarians have so far delivered 18 ‘Welcome Packages’ to SCCAC. Each package aims to make new overseas employees (sourced by SCCAC) feel welcome on their arrival in the Bega Valley and hopefully encourage them to want to stay working for SCCAC.
The ‘Welcome packages’ include a bunch of fresh flowers, a food hamper, personal requirements such as sunscreen and insect repellent, information about services and attractions in the Bega Valley and an invitation for a tour of the Bega Valley with a host from the ‘Adopt a Family’ Program. Local businesses and organisations such as pharmacies and the Sapphire Community Pantry have made very generous donations to the Project. Household items such as furniture and kitchen items are also being sourced and delivered to new employees because their rental properties are usually unfurnished.
NEXT WEEK
There is no meeting next week being the first Thursday in the month, but you may be tempted to go to Nelligen for Batemans Bay Rotary’s‘Pizza, Poetry and Plonk Night’. Bookings essential (see above).