Rod’s Ramble
This week’s Ramble comes from Carwoola where we are celebrating my grandson Callum’s 18th birthday. Boy how the time flies. They had 10mm of rain the day we arrived which was very welcome, and it was good to see that there were significant falls in other areas. Already the countryside here has a green tinge. Let’s hope there is more rain on the way in the right places. Our club has made a $1,000 donation through a Rotary RAWCS project set up to help drought effected farmers. It is the same project as that being heavily promoted on Channel 9. The Drought Relief Appeal has been an incredible success. So far $9,487,377 has been raised to support drought-stricken farmers. The donations are being administered by our good friends at Rotary Australia and are being distributed to farmers in need with the help of the National Farmers’ Federation. For more detail on where the funds are going double click here.
We have sold all the Whale Raffle tickets raising just over $1,700 for Muddy Puddles our charity partner this year for the Moruya Races fundraiser involving Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Rotary Clubs. Thanks to all who sold or bought tickets. I have to single out the efforts of Ange and Michael O’Connor who sold over 50% of the tickets. I am attending a joint meeting next week where I will have more detail on how we can assist on the two race days this year. Our guest speaker this week is the CEO of Muddy Puddles Cate McMath.
The First Four
On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting. Harris’s desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship. Double click here to read about each of the first four Rotarians and about Harry L. Ruggles, who is often called the “fifth Rotarian.”
Cheers
Rod
The Editor
Laurelle, along with Steve, has jetted off to Europe for a couple months of touring and catching up with friends – we wish them well on their journey. I am filling in for a couple of weeks until Peter Bull returns from Queensland, so if you have an article for the Beacon please let me know.
Bob Aston
The Week that Was (Thanks to Frank for providing some information)
Forgetting that I was the fill in editor last week I forgot to take notes, so I have had to rely on my memory. We were fortunate to have Frank And Iris’ friend, Peter Kasper, with us. Peter gave us a great insight into his life growing up in Austria and travelling to many parts of the world including Australia. He also told us about some of the loves he has had along the way. Peter makes regular trips back to his second home – Australia.
Frank tells me he and Iris first met Peter when he joined the Canberra City Band about 20 years ago. He was studying his Masters at ANU at the time. Peter currently works for Pantec, an automation company that writes software to control big industrial machines like printers, weaving machines or robots. He plays clarinet in the Symphonic Wind Orchestra Vorarlberg and does very well at it. You can listen by clicking here (you will need an iTunes account to hear it all).
Frank also tells me that he drives a Renau Zoe (Click the link to check it out it is a pretty cool car).
Rod also updated us about our links to the virtual world including our webpage, Facebook page and You Tube presence.
Attendance
A reminder that if you are an apology or if you are bringing guests please let me know by 4:00pm Tuesday, preferably by email.
Thanks Bob
Semi Annual Dues
If you have not paid your semi annual dues, please do so as soon as possible.
Getting Older (thanks to Diane Lovatt and Peter Bull)
Senior Driving
As a senior citizen was driving down the motorway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Vernon, I
just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on I-25.
Please be careful!”
“Hell,” said Vernon, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”
Becoming a Senior
Barb was lying in bed one night. Larry was falling asleep but Barb was
in a romantic mood and wanted to talk.
She said: “You used to hold my hand when we were courting.”
Wearily he reached across, held her hand for a second and tried to get
back to sleep.
A few moments later she said: “Then you used to kiss me… ”
Mildly irritated, Larry reached across, gave her a peck on the cheek
and settled down to sleep.
Thirty seconds later she said: “Then you used to bite my neck…”
Angrily, Larry threw back the bed clothes and got out of bed.
“Where are you going?” Barb asked.
“To get my teeth!”