Lynn’s Lines
What a fantastic start to the year with so many of our youth from the many youth programmes we sponsor at our meeting last week. David McInnes our enthusiastic chair just made the night that much more enjoyable for everyone.
We all met and learned more about our newest scholarship winner Nico Van Delft-Twyford. Milaina Cafe updated us on her coming year and a few changes to accommodation, courses etc. Raichel Brodie was on a bus and could not join us in person. So she sent us a message updating us on how she’s doing.
Also joining us was Ella Marshall who attended MUNA last year and Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team who spoke about the school’s future programme.
A big thank you to Chris O’Brien’s friends Neil and Gloria Jenkins from Melbourne for their generous $1,000 donation to our Tertiary Scholarship Fund.
Our Club is now the very proud owners of a flash new food van. Some sorting out is needed and best storage methods determined, as well as signage done.. A huge thank you to Françoise and John for driving to Sydney to pick it up for us.
Our Board meeting on Friday covered lots of items which we will go over at the Club Assembly this week. Many stayed back to help clear out our stuff stored at the Golf Club and rationalise what we keep. Didn’t finish until after 7! Look forward to seeing you on Thursday at Club Assembly.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, 7 February 6.30pm: ProstateCancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club
Thursday, 8 February 6pm: DINNER MEETING – CLUB ASSEMBLY – 6 for 6.30pm
The Week that Was
More on our Youth Night
Celebrating Narooma’s youth and the many Rotary programmes to support them was a great start for Narooma Rotary’s year last Thursday. David McInnes’ passion for the opportunities the Club provides for Narooma High students was evident throughout his time chairing the meeting.
The three-year Tertiary Scholarship to a student from Narooma High each year is a major Club programme. “Selecting that student is such an uplifting experience,” he said. David is trying to make contact with all Narooma Rotary scholarship winners from over more than 30 years; our ‘Alumni’.
Our 2024 Tertiary Scholar Nico Van Delft-Twyford of Bermagui said the scholarship will allow him to focus much more on his studies; his course through the University of Wollongong and TAFE will lead him to a career in cyber security.
Our 2023 Scholar Melaina Cafe is doing a double degree at the Australian National University, her favourite subjects last year being philosophy and ethics. A message from 2022 Scholar Raichel Brodie was read out during the evening.
The Club’s Rotary Exchange student Lachie Penglase has now started school in Japan and his father Tony shared Lachie’s news.
Teacher Dion Cafe praised the “wonderful” Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme for Year 11 students across the Shire. He has coordinated Narooma High students to RYDA for 16 years; “students get so much from it”, he would like attendance to be compulsory.
The Club also caught up with Ella Marshall, part of Narooma High’s team to the Model United Nation Assembly in Canberra last year, and Harmony Canon from the school’s Robotics team.
Youth Director Ange Ulrichsen read out a message from Narooma High Principal Fiona Jackson who could not attend. Ms Jackson said Narooma High’s year had started “with great excitement after the fabulous 2023 HSC results, and… this has laid the foundation along with their sporting success to start an extremely first term.”
Out and About
From Moruya Rotary
Moruya IPP Shirl Cornish has a new role as joint Chair of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) District. Last week at Moruya she spoke of some of the 34 active projects supported by clubs in D9705.
In January, Shirl spent two weeks on a School Immersion Mission (SIMS) in Cambodia to three villages of remote subsistence farmers, (1½ hours rough travel into the jungles from Siem Reip) on Sexual Health Education by Pictures (SHEP). She provided all teaching material for her SHEP classes including 80 booklets.
Her next project is in April to join a large company in the Philippines. She will be one of ten trainers. She is off to a RACS Conference in Port Macquarie this week.
PETS and Club Assembly in the Bay
The combined Presidents Elect Training and Learning and Development (used to be called Club assembly) weekend for incoming Presidents, board members and new members is on at Batemans By Soldiers Club from Friday evening 8, Saturday 9, Sunday morning 10 March
One great part of these weekends is the camaraderie and support gained from other Presidents and Club members from the District. These weekends are for all club members including new members. This will help build team spirit and also all will gain a greater understanding of Rotary. Registration is necessary to ensure correct catering details.
NEXT THURSDAY (15th) Business Breakfast
At Surf Club 7-8am. Our guest speaker will talk about using readily available data to grow your business. Teresa Lever, Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Manager Economic Development and Place Activation, says a lot of data available to local businesses can track the local economy, spend days, and the mobility of customers and so assist with business planning. Should be interesting. Bookings are essential via Laurelle. Breakfast costs $10 – please say if you don’t want breakfast otherwise you willbe charged.