Volume 60, No. 25 14 December2017
Meets Thursdays at 6pm for 6.30pm at the Foundry Hotel
High Street Golden Square.
Rotary – Making a Difference
President’s update
Christmas Party 14 December 2017
Members, partners and guests enjoyed the fun and frivolity of our annual Christmas bash at the former Mechanics Institute in California Gully, now the home of our RC Eaglehawk partners. President Alison and Rotarian Trevor Lock hosted us and personed the bar. Their club has done a great job in refurbishing this historic asset on a Crown land reserve (once part of my portfolio in my public land management days), and making it available for community use. (RC Rochester is doing a similar job with the former Rochester Court House, also one of ‘my’ former reserves.)
Tony, Anne and Jennie arranged a sumptuous meal and a packed program and, including a surprise visit from Santa. We kicked things off by inducting new member Kylee McCalman, who was accompanied by husband Greg. (Their daughter, former exchange student Tarleya, was an apology.) Members will remember that Kylee and Greg reciprocated Tarleya’s exchange by hosting two of our incoming YE students, Anna and Gus. We extend a warm welcome to Kylee and her family, and look forward to engaging her in our club’s programs.
Club elder and raconteur Ken Briggs led a tribute to charter member and distinguished Rotarian Bill Ashman on the occasion of his forthcoming (Christmas Day) 90th birthday. (California Gully raised member Trevor Phillips told a cryptic anecdote as well – we will arrange for Trevor to explain the punchline in a future edition.) Bill had some interesting stories to tell off the cuff in return, and cut his birthday cake for guests to share, appropriately annotated with ‘Go Blues!’ Bill is a very active Rotarian, including working tirelessly as club historian, and he is heading up to East Loddon P-12 this week with Verna to present the Bill Ashman scholarship. Age is no barrier to service above self. Great work Bill, and happy birthday!
Anne and Ruth presented to Allanah Jenkins the donated hand bags packed with daily essentials for her emergency support centre for woman fleeing family violence in Echuca. Members, partners and friends responded strongly to this cause. Members also filled the Santa sack with donated toys for underprivileged local children which Tony is coordinating with Uniting Care Bendigo. Thank you all for your generosity.
Our guest speaker was Norm Roberts, accompanied by his wife Karyn. Norm spoke about his time as a pastor at Yuendumu and related settlements at the southern part of the Tanami Desert. He related how the Aboriginal community responded well to the Christian message, told the Christmas story by relating it to an Aboriginal art work by a community member, and even managed to coax Rod and Greg to keep time with beautiful Mulga hunting boomerang clap sticks while we sang some Christmas hymns. A key message from Norm was the importance of respecting the culture of others, even when it seems foreign to our own. Thanks to Graham Neivandt for introducing Norm and Karyn to the club.
We wound up proceedings with another entertaining presentation from YE student Victor on the highlights of his first six months in Australia. Victor has settled in especially well and is deriving maximum value from his exchange. We farewell Victor soon as he transitions to the hosting of our partners at RC Eaglehawk. However, he will continue to be a regular visitor to our club. It has been great fun for us as well Victor!
Thanks to members for a productive, fun and memorable first half of the 2017/18 Rotary year. Have a happy and safe Christmas and new year break with your families and friends. See you when we ease into the new calendar year with another social gathering at Tony and Betty’s place on 11 January at 7pm. Tony will send around details closer to the date.
Cheers
Bernie young.______
CLUB PROGRAM.DECEMBER/ JANURY
21 /28 DEC / NO MEETINGS
11 January / Tony and Betty’s residence.
CLUB DUTY ROSTER
DECEMBER/JANUARY
Date / 21 DEC/ 28 DEC / 11 JAN
Topic / No MEETING / Social gathering
Guest Speaker
Chair
Cashiers
Room set up
Welcome
Technology
All Rotarians on duty must arrive before 6pm on the night.
If you are unable to complete your duty please arrange a substitute.
Attendance Officer: Paul Gibbons or 0429 091 802
Date 2018 / Event / Location / Contact
Thurs 11 Jan at 7pm / Return to Rotary / 121 Allies Road / Tony Plant
Fri 26 January / Australia Day BBQ / Lake Weeroona / George Ellis
Sat 24 Feb / DIK Open Day / West Footscray / TBC
16-18 March / District Conference / Warrnambool / Tony Plant
Sunday 20 May / District Assembly / Melton / Rod Spitty
Wed 20 June / Sci Eng Challenge / Girton Grammar / Rod Spitty