Lynn’s Lines

We had a great turn out last Thursday for our Canberra speakers’ Brian and Sandra Goldstraw talk about the two great Rotary Australia programmes – RAWCS and ROMAC . It was inspiring to hear them describe how these programmes help children, families and communities. (See report below).

Sunday we had another fantastic Narooma Rotary Market. Perfect weather and lots of stalls and customers at the new Rotary Van. It was surprisingly busy for a May market, helped by it being an ACT holiday weekend (Monday was Australian Reconciliation Day – only the ACT has a public holiday).

Our takings at the market: gate $860.00, gross van sales $902.90, wishing well $94.80.  A great team effort by everyone, and big thanks to all.

This week we have no Thursday meeting, but please note Julie will hold an informal planning meeting for the 2024/2025 Rotary year at my place. ALL members are invited. Hope to see you then.

THIS WEEK

No Thursday meeting being the fifth Thursday in the month.

Saturday 1st June 2pm: ALL members are invited to a planning meeting for Julie Hartley’s 2024/2025 Rotary year at Lynn Hasting’s home. Julie says anyone who would like to contribute ideas for the year ahead is encouraged to come.

The Week that Was

Speakers share passion for major Rotary programmes

It was wonderful to see so many people last week to hear Brian and Sandra Goldstraw talk about two major arms of Rotary in Australia – Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children OMAC.

Brian is the Chair of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS). He outlined RAWCS’ origins, how its involved with development rather than welfare projects in disadvantaged communities, and the wide range of RAWCS programmes. These include volunteering to provide training (building teams, medical and dental teams), and programs such as Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) and Donations In Kind (DIK) such as recycling equipment. Check the website rawcs.org.au/project for a complete list. Many of these programmes are managed by Clubs.

Sandra spoke with passion about ROMAC which provides surgical treatment in Australia and New Zealand for children from developing countries in
our Pacific Region in the form of life giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home countries. She said it is the only Rotary sponsored children’s programme. Her involvement with ROMAC follows on from her career as a Registered Nurse and Midwife working in the operating theatre, on the surgical wards, and in midwifery. Her stories about some of the children who have benefited  from RIMAC were moving, especially the impact the surgery has had on their lives.

It was all very uplifting and great examples of Rotary ‘doing good in the world’. Narooma Rotary supports both programmes and Ange of course went to Nepal in November on a RAWCS project.

Wonderful to see that our visitors on Thursday included Past District Governor (2006-2007) Mick Newling and his wife Lori from Yass who dropped by our new van at the DGR the previous Sunday while holidaying  in our area. Ange invited them to Thursday’s talk, much to the delight and surprise of Brian and Sandra who are old Rotary friends. Was also lovely to see Amanda James there and Ann Hegerty who have both applied to be members of our dynamic Club.  

Great feedback on DGR

We continue to get good publicity and accolades following the success of our inaugural Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Françoise and John are catching up with a lot of those who took part seeking feedback for next year’s DGR. This was posted on Facebook by the Sapphire Coast Ulysses Club who had a large contingent at the DGR. They had a great ride up and back too.

Working with Children Checks

Our Club’s Youth Protection Officer Gordon Bentley encourages all members who work or volunteer on Rotary programmes with those under 18 to get their Working With Children (WWC) check. So far he has received WWC numbers and expiry dates from Françoise, John, Susanna, Lynn, Laurelle, Ange, Lachie’s parents and of course himself, so many more to come.

It is a simple process. Once done, Gordon asks to please send him your details. While not compulsory, it is required by Rotary for anyone  involved with Rotary Youth programmes who has direct interactions, either supervised or unsupervised, with persons under 18 and who may be in a position of being in a one on one situation, or alone with a young person for a period of time. It is part of the information Rotary requires.

Out and About

From Lachie in Japan

Narooma High student Lachie Penglase from Bermagui is currently on Rotary Youth Exchange in Japan, sponsored by our Club. Lachie has recently visited Hiroshima, Osaka, and Miyajima.

 We started at Hiroshima, where we went to the Peace Museum and Park. It was quite sad but important to go to and see. Miyajima is an island south of Hiroshima that’s still very traditional with its architecture. A well known spot is “Otorii”; a giant Tori gate, somewhere I’ve always wanted to go and was incredibly happy to see. The next day we went to Himeji Castle in Hemeji which was definitely the most impressive and largest castle that I’ve been to in Japan. 

Later we went to Osaka which was probably the highlight of the trip. It’s a very lively, busy place with lots to do. The majority of my time in Osaka was spent at Universal Studios which I wasn’t looking forward to at first, but once entering I found it extremely fun! Although this one Jurassic Park rollercoaster was the scariest thing I’ve ever been on. I’ll never do it again.

NEXT WEEK

Next Wednesday 5 June: The usual Prostate Cancer Support Group meeting is postponed until Wednesday 19 June to hear special guest speaker urologist Dr Dr Chi Can Huynh from The Male Clinic

Thursday 6 June:

5.15pm BOARD MEETING at Narooma Golf Club

NO DINNER MEETING being the first Thursday in the month.

Lynn’s Lines

It’s been an extraordinary week for our Club, culminating in an amazing day on Sunday with our very first Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Bit of a chilly start for the riders from Bega way but sunshine in Narooma gave them a warm welcome.

We had an amazing turnout (see report below) with a great selection of bikes for everyone to check out plus an extraordinary amount raised for Men’s mental health and prostate cancer research. Many thanks especially to Françoise, John Cunningham and David for all their hard work. Food van gross takings were $667.64 plus $184 from the wishing well, plus a $280 donation from Southbound Escapes for the Club to pay directly for Australian prostate cancer research.

Sunday’s huge success followed a fascinating talk at last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast by Georgie Staley about the Narooma MTB Trails and its potential to contribute to year-round tourism. (See report below.)

This Thursday our guest speakers from Canberra – Brian Goldstraw on Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Sandra Goldstraw on Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) – are District chairs for these groups and it should be a great evening. Hopefully we will see lots of visitors and guests. Then it’s all hands on deck for the Market this Sunday, starting and finishing one hour later.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 23 May 6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club. Dinner Speakers Brian Goldstraw on Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Sandra Goldstraw talking on Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC). Both are the District chairs for these groups. Please make sure you book in with John Rungen by noon Tuesday.

This Sunday 26^th May: Our May Market. John Rugen will circulate the roster.

The Week that Was

Our Narooma DGR voted a huge success

Our Club’s first ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) on Sunday for Prostate Cancer Research and Men’s Mental Health was a great success. Our stoked DGR coordinator Françoise Cleret said the response far exceeded expectations with an amazing 73 riders, ‘dressed dapper’. What’s more our DGR raised $10,867 which is “just awesome”. Some riders came from as far as Merimbula and Batemans Bay, many riding classic or vintage styled motorbikes. They enjoyed the day so much they are coming again next year.

The Narooma ride was one of almost a thousand DGRs held on Sunday across 105 countries. They bring people together to celebrate these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ who ride them, at the same time raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. Françoise said Sunday’s ride showed that coming together, dressing ‘dapper’ and the ride itself do create more awareness and funds by having fun in style.

All funds raised by the DGR will be invested by the official charity partner Movember in both local and global prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs.

David McInnes did a wonderful job organising the mini Expo market, the NATA site, and the route markers. A big thanks to the Fire + Rescue team (see photo), and all the other markers for ensuring no one took a wrong turn, and to our food van and barbecue team. It was a great effort by everyone.

The 20km leisurely ride went past the golf course and the Plaza, down Forsters Bay Road, Bettini Lane and Riverside Drive, over the bridge, Dalmeny Drive, Ocean Parade, Noble Parade, swung around the caravan park, Mort Ave to the Highway, and back to NATA Oval.

Southbound Escapes (in the Information Centre) donated $280 for our Club to pay directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (Research); this included $180 from coffee sales.

Business Breakfast

Twenty-eight people booked in for last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast to hear guest speaker Georgie Staley on the new and extremely popular Narooma MBT Trails. Inspired by her and partner Dave O’Brien’s mountain bike experiences overseas and the revitalisation that MTB trails had given to small towns, they co-founded Narooma Mountain Bike Club which has now opened 84km of quality trails in Bodalla State Forest. That’s thanks to a $4.3m grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and the hard work of volunteers. The trails are designed to assist in developing more year-round tourism opportunities for towns devastated by the 2019/20 bushfires. Narooma’s MTB Trails are independent of Council.

Narooma’s acclaimed trails have been constructed by experts and already have a reputation for being well maintained, mostly the work of volunteers. Maintenance and marketing is done on a shoestring budget, funded by many local sponsors and donations, assisted by some remarkable social media.

Georgie said there can be up to 300 people on the trails at any one time, and so far they are averaging 5,000-6,.000 cyclists a month riding Narooma’s Trails. They are currently working on a Dalmeny link. Already they are seeing Mountain Bike Tours developing with 5-6 MTB destinations across the South-east. Consensus among local businesses present was mountain bikers tend to be happy tourists.  Many local businesses are already seeing benefits.

Out and About

Bega Valley’s RYDA a success

Over three days, 290 Year 11 students from seven Bega Valley and Monaro Schools attended the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme at Frog’s Hollow, near Bega, last week. The schools were Bombala, Bega, Lumen Christi, Eden Marine, Jindabyne, Cooma Monaro and South Coast Anglican College. (Eurobodalla’s RYDA was also held reecently.)

The programme is supported by Bega Rotary, led by Eric Johnston who has been organising the program for 18 years. Lunch was provided each day by Bega Lions, Pambula Rotary and Merimbula Lions. Tathra Lions, Bega Rotarians and community volunteers assisted students. The students were kept engaged with the six modules of Road Choices, Mind Maters, I Drive, SOS, crash survivors and the Stopping demonstration.

NO MEETING NEXT WEEK

That’s because it’s the fifth Thursday in the month.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 16^th 7am: Our Business Networking Breakfast – Narooma Surf Club

Guest speaker is Georgie Staley, a founding member of Narooma Mountain Bike Club. The Club has opened 85km of trails in Bodalla State Forest, thanks to a $4.3m grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and the hard work of volunteers. The Narooma initiative plus the growing network of tracks along the coast promises year-round tourism. Georgie will talk about how local businesses can best capitalise on the anticipated influx of bikers and so boost their businesses. Bookings are essential with Laurelle by Monday 5pm.  Breakfast costs $10.

Thursday 16^th 6pm: Volunteer Briefing for Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride by Françoise Cleret on Sunday 6pm Narooma Golf Club. Many volunteers needed, both for directing the route and at NATA Oval.

Sunday 19th: DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE

Our first ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) for Prostate Cancer and Men’s Mental Health this Sunday (19 May) is attracting a good number of riders, particularly of classic or vintage styled motorbikes. Organiser Françoise says the response has exceeded her expectations, 25 riders and over $5,700 st the beginning of the week; she hopes to crack 30.

Our ride is one of hundreds held on this day around the world celebrating these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ who ride them, at the same time raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.“ So while the cause couldn’t be more serious, the wonderful way the ride raises funds and awareness is having fun in style,” she said.

All riders must register online before 19th to take part and ‘dress dapper’. www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma Bikes to assemble on NATA Oval (behind the Visitors’ Centre) by 10.30am. The 21km ride departs 11am and returns at noon, with a display of bikes until 2pm.

Everyone is also invited to Rotary’s Mini Expo Market on NATA Oval from noon to 2pm promoting community organisations and local interest groups, as well as checking out the bikes. The Rotary van will serve breakfast to purchase from 10am and then lunch, Southbound Escapes coffee (Visitors’ Centre), and Big Niles beverages from noon.

Should you wish to donate to the DGR, please go to www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma and support one or more registered riders. 

For Narooma DGR inquiries, please phone Françoise Cleret 0402 967 494.For DGR Expo inquiries, please phone David McInnes 0419 863 303.

The Week that Was

Last Week’s Club Assembly

1. Members were brought up to date with the new food van – the nett cost of the new food van after the Bendigo Bank grant and the income from the sale of the new van is $726.50. There are still some small items to be purchased, including more signage.
2. Susanna filled us in on both Lachie in Japan and our  inbound Finnish exchange student Hilma who arrives in July
3. Françoise updated members on the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
4. We met two representatives of the Porterhouse Group, the new caterer at the Golf Club.

Neighbouring Rotary clubs help with DGR publicity

We’ve had a great response from our neighbouring Rotary Clubs to our latest DGR poster and a request for some publicity. Batemans Bay published the whole poster in its newsletter, Moruya mentioned it in this week’s newsletter with flyers being put on each table at this Tuesday’s meeting, while Bega will “share it around and put it on Tathra’s Facebook etc”.

Out and About

Rob Shore is our Area Leader

Under the Regionalisation Pilot, DGN Robert Shore of Batemans Bay Rotary will be the Rotary Community Leader (RCL) for our region, Community Group 7 Coast and Highlands, from 1 July. Under the Regionalisation Pilot, RCLs will work with clubs in their groups to develop forward plans, encourage collaboration and try new things. The RCLs start training in coming weeks and take up their positions from 1 July.

Rotary recognises President Macron

Rotary International recently presented its Polio Eradication Champion Award to French President Emmanuel Macron, in recognition of France’s significant role in the global effort to eradicate polio. This was a feature of the Rotary Day event at UNESCO. France’s total commitment to polio eradication since 2022 is up to US$103.4m. France has also been a strong advocate within the G-20 and G-7, urging other nations to continue their support for a polio-free world.                (Courtesy Batemans Bay newsletter)

NEXT WEEK

Thursday  23 May: A Dinner meeting with guest speakers Chair D9705 RAWCS Brian Goldstraw and Chair 9705 ROMAC Sandra Goldstraw Brian. This should be a really interesting night so please invite partners and friends. 6 for 6.30pm. RAWCS = Rotary Australia World Community Service; ROMAC = Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children

Sunday 26 May: Rotary Market – starts one hour later

The Week that Was

Our Club co-hosted with ONE New Level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital Advocates a well-attended Q & A panel discussion on the new hospital by five key people at Narooma Golf Club last Tuesday.  Over 120 people were present.

The panel consisted of Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland, Southern NSW Health Director Intensive Care Services Dr Stuart Stapleton, Southern NSW Health District General Manager Brad Scotcher and Corporate Services and Projects General Manager Sarah Galton, and Eurobodalla Mayor Matt Hatcher. COORDINARE’s Terry Hill was MC. Questions were requested two weeks before.

The Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be a Level 4 health facility including an emergency department, an eight-bed Intensive Care/Close Observation Unit, local Radiotherapy Services, increased capacity for chemotherapy, access to renal dialysis and maternity, and a higher level of palliative care services (both hospital dedicated beds and community palliative care). There will be room on site for future expansion of services.  

Dr Stapleton stressed the importance of having Level 4 Emergency Services in the new hospital; that will save lives by having greater capacity here to deal with emergencies removing the need to transport to higher level services outside the Eurobodalla. He and Dr Holland explained we cannot have a Level 4 hospital if an emergency unit is kept at Batemans Bay Hospital. It was acknowledged that the Moruya Bypass is an important future development to reduce travel times from the shire’s north, but the funds to construct it are not yet available.

Re staffing: Staff education and trainingup to Level 4 standards is already underway with existing staff, including GP specialists in anaesthetics, maternity, paediatrics and mental health. Southern Health is also recruiting staff with intensive care backgrounds and looking overseas for more nurses and midwives. Dr Holland mentioned NSW Government funded scholarships in nursing and allied health fields.

The challenge of accommodating staff for the new hospital was raised. Some accommodation for on-call staff will be provided at the new hospital. Matt Hatcher said social and affordable housing was a council priority, including making land available for development. Council hopes to get NSW Government funding to assist.

It was also good to see eight members of the Carers Accommodation Eurobodalla Regional Hospital (CAERH) project at the meeting as well as Rohan and Pauline Gleeson from Moruya Rotary. Col Jaye spoke about CAERH, community fundraising to build it including via the EV car raffle, and sold some tickets. Our Club still has tickets to sell – please see Julie and David.

Our Club received accolades for co-hosting from ONE’s Fitzroy Boulting, who especially mentioned President Lynn, VP David, Chris O’Brien and Ange Ulrichsen.

THIS WEEK

Monday 6 May: Board Meeting 4.30pm Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 9 May:    Club Assembly – 6 for 6.30 at Narooma Golf Club

Out and About

News from Lachie in Japan

Our Youth Exchange student Lachie Penglase continues to ‘live it large’ with numerous visits in and around Japan, including Maibara, and visiting numerous towns resplendent in cherry blossoms. Lachie finishes with his first host family and will move to his second host family shortly. Lachie is doing a few new subjects at school in Japan, including Japanese History and Art.

When Lachie visits various Rotary clubs he presents our Club banner to them. Lachie will present them to our Club on his return in January 2025.

Lachie regularly visits and reports to his hosting Rotary Club, Ogaki Rotary, and once every month to a district meeting in Gifu City. This month Lachie will go on a Rotary trip to Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima. Susanna Chung

From Bega Rotary

Bega Rotary is looking at a possible role during 2024/25 in highlighting Domestic and Family Violence in the Bega Valley. One Bega Rotarian is liaising with local organisations.

Bega Rotary is running the RYDA programme (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) next week (14-16 May) for Year 11 students from across the Bega Valley Shire at the Frog’s Hollow Go Cart Track south of Bega.

NEXT THURSDAY

Thursday 16 May: Rotary Business Networking Breakfast 7am at Narooma Surf Club Guest speaker is Georgie Staley, founding member of Narooma Mountain Bike Club and passionate mountain track bike enthusiast. The Club has already opened 85km of trails in Bodalla State Forest, thanks to a $4.3m grant from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and the hard work of volunteers. The network of mountain bike trails being established along the coast promises year-long tourism. Georgie will talk about their journey, and how local businesses can best capitalise on the anticipated influx of bikers and so boost their businesses. Bookings essential with Laurelle.  Breakfast costs $10

Support Narooma’s men’s health fundraiser ride

Our Club is organising Narooma’s first ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), a global fundraiser for Prostate Cancer Research and Men’s Mental Health on Sunday 19 May. All Rotarians are urged to please assist including staffing the food van, marshalls, whatever. This will be organised at this Thursday’s Club Assembly (9 May).

Anyone on the far south coast with a motorbike, particularly classic or vintage styled, is invited to ‘dress dapper’ and join others on a leisurely ride from NATA Oval (behind the Visitors Centre) to Dalmeny and back. The DGR is an annual international charity event celebrating these bikes and the ‘gentlefolk’ that ride them.

As of Monday, we had 19 bikes registered and have raised over $5,000 for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health via Movember. Three riders have raised over $3,000 between them. If you wont be riding, please consider sponsoring some of our riders.

Assembly by 10.30am on NATA Oval. The 21km ride leaves at 11am, returning to NATA Oval. David McInnes is also organising a market on NATA Oval from 12 to 2pm for various community organisations and sporting groups to promote their groups. Contact details below. Our van will serve breakfast and lunch. Drinks will be available.

Narooma organiser Françoise Cleret says riders all over the world unite on this day to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. Research shows one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life; in Eurobodalla Shire it is apparently more like two in three.  Globally, one man is lost every minute to suicide.

“While the cause couldn’t be more serious, the way the ride raises funds and creates awareness is by having fun in style,” she said.

All riders must register online for Narooma’ ride at www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma before the day. Riders are encouraged to dress suitably dapper.

Should you wish to donate, please go online www.www.gentlemansride.com/rides/australia/narooma and support one or more registered riders. 

For Narooma DGR inquiries, please phone Françoise Cleret 0402 967 494. For DGR Community Market inquiries, please phone David McInnes 0419 863 303.