Julie’s Jots

Thursday was such a great night with this year’s MUNA students.  It’s always a fascinating night when they report back from such an extraordinary experience in Canberra. I know our guests, including parents and new Narooma High Principal Tracie Scobie, enjoyed it immensely.

It was also a night to catch up with Hilma and hear how she is settling in to life in Narooma-Bermagui. She also really enjoyed herself the previous weekend at her orientation weekend in Canberra; during a pause in the programme everyone celebrated Hilma’s as well as two other students’ birthdays.

Although I wasn’t at Sunday’s market, I hear it was a good market despite a few early drops of rain, beng traditionally our quietist market, the loss of Riverside Pizzas, and the footie finals on Bill Smyth Oval. Treasurer Lynn reports Gate takings $820, Wishing Well $100.50, and gross van takings $933.50. Thanks everyone who helped on the day, a great Team effort.

THIS THURSDAY 29^th August

No Meeting this week being the fifth Thursday in the month.

The Week that Was

MUNA continues to inspire

Narooma High’s three-member team have been inspired by their experience at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra the previous weekend. The team of Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10, with teacher Monique Wicks was sponsored by our Club. The venue was the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House – House of Representatives) in Canberra.

They impressed Rotarians, guests and parents last Thursday as they explained the challenges of debating a range of world issues from the United Kingdom’s perspective in a United Nation’s style forum against 14 other school teams representing other countries.  The resolutions included the current crisis in Gaza, the situation in the South China Sea, the state of global food security, and preventing crimes against the environment. The experience made them more aware of world issues, increased their confidence and made them new friends from mingling with students from the other schools.

The winning school was Macarthur Anglican School representing Sweden, followed by the Central Coast Steiner School with New Zealand, and Unity Grammar School with Russia.  The team from St Peter’s at Broulee, representing the Solomon Islands, won MUNA’s Totenhofer Peace Prize. This is presented each year to the delegation that contributed most consistently to world peace over the weekend. They were sponsored by Bateman Bay Rotary.

A highlight was the special dinner on Saturday night with the keynote address by Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay who had acted as UN General Secretary’’ over the weekend.

Ange Ulrichsen reports this was the 25^th MUNA organised by the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. MUNA is organised and sponsored by Rotary Clubs across Australia to build international understanding and promote goodwill for world peace; in the process it builds student confidence in public speaking and debating skills

Toast to RI’s Polio eradication campaign

Françoise Cleret’s International Toast last Thursday was to Rotary International, recognising its initiatives to eradicate polio across the world, since taken up with partners in a Global Eradication programme that had resulted in a 99.9% eradication of the disease worldwide. Until recently, Afghanistan and Pakistan were the only two countries still registering endemic cases.

Francoise’s Toast was prompted by two things – her brother-in-law who had polio and the discovery of a 10-month-old in the Gaza strip with polio in an area that had been free from polio for 25 years.

Among the devastation caused by the war in Gaza has been the destruction of over  70% of its water sanitation facilities. The United Nations chief has called for a ceasefire in Gaza so 640,000 children can receive the two doses to ensure they are vaccinated against polio.

Rotary VP initiates Pop Bench restoration

There was rejoicing at the pool this week with the installation of the newly restored ‘Pop’s bench’ at Narooma swimming pool, a project initiated by Narooma Rotary VP David McInnes. The bench was restored by the Men’s Shed. Pop Brown was the driving force behind the Narooma community’s relentless campaign to cover the pool, opened in 1993.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 5 September 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group Narooma Golf Club

Thursday 6 September:   5.15pm Board Meeting; No Dinner Meeting

Julie’s Jots

What a lovely dinner we had at Lynch’s pub on Thursday.  I’m sure all those who went enjoyed themselves.    

I attended the Carers’ Accommodation for the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital committee meeting in Moruya last Friday. Construction of the new hospital is now officially underway.  The committee is in the process of getting a website up and running over the next few weeks.

With our exchange student Hilma and one of her host mothers Sally Hearder, I attended a weekend in Canberra for incoming and outgoing exchange students and their families. This was an information weekend to help them adjust to their 12 months here and away. Our district has 11 outbound students and 7 inbound. Previous exchange students spoke about their experiences.  

I’m looking forward to hearing this week from our Narooma High team who participated in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra at the weekend. We sponsor a team from Narooma High each year to this amazing event, thanks to the efforts of Ange Ulrichsen who dropped in on the students at the weekend. It is always a great evening hearing back from these students so please invite partners and friends.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 22nd August: MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team reports back to us on their experience at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in Canberra. Please contact Gero and let her know by Monday night (cost $30) if you are coming or not and if you are bringing guests (she needs names as well as numbers).

Sunday 25^th August: Our Market

David McInnes will circulate the Market roster through the week with any gaps still to be filled in finalised on Thursday night. 

The Week that Was

Narooma High students at MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team took part in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra at the weekend, thanks to their teacher Monique Wicks. The team of Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 represented the United Kingdom. Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay played the role of UN General Secretary.

As usual it was a great experience for our students debating UN Resolutions and mingling with other schools. At the official dinner on Saturday night, the Keynote Address was by Lorraine Finlay. Ange Ulrichsen

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya Rotarians last week welcomed back distinguished violinist Reuben Levi Oddy and his family. Reuben was born in Moruya but is now based in Nuremberg. He specialises in German classical music, having studied under a host of esteemed tutors and professors in Germany along the way.  He is currently touring with Ukrainian pianist Elena Nikulina performing German classical pieces by Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn.

Moruya President Allan said it was a great pleasure to welcome back Reuben and his family. Moruya Rotary assisted him in the early days of his journey to where he is today in the heart of the classical music world. He greatly appreciates that early assistance judging by his dropping in on the Club when back in Australia.

Moruya Rotary assisted Reuben 10 years ago with a scholarship when he was first starting out on his musical journey. He has certainly grown both professionally and personally over that time. Moruya Rotarian Rohan Gleeson, then a District organizer of Youth Exchange, organised “some magic” with Berlin Rotary Clubs under the New Generations Exchange Program, so that Reuben would be accommodated by a German Rotary family while he applied for entrance to any of five Academies in Germany. Two years later, in 2016, he was home on semester leave from the Detmold Hochschule Für Musik. The Detmold Hochschule Für Musik set him on an academic path; he has completed his Masters and is currently studying for a pedagogy degree. He can be called on two or three times a week to play with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches young players. He began by playing the cadenza of a Bach Concerto, before speaking of his career and the extent to which he recognises Rotary in its formation.

What a great example of Rotary helping local youth achieve their dreams.

NEXT THURSDAY 29^th August

No Meeting being the fifth Thursday in the month.

Julie’s Jots

What a great night last Thursday! First we heard from Rory Spurgeon, our 2020 Rotary Tertiary Scholar on his next academic adventure which will be 12 months at Oxford University!   Rory has been a delight since receiving his Scholarship, keeping us up to date with his studies and interests.  We wish him all the best for the future.

Our next guest speaker was our delightful exchange student Hilma Koskiniemi from Rovaniemi in Finland.   Hilma met those members of the Club she had not yet met and gave a wonderful presentation about her family, interests and her homeland.  We also celebrated her 17th birthday. I am sure she will have a wonderful year with us.

This coming Thursday we’ll have a relaxed get-together in the Dining Room in Lynch’s Pub.  Please let Gero know by Monday night if you are attending or not. Thank you.

On Saturday I will be going to Canberra to attend a training and orientation weekend for inbound and outbound exchange students and parents.

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 15 August – Lynch’s Restaurant 6.30pm booking.

Everyone invited. Order off the menu; please contact Gero by noon Tuesday at the very latest to say whether or not you are coming and whether you are bringing any guests.

Friday 16-18 August: MUNA

Narooma High’s three-member debating team is off this weekend to the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra. Our Club is again sponsoring a team from Narooma High – Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 – with their teacher Monique Wicks. They will represent the United Kingdom.

Ange Ulrichsen says if you have never been to watch, it is well worth going.  Our students will report back to us the following Thursday, on 22August. It is always a great evening.

The Week that Was

Last Thursday

As President Julie has said, last Thursday was a top night. It was so good for all of us to finally meet Hilma Koskiniemi after looking forward to her arrival for so long. Hilma’s wonderful presentation gave us a great introduction to her family, her community, her city of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle (the ‘Gateway to Lapland’ and the rest of the Arctic area’) with 60,000 people, and the extremes of Finland’s seasons. Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus; loved that Hilma worked as a Post Office Elf in the Village. 

Where Hilma and her family live couldn’t be more different to here. In summer (June-August) with the long school holidays, there’s only a couple of hours of darkness (11pm-1am), while winter has only a couple of hours of light, the Northern Lights  and temperatures of -30 ºC but photos showed a winter wonderland. Needless to say, our winter doesn’t feel like winter to her and she’s looking forward to our summer and light, sun and surfing. Loves skiing, volleyball and boating with her family.  She speaks Spanish as well as English.

Hilma explained that Finland is a republic, a member of the European Union and recently became a member of NATO. Languages are Finnish and Swedish. It’s a land of lakes and forests as well as climatic extremes. She spoke of the indigenous people the Sami who inhabit an area across northern Finland, Sweden, Norway and part of Russia and have their own unique languages.

Despite the winters, the Finnish people were recently found to be ‘the happiest people in the world”. Part of the reason she suggested was that opportunities are the same for everyone, rich or poor.

Hilma thanked Susanna (as do we all!) for all her work that has resulted in her being here. It was also lovely to welcome the new Narooma High Principal Tracy Scobie last Thursday who has been most helpful in assisting Hilma into the school. We all know Hilma will have a wonderful and rewarding year with us.

Rory Spurgeon has made the absolute most of his time at the ANU, doing brilliantly academically graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Physics and Chemistry while at the same time having a great time on campus socially and with sports. His last year at ANU was spent on a research project in the Chemistry labs but brought in his Physics with modelling what was happening. No surprise then that he is now off to Oxford University to do his Masters. We all wish him well.

Prostate Cancer Support Group

Spring is in the air! Monthly get-togethers of the Prostate Cancer Support Group resumed last Wednesday (7/8) after a two month winter break. President Julie was pleased with the turnout, five men including one new face, as well as Mike Young and her. The next get-together is Wednesday 4 September 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club.

Out and About

Registration is open for District Conference

The District 9705 Conference is in Mittagong, 25-27 October. Our District has 73 Rotary Clubs, 4 Rotaract Clubs and several Interact and EarlyAct Clubs.

NEXT WEEK

THURSDAY 22^nd August 6 for 6.30pm: Narooma High’s team to the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) will report back on their MUNA experience. Please invite partners and friends to what is always an uplifting evening, and please ensure you book with Gero by noon Monday 19^th.

SUNDAY 25^th August – our August Market David will circulate the roster over the coming week; hope you can

Julie’s Jots

This week we officially welcome Finnish exchange student Hilma Koskiniemi when she will share her presentation with us. We will also celebrate her upcoming birthday. Everyone is invited to bring partners and friends to hear from this delightful young lady. We will also hear from Rory Spurgeon, our 2020 Narooma Rotary Tertiary Scholar who has graduated and is about to move to Oxford University to do his Masters.

A few things to mention from last week’s Board meeting.

• Our meals at speaker dinners when we do alternate drops will now cost $30 for everyone; it’s too complicated otherwise.
• When you book people in with Gero, please also give names. Meals once ordered have to be paid for so be sure your guests are still coming or you may be up for the cost of unused meals.
• Tickets in the Community Whale Watching Raffle seem to be going well, with some groups embracing the concept enthusiastically. We have just had another 1,000 tickets printed, making 3,000 in all. One month left to sell. We will try and sell any remaining tickets at the August market.
• Also we have a change in dates in our Year Planner (updated planner coming your way soon):
  • The December Market is on Monday 30 December (not Friday 27^th)
  • Our Australia Day Duck Race will be on Monday 27 (the extra public holiday) because Australia Day next year is on our Market Day and we can’t do both!

THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club: The Prostate Cancer Support Group resumes

THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 6 for 6.30pm Narooma Golf Club: Our Finnish exchange student Hilma Koskiniemi as our guest speaker. We will also hear from our former Tertiary Scholar Rory Spurgeon about the next exciting stage in his academic adventures.

The Week that Was

Ange from Bali

Last week Ange Ulrichsen attended a meeting of RC Bali Action at Sanur, one of 22 Rotary Clubs in Bali. It’s an English speaking club with 27 members/business people from around the world. Its projects include supporting coral reef restoration, ocean and plastics solutions, water and sanitation, health and education.

From Moruya Rotary

A 12-person team of Moruya Rotarians were busy last week preparing and cooking a monster breakfast for Council staff on Thursday. Catering gurus Steve and Jan Young did most of the organising and their Charity account will benefit greatly. Preparation was well underway on Wednesday, cutting and buttering 350 buns ready for Council staff to receive their cooked egg and bacon on Thursday, after they had heard a motivational speaker (Council staff, that is, rather than Rotarians!). There were no leftovers.

From Bega Rotary

Bega Rotary has sponsored Awards for Bega TAFE Hospitality students for 22 years. The awards were presented last week at a special dinner at The Barracks Restaurant at Bega TAFE where the students put into practice what they’ve been learning and diners are treated to outstanding food and service.

President Phil had Rotarians laughing at stories about the two Rotarians after whom the awards are named – Curly Annabel and Herb Parberry – stalwarts of the club from its foundation 70 years ago.

Out and About

MUNA rapidly approaches

The Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) will be held at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) in Canberra 16-18 August. We are again sponsoring a team from Narooma High – Harmony Cannon Yr 11, Ruben Smithers Yr 10 and Bethany Owen-Roberts Yr 10 – with their teacher Monique Wicks. They will represent the United Kingdom.

Ange Ulrichsen says if you have never been to watch, it is well worth going.  Our students will be reporting back to us on 22August.

The Bay Rotary Club is sponsoring two teams from St Peter’s Anglican College this year after their team’s experience last year inspired many other students. They will represent Singapore and Solomon Islands.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 15 August 6.30pm: Social Dinner at Lynch’s Restaurant. Numbers to Gero please. Order off the menu.