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.
[The Dome was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. It has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing as an expression of hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.]
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.