Ange’s Thoughts

What a great market on Sunday! More details below.

It was such a pleasure last Thursday to welcome guests Lachie Penglase as well as Moruya Rotarians Shirley Cornish and John Gillett. Our Area 6 Governor Adam de Totth also paid us a visit as he was unable to attend our Changeover this Thursday; it was his last visit as our Area Governor.

Lachie, Yr 9 student at NHS, was selected by District for the 2024 Rotary Youth Exchange. Our Club’s last Outbounder was Erin Fahey in 2009 who was hosted in Germany. We are thrilled that Lachie will be venturing to Japan (his country of choice) in January for an amazing year being hosted by families, attending school, speaking Japanese – such a wonderful cultural experience. Lachie, so personable, relaxed and engaging described the formal Rotary District interview process in detail. He sailed through it and impressed the panel with his knowledge of Rotary and his enthusiasm to embark on this unforgettable adventure. Congratulations Lachie and family. To Susanna and Gordon, thank you for mentoring him so well.

Shirley and John took turns sharing their experiences at the Rotary International Convention held in Melbourne recently. The 12 Moruya Rotarians who went said it was an awesome experience. The convention had big-name speakers, breakout sessions, the international flag ceremony and the House of Friendship – all sessions full of pageantry and inspiration. Rotary experts shared tips on how to live the Rotary Action Plan to address the world’s biggest challenges and grow club diversity. Jennifer Jones, RI President this year was there to meet all delegates. Imagine! 13,000 Rotarians from around the world did the wave at one point in the Rod Laver Arena. The entertainment was fabulous. All agreed it was an unforgettable opportunity to see firsthand the internationality of Rotary and feel proud to be a part of it.

THIS THURSDAY

This Thursday night is our Changeover, the culmination of our Rotary Year and will be a great night. It’s 6 for 6.30. It will bring many members, friends and distinguished guests together. Our special guests will include Member for Eden Monaro Kristy McBain, PDG Phil Armstrong representing DG Geraldine Rurenga, and Eurobodalla Shire Deputy Mayor Alison Worthington.

The Week that Was

Great markets

Once again, a fun market with perfect weather. David McInnes noted that “over the last year it has transformed into a very enjoyable day for all members”. It was the first market with the later winter hours and it seems a success with most people; it was certainly welcomed by the early morning Rotary crew on the gate. September’s market will return to the normal hours.

While a small market being in winter, the Club did quite well financially. Treasurer Mike Young reports the gate took $ 940.00, the van $450.50 plus square sales (still to be noted), and Wishing well $ 65.00.

Last Week’s meeting

Shirl and John’s report on Moruya Rotarians escapades at the RI Convention in Melbourne outlined the serious and social. Shirl was really impressed with RI President Jennifer Jones who sh said was so gracious and caring as she acknowledged Rotarians who had devoted their lives to helping others.

In breakout sessions and speeches there was much inspiration and pride in Rotary’s life changing projects. John was staggered at the sheer number. Jan and Steve Young were excited to meet Sandi and Tracey in the Hall of Friendship from the End Trachoma Project which Moruya had participated in.

Shirl really enjoyed driving to Melbourne in John’s Mustang; a few of them in convoy. John spoke of lots of dining out, Flemington Racecourse and an AFL game, some part of the RI Convention’s extra-curricular activities. He said the “fellowship” was one of the main reasons the 12 went down.

Shirl summed it up rather well saying it’s so good “to be part of something big and wonderful. People want to belong and be part of something…”

Out and About

Moruya’s Year in Review

It’s interesting to see how far Moruya Club has come in 12 months. President Shirl says in their Changeover Bulletin the Club started the year “with some soul searching”, having 31 aging members, a medium age of 75 and dwindling numbers. A meeting discussed what to do; their concern was as one member put it, “If we don’t do something we’re stuffed’”. But “events seemed to take over”. Moruya decided to initiate the move to establish Carers’ accommodation for the planned Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, following the initiative of Bega Valley Rotary Clubs. They set up a temporary committee that became the conduit to an incorporated community company – Carers Accommodation Eurobodalla Regional Hospital – CAERH. This helped put Moruya Rotary in the public eye. Nine months later, the independent committee was appointed with four Moruya Rotary members on that committee. CAREH Inc is up and running with wide community support, including from Narooma Rotary, and a long list of possible donors. It’s likely to be a five year project.

That, plus an “excellent run of guest speakers”, two sometimes three a month, and active support of many youth and community projects and Rotary programmes see six new members join the Club which Shirl says has made a huge difference. They ended the year with 34 members and a lower average age.

Moruya Rotary has put almost $91,000 back into the community over the year, much of it raised through the Moruya Racecourse kiosk.

Narooma President Elect Lynn Hastings and VP Julie Hartley will represent our Club at Moruya’s Changeover on Tuesday when Shirl will pass the chain of office to Derek Anderson.

The great Cinders Trivia Challenge

Our Club will be seeking to regain the Cinders Trophy from Moruya Rotary on Tuesday 11 July at Moruya Golf Club. Moruya Rotary is our host. So please come with friends and family who can help us in our quest. Details next week. This will be instead of a meeting in Narooma on Thursday 13th.

NEXT WEEK

No Meeting on Thursday 6 July, being the first Thursday in the month.

On Friday 7^th July at 4.15pm – New Board meets at Narooma Golf Club.

Ange’s Thoughts

A reminder that our monthly market is on this Sunday. Please note the hour later ‘winter’ start time. It’s a move appreciated by our early team AND most, if not all, stallholders.

We are currently finalising arrangements for next week’s Changeover, including the Changeover bulletin. All systems are ‘go’ as we near the end of this Rotary year.

The monthly CAERH (Carers’ Accommodation for the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital) meeting took place last Thursday. President Elect Lynn Hastings represented our Club. CAERH Secretary Steve Young said points covered included documentation regarding the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) application. The 4WD Electric car raffle with the Coastal Auto Group is progressing. The committee will be applying for tax deductibility for donors. 

This Thursday (22^nd June) we’re in for a great night. First, it’s an opportunity to personally congratulate Lachie Penglase on being selected by District for the 2024 Rotary Youth Exchange. Then it will be hearing from our guest speakers Shirley Cornish and John Gillett from Moruya Rotary Club about their experiences at the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne recently. Just imagine! Twelve Moruya Rotarians went, all accommodated in an apartment building arranged by a Rotary mate. They headed out together each day and tried a different restaurant at night. Apparently they had a ball!

Adam De Totth will also be joining us for the last time as our Area 6 Governor.

THIS THURSDAY 22^ND JUNE

We welcome Moruya Rotarians President Shirley Cornish and PP John Gillett who will give a PowerPoint presentation on ‘Twelve Moruya go to the RI Convention in Melbourne’, or something like that… A great effort by Moruya.

The Week that Was

News from Moruya Club

Moruya Rotarians have put together toiletry kits for Rotary Australia’s ‘End Trachoma Project’ over the last 18 months. Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, yet it is preventable. It is in 40 countries, mostly poorer counties, with Australia the only developed country affected in any major way by the disease.

Sandi Fulcher of RC Chadstone/ East Malvern, the overall co-ordinator of the project, said they are working with the World Health Organization to end trachoma in Australia. There’s a high incidence in Australian Indigenous communities; the project’s major focus is on the goldfields of Western Australia, Alice Springs, and central and remote communities of the Northern Territory.

End Trachoma is a simple project – to provide these communities with assistance in sanitary measures, and with facial and environmental cleanliness. Rotary provides hand wash stations, toiletry kits, towels, dust suppressors and water transport trailers, among several other measures, to encourage improved facial cleanliness.

Moruya Rotary has now delivered five boxes of 17 family toiletry kits, six extra kids’ kits and a few spare toiletries to Pack and Send in Camberwell, Victoria where they will go with the latest boxes from the Rotary clubs of Frankston North and Rochester to Alice Springs. Moruya Rotarians made and labelled the drawstring bags before filling them with appropriate toiletries.

A note on Changeovers

Clubs in the Bega Valley seem to stagger their Changeovers so members from other clubs can attend and support their neighbours. In the Eurobodalla, while Moruya’s Changeover is on Tuesday next week, the Bay’s and ours are on the same night. Moruya is expecting about 65 at their Changeover next Tuesday, including seven from Batemans Bay Club and our VP Julie Hartley. Perhaps something to consider for next year…

NEXT THURSDAY 29^th

Our most prestigious event of the year is next Thursday 29^th June – our Changeover. Please make sure you have informed Gero if you are/ are not coming by this Friday, preferably by noon. Your booking will be confirmed by direct deposit into our Administration account at the same time – details on the invitation. Cost is $50 p.p. Hope we see you there.

Ange’s Thoughts

What a fantastic night we enjoyed last week with the RoboRebels telling us about competing in the recent World Robotics Championships in Houston, Texas. They attracted many interested guests as well as a good roll up of members. Narooma High’s team of five students – Kye Potter, Harmony Canon, Harrison McKee, Matthew Brooks and Linc McLeod-Scott took us on an amazing journey. They had won the FIRST Robotics South Pacific Regional Championships in Wollongong qualifying them for the World Championships. 

These wonderful, inspiring students took the stage and ran the show to everyone’s delight. We enjoyed the clever, short film made about their unique US experience which also included dinner with the Australian Consul-General in Houston, visit to NASA and the Texas Medical Centre Innovation Accelerator. Each spoke enthusiastically about their experiences at Narooma High designing, building, programming and coding their competition robot. We were also treated to some other demo robots.

Congratulations RoboRebels. You have done Narooma proud under the dedicated and ongoing mentorship of teachers Gayle Allison and Christine Potts.

It was our pleasure to donate $500 towards their costs. We hope that their participation in this international event will encourage them all to dream big and seek opportunities to use their fantastic skills in the future. They are inspiring many other students.

NO MEETING THIS WEEK

The meeting originally scheduled for this Thursday has been moved to Thursday 22^nd. This was due to a slight miscommunication between us and the Golf Club. Not having a meeting this week has been welcomed by many because it was otherwise going to be a really full on month.

The Week that Was

More on RoboRebels

The RoboRebels experience at the Robotics World Championships in Texas really was mind blowing. They were one of 600 teams competing in front of 30,000 people. It was huge! While everyone was competitive, the Narooma team was really touched about how so many other teams genuinely offered any assistance they needed.

Unfortunately we did not get to meet the competition Robot 5988 which was on its way home, but the team introduced us to their three different stages of robots from the small and basic through to larger more complex competition robots. This team have been into robotics since primary school, and have been mentoring others throughout their secondary years. Hats off to Narooma teachers Gayle Allison and Christine Potts; with four of the five team finishing school this year, Gayle and Christine had some initial fears about finding students for a whole new competition team. Those fears are now over; these students are inspiring others.   

You have been officially invited

Changeover is our most prestigious event in the year. This week Secretary Gero has sent to all members an official invitation to Changeover. Please note Gero asks that you please let her know by Friday 23^rd June if you are coming with the number of guests; please pay at the same time online into our Administration account (detail on invitation). It should be a great night.

Bay Rotarian will be District DG 2025-2026

Robert Shore from the Rotary Club of Batemans Bay has been selected as District Governor Nominee Designate. If his selection is not challenged, he will be DG in 2025-2026.Congratulations Robert from Narooma Rotarians!

NEXT THURSDAY

Guest speakers Moruya Rotarians Shirley Cornish and John Gillett will report on Moruya Rotary contingent at the recent RI Convention in Melbourne.

We will also have as our special guest our 2024 International Exchange Student Lachie Penglase.

The final month of every Rotary year is Fellowship Month. Fellowship is particularly to the forefront with changeovers being very much the priority in all clubs in June. Fellowship is of course one of the five core values of Rotary, the others being service, diversity, integrity and leadership.

FYI, Monday was World Environment Day and this Thursday is World Oceans Day.

Ange’s Thoughts

Some late breaking amazing news!! Lachie Penglase has been selected by District for the 2024 Rotary Youth Exchange Program. He has also been given Japan, his country of choice. Congratulations Lachie and well done Susanna and Gordon who assisted with his preparation for District interviews at the weekend. We hope to be able to personally congratulate Lachie at our meeting on the 15^th June.

Our Board meeting last Friday:

• Finalised the menu for Changeover
• Determined remaining disbursements for the year
• Mike Young is preparing a yearly planner for the 2023/2024 Rotary year that can be printed as a hard copy. (Laurelle Pacey pointed out a detailed list for those who want it of all Club events can be printed from our website by going to the right hand column, click ‘All events’).
• John Rungen is keen to update the sheet detailing the organisation of our Club
• David McInnes has started work on the Club’s application for charity and Donor Gift Recipient status which will also involve setting up a separate bank account. This will allow potential donors to our Scholarship scheme and projects, such as the new food van, to receive tax deductions.
• John Rungen has confirmed he is willing to be Secretary from 1 July until the end of December. Then he and Denise will be travelling. Julie Hartley has agreed to then take on the role as secretary, and will be mentored by John over the next six months.
• We now have a dedicated secondhand mobile to use for the squares, thanks to Chris O’Brien. Lynn Hastings will arrange for the data to be erased and organise a sim card.
• The Board agreed that Club dues for 2023-2024 will be $285 p.a for those who want a hard copy of the Rotary Down Under magazine and $280 p.a. for those who are happy with a digital copy.
• Need to action John Rungen’s Volunteer Declaration form as a matter of urgency.

We are in for an inspiring night on Thursday when we will hear from the RoboRebels (see below). Looking forward to it.  

THIS WEEK

We welcome all five members of Narooma High RoboRebels and their teachers/ mentors recently returned from a possibly life-changing experience in the USA. Recently the RoboRebels won the FIRST Robotics South Pacific Regional championships in Wollongong qualifying for the World Championships in Houston, Texas . On Thursday they will share the story of their trip with a short film and their demonstration robot.

Please invite partners and friends and let Gero know by noon on Tuesday if you are coming and how many guests you are bringing.

The Week that Was

Moruya Rotarians loved RI Convention

Moruya’s 15-member contingent (!) had a great time at Rotary International’s recent Melbourne Convention. President Shirl described it as “totally wonderful”. Moruya delegates were Annette and John Nader, Shirley Cornish, Bronwyn and Col Jay, Jan and Steve Young, John and Brenda Gillet. Robyn Armstrong, Keith Armstrong, Rohan and Pauline Gleeson, Vere and Garry Grey.

Shirl said China was a surprise entrant in the almost endless parade of country flags. In the last 12 months China’s number of clubs has grown from two to nine plus Rotaract clubs from two to four.

In this week’s Moruya bulletin, Shirl described Project Rozana as an example of the forceful Breakout Sessions on world changing projects she attended. The forum at the Convention had one Muslim, a Christian (Tim Costello) and a Jew who said Project Rozana ‘transports Palestinian patients to hospitals within Israeli borders, and providing treatment options for Palestinians where access to specialist and/or quality healthcare is limited.’ It enables cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians within health on the personal level so, ‘Palestinians and Israelis coexist peacefully, with a sense of mutual respect, dignity and safety for all.’

The Pakistan report on Polio Plus revealed the sad and tragic cost of polio vaccination. Sixty-four of its brave front line workers died, many from gunshot wounds.

We will hear more about the Convention next week. The 2024 Convention is in Singapore; Shirl has already registered!

Out and About

The next Bega Rotary Book Fair is on 7th and 8th July at Bega Showground; this is Bega Rotary’s major fundraiser for the year. They are limiting book donations this year to shopping bags and small boxes of books but no big collections

NEXT THURSDAY 15^th June

We will hear firsthand from Moruya Rotarians who attended the recent RI Convention and hopefully from Lachie Penglase.

Ange’s Thoughts

The delight of hearing well – the privilege of the gift of sound’ was Annemarie Narraway’s talk last Thursday. Highly qualified as a specialist audiologist Annemarie’s passion is to combine new and innovative technologies to benefit her clients with quality of life. She said that with hearing we make sense of the world and described how intricate and precious the shape of the ear is to capture sound. As an independent audiologist she is able to offer many more options in hearing aids, cochlea implants and other services to us in her state of the art hearing clinic. Technology has come a long way resulting in much smaller and more sensitive devices being available. Annemarie was especially excited and motivated to hear the latest advances after attending a national audiologists conference in Brisbane. Hear Well – Live Well is a perfect name for her business. 

Last Thursday we also welcomed back Rachel and David who shared with us some of the highlights of their fantastic travels around Canada and the USA.

Lady Luck again smiled on us for our market. Such a happy vibe with sunshine, 57 stall sites (big for this time of year) and many happy people enjoying good food and great things on offer. Thanks Chris for managing the market so well and to all our terrific helpers. I was particularly touched when some stallholders mentioned to Chris how friendly and kind our Rotary market is. People notice and that’s something we can all be proud of.

It’s ‘Bon Voyage’ to Ana and Greg heading off to Europe including a cruise around the Mediterranean. Then staying with family who live on an island off Portugal. Have a fabulous time and see you in six weeks.

This Friday, 2 June, is our last Board meeting for this Rotary year. Lots to discuss and decide including disbursements for the Changeover.

THIS WEEK

No dinner meeting this Thursday (1^st) being the first Thursday in the month.

Friday 2^nd June at 4.15pm: Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club

The Week that Was

More from last Week’s meeting

Greg Heath’s international toast last week was to the Rotary Club of Henllys of  Cumbran, Wales which he identified as a Club of Action making their community a better place. The Club supported their relatively new Interact Club of Croesyceiliog School where the students asked family, friends and teachers to crochet rosette, hearts, butterflies and other designs for a Random Acts of Croesy Kindness Project. The students then placed these in random locations and attached uplifting notes for those who found the gifts. A very worthy toast.

Annemarie’s talk touched a number of our members who have had that feeling “they may be missing something”. She said she is in the privileged position of being able to bring back people’s hearing. “A hearing aid gives you so much more for such a small inconvenience… and keeps your brain active for longer.” Another take-home message was you get what you pay for, with top of the range hearing aids having 24 channels.

Last Sunday’s Market

As Ange has already reported, it was a great market on Sunday. Treasurer Mike reports gate income was $ 1,135.00, the wishing well $167.40 and van takings $639.50, so a total of $1,941.90. This market we didn’t have the expense of meat purchases having had the meat donation from the previous weekend, so a great result.

Out and About

RI Convention concludes on Thursday

Melbourne has welcomed more than 14,000 delegates from around the world for the 2023 Rotary International Convention (27 May-1 June). That includes a number of Moruya Rotarians. The RI Convention is often referred to as a ‘mini-United Nations’ because its global scope and cultural diversity brings Rotarians together to exchange ideas on how to improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world.

Rotarians have had a full programme of events including keynote speeches, workshops, and networking opportunities across both the Rod Laver Arena and Olympic Parks and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Rotary’s House of Friendship exhibition hall at the MCEC displayed more than 100 Rotary humanitarian projects. Hundreds of ancillary events have been taking place across many of Melbourne’s other leading venues.

The RI convention is expected to inject more than $91m injection into the local economy, making it one of the most valuable business events secured for Victoria in the past 10 years.

Among major news from the Convention is that the Rotary Foundation has awarded US$2 million to prevent cervical cancer in Egypt.The Rotary-led initiative ‘United to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt’ aims to reduce cervical cancer cases and enhance women’s health in Egypt through targeted awareness-raising and improved access to preventative care. It was initiated by the Rotary Club of El Tahrir, supported by Rotary clubs in Greater Cairo and modeled after President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s Egyptian Women’s Health Initiative on breast cancer. Rotary aims to vaccinate more than 30,000 girls ages 9-15 and provide screenings for 10,000 women in greater Cairo and launch a public awareness campaign to reach 4 million people.

News from ROMAC

Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) is now well and truly back in operation after the Covid hiatus. ROMAC provides surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific region by life-giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country. It is currently supporting the treatment of seven children. Many people visited the ROMAC Information Booth at the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne. Many ROMAC supporters from across Zone 8 visited the Booth as well as many International visitors, many of whom wished they had a similar Rotary program in their countries.

NEXT THURSDAY 8 June

A reminder that Narooma High’s robotics team the RobeRebels will join us on next Thursday 8 June to talk about attending the World Championships for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC) held recently in Houston.

The 2023 RoboRebels team is five senior students and teachers with a passion for science and technology. They worked after school twice a week and every Sunday since January to design, build and program their 2023 competition robot. For this competition, the team focussed on coding the robot to achieve a specific task: to balance itself on a see saw bridge.

It should be a great night so please ask partners and friends and get back to Gero with numbers.

Ange’s Thoughts

What a win on all fronts on Sunday when our Club offered to assist NPWS by cooking a BBQ breakfast on Sunday for the weekend meeting of the Registered Aboriginal Owners of Biamanga and Gulaga Mountains at the Sport & Leisure Centre. The gathering was to elect new members for the Boards of the two respective National Parks. Thanks to Françoise and partner John for providing their own gas BBQ, gazebo and tables, and to Lynn and Mike. I was also there.

Not only was all food supplied but our Club was generously donated $500 for our services, $250 from each Board of Management. An added bonus was we were given heaps of leftover sausages, bacon, eggs and onions for our Market this Sunday.

Last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast speaker Annette Kennewell held everyone spellbound talking about the month- long ‘Fungi Feastival’ starting mid-June with over 30 mini-events from the Bay to Eden. She said the Feastival is much more than workshops of growing, food, and art. She said there is a huge potential to grow a whole new industry in the region, from farming to culinary appreciation (see report below).

Later on Thursday, I represented the Club at the monthly CAERH meeting in Moruya. The group reported on their visit the previous day to Bega Hospital Carers’ facility. Ideas were shared on optimising floor plans, features and facilities for the future Carers Accommodation in Moruya. Costings and design of Stage 1 (six bedrooms and communal facilities) are estimated at $2 million. The committee is currently researching Club Grants.  A Eurobodalla dealer has offered a new Electric car to be raffled as a major fundraiser.

It’s wonderful to this week to be welcoming one of our new members Annemarie Narraway as our guest speaker. Details below.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 25 May 6 for 6.30pm: Dinner Meeting with guest speaker Annemarie Narraway on ‘the delight of hearing well – the privilege of the gift of sound’.

Annemarie completed a four year Bachelor degree in Communication Pathology (intensive Speech Therapy and Audiology) at the University of Pretoria. She moved to Australia with her husband Tim, two suitcases each and $50 to their names. They started in Canberra in 2000, moved to Wagga Wagga in 2003. Eight years ago they moved to the South Coast. She has worked as a Specialist Audiologist, including in rural areas, and now owns her own practice in Narooma. She loves bringing the gift of better communication to people.

Sunday 28 May: Our monthly markets – roster is doing the rounds.

The Week that Was

Last week’s Business Breakfast

What a great turn-up last Thursday all of whom were absolutely captivated with Annette Kennewell’ s  outline of the rapidly approaching Fungi Feastival. (16 June- 16 July) which will celebrate all things fungi from Batemans Bay to Eden.

It’s an initiative by local fungi devotees Annette Kennewell, Fiona Kotvojs and Josh Whitworth to stimulate interest in growing a whole new industry in the region, from farming to culinary appreciation. Events range from fungi science with mushroom growing workshops and truffle hunts, to mushroom and truffle cooking classes, to 10 participating restaurants offering mushroom and truffle dishes, and four restaurants showcasing mushrooms and truffle dinners, even to fungi photography and pottery workshops. For more information on the Fungi Feastival, suggest you check www.fungifeastival.com.au.

Our Business Networking Breakfasts now have a break of three months over winter, resuming in September .

The CAERH visit to Bega

Moruya President Shirl Cornish reports in this week’s Moruya Bulletin that that the CAERH committee and friends had two inspiring and rewarding days last week. Last Wednesday we toured the Bega Carers Accommodation and at the meeting on Thursday collated ideas. Stage One at Bega was 6 units in a U shape, with undercover central area and small lounge which at the moment had laundry bags. Stage two is a larger kitchen and lounge, and a row of six motel style units. Our tour guide suggested that Stage two was more successful. The raked ceilings were popular and gave a feeling of space and the fact that they cost no more than flat ceilings seemed a good idea. The Bega Accommodation is mainly needed for short time stay and just a few long term. It has two rooms with an adjoining door for larger groups. So now we have the process of collating the ideas into a draft design. Col Jay has done a lot of research .

Coming Up

A reminder that Narooma High’s robotics team the RobeRebels will join us on Thursday 8 June to talk about attending the World Championships for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC) held recently in Houston.

The 2023 RoboRebels team is five senior students with a passion for science and technology. They worked after school twice a week and every Sunday since January to design, build and program their 2023 competition robot. For this competition, the team focussed on coding the robot to achieve a specific task: to balance itself on a see saw bridge.

It should be a great night so please ask partners and friends.

NEXT WEEK

There is no dinner meeting next Thursday (1^st) being the first Thursday in the month.

Friday 2^nd May at 4pm: Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club

Ange’s Thoughts

Last Thursday’s Club Assembly was small and cosy. We welcomed back Lynn and heard that Rachel and David had just landed. Good to have you all back on board.

Items discussed included agreeing to help the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) with catering for a weekend meeting of the Traditional Owners of the Mountains; we’ve put our hands up for a Breakfast BBQ 8-10 on Sunday 21 May at the Sport & Leisure Centre. NPWS will provide the food, Rotarian Francoise Cleret and partner John Cunningham have offered to bring their gas BBQ and gazebo. Lynn Hastings and I will help. In return, NPWS will donate $250 to Rotary.

This Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast should be interesting with guest speaker Annette Kennewell talking about an exciting new initiative – the month long Fungi Feastival. More details below. Hope to see you there. It will be the last one until we reconvene in September when it’s warmer.

THIS THURSDAY – Business Breakfast

The Breakfast is at Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp. The BB will focus on an exciting new initiative– the ‘Fungi Feastival’ (16 June- 16 July) which will celebrate all things fungi from Batemans Bay to Eden.

It’s an initiative of three local fungi devotees Annette Kennewell, Fiona Kotvojs and Josh Whitworth to stimulate interest in growing a whole new industry in the region, from farming to culinary appreciation.

Events range from fungi science with mushroom growing workshops and truffle hunts, to mushroom and truffle cooking classes, to 10 participating restaurants offering mushroom and truffle dishes, and four restaurants showcasing mushrooms and truffle dinners, even to fungi photography and pottery workshops.

For more information on the Fungi Feastival, please check www.fungifeastival.com.au

The Week that Was

Bega Valley does RYDA

Bega Valley Rotary Clubs ran a successful Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) programme last week at the Go Kart track at Eric Johnson’s property. Several schools from the Bega Valley and Monaro attended to learn more about driver safety including lectures from the Police, demerit points and how they work, stories from crash survivors, practical lessons on stopping distances at different speeds, driver distractions and impact on safety and more.

Bega Rotary and Pambula Rotary as well as Merimbula and Tathra Lions Clubs volunteered over the three days as guides, BBQ cooks and lunch servers.

Out and About

Check your Bowels soon!

If you want to benefit from the annual Rotary BowelCare Programme which our Club always supports, kits are only available for purchase until 31 May. They are no longer sold through our local pharmacies; only online or by phone. 

This programme is available for everyone regardless of age, whereas the free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is only provided to those aged 50-74. Australia has the world’s highest incidence of bowel cancer with 1 in 12 men and women diagnosed with bowel cancer by age 85. It is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer. Yet this one simple and cheap test you can do at home could save your life.

Kits this year can be purchased through the online store at www.cancercareaustralia.org.au, or by phoning the BowelCare office Tuesday to Thursday 9.00 am – 3.00 pm (02) 4341 6695. The cost is $27.50 inclusive of postage and fees, pathology testing, and notification of your result to yourself and your nominated doctor. 

BowelCare is a not-for-profit project supported by Rotary clubs across Australia to improve community health. BowelCare Australia is a division of CancerCare Australia Limited.

May is Youth Service Month – RYLA

One of Rotary’s sponsored programmes is RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). RYLA is held in Canberra for a week in January each year and comprises lectures, activities, and mentoring by inspirational and qualified leaders in Business, Government, etc. Young people from 18 tom25 are eligible and it prepares them for future leadership roles in communities and in their workplace, giving them confidence to look ahead and achieve goals in their lives and follow their dreams.

If you know a young person who may be interested, please let the Board know.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 25 May 6 for 6.30pm:

Dinner Meeting with guest speaker Annemarie Narraway on ‘The delight of hearing well – the privilege of the gift of sound’. Annemarie completed a four year Bachelor degree in Communication Pathology (intensive Speech Therapy and Audiology) at the University of Pretoria. She moved to Australia with her husband Tim, two suitcases each and $50 to their names. They started in Canberra in 2000, moved to Wagga Wagga in 2003. Eight years ago they moved to the South Coast. She has worked as a Specialist Audiologist, including in rural areas, and now owns her own practice in Narooma. She loves bringing the gift of better communication to people.

Sunday 28 May: Our monthly markets

Roster will be doing the rounds soon.

Apologies for the late Beacon this week. Been swamped.

THIS THURSDAY (Today!)

Club Assembly 6 for 6.30 at Narooma Golf Club.  Look forward to seeing you there. President Ange will raise a few matters discussed at last week’s Board meeting.

The Week that Was

It’s been a big week in Narooma with the Oyster Festival last weekend which saw thousands of visitors enjoy what makes Narooma so very special. Many newcomers have fallen in love with Narooma and the weather couldn’t have been better Friday and Saturday… just a shame about Sunday!

One decision from last week’s Board meeting was to donate $2,000 to Prostate Cancer Research, which includes half the proceeds from our last Australia Day Duck Race.

Out and About

Countdown to RI Convention in Melbourne

The 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne starts in about two weeks’ time on 27 May. The annual Convention is where friendship and learning come together to inspire all Rotarians. The theme is ‘Imagine What’s Next’.

There’s a fabulous range of keynote speakers who are transforming health care, rethinking cities, advancing the cause of peace, and working to protect our environment across the world. They share a vision of a more sustainable, equitable world. They’ll tell how that vision can be realized – not just in the years to come, but right now. They include Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee of Liberia who will tell her story about empowering girls.

There are dozens of breakout sessions full of ideas Rotarians can take back to their clubs. The House of Friendship features projects by clubs, fellowships, action groups, and partners from across the world and one of the best ways to get a sense of Rotary’s global reach. It’s also fun with some top entertainment organised.

The expo is at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre every day of the convention 27-31 May. Quite a few Moruya Rotarians are going.

Men’s Health Van in Moruya

The Men’s Health Van with Registered Nurse Bill Power and his wife Debbiel were in Moruya for two days recently. He reports. One Friday they parked at the mower shop, and Saturday at the markets.  Bill noted numbers were well above average over the two days. The van at the Mower Shop attracted 27 people for their free health checks, and then 22 at Moruya Markets on Saturday, in a lovely sunny spot by the river.

NEXT THURSDAY 18 MAY

Our next Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 18 May will focus on an exciting new initiative in June – the ‘Fungi Feastival’ (16 June- 16 July) which will celebrate all things fungi from Batemans Bay to Eden. The Breakfast is at Narooma Surf Club 7am sharp.

The ‘Feastival’ is an initiative of three local fungi devotees Annette Kennewell, Fiona Kotvojs and Josh Whitworth to stimulate interest in growing a whole new industry in the region, from farming to culinary appreciation.

Events range from fungi science with mushroom growing workshops and truffle hunts, to mushroom and truffle cooking classes, to 10 participating restaurants offering mushroom and truffle dishes, and four restaurants  showcasing mushrooms and truffle dinners, even to fungi photography and pottery workshops.  Should be really interesting. For more information on the ‘Fungi Feastival’, please check www.fungifeastival.com.au

Bookings essential. Please email Laurelle if coming by this Monday 15 May. Breakfast will be ordered unless you say otherwise. Cost $10. PLEASE tell Laurelle if you book but then can’t make it.

Hope to see you then. This will be the last Rotary Breakfast until September.