Julie’s Jots
Sunday was another beautiful day for our markets. Thankyou to everyone in the team involved, especially our ‘Vice’ Market Manager David McInnes. Also great to see two new faces helping at the barbecue and in the van – John and Dianna Coll; look forward to seeing more of you John and Dianna. Sunday’s Market takings were Gate $795.00, Gross van sales $1,123.95. The loss of Riverside Pizzas from the markets was probably a contributing factor to the higher than normal van sales.
This week I’m looking forward to hearing from our good friend Rachel McInnes on her role in the volunteer organisation WIRES, including the high and lows.
Our Rotary Business Breakfast last week was well attended with 30 mainly business people coming along to hear guest speaker Cath Peachey of Narooma Rocks talk about the 2024 Narooma Oyster Festival and beyond. (See Report below)
The Week that Was
Our Business Networking Breakfast
It was great to see several new business faces at last Thursday’s Business Networking Breakfast, attracted by our excellent guest speaker Narooma Rocks (NR) Chair Cath Peachey. NR organises the multi-award winning Narooma Oyster Festival (NOF).
Cath reported on the analysis of the extraordinary amount of data on the NOF that can now be accessed, thanks to technology. This year’s NOF, Australia’s premier oyster festival and Southern NSW’s largest food and drink event, injected over $4m into the local economy, attracted 86% of visitors from outside the Eurobodalla, increased average stay, created a real buzz around the region, and continued to showcase local and regional produce. It’s also home of Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championship and Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition. Narooma Rocks is a not-for-profit company that seeks to be a catalyst for tourism to the NSW South Coast and surrounding region and contributes to marketing the South Coast, particularly Narooma, as a year-round tourism destination. It couldn’t happen without the efforts of 150 volunteers.
Cath also outlined Narooma Rocks Strategy for the next four years. Its goals are:
1. To elevate the Rock Oyster as the hero product anchoring authentic NSW destination experiences
2. Establishing a Rock Oyster Visitor Experience and Tasting Room
3. Make Narooma Oyster Festival financially sustainable.
Our Rotary Business Breakfasts are now firmly established and have enhanced Narooma Rotary’s profile and credibility in the local business community.
THIS THURSDAY 26th
Dinner Speaker Rachel McInnes on ‘Being a Wildlife Rescuer and Carer’. Rachel has been a wildlife rescuer and carer with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, since 2016. She will give us some insight into what wildlife rescuers and carers do and how they make a difference for our precious wildlife. (For those who love acronyms… WIRES stands for Wildlife information, rescue and education service.)
6 for 6.30pm at Narooma Golf Club. Please make sure you book with Gero including any guests by noon Tuesday so she can notify the Club of numbers.
Out and About
From Bega Rotary Club
Bega Rotary’s next Rotary Bookfair, its major fundraiser, is on 4-5 October at Bega Primary School. Usually it’s at the Showground but current ongoing works there necessitated a change of venue.
District Conference in Mittagong
25-27 October: See https://www.discon24.com/about-8 for full details
NEXT WEEK
Wednesday 2 October 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group, Narooma Golf Club
Thursday 3 October: No Dinner Meeting. 6.30pm: BOARD MEETING