Julie’s Jots

All reports from last Thursday are it was a fabulous night enjoyed by our members and guests, especially the recipients. A real ‘feel good’ occasion and the word is the Preschool Team may have more accolades to follow soon, all well deserved. Our Exchange student Hilma also spoke, updating everyone on her last few weeks.

We have a great week coming up with our Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday when we will hear from some of our key business people about their expectations of the coming busy summer season. Please let Laurelle know if you intend to go by COB Monday. Bookings are essential.

Our monthly Market is the following Sunday; David has sent an email with a link to the roster so again, all hands on deck please, PLUS we will be starting to sell our Duck Race tickets, with proceeds towards the Carers’ Accommodation at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital plus other community projects.

The Week that Was

Last Thursday’s special night to award a Vocational Excellence Award to Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps and her Team was a great success. Our Club recognised not only their initiative in developing an authentic local indigenous curriculum unit in association with the local Yuin community; we also recognised their sharing the impressive teaching kits they created with 20 other early childhood centres in our local area. Our MC was Françoise Cleret.

Mrs Phipps said they are all very proud of what they have achieved.

“It’s been a huge undertaking with lots of discussion along the way about how we could best meet the Department of Education’s mandatory requirements of an indigenous unit but do it authentically with local relevance,” she said. “Thanks to our staff, particularly Kate Heffernan, we were able to involve wonderful resource people from our community, especially Trish Ellis, Natalie Bateman and Eddie Moore, the High School and the Men’s Shed.

“The unit tells traditional Yuin stories and incorporates the local Dhurga language, thanks to Trish and her sister Kerry, which our staff have been learning through TAFE.

“Children love beautiful things and the stunning artwork on the storyboards by Natalie and the wonderful artefacts made by Eddie are loved and respected by all our children.” About one-third of Narooma Preschool’s students are from Aboriginal families.

The team created 20 basket trunks of unique storyboards, books, artefacts and other teaching materials that were then gifted to other early childhood centres around the Eurobodalla. The Preschool is now developing a PowerPoint to suggest to other centres how they might best use the material.

This programme was funded by a $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

THIS WEEK

This Thursday 21^st – Business Breakfast

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 21st (7am sharp) should be fascinating and timely with a great line-up of panel speakers on the coming Tourism season. The panel of five local business people will each talk for about five minutes maximum on the approaching busy summer season – their expectations and anticipated challenges. They are Teaghan Abbott of Easts Holiday Park, Sally Bouckley of Southbound Escapes, Victor Costa of Merivale, Tania McHugh of She Fashion of Narooma and Bermagui, Tash Clutterbuck of Oyster Farmer’s Daughter.

We intend starting the panel promptly at 7.15am so we’re asking everyone to have some breakfast, grab a coffee and be ready by then. Please let Laurelle know by COB Monday 18 November if you are coming. Cost is $10.

This Sunday 24^th – Market

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

The Board of Moruya Rotary approved several donations last week. One of $1,500 was to The Red Door that provides a weekly meal to those who are financially or socially disadvantaged; another $1,500 was to Sue Proud’s initiative to provide care packages to women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. The board also approved contributions to two RAWCS projects proposed by Shirl Cornish: $3,000 for community development and education assistance in Santa Isabel in the Solomon Islands, and a pledge of $2,000 for a Uganda project, to be paid when that project reaches a total of $8,000.

WHO on Gaza Polio vaccinations

The second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed in early November, again in three phases across central, south and northern Gaza under area-specific humanitarian pauses in bombardment. Overall about 94% of the target population of 591 714 children under the age of 10 years received a second dose of nOPV2 across the Gaza Strip. The third phase in northern Gaza had to be temporarily postponed because of intense bombardments, mass displacements, lack of assured humanitarian pauses and access; it resumed 2 November but was confined to Gaza City which had received many evacuees from North Gaza. At least two doses and a minimum of 90% vaccination coverage are needed in each community to stop circulation of the polio strain affecting Gaza. 

The total number of wild Polio paralysis cases in the world has increased from 12 in 2023 to 71 so far this year in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

NEXT WEEK

Next Thursday 28^th – Dinner Speaker

Our Dinner Speaker Bronwyn Jewel will give us some insight into her ‘Slice of Life in the Torres Strait’.

Bronwyn worked on Thursday Island for nine years as both the Manager of Gab Titui, the Cultural Centre, and as a Program Manager Culture, Art and Heritage for the Torres Strait Regional Authority .Her talk will centre around the film Ailan Kastam and then specially about the arts and culture of the Torres Strait Islanders and the Aboriginal People of the region.

Bronwyn is not speaking on behalf of Torres Strait Islanders but rather describing her experience through her roles there.

Julie’s Jots

This week’s meeting should be really uplifting hearing from Kathy Phipps, Narooma Preschool Director, about the great indigenous curriculum unit the Preschool Team has created.  Their efforts are well deserving of our Vocational Excellence Award. Unfortunately I will miss it but I am delighted Hilma will be there; it should be a special night.

Hilma is moving from the Penglase family at Bermagui this weekend to her new host family Françoise and John at Dalmeny. The Penglases have been so fantastic and generous, including taking Hilma to Sydney (climbed the Harbour Bridge) and Melbourne during her stay. We are so very grateful for all they have done.

The Prostate Cancer Support Group meeting last Wednesday night was excellent with our interesting guest speaker Jarrod Flynn, Coordinator of the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre. We were nine people all up, including Mike Young and myself.

THIS WEEK

Our guest speaker will be Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps with her Team who developed a new localised Indigenous programme for the Preschool to meet curriculum changes introduced earlier this year. They developed it in association with our local Yuin community. They then shared the programme with 20 other early childhood centres in the Eurobodalla. Kathy will outline what they have done. The Award presentation will then follow. The Club has rarely given a Vocational Excellence Award; it’s for someone who not only does a great job in their vocation, but also goes above and beyond.

Please invite friends and partners. Gero asks to please let Laurelle know by noon on Tuesday at the latest (Gero will be away) if you are coming and whether you will be bringing guests (please also send Laurelle their names).

The Week that Was

From last week’s Board meeting

Matters included:

• Our AGM is on Thursday 5 December at the Golf Club.
• All members and Friends of Rotary who work at the markets in the food van or with the barbecue should do the free online NSW Food Authority Food Handling course.
• The Board decided to top up the amount raised at the Lift the Lid night to make a $500.00 donation to Australian Rotary Health.
• Susanna tabled a report on Hilma’s doings. Hilma’s highlights included doing the 34km bike ride at the Bermagui Reboot (medal to prove it!), and attending the District Conference in Mittagong where she stayed with Bowral Rotarians and a French exchange student. District has approved Hilma’s request to go to Queensland in December to play volleyball with the Narooma High team. What a great experience but unfortunately she will miss our Christmas party.
• Our Polio Film night at the Kinema has been postponed until 2025.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

Moruya sees the year 2025-2026 as when the problems of an aging membership are offset by an intake of younger members. At the AGM they will create a Board position Director Membership 2025-2026 to give priority to recruitment and retention of younger members. They have three new members “in the process of induction”.

NEXT THURSDAY

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 21st November (7am sharp) should be fascinating and timely with a great line-up of panel speakers on the coming Tourism season. The panel of five local business people (accommodation, hospitality, activities and retail) will each talk for about five minutes maximum on the approaching busy summer season – their expectations and anticipated challenges.

They are Teaghan Abbott of Easts Holiday Park, Narooma; Sally Bouckley of Southbound Escapes; Victor Costa of Merivale; Tania McHugh of She Fashion of Narooma and Bermagui; and Tash Clutterbuck of Oyster Farmer’s Daughter.

We intend starting the panel promptly at 7.15am so hopefully everyone will be able to have some breakfast, grab a coffee and be ready by then. Please let Laurelle know by Monday 18 November if you are coming. Cost is $10.

Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday night was another fun get-together at Lynch’s Pub.  It was wonderful that Pina brought along her neighbour who was originally from Finland!

The Prostate Cancer Support Group this Wednesday (6^th) welcomes guest speaker Jarrod Flynn from the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre. The November Board meeting the next day will be fairly comprehensive. The agenda includes discussion of some of the great ideas that came out of the presentations at the recent Community Group workshop that Lynn and I attended on behalf of the Club, and how we might explore them further with Members.

We will have another inspiring night next Thursday (14^th) when Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps will outline the new localised Indigenous programme her Team developed in association with our local Yuin community for theirs and other early childhood centres in our area. It included significant inputs from Trish Ellis, Natalie Bateman, and Eddie Moore. Please invite others to join us. We will then present Kathy and her Team with a Vocational Excellence Award.

Our Annual General Meeting is on Thursday 5 December 2024. Positions in the Club will become vacant for the 2025-26 year. All members are encouraged to attend this meeting. A nomination form for committee positions will be circulated soon.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, 6 November 6.30pm, Narooma Golf Club: Narooma Prostate Cancer Support Group with guest speaker Jarrod Flynn, Coordinator, Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre Co-ordinator

Thursday, 7 November 5.15pm: Board Meeting, Narooma Golf Club.

The Week that Was

From Moruya Rotary Club

Moruya Rotary’s profit from its recent charity golf day was almost $13,000, a fantastic result. The funds will go to the Carer’ Accommodation fund for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. They had 84 golfers tee off and 122 booked for dinner. President Allen made special mention in this week newsletter of the wonderful organisational and motivational skills of John Spencer, John Gillett and Jeff Proud who worked closely with Moruya Golf Club and contributed so much to the Golf Day’s success.

Out and About

A date for your Diary

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast on Thursday 21st November (7am sharp) should be fascinating and timely with a great line-up of panel speakers on the coming tourism season. Five local business people (accommodation, hospitality, activities and retail) will each talk for about five minutes maximum on the approaching busy summer season – their expectations and anticipated challenges. They are Teaghan Abbott of Easts Holiday Park, Sally Bouckley of Southbound Escapes, Victor Costa of Merivale, Tania McHugh of She Fashion of Narooma and Bermagui, and Tash Clutterbuck of Oyster Farmer’s Daughter. We intend starting the panel promptly at 7.15am so hopefully everyone will be able to have some breakfast, grab a coffee and be ready by then. Bookings with Laurelle please by Monday COB 18th. Cost $10.

Bay Rotarians have fun with Three Ps

About this time each year, Bay Rotarians dust off their poetry and jokes for their annual Pizza Poetry & Plonk Night which from all accounts is a lot of fun. It’s next Thursday 14 November, this year at the Meals on Wheels premises. The cost is $15 pp.

NEXT THURSDAY 14 November

Our guest speaker will be Narooma Preschool Director Kathy Phipps and her Team who developed a new localised Indigenous programme for the Preschool to meet curriculum changes introduced earlier this year. They developed it in association with our local Yuin community. They then shared the programme with 20 other early childhood centres in the Eurobodalla. Kathy will outline what they have done. The Award presentation will follow. The Club has rarely given a Vocational Excellence Award; it’s for someone who not only does a great job in their vocation, but also goes above and beyond.

Please invite friends and partners. Please let Gero know if you are coming or not by noon Monday 11^th.

Julie’s Jots

What a busy week it’s been! The weekend before last Lynn Hastings and I represented the Club at the first workshop of our new ‘Community Group’ with representatives of most other clubs in the group. Lynn recorded lots of ideas for us to consider. We both realised how much our Club does for such a small Club.

Then on Thursday we Lifted the Lid on Mental Health (see report below). It was a great night and we all learnt heaps. I’d like to thank our speakers Laurence Babbington, Michael Weir and Sophie Scobie, our members and guests for making it such an enjoyable and informative night, and there were some great hats! Sophie’s partner Joel proved to be a top judge for the best hat on the night which was won by two people, Françoise and John. Two people on the night also expressed interest in becoming members which is wonderful.

Last weekend was the District Conference in Mittagong and our exchange Student Hilma was there, thanks to one of her host Mums Sally Hearder. Unfortunately no one from our Club could go. Hilma had a lot of fun catching up with the other exchange students in our District. She made the Finnish specialty Raspberry Pie as her special contribution to morning tea on the Sunday which Sally said was delicious!

Then the markets on Sunday… Many thanks to all the team who pitched in, including our Friends of Rotary. We took $910 at the gate (the most so far this Rotary year), gross van food sales were $935.39, and the wishing well (which included September’s market) $192.50.

THIS THURSDAY 31st October

Being the fifth Thursday in the month, there is no formal event. Instead we are heading to Lynch’s Hotel for dinner in the old dining room 6.30pm. Please let Gero know if you will be coming by COB Tuesday. Hope to see you there.

The Week that Was

Narooma’s Lift the Lid

There were some great hats last Thursday with almost everyone getting into the hat spirit. Our guest speakers were inspiring and spoke about different aspects and approaches to dealing with mental health issues; lots of questions followed.  

Laurence Babbington spoke about Narooma Men’s Table which has up to 12 members.  They meet once a month at each other’s homes. Men’s Table is a safe and informal place for men to share ‘stuff’ with other men (apparently no talk of footie, no detailed weather, no religion etc).

Michael Weir gave us a great rundown on Deadly Runners, an indigenous group formed in 2023 to foster health and wellbeing among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement. He stood in for his wife Georgia who was unable to attend. They meet at 6am three days a week in Ken Rose Park near the bridge. 

Sophie Scobie is from the recently opened and much needed Narooma office of Headspace, opposite the Plaza at the lights in Narooma. This organisation provides support for young people (12 to  25) who are going through a tough time. It is open Mondays 10am-6pm, Wednesdays  9am-5pm (family counsellor also there), and on Tuesdays at Narooma High School 9-3.30pm.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary

This week’s column in Moruya’s newsletter by President Allan Veness was glowing. He says the Club’s plans are starting to bear results; guests at last week’s meeting expressed an interest in joining the club and they have another potential member as well. Their formalising of how the club distributes money back into our community seems to be working well with guidelines and an application form which makes the process clear and gives their club accountability. Allan also reports their Charity Golf Day was a big success and shows how well the Club can manage a large scale event when so many people contribute.  

From Batemans Bay Rotary newsletter

The RYDA programme has a new coordinator following Neil Simpson’s passing on the baton after many years. Newly-inducted Pam Williams will coordinate RYDA from 2025. Neil reports Pam was a maths teacher at Bay High, been a presenter at RYDA so has the skills and knows the programme and people very well, and she’s a capable organiser and an enthusiastic supporter of youth programmes. Sounds like a perfect match. Pam will contact other Clubs once a date for RYDA has been set.

NEXT WEEK

Wednesday 6 November 6.30pm: Prostate Cancer Support Group with guest speaker Jarrod Flynn, the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre Co-ordinator.

Thursday 7 November 5.15pm: Board Meeting at Narooma Golf Club.

Julie’s Jots

Our guest speaker at the breakfast meeting on Thursday was Dr Fiona Kotvojs who gave us an insight into the truffle growing industry.   As with anything to do with the land, they rely on just the right conditions to produce the highly sought after truffle. Most of the truffles she grows are used by chefs on the south coast, with some exported to America. A very highly sought after product! (See more below).

On Friday I attended the committee meeting of the Carer’s Accommodation for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.  The car raffle is still going and they hope to have all tickets sold and the raffle drawn by February or March next year.

Thursday of course is our Lift the Lid Day for Mental Health Day (see below) and Ange has organised some great speakers. Please invite family and friends and don’t forget your hat! Hat prizes on the night.

Then on Sunday 27^th, it’s our monthly market. All hands on deck please! David will be circulating the market roster.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 24^th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health

This should be a fun night but with a serious message. Please invite friends and family and President Julie encourages everyone to wear a hat of whatever type you want. Rotary clubs across Australia organise a Hat Day dinner each year to highlight the magnitude of mental health problems and raise funds for Australia Rotary Health (ARH), one of the largest independent funders of mental health research in Australia. Everyone is encouraged to give $5 towards ARH. More information on ARH’s website.) Speakers are:

1. Our own Laurence Babington on Men’s Long Table. The Men’s Table is a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection. Our local Men’s Table is held once a month in Narooma.
2. Sophie Scobie introduces Headspace Narooma, recently opened in Narooma. They provide early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Headspace Narooma can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

Unfortunately our third speaker Georgia Weir had to pull out. Georgia is from Deadly Runners, an Aboriginal owned and operated programme that fosters health and wellbeing among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement programmes. Hopefully we will hear from Georgia another time.

Sunday 27 October: Our Market

The Week that Was

Gulaga Gold shines at Business Breakfast

We had another great speaker at our monthly Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast last Thursday. Fiona Kotvojs of Dignams Creek shared what is involved in establishing a small truffière, why the base of Gulaga is well suited to truffles, and why their truffles are increasingly being recognised as world class with their particularly rich deep flavour. Potential exports is huge, but production is small. For example, the UK could take 10kg of her truffles a week, but Fiona’s total production last year was 40kg.

Fiona’s background particularly in managing and analysing projects means that every truffle is weighed, the production of each tree recorded, and everything analysed including the locations. Fiona and her husband planted three different trees – English and Spanish oaks and Hazel about 10 years ago, and started harvesting truffles after five which was quicker than expected. Truffles grow underground among the roots.

Truffles need frosts, well drained soils with a northerly aspect. The harvesting season is about five weeks mid-year and of course trained dogs find the truffles. Weekend truffle hunts are a big tourist attraction, but you don’t keep the truffles.

The best Gulaga Gold truffles are sold directly to south coast restaurants, and the rest through a wholesaler in Melbourne to the export market. Fiona said the export potential is huge to the UK and USA, and they haven’t even looked at Asia. 

“Truffles have the potential to make many small farms in this area viable,” she said. It’s a winter crop, and being underground can handle fire and drought (the spores survive), love lots of rain in February, and like a dry autumn. She is keen to share her knowledge with other potential growers.

Australia is the fourth major truffle producer worldwide. Western Australia is the major supplier in Australia producing 20t a year, but Fiona says theirs lacks the flavour of Gulaga Gold.  Australian exports benefit from the different seasons to the norther hemisphere.

The future is bright. Truffles are used in a range of high quality products and she is also looking for people to use truffles to add value to products. She stressed the importance of collaboration, of packaging experiences like truffle hunts with accommodation and restaurants, and spoke of the now established Gourmet Coast Trail and the Fungi Feastival.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Each year The Bay Club offers a Scholarship to ANU for medical students attending the Rural Clinical School in Batemans Bay, hoping this will encourage and influence the students to consider pursuing a medical career in rural Australia. It was a happy surprise at the end of the student’s presentation at the Club last Thursday to hear they were all looking at General Practice in rural areas as a career.

Out and About

ShelterBox in Gaza and Lebanon

ShelterBox, Rotary’s partner in disaster relief, is delivering vital aid to the displaced people of Gaza when it can. Many more trucks remain stalled at the border alongside thousands of other humanitarian aid vehicles desperately trying to reach those in dire need. These ShelterBox trucks are packed with essentials such as tarpaulins and rope, blankets, mattresses, and floor mats and also carry water basins, soap, water carriers, kitchen equipment, and hygiene supplies, including diapers, toothbrushes, and sanitary items. ShelterBox has also intensified the production of heavy tents.

In Lebanon, people are also being forced to flee from intense airstrikes across the country following months of displacement near the border of Lebanon and Israel. They are fleeing with only what they can carry. ShelterBox is also responding to this crisis and has partnered with a community aid organisation based in Lebanon to scale up its response. They’re supporting people sheltering in communal spaces like schools with essential items like mattresses and blankets to protect them from the cold this winter, as well as hygiene kits.  

Much of the work of ShelterBox is funded by Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians. More information shelterboxaustralia.org.au/lebanon-emergency.

NEXT THURSDAY 31^st October

Being the fifth Thursday in the month, no formal meeting. Instead we are heading to Lynch’s Hotel for dinner in the old restaurant 6.30pm. Please let Gero know if you will be coming. Hope to see you there.

Julie’s Jots

Last Thursday, before our Club Dinner, I met with Ann Hegerty and David McInnes. David has handed over the position of convenor of our Tertiary Scholarships programme to Ann after several years of great service. Many thanks to David and now to Ann for taking on this really important task. It is much appreciated and you’ll find it’s a very rewarding experience. Our Club Dinner afterwards was a very relaxed and informal night and I thank everyone for their interesting Magic Moments!

This Sunday Lynn Hastings and I go to the initial meeting of our Community Group 7 – Coast and Highlands Region (under new regionalisation plans) at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. Our Group Leader DGE Robert Shore sees the day as an opportunity to get to know other clubs in our community group and see if there are opportunities to support each other. There’ll also be opportunities to ask questions about Regionalisation and the Pilot. He says this is not about giving Clubs extra tasks but more about what Rotary, District and Clubs in our area can do to support each Club.

Thank you Ange for sourcing replacements for our missing ducks, plus a few spares, through our ducks’ former custodian at Cancer Research Advocate Bikers of Bermagui. We hope to receive the new ducks by Christmas.

This week’s Business Breakfast will again be fascinating on Gulaga Gold, NOT the metallic kind but maybe just as valuable! Next Thursday 24th is our Hat Night when we Lift the Lid on mental health with three different and interesting speakers. Please see below. I encourage everyone to don a hat, the zanier the better, and encourage your guests to do the same. Please invite friends and family.

Then of course we have the markets on Sunday 27^th, so please all hands on deck again. Thanks.

THIS THURSDAY 17 October

7am: Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast – Narooma Surf Club

Our guest speaker Fiona Kotvojs will talk about their Gulaga Gold business and its growing success, including on the export market. Fiona and Alan Kotvojs established their truffière some years ago in the Dignams Creek Valley in the foothills of Gulaga.

Bookings are essential with Laurelle; if you haven’t already done so, please contact  by COB Monday 14^th at the latest.  Breakfast costs $10 (please let me know if you do not require breakfast). 

The Week that Was

From Batemans Bay Rotary

The Bay Club had their biggest market this year on the October long weekend. They inducted another new member on Thursday evening – Judy Shore, wife of DGE Robert Shore. Judy will have a busy year ahead as Robert takes her to Clubs all over District 9705. The Bay’s newsletter says they have a few more prospective members in the wings to help their Club “grow and prosper with new energy”.

Out and About

From Bega Rotary

Bega Rotarians are putting on their dancing shoes this Wednesday for a barbecue and bush dance at Kameruka Estate for ANU Medical Students.

District Conference at Mittagong

The District 9705 Conference is on at Mittagong 25-27 October: Sally Hearder and our Exchange student Hilma are going. Unfortunately none of our members are able to go. See https://www.discon24.com/about-8 for further information.

Polio Vaccinations in Gaza.

World Polio Day is on Thursday October 24 and RI urges all clubs to take action to assist eradicating Polio. Narooma Rotary is looking at a possible fundraising film night some weeks later.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports the first round of the emergency polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was conducted in three phases 1-12 September 2024. It provided novel oral polio vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2) to 558 963 children under 10 years old, following meticulous planning and coordination to reach families living in shelter homes, tents, and camps for the displaced. For each phase, an area-specific humanitarian pause of nine hours daily was agreed to ensure the safety of communities and health workers, and enable vaccination efforts.

A second round of the campaign is now needed to provide a second dose of Type 2 (nOPV2) to children in Gaza to stop the outbreak and prevent its international spread. WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA call on all parties to commit to another round of humanitarian pauses, with unimpeded access to children in areas that need special coordination.

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 24^th October: Lift the Lid on Mental Health

This should be a fun night but with a serious message. Please invite friends and family and President Julie encourages everyone to wear a hat of whatever type you want. Everyone is encouraged to give $5 towards ARH. Rotary clubs across Australia organise a Hat Day dinner each year to highlight the magnitude of mental health problems and raise funds for Australia Rotary Health (ARH), one of the largest independent funders of mental health research in Australia.  More information on ARH’s website.) Our speakers are:

1. Georgia Weir on Why Deadly Runners Exists. Deadly Runners is Aboriginal owned and operated that aims to foster physical health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion among indigenous Australians through running and cultural engagement programmes.
2. Laurence Babington on Men’s Long Table. The Men’s Table is a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection. Our local Men’s Table is held once a month in Narooma.
3. Sophie Scobie introduces Headspace Narooma, recently opened in Narooma. They provide early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Headspace Narooma can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

Julie’s Jots

Lynn, Gero and I had fun counting our 1,000 ducks in readiness for our annual Duck Race, this time on the Australia Day holiday Monday 27 January (we have the markets on the 26^th  and we can’t be cloned, unfortunately!). The results are in; 6 have gone AWOL!!! (It was 8 last year) so we are heading the right way! The numbers of the missing ducks will be cancelled on the ticket stubs and tickets removed. We are still searching for appropriately sized replacement ducks.  Thank you both for giving up your Saturday afternoon.

This week at our Club Dinner we hope to have Pina along to give us a rundown on the life of Pina!   

District Governor Elect Robert Shore (RC Batemans Bay) will conduct a day talking about community groups in Rotary on Sunday 20 October, 9.30am-3.30pm at the Eurobodalla Botanical Gardens in Batemans Bay. Lynn and I are going; if anyone else would like to go, I will be happy to take them.

Thursday 30 October is the fifth Thursday in the month so there is no scheduled meeting. Instead the Board has opted for a social night for anyone who would like to come along, maybe even bring a friend. Once I have secured a venue I will let you know.

The Board has decided to resurrect our Club’s Vocational Excellence Awards and we have a recipient in mind. That award will be given to them at a meeting soon.

THIS THURSDAY 10 October

6 for 6.30pm – Club Dinner at Narooma Golf Club. Hopefully Pina Prosperi, one of our newest members, will give us some insight into her life. Please let Gero know by noon on Tuesday at the latest if you will be attending (ordering from the Bistro) and if you will be bringing any guests. Gero will then inform the Club of numbers and that determines which room we have.

The Week that Was

Well done Narooma Rotary

Our Club received a letter plus certificate from DG Rob Uhl congratulating us for achieving being an Annual Donor to the Rotary Foundation  of  US$100 per member – Level 1.

On our Vocational Excellence Awards

Our Club has only occasionally presented a Vocational Excellence Award. Sadly the last one was in 2015 to Narooma architect the late Phil Rose. Phil was recognised for his vision for the pathways along our foreshore reserves and for the boardwalk, and his efforts in ensuring that vision became a reality. His work enriched our community by increasing Narooma’s livability and the health and wellbeing of our residents, as well as creating a valued tourist attraction.

More information to come on our current nominee.  Rotary Vocational Excellence Awards aim to:

1.     recognise vocational excellence

2.     honour the outstanding contribution by individuals or small teams of individuals for significant advancement in their vocational field.

3.     inspire further enthusiasm and give added reward to the exceptional achievers.

Out and About

More on Community Group meeting

The initial meeting of our Community Group 7 – Coast and Highlands Region (under the new regionalisation plans) is at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, just south of Batemans Bay, on Sunday 20 October (9.30-3.30). Lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided.

Our Group Leader DGE Robert Shore says the day is an opportunity to get to know other clubs in our Community Group and see if there are opportunities to support each other. There will also be opportunities to ask questions about Regionalisation and the Pilot. He says this is not about giving Clubs extra tasks but more about what Rotary, our District and Clubs in our area can do to support each Club.

It’s wonderful that Julie Hartley and Lynn Hastings will represent our Club. Robert asks attendees to think beforehand about the strengths of their club (what they’re doing well), challenges, current projects and major fundraisers.

Bega Book Fair success

Bega Rotary held a successful book fair recently in the temporary venue of Bega Public School hall. The venue proved well suited to the reduced size of the book fair and favourable weather helped make it a success raising just over $5,000. The book fairs are Bega Rotary’s major fundraiser. The Club hopes to hold a similar book fair in January and organisers hope they can get more involvement from members.

NEXT THURSDAY 17 October

7am: Narooma Rotary Business Networking Breakfast

Our next Rotary Business Networking Breakfast is on Thursday 17 October at 7am at Narooma Surf Club (upstairs – finishes at 8). Our guest speaker Fiona Kotvojs will talk about their Gulaga Gold business and its growing success, including on the export market. Fiona and Alan Kotvojs established their truffière some years ago in the Dignams Creek Valley in the foothills of Gulaga. Their website says…

“The mountain, with its deep rainforest gullies, provides the pristine water which sees our oak and hazel trees thrive. Hidden among the roots grow the mystery which is the Perigord Truffle, our Gulaga Gold. From here begins our truffles’ annual journey to the tables of lovers of good eating.”

Bookings are essential with Laurelle by Monday 14^th at the latest.  Breakfast costs $10 (please say if you do not require breakfast). 

Julie’s Jots

What a lovely night last Thursday with our guest speaker Rachel McInnes and her very informative presentation on the trials, pitfalls and absolute delights of being a WIRES carer. Rachel really is a credit to WIRES and, as we found out, it’s not always a feel good job.

Our Exchange student Hilma also gave us a run down on her week of work experience at Moruya hospital, including watching a baby born by caesarean section… that would have been very special!

THIS WEEK

Wednesday 2 October 6.30pm: PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Thursday 3 October: No Dinner Meeting.   5.15pm: BOARD MEETING

The Week that Was

More on last Thursday

Both Hilma and Ellie Penglase were thrilled with their work experience (through Narooma High) at Moruya Hospital that week. Hilma said it was so special for them both. They did different rotations; Hilma’s included rehabilitation, emergency and maternity including watching a caesarian.

Then we were treated to a great presentation on WIRES by Rachel McInnes. She joined WIRES in 2016 partly because of where they live at Potato Point, the carnage of native animals on Potato Point Road, and because her target shooting experience (never at live animals!) could be of some use to WIRES.

Rachel explained that WIRES is all about Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release, and only of native animals including snakes. A wombat may take 18 months to rehabilitate. Rachel spoke warmly of the wonderful moment when an animal is released back into the wild. Those that are not able to be rehabilitated with a view to release are euthanased.

WIRES volunteers are on call every day of the year. Their 28 branches in NSW work closely with other rescue organisations. Our local WIRES branch extends from Lake Conjola to Wallaga Lake. In 2023 they had 3,187 callouts; 50% were birds, 30% kangaroos and wallabies (road hits). Their busiest day that year was Sunday 7^th May with 24 callouts to mostly road kills when “it seemed to be raining joeys”.

We were introduced to the concept of “chicknapping”, that’s when a chick falls out of the nest and people don’t wait to see if parents are around; the parents will usually will look after such chicks. There are sometimes false alarms like a report of an echidna in the middle if the road that turned out to be a toy.

Rachel suggested several ways we could help our wildlife. When driving, she urged us to be particularly aware at dawn and dusk of possible animals by the roadside, and encouraged us to put one of the little pouches she had provided into our cars to increase the survival chances of baby animals once in the hand of carers.

We all gained an insight into the challenges, heartbreaks, and rewards in being a WIRES carer, as well as admiration for their passion and devotion. Rachel proved to be a special WIRES ambassador. She made special mention of David’s considerable support for her work.

Out and About

From Moruya Rotary on cemetery restoration

Moruya Rotary and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) collaborated in a project to restore graves and fencing at the historic Toragy Point Cemetery at South Head Moruya, part of Eurobodalla National Park. The project is now completed and is written up in this week’s Moruya Mail. Chris Manahan initiated the project in his year as Moruya President (2021-2022) and has helped drive the project since. Chris said they hadn’t realised the paper work that would be necessary before any work could commence. NPWS took the lead in completing the Environmental Assessment, Project Plan and Heritage Impact documents.

Physical work started early this year. Rotary assisted NPWS with relocating headstones to their correct plinths on top of their actual grave sites and assisted with re-erecting some internal timber fencing and railing and replacing some. More recently, Service Staff (NPWS) replaced the perimeter fence which was upgraded to a new ironbark post and rail fence surrounding the graveyard.

From Batemans Bay Rotary

Batemans Bay Rotarians inducted two new members into their Club last week, including past Eurobodalla Mayor Mat Hatcher who most probably will again be mayor.

On increasing and maintaining membership

A Rotary Club in Ohio made several adjustments to attract new members. One was switching from a lunch to a breakfast club which was more convenient for people who worked further way.  Another was making a highlight of meetings the monthly “get to know a Rotarian” presentation where members take the floor to talk about themselves.

The Club also increased the number of service opportunities to more than 20 fundraisers and projects each year. To quickly bring new members into the fold, the club surveys them about which committees, projects, and fundraisers they’d like to be involved with and they become involved from the start. All club members receive the same survey annually

NEXT WEEK

Thursday 10 October: 6 for 6.30pm – Club Dinner at Narooma Golf Club.