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The Conference committee has been hard at work fine tuning our District Conference. We've now finalized costs, the program, the speakers and catering. The Conference web site should go live in the next week or so, and we can then start processing attendees. Our current focus is finding some more sponsors, and we now have our available sponsorship packages (as pictured). If you know anyone or any business that might like to sponsor our District Conference - or some item at the conference, please contact PP Terry.The Conference committee has been hard at work fine tuning our District Conference. We've now finalized costs, the program, the speakers and catering. The Conference web site should go live in the next week or so, and we can then start processing attendees. Our current focus is finding some more sponsors, and we now have our available sponsorship packages (as pictured). If you know anyone or any business that might like to sponsor our District Conference - or some item at the conference, please contact PP Terry.
What a fantastic meeting to finish the formal meetings for the year, which saw Bob Oz as Chair! We were able to thank the fantastic Havilah volunteers (and Esther) for their support with meals during the year, and CEO Barb spoke of the valuable funds they raised also. A mutually successful arrangement.
Thank you to Jessie Harman for the inspiring talk on her Camino experience, which set the scene for fun and frivolity for the rest of the night! We look forward to Jessie and Andrew joining us at our Christmas Party next Saturday.
Thank you to the five members who participated in the assessment panels at MEC on Thursday. From all reports, it was an interesting and rewarding experience to see the efforts of the young people involved.
Thank you also, in advance, to those who are helping cook pancakes for the Carols By Candlelight next Sunday from 5pm till 7pm. It's a busy time of year to give your time.
Our baskets of donations were delivered to the Salvation Army last Friday. Thank you for your contributions.
I look forward to seeing you next Thursday at the Highland Society members' Lounge for drinks from 5.30pm and at our Christmas Party next Saturday at Peppa's, 6.30 for 7pm. I need to confirm numbers, so please contact me if you haven't yet given me your name to attend on Saturday.
Books of Raffle tickets are still available from Thea to sell over the holidays and please join a table for the New Year's Eve Dance or consider helping with the setting up of the Town Hall or cleanup the next morning. Names to Jackie or myself.
Let's stay inspired to pray for peace and goodwill as we enter this festive season.
PDG Jessie Harman enthralled members with her entertaining account of her recent 800km walk along the Camino Trail in Spain. She might have completed the "Chardonnay" version, but it was still a fantastic effort!
PP Terry proposed a toast to the Rotary Club of Elmira in the United States. Terry and Thea had visited the club during their recent travels.
On Thursday, PP Garry Higgins presented President Meryl with the Australian Government Volunteer Award recently achieved for the club's Family Violence program.
President Meryl presents the Rotary Award for the best Large Industrial or Commercial Garden to the Cemetery Trust at this year's Garden Club Awards .
Congratulations to all of our Breakthrough Volunteers - those who worked on the Corner and those on the Barby. A special "thank you" to Thea for handling all of the organization - a huge task in itself. Pictured are Saturday's "Lunch time" team with great asset, Joe ( a friend of PE Leigh's) and then the afternoon team. Tracey was on deck from 7am until 5pm on Saturday - and still smiling!
PP Garry, PP Thea, PP Graeme, PN Bob, and Chair Chris attended a presentation at Ararat on Thursday where the club received an "Australian Government Volunteer Award" for its Family Violence Program from MP Dan Tehan. Congratulations FV Team!
Rotarians donned their Winter woolies and braved the elements to attend last week's meeting where we fine tuned the setup for the Energy Breakthrough. In the absence of President Meryl, PP Thea gave the notices and thanked all those who had volunteered to go on the barbeque or work on a "Corner" for the big race..jpg)
From the ABC of Rotary by Past RI President, Cliff Dochterman- One of the colorful traditions of many Rotary clubs is the exchange of small banners, flags or pennants. Rotarians traveling to distant locations often take banners to exchange at "make-up" meetings as a token of friendship.
- Many clubs use the decorative banners they have received for attractive displays at club meetings and district events.
- The Rotary International board recognized the growing popularity of the banner exchange back in 1959 and suggested that those clubs that participate in such exchanges give careful thought to the design of their banners in order that they be distinctive and expressive of the community and country of which the club is a part.
- It is recommended that banners include pictures, slogans or designs that portray the territorial area of the club.
- The board was also mindful of the financial burden such exchanges may impose upon some clubs, especially
- in popular areas where many visitors make up and request to exchange. In all instances, clubs are cautioned to exercise discretion and moderation in the exchange of banners in order that the financial obligations do not interfere with the basic service activities of the club.
- Exchanging club banners is a very pleasant custom, especially when a creative and artistic banner tells an interesting story of community pride.
- The exchange of banners is a significant tradition of Rotary and serves as a tangible symbol of our international fellowship.
- Our club hasn't used banners for a while - should we get back into this tradition? Or should we give something like a memory stick of information on the club?
Rotarian Murray provided us with some background and proposed a toast the the Rotary Club of Cape Town in South Africa last Thursday. Murray had visited the club and the area during his visit to Africa a year ago.
PDG Terry Davies was in town last Thursday to assist DG Anthony with negotiations for the Australian Rotary Health Golf Day here in Maryborough next March. Terry is a very experienced Rotarian who for over a decade, trained District Governors about the Rotary Foundation. He was also instrumental in bringing from Texas, and adapting the Centurion Program for Australian Rotarians.
The attention of Rotarians was certainly grabbed by the imposing figure and story of ex-Prison Officer, Bruce Kaye last Thursday. Bruce did start his talk with a powerpoint, but not the kind we're used to - he started his working life as an Electrician, so he brought out his version of powerpoints - a double power point wall socket! Bruce described some of the highlights of his 28 years at the Ararat prison, at the Malmsbury Youth Facility and the Barwon prison. He described encounters with notorious underworld criminals, showed us a chilling collection of weapons that prisoners had ingeniously fashioned out of ordinary, everyday items and verbally sparred with some of our more verbose members. All quite gripping!
Lions International Convention, Carisbrook 2018Lions International held their District Convention at the Maryborough Trotting Complex, Flagstaff November 9,10 and 11. 150 people registered, and they had a Free Public Health Forum from 12 -2pm on Saturday.
There were many stalls showing Lions programs, very similar to those that Rotary run: Exchange, Peace, Health Lions cakes etc as well as Allied Health stalls for Diabetes, Children’s Cancer, Eye Health and Vision screening, Alzheimers, Crime Watch Disaster Response and Hair Library. There were also a couple of CPR dummies to step over or stop and learn
There was a Tai Chi demonstration which was enjoyed by all. More information in "Read more..."
Around 100 people attended last week's Oaks Day event raising in the vicinity of $2000 for the Maryborough Education Centre Literacy programs. As well as the crowd, pictured is PP Garry Higgins, with posy of flowers in one hand and a mike in the other interviewing an impressive Florist on how to attach flowers to a lady's hat - if only some of his Carlton team-mates could see him now.
PP John Caulfield was called upon to officiate at the club's 2018 Annual General Meeting last Thursday. The main business of the 10 minute meeting was to receive a financial report on the club's financial status - which is fine - and appoint the officers for the 2019-20 Rotary Year. Officers elected were Leigh Williamson as President, Bob Butterfield as President Elect, Thea Allan as Secretary, Graeme Rogan as Treasurer, Derrick Marsden as Foundation chair, Garry Higgins as Membership Chair, Chris Frahn as Public Image Chair, Martin Mackay as Community Chair, Alison Teese as International Chair, Mallee Rowe as Youth Chair and Geoff James as Vocational Chair. We still need a Fundraising Chair and a President Nominee (to become President in July, 2021) - Interested? Please see Leigh ASAP.
Past President Derrick provided an interesting review of the history and work of Rotary's Foundation at last Thursday's meeting. He reminded members of the fact that we are in sight of ridding the world of Polio, and providing millions of dollars to support projects of peace, economic development, provision of clean water, literacy and education and maternal and child welfare. He then showed an inspiring video of Rotary's work through the Foundation - a video that could be heard clearly through our new Soundbar speaker.
Last Thursday, Terry Welch, CEO of the Maryborough and District Health Service thanked Rotary for its support through the Family Violence Program. Terry reported to members that it was largely because of the #SayNO program that the hospital recently received its "High Commendation" status in the State wide awards for Hospitals. Terry also presented to President Meryl and our club a "Community Partnership Recognition" certificate for our general support and collaboration over the last year.
Rotarian David Hare commenced his period as Meeting Chair in style last Thursday, when he employed his son Hamish to play the bagpipes as our "call to order" music for our meeting. That's going to be a hard act to follow! Thank you, Hamish, please come again!
Our #SayNO2familyviolence committee held another of their fundraising and awareness raising days at the Maryborough Harness Racing club on Sunday. The races as well as the #SayNO message were spread far and wide through television coverage. Each race name had an ant-family violence message. Pictured are our Rotarians, Terry and Thea presenting their trophy to the winners of the race they sponsored called the "#SHOWTOLERANCE PACE".
Quite a number of Rotarians and supporters attended the Paramount Cinemas on Thursday night to see the "World Premiere" screening of "Bohemian Rhapsody" - an enthralling biography of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen. The movie apparently took almost eight years to produce and I reckon quite a bit of that time would've been spent by the lead actor getting the idiosyncrasies of Freddie down pat. Also the sound and technical expertise of the guy playing the lead guitarist part would have taken a lot of time to perfect - it was all very impressive. Also impressive would have been the amount raised for Polio by those who attended. Around 15 Rotarians met for tea at the Chinese Restaurant before the movie and that was also a very pleasant gathering. Thanks to Karen and the Foundation committee for organizing the event.The following recommendations from committees were approved at the October Board meeting:
- Membership Committee: the purchase of 20 Promotional kits and 10 new Member kits.
- Youth Committee: That the Youth debate become an annual event
- Youth Committee: That $300 be donated to Highview College for Woodwind and Contemporary Music packs
- Youth Committee: That the end of year Art and Community Service scholarships to MEC, Highview and GELC, named after former Rotarians, be continued.
- International Committee: That a Disaster Aid Box be donated now, rather than as planned next year, given the present need.
- Community Committee: That $30 be provided for the annual Rotary Garden Club Trophy
- Community Committee: That $100 be donated to PROBUS for their Bowls day
- Community Committee: That we submit an Application for the Wannon Community Service Awards for our FV Project.
- Club Planning Committee: That the Board review the Club Guidelines Booklet
- Administration Committee: That we purchase a speaker for the TV to enhance sound.
