We encourage members to consider dining out over the next few weeks and in the process, support local businesses.

On December 3rd, our members heard from Jo Kaptein, a spokesperson for the "More Australian Solar Homes" (MASH) venture. Jo explained that MASH is a non-profit organization, set up in 2001, based in Castlemaine which has been supporting thirteen councils in central and northern Victoria. Their aim is to make it easier to go solar and add batteries with a trusted solar provider. Jo argued that this approach is good for your hip pocket, good for your community and good for the environment. The organization services homes, rental homes, businesses and farms with solar systems from 2Kw to 100Kw.

On Thursday, November 26th, all our club committees fine tuned preparations for the "Big Reset" in the club to take place in 2021. The process of the "Reset" is taking shape, and will start with a survey of every member in the club - where we seek information about the skills and interests they have available for club projects, the networks and contacts they have that the club could reliably call upon, and each member's honest level of availability for club work going forward.

Last Thursday, we commenced our Annual General Meeting and confirmed the Annual Report and Treasurer's report as required. Unfortunately, largely due to Covid-19, we were not able to confirm all the office bearers for the coming Rotary year, nor the signatories to our bank account, and as a result, the meeting had to be adjourned until late in January, 2021.

At the November 19th meeting, club members enjoyed addresses from both our District Governor, Phil Beasley, and his wife, Judy. Phil, inspired by this year's Rotary theme of "Rotary Opens Opportunities", challenged us to take, and run with the opportunities that the Covid crisis has provided for Rotary clubs in our District (see "Read more..." for details), whilst Judy offered us the opportunity to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Last Thursday, Judy Beasley introduced our club members to her "DG Partner's Project" for this year, the "IDF" (Indigenous Literacy Foundation). The Foundation commenced in 2010 with the mantra, "Reading Opens Doors" and a Vision statement that emphasizes "Equity of Opportunity".

At the November 12th meeting, our members watched a video from the 2020 Rotary Zone 8 Virtual Conference, "Spring Into Alice". We enjoyed an overview of recent Rotary projects from New Zealand, including RYPEN, Rotaract, Student Volunteer Programs involving University Students, a Halloween event sponsored by a local business, and the introduction of a Mobile Health Clinic in Fiji.

At last Thursday's meeting, as part of our series of toasts to World Rotary clubs, Rotarian Murray Henderson toasted the Rotary Club of Darwin. The club is the largest in the NT and meets on Thursday's at 6PM in the Darwin Novotel, with over 50 members aged from 30-80, who often wear Hawaiian shirts to meetings. They raise money with fishing trips and give an annual POOTY Award (Police officer Of The Year).

Not to miss out on Oaks Day this year,  a  group of ladies gathered for a pop-up lunch at the Highland Society

On November 5th, PP Derrick, (Chair of our Foundation Committee) provided an overview of the work of the Rotary Foundation as part of our club's acknowledgement of November being Rotary Foundation Month. Derrick reminded us that the mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

With Halloween in the air, and scary masks in place, our club committees considered ways of moving forward during times of "Covid Normal". Pictured are some of our members who used the meeting to try out their Halloween gear before they attempt to scare innocent (?) little kids on Saturday night - well, that's the theory, anyway.

On October 22nd, local nurse, Heather Blazko shared a moving story of the life of her mother, Judy Gibbs, who was struck down with Polio as an infant during the 1937-38 Polio Epidemic. (See the picture in the "Read more..." section) Judy was taken to hospital soon after developing polio symptoms, and did not leave hospital isolation for the next six years.

At the October 22nd meeting, Austin Taylor was inducted as the newest member of Maryborough Rotary. Membership chair, Tracey,  performed the induction and reported that Austin will serve with the classification of "Advertising/ Marketing" having recently retired from the Shell Petroleum company as their Advertising Manager. Austin is pictured receiving his Rotary pin from his wife, Vicki and the two of them, fortunately for us, deliberately chose Maryborough as their place to retire. We look forward to working with Austin and Vicki in the years to come.

October 24th is World Polio Day, so at Thursday's meeting, Foundation Chair Derrick provided an overview of Rotary's work with Polio over the years. Rotary, with its partners, has since 1985, inoculated over two and a half billion children against the wild polio virus, and Rotary itself has contributed over US$2.1 billion to the Polio cause. On August 25th, the WHO announced that Africa is finally Polio free, and Polio now only exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Well done, Rotary! Let's finish the job!

Click the picture to watch the video on YouTube or click this link:

Rotary will be 100 years old in Australia next year.

This is a big deal for Rotary in Australia, and Maryborough Rotary is looking for ideas for a community project to celebrate this milestone.

 

Inspired by the efforts of PP Leigh Williamson, President Alison announced on Thursday that we would resume our Rotary tradition of "Heads and Tails" at our meetings. Alison will deliver the mystery prizes to winners as circumstances allow, and the first winner was PP Martin, pictured receiving his prize from our Prez. (See the game in action in "Read more..."

On October 17th, local environmentalist, Tony Macer inspired our members to become more active in looking after our planet. Soon after the birth of his first grandchild, Tony couldn't sleep because of his concerns for the world into which that child would grow, and from that moment on, he has dedicated himself to making others aware of environmental problems.

At the October 15th meeting, PDG Anthony toasted the Rotary Club of Elmira in upper state New York. Anthony knows a few of the members there after participating in a Rotary Friendship Exchange with them. The Elmira club was founded in 1916.

At the October 8th meeting, our club conducted its first poll on Zoom and we discovered that 69% of members in attendance actually read the, "Read more..." bits on our bulletin; and 69% claimed they might watch a video of our meetings if it was posted on YouTube.