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Presidents Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well another busy night at Rotary!  Even before we started the Club meeting, the Dog Walk Committee were hard at work discussing event logistics.  We had two portfolio Directors give a progress report to the members about their activities.  Darrel Brewin brought us all up to date with Community Service goings on and Chris Sims did the same in regard to Youth Service.  Our stand-in Sergeant did a great job at rather short notice and added to the Aquabox coffers.  After dinner we were entertained with a presentation from Graeme Kent from Aussie Action Abroad.  The meeting Chairman has more information on the presentation below.  That's all from me for now.  I will see all of you at the next meeting on Monday night
Yours in Rotary Service,
 
Gerard McNamara
President
Rotary Club of Torquay
D9780
 

Aussie Action Abroad

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Club was treated to an excellent and wonderfully interactive presentation by Graeme Kent of Aussie Action Abroad Ltd. Graeme spent 7 weeks in Nepal some 15 years ago and fell in love with the country and it's  peoples. He had Rotary members dressed up in ethnic Nepalese garb and even had Mary carrying a copper water bowl for 15 kilometres!
 
Aussie Action Abroad is an  NGO  focusing on the Pokhara district of Nepal and  organises teams of both skilled and unskilled volunteers to spend 4 to 5 weeks in remote communities of Nepal engaging in such activities as:
                * Health teams assisting and providing training in  health care and  hospital services and introducing hygiene concepts and even such things as toothbrushes to people in remote communities.
                * Training in women's health and distributing such items as reusable sanitary products to girls and women. ( The words "disposable" and "throw away" are not much favoured in Nepal society)!
                *  Assisting in building schools and classrooms ($3,000 per average classroom is the going cost)!
                * A week or so trekking  for the volunteers in places like the Annapurna Circuit
 
Effectively AAA tries to change the lives of people- both the Nepalese and of the participants in the volunteer teams. Projects take about 3 years to evolve and the key is partnership building with the local communities. Volunteer groups live and survive within a Nepalese community for the duration of a project. Graeme related several heart warming stories - including that of a young volunteer called "Nerange" who once had serious addiction and life issues but who took stock and  re-established her place in the world after once volunteering and helping others in far away lands.
 
A great night - and if you are interested in volunteering the website is www.aussieactionabroad.com. Greame tells me the cost is some $3,500pp (plus airfares) for the month away

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   IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME                                                                  Image

 

Details for this years Rotary Christmas party are as follows ......

·         Monday 15th December is the date.

·         Time 6.00 for 6.30pm.

·         Cost is $25 per person.

·         To be held at Michael and Alison Reed's place - 143 The Esplanade, Torquay.

·         This is a Partners Night. If you or your partner are not attending, please apologise.

·         Apologies are to go through David Mitchell's office (as normal).

·         Apologies must be into to David by Thursday 12th December at 12.00pm. We need to get numbers to Lorraine early afternoon on Thursday 12th Dec.

·         Lorraine will cater, and will serve 'finger food'.

·         BYO Drinks .... (important!)

We will be having a "Kris Kringle" the rules are:-

  • please bring a wrapped gift to a maximum value of $15
  • if your gift is gender specific it may be advisable to mark it Male or Female.
  • Names will be drawn from a hat for the order of gift selection
  • When it is your turn, you may select from the Christmas tree or "Claim" someone else's already unwrapped gift....so don't get too attached to anything!

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2015 Motor Show

 
Plans are well underway for our 2015 Torquay Rotary Motor Show
The event will be held on Sunday 8th February and further details are available on the event website at www.torquaymotorshow.com.au
and on the event facebook page
 

Operation Newstart - 2015 Kokoda Launch

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I was proud to represent our Club on Friday morning at a breakfast in Geelong for the launch the 2015 Operation Newstart Kokoda Trek.
This program is a collaboration between Vic Police (Andy Brittain) and the State Education Department (Warrick Knuckey) that provides a safety net for teens who are struggling within the regular education framework.
Our Club has been a supporter of the for several years and has seen young lives transformed as a result of it. Many of you will recall local student Jackson Barlow who presented his story to us earlier this year.
The breakfast was hosted by Channel 9 reporter Laura Turner who actually participated in the Trek last year. Her moving story story can be viewed here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1ThY37iMzc
 
Two of the Porters (Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels) who assist with the Trek were flown in to attend the breakfast and all of the team members were quite emotional at this reunion. (see pics above)
Guest speaker Damian Thomlinson who is an Australian SAS soldier who lost his legs during a campaign in Afghanistan gave an insight into the emotional and physical road to his recovery. He too has walked "the Track" despite his disability, an amazing achievement.
 
If you would like to learn more about the 2015 Operation Newstart Program CLICK HERE
There will again be valuable opportunities for our Club to build on our existing relationships with all of the stake holders in the Program to provide support for 2015

Ride the Bellarine

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ride the Bellarine
 
Event Date    SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2015
 
2 weeks after EASTER
 
This event is a District 9780 project being run by the Combined Rotary Clubs of Geelong to raise funds for the Rotary Foundation "End Polio" Project.
 
The Planning Committee representing local Clubs is
 
John Paton                             RC of Ocean Grove           Chair/Race Director
Tony Stewart                           RC of Highton                    Sec/Tres/Registration
Ray Dunn                               RC of Highton                    Traffic Management
 
Adam Charleston &               RC of Geelong                  
Dale Jennings                        RC of Corio Bay                 Marketing &
                                                                                                Sponsorship
Greg Plumridge &                  RC of Torquay                   
Murray MacDonald                RC of Bayside Geelong    Volunteer Coordination
 
Ross Taylor                             RC of Geelong East          Communication
                                                                                                To District Board
 
Event Manager   PB EVENTS  Justin Higgins
 
Providing website, on line marketing, on line registration, liaison with authorities and local government.   www.ridethebellarine.com
 
The event is in support of the END POLIO campaign and is expected to be a major fund raiser for Geelong Clubs.
 
Each participant will be encouraged to seek individual sponsorship, budgeted;
500 participants at $50/head  = sponsorship of $25,000
When matched with Bill & Melinda Gates contribution could see
 
$75,000 to Rotary Foundation – END POLIO CAMPAIGN
 
Two courses will be offered, 100km around the peninsula OR 50km down the centre and back through Barwon Heads
 
Entry fees will be $75 for 100km course and $55 for 50km course.  Income based on 500 participants is budgeted to cover all event expenses.    
 
Events start and finish at the BBQ shelter in Eastern Gardens
 
Ride commences at 8am, set up from 6am
 
Expected finish 2pm, clean up till 4pm
 
 
Volunteers will be required from each Club, so please keep this date available.
Torquay Rotarians who are ticketed for traffic management will be particularly useful.
I will keep you updated as the event draws nearer.
 
Greg Plumridge
 

District 9780 "Ride to Ballarat"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To find out all of the latest information on Conference 2015 including Events and Speakers CLICK HERE

 

District 9810 Invitation to District 9780

Rotary District 9810 is hosting its District Conference in Ballarat between the 13th and 15th March 2015. Our District has held a fundraising bike ride every year for the last 28 years and next year we start our ride from District Conference on Sunday 15th and ride 808 ks finishing up in Ballarat on Friday 20th March. The ride leaves from Federation University, Mt Helen Campus, Ballarat (formerly Ballarat University).

The ride is to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health and as I am sure you will appreciate the more riders, the bigger chance of raising more funds. Next year we hope to raise in excess of $40,000 which will get us very close, if not over the $1 million dollars mark, raised for ARH since the inception of the Rides to and from District Conference.

If there are any bike riders in the community or in the Rotary Clubs of District 9780 who may like to join us for the ride and raise funds for ARH on behalf or their own club or on a personal basis, we would love you to join us. All funds raised would be credited by ARH to the individuals or to their own Rotary Club. The ride is open to both Rotarians, their spouses, and any other members of the public who would like to join us.

For further information please read (1) our flyer attached below, (2) for complete information refer to our Web Site found at www.rotaryrideforresearch.com.au, or (3) contact our ride Co-ordinator

Rob Henry on Phone: 97621765 or Mobile: 0417570417

 

Weekly Assigned Duties:

 If you cannot meet one of your assigned duties, Please contact Jill Evans to advise. 

 The duty team should arrive no later than 6:00 p.m.  Besides the below duties, the assigned team is responsible for Room Setup, Greeting Members and Guests, and Room Tidy at the end of our meeting - see checklist in storeroom or click here .

 

        

Date

 

Duty Team

 

Program

Chair

Invocation

Greeting

See Events for details

Mon 8th Dec Graeme Kennedy Bryan Mynott   Johanna Parker – Heart Sparks
Mon 15th Dec N/A N/A   Club Christmas Party at "the Reeds" see details in Bulletin
Mon 22nd Dec       No Meeting Due to Christmas - New Year
Mon 29th Dec       No Meeting Due to Christmas - New Year
Mon 5th Jan       Fish & Chip Night at Cosy Corner

lease note The assigned Chairperson for the evening is responsible for writing a short review on the topic presented by the guest speaker of the night and for emailing the review to the Bulletin editor by noon of the following Wednesday

Read more...

 

MEETING APOLOGIES - What do I do?

Notifying someone about changes to your meeting attendance is your responsibility!
 
Our meetings have catered dinners, so if you are unable to attend a meeting, or if your partner is unable to attend a designated Partner's Night, YOU MUST ADVISE us of your or your partner’s absence.  This also applies if you are attending the meeting but not dining.
 
There are two ways to do this, either record the information in advance in the "Apology Book" that is available at each meeting or telephone 03-5222-2022.  An answering service operates out of hours.
  • All apologies must be made no later than 9.00AM on the Monday of the meeting (unless other arrangements were addressed in the Bulletin). 
  • If no apology is recorded by that time, the absentee member will be issued with an invoice to pay the Club the dinner fee of $25 for your non-attendance, and/or that of your partner if it is an official Partner's Night.
  • REMEMBER on "Partners Nights" it is assumed that you partner IS attending unless you apologise for them!
Remember if you are bringing guests or your partner (to a non-partner night) you need to notify us of the extra number of persons who will be attending.
 
Absence on travel is not an excuse.  It must be recorded beforehand in the “Apology Book”.    

2014-15 BBQ Season

Remember to CHECK your BBQ ROSTER
You will have all received your 2013-15 BBQ Roster via email.
Please check the dates that you are rostered on for and note them in your diary.
If for any reason you are unable to fulfil your BBQ Duty it is your responsibility to find a replacement or perform a swap with someone.
To download the BBQ Roster CLICK HERE
If anyone wants to try to swap a date that you are rostered on for the BBQ please CLICK HERE to email me (editor) and I can publicise if for you on the "Trading Post"
 
 

High Tide Festival 6th December

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wild weather conditions over the weekend made for a poor result at the High Tide Festival. The prevailing wind from the South East made for a very unpleasant day. Whilst there many locals passing through the market they looked more like visitors to an alpine village not summer in Torquay.
 
What could have been pleasant evening sitting on the grass listening to the music entertainment and enjoying some of the fine foods on offer, was instead a bit of a disaster with the crowd so light that vendors began packing up and leaving from around 6pm which was a shame for the poor entertainers who were scheduled to run through until 8pm.
 
I'm not sure if the fireworks show went ahead but they would have probably ended up somewhere over Moriac. Oh well maybe next year ......hmmm this sounds very reminiscent of our November Motor Shows
 
 
Read more...
Not all of us were able to make the trek to District Changeover in June, however I am sure that members of our Club would prefer not to have to wait until DG Geoff's Club visit on 6th October to get to know more about him and his vision for District 9780.
........well  thanks to District Media Guru Tony Stewart and modern technology you can hear DG Geoff James acceptance speech by CLICK HERE or follow the link below (Please Note:- you may need to view this bulletin in your web browser to see the link below)
 
 
Meet District Governor Geoff James
 
Our new District Governor Geoff James & his wife Meryl, are members of the Rotary Club of Maryborough.  To read about their background and learn a little more about them, click on GET TO KNOW YOUR DISTRICT GOVERNOR in the section below
 
 
 
 
 Here are some links where you can find all of the Latest news from District 9780
  • District 9780 is now on facebook to view the facebook page "Click" the icon      Image
  • To go to the District 9780 Website Click Here
  • Get to know your District Governor Geoff James Click Here
  • To read District Governor Geoff James Reflections Newsletter Click Here
To Read Rotary Down Under SEPTEMBER e-Newsletter Click Here
Read more...