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President's Message
Jan Emmett
President's Report No 38
Happy Easter Everyone,
I do hope you have had or still enjoying a nice break from everything for a few days at least. At least the weather’s been on our side for change and for the holiday makers who have come to Torquay and missed out on watching the Surfing Comp this year at Bells Beach, they can at least enjoy the beaches, restaurants, and hospitality of the locals.
Speaking of hospitality, I had the pleasure of being wined and dined by two visitors to Torquay who have been staying here at the Wyndham Resort for a bit of a holiday and will leave for home on Tuesday before they’re off again on their travels for a couple more weeks. I’m speaking of Bill and Judy Degnan. Bill is the incoming DG for District 9820, 2021-22 and is from the Rotary Club of Traralgon Central, he is a retired Civil Engineer who enjoys travel, is a member along with Judy of a choir and they often appear in musicals and shows. Judy is a member of their local ‘Inner Wheel Organisation’ (see below)** and an extremely gifted Scrapbooker along with other handcrafts. But outside of any hobbies they are both extremely busy people as you would expect with Rotary and family. They have 4 children and identical 18-year-old twin Grandsons, both attend Universities, one in QU Brisbane and the other at James Cook Uni in Townsville, so not just a quick trip for a visit from Traralgon…!
For those of you who attended our ‘Social Dinner’ last Monday night, you may have met them and had a chat. That’s the beauty of Rotarians, we can rock up anywhere and at any time and be made to feel welcome. Bill and Judy saw that we were having a social gathering that night and I’m very pleased to say they decided to join us.
Well done Neil for a terrific night of fellowship and for those who came you would have enjoyed a lovely meal and good company. We had approximately 38 members who came along and for those who were volunteers, sponsors, and supporters of the Book Fair, Thank You again for joining us and hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.
Next Monday, April 12th will be a big night, once again face to face at the Lion’s Village. We will be joined by DG Phil and Judy as guests as this will be their first face to face with our club since the Covid restrictions. We will also have the pleasure of having Alan Hillgrove present as ‘Rotarian Behind the Badge’. You will receive your invitation during the coming days so please be sure to RSVP and remember partners are encouraged to attend. More details of this night will be in next week’s Bulletin so look out for that…!
In the meantime, keep well, keep safe and I look forward to seeing you all again next Monday night.
** Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation to create friendship, service and understanding. It has clubs in over 100 countries with over 100,000 members. It was founded in Manchester.
The R100 Peace Symposium this year will be in the comfort of your own study! The webinar The future of Peace Leadership is on the afternoon of April 21 and the morning of April 22, and includes speakers from all over the world, including President Holger Knaack, Chair of the Rotary Foundation PRIP Ravi Ravindran, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Dr Jose Ramos-Horta and Prof Tilman Ruff AO etc, etc.
Unfortunately, there will not be an ANZAC Day Dawn Service again this year due to the late advice provided by RSL Victoria and the State Government.
A small service will be held at 0700 in the Memorial Garden at the rear of the Torquay Bowls Club for Veteran’s only.
Thank you for reaching out to the Torquay RSL Sub-Branch and we hope that we can commence planning for the 2022 ANZAC Day Dawn Service in September this year.
I have just received this email from Southern Region RAM Secretary about a recent news item on Channel 10 about malaria research being carried out by University of Queensland. The item runs for about two and a half minutes and is well worth viewing. Please Click the Image above to view.
Here's a challenge for everyone...….in these "different" times in which we are living there are more and more Clubs now holding on-line meetings so now it's easier than it's ever been to do a make-up.
You can do them from the comfort of your own home and you don't even have to get dressed up.
Let's have a club challenge to see who can do a make up form the most interesting city. Be sure to grab a screen shot of your meeting and send to me for the bulletin.
What a great way to meet other Rotarians from around the world and to find out how they are living through the COVID-19 lockdowns.
To make it easy the Rotary Club of Mount Lawley in WA have begun compiling a list of Clubs who are now holding On-Line Meetings to view the list click the link below.
Rotary International President for 2018-19 is Holger Knaack
Holger Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International in 2020-21.
A Rotary member since 1992, Knaack has served Rotary as treasurer, director, moderator, member and chair of several committees, representative for the Council on Legislation, zone coordinator, training leader, and district governor. He is an endowment/major gifts adviser and co-chair of the Host Organization Committee for the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg. Knaack is the CEO of Knaack KG, a real estate company. He was previously a partner and general manager of Knaack Enterprises, a 125-year-old family business. He is a founding member of the Civic Foundation of the City of Ratzeburg and served as president of the Golf-Club Gut Grambek. Knaack is also the founder and chair of the Karl Adam Foundation. Knaack and his wife, Susanne, are Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation and members of the Bequest Society.
To read the DG Phil's latest District 9780 January eNewsletter CLICK HERE
Rotary Down Under April 2021 Edition 637 CLICK HERE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2023
Melbourne has been announced as the host city for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, the largest conference secured this century for Victoria.
Melbourne is a Big Events City! Set to deliver over $88 million to the Victorian economy, the Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for the state, with the four-day event anticipated to attract more than 20,000 Rotarians from around the world. The global spotlight will be on Melbourne and how we present ourselves to the world.
The Convention will take place 27-31 May 2023 using Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for functions.
Watch this Space for further news as it comes to hand.
