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Aug 30, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
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President's Message
Michael Reed
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President's Report No 8
 
I think we had a really good online zoom meeting on Monday night.
We were a little late getting underway, as we were all enjoying talking and catching up.
We welcomed to our meeting Lea, and four of her fellow Rotarians – Ino, Malon, Bernie and Cuki. from her Rotary Club – The Rotary Club of Rizel West, in the Philippines. Thank you for inviting your friends Lea, we really enjoyed their company, and hope they enjoyed our meeting.
Lea, who lives in Anglesea often joins us on our online meetings and is keen to come along to some of our Face-to-Face meetings.
It was great to have Cr. Rose Hodge and our visiting Rotarian Daryl Lee join us, and to see you all looking very relaxed and comfortable in your own homes.
 
For us, as a club, we are unable to be out in the community fundraising – however we can continue to help others.
Gail and Greg Birchall are still receiving warm coats and clothing for Orange Sky. Please use the bags provided at their place when you drop your donation off.
Collecting of plastic bottle tops. These can be dropped off to John McDonalds Place.
Plastic Bread Ties can be dropped into Ben Featherston at his work office – Surf Coast Hearing Clinic.
Stationary items for Lucy Locos’ program is still underway. Any items can be dropped off to Kelly in her Kithbrooke Park office.
Used Stamps and unwanted hearing aids can be dropped into Kelly, at her Kithbrooke Park office, or dropped off to my house.
Having mentioned all the above drop off venues – we may need to wait until we are actually allowed out, and able to do the drop offs …..
 
It is always very disappointing when events need to be postponed.
Next Monday (30th) was to be our wine and food night. Jan has put a lot of work into this, which we have now had to ‘put on hold’.
The Rotary Club of Bayside have had to postpone their Trivia Night again. The new date for the Trivia Night is 19th November.
We had notification from Bunnings to say our scheduled Sausage Sizzle on the 28th of August has been postponed.
 
Following our club meeting was the monthly board meeting.
As part of the R100 activities in Groups 9&10 (the 13 Rotary Clubs in and around Geelong) is the Christ Church Toilet refurbishment. We donated $225 to this project. There is also a call out for anyone who would like to join in on the working bees, actually participating in the work. If you are interested let me know.
 
On Wednesday evening Howard, Lesley and Pauline Stewart hosted a very informative webinar on Hybrid Meetings. It was great to see members of our club join in on this presentation. There will be more information on this in the coming weeks.
 
On Monday folks, we are back online. As always – log on details will be emailed to you.
Look forward to seeing you all then.
 
President Michael
 
Just before signing off …..….
Over recent weeks, I have been reading in bulletins from other clubs of members who have had the need to visit hospitals for various reasons.  
Made me think of this …… some of you may be even able to relate to?
 
“My Colonoscopy”
 
I called my friend, Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.  A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a colour diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis. 
 
Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manor.  I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said because my brain was shrieking, HE'S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!
 
I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called "MoviPrep" which comes in box large enough to hold a microwave oven. 
 
I will discuss Movi Prep in detail later, for now, suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall in the hands of America's enemies.
 
I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. I began my preparation.
 
In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water only with less flavour. 
 
Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one litre plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system a litre is about 32 gallons.) 
 
Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.
 
The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humour, state that after you drink it, 'a loose watery bowel movement may result.' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof you may experience contact with the ground. 
 
MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be graphic, here, but have you ever seen the space shuttle launch?  
 
This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. 
 
There are times when you wish the commode had a seatbelt.  
 
You spent several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another litre of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.
 
After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep. The next morning my wife took me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I have been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. 
 
I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Andy?" How do you apologise to a friend for something like that? 
 
Flowers would not be enough.
 
At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. 
 
Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked. 
 
Then a nurse named Edie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Edie was very good, and I was already lying down.
 
Edie also told me that some people put vodka in their MovePrep. 
 
At first, I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. 
 
You would have no choice but to burn your house down.
When everything was ready, Edie wheeled me into the procedure room where Andy was waiting with the nurse and an anaesthesiologist, I did not see the 17,000 foot tube but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere, I was nervous, seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anaesthesiologist begin hooking something up to the needle in my hand. 
 
There was music playing in the room, and the song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, "Dancing Queen" has to be the least appropriate. 
 
"You want me to turn it up" said Andy, from somewhere behind me.  "Ha ha," I said. And then it was time, the moment I have been dreading for more than a decade. 
 
If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like. 
 
I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling "Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine," and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. 
 
Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colours. 
 
I have never been prouder of an internal organ!
Stories
Chairmans Report - Bruce Turner The Rotarian Behind the Badge
 

Bruce has been a member of our club for nearly two years and now we can get to know the Bruce we see each week and learn a little more about him.

As the youngest of two children in his family, Bruce and his sister, Sheryl lived, for the majority of their younger lives with their parents, Norma, and Jim in the family home in Macleod, surrounded by open spaces, good friends, and plenty of outdoor activities.  Many years were also spent growing up in Warrandyte, Doncaster, Box Hill, and Vermont South
Bruce’s parents were quite religious so with this as his background it brought with it Strong family values and family connection, strong work ethics and community consciousness, which has proved to be a lasting influence on both Bruce and his sister Sheryl.
 
 
He and his lovely, gorgeous, clever, talented, wife of 16 years, Erika (Bruce’s words.!) have been together for 19 years, live in Torquay with their own family, slightly larger than his own, that consists of between them, 5 children in all, and did have a beautiful dog called Axyl for 14 years. There was never a dull moment as you can imagine, with 5 children there would be various sports activities as well as other interests that kids have from one day to the next as well as those 5 students going through VCE over a period of 4 years... Phew, and I guess there was work commitments to fit in there somewhere too, congratulations to you both…!!
 
 
Of course, we all know Erika through her involvement with the local choir, ‘Surfside Singers and her presence at many a Rotary meeting.  Music has also played a huge part in Bruce’s life from learning and mastering nearly every musical instrument, singing and teaching piano (as well as restoring pianos). Then went to Melbourne State College to become a Music Teacher – Studying Classroom and Instrumental Music, maths, and physics, with the opportunity to work with an amazing group of Musicians. He focused his teaching career on teaching music at a number of private schools as well as from home.
His many years in the classroom teaching saw his role change to solely teaching music then instrumental together with School ensembles that included 3 concert bands, 2 String Orchestras, Orchestra, percussion ensembles, 2 guitar ensembles, 2 stage bands, multiple rock bands, 2 choirs and production ensemble…   what no recorders….!!
Bruce has so many attributes there are too many to mention here but he has managed to accomplish many things in his life from all kinds of Sports, working with his hands with Carpentry, building renovations, making furniture, even car restoration and so on.  
He now owns his own business, Ikon Brick Cleaning, and is finally at a stage in his life he can kick back and take a break.  Bruce and his family have lived in Torquay since 2015 and now live in their new home since 2017. 
Torquay and the Surf Coast has with so many kids and families, been a draw card to come and live after so many years of coming here over the weekends and school holidays. Fond memories stay and so like many others have done, Bruce has made his home here too after his childhood saw him holidaying in Lorne and the Surf Coast.
 
 
As fate would have it, and to our advantage, Bruce’s interest in cars led him to meet Greg and as they say “the rest is history” …!
 Jan Emmett (Chair)
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International Student Program  of STUDY GEELONG
 
 
John Oswald spoke on Monday of this program, and the involvement Rhonda is having in it, with her mentoring a student.
If anyone is interested, please contact Rhonda Anchen for further information on what is involved, and how to register to assist with mentoring.
 
 
Here is a letter from Simone Budd, Student Engagement and Project Officer, STUDY GEELONG (Simone can also be contacted for further information)
Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, Wadawurrung Country
Could you be a friend to an international student studying in Geelong?  Study Geelong is looking for local residents in the Geelong region to participate in the program and help show an international student what a friendly, amazing place Geelong is. The program lasts for 12 weeks and is NOT a live-in program.
Study Geelong runs a couple of events for all participants, but it is up to participants to arrange when and how they will catch-up during the program. It has been challenging for many students being isolated and away from their families and friends back home. The International Friends Program provides an opportunity for locals to show that we are a welcoming and inclusive community. You can develop friendships with students from around the world, enjoy sharing your favourite places to go in Geelong, the Australian culture, language, food and your interests and hobbies. You will also learn about another culture and develop intercultural skills.
If interested please apply before 31 July. There will be an online orientation session on 11 August at 5.30pm and you will meet the student you have been matched with at the Kick-Off event, 5.30pm on 23 August. For further information and to apply go to http://studygeelong.com.au/international-friends-program
______________________________________________________________________________________
                         
Don Shields, is Club President & Membership Director of The Rotary Club of Geelong Central.
Don writes …
Simone was a guest speaker at Geelong Central several months ago, and as a result of which I volunteer with Study Geelong, and I am currently mentoring a final year Construction Management student at Deakin. KP is from Gujarat in India, loves cricket and on return to India, will work in his father’s Construction company. KP was looking for mentoring on the “soft skills”, and as a result on a monthly basis we meet to discuss the practical side of dealing with people and leading them.
On return to India KP will know about Rotary too, and hopefully, his family’s company can install donated playgrounds in Gujarat. Its not a great deal of time required, and I commend the program to you and your members.
Rhonda Anchen has now had two zoom meetings with Simone and members of this program. Rhonda writes the following ….
Just an update to the status re the International Student Program. 
I had a Zoom interview with Simone on Wednesday and the next phase is a Zoom orientation session Aug 11 which covers the guidelines and parameters of the program. Simone and her team then do a ‘perfect match’ and I get to meet our student FtF on Aug 23. The program runs for 12 weeks with the option to continue the friendship if both parties are keen. The program looks extremely well organised.
Simone and I discussed networking opportunities for ‘our’ student and I was wondering if others would be keen to join a bush walk or activity. Obviously an invitation to one of our more interesting Rotary meetings will be extended to our student.
Please contact Rhonda for further information and how to join them on the next zoom meeting.
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Even in Lockdown we can still be busy helping others
WHAT WE ARE COLLECTING AND WHERE TO DROP OFF ITEMS
 
       
 
Warm Coats, Jumpers, Thermals, Beanies and Other Winter Clothing Items
Cause :- to go to Orange Sky for the homeless
Drop Off To:- Gail and Greg Birchall
                      24 Anderson Street Torquay (cnr Payne St.)
                     (front porch, please place in the bag provided)
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Bottle Top Lids
Cause:- Lids4Kids is a nationwide 100% volunteer project to rescue plastic bottle lids
from landfill to benefit the environment and kids. ... Lids4Kids hopes to rescue
eligible lids from landfill for projects that benefit all Australian kids in need.

So if you could collect milk bottle tops for recycling to reduce the amount of
waste being sent to landfill., you will contribute to Torquay Rotary’s
Environment Project

Just remove the yellow, blue or red plastic top from milk bottles, wash clean &
pop into a container .
 
Drop Off To:-  John McDonald
                        2/58  Zeally Bay Rd Torquay (Leave on Verandah)
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Bread Tags
Cause :-  Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs, who collect them, sell them to recyclers and turn the cash into wheelchairs for people who can’t afford them. 
Drop Off To:- Surf Coast Hearing
                       6 Walker St 
                       Torquay
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
 
Old Spectacles
Cause :-   Recycle for Sight Australia a joint effort with Torquay Lions Club to send old prescription glasses to overseas communities where people cannot afford them. 
Drop Off To:- Kelly Binyon
                       Kithbrooke Park Office
                       350 Grossmans Rd
                       Torquay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Children Books & Text Books
Cause :-   A Rotary "Donations in Kind" joint exercise with the Rotary Club of Boroko to disperse to needing schools in PNG. They need books that are used in Australian schools from Grades Prep to 8. Plus story books for younger children for grades Prep to 3.
Drop Off To:- Kelly Binyon
                       Kithbrooke Park Office
                       350 Grossmans Rd
                       Torquay
 
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Secondhand Postage Stamps
Cause :-   All Proceeds go to Rotary End Trachoma 
Drop Off To:- Michael Reed
                       143 The Esplanade
                        Torquay 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
Secondhand Hearing Aids
Cause :-   All Proceeds go to Rotary End Trachoma 
Drop Off To:- Michael Reed
                       143 The Esplanade
                        Torquay 
__________________
 
Let's Keep on Laughing
 
 
 
 
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Bushfire Resiliance Webinars
 
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Australian Rotary Health COVID-19 Update
 

 
 
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Make-Ups......it's Never Been Easier
 
 
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.smiley
 
You can do them from the comfort of your own home and you don't even have to get dressed up.laugh
 
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.
 
 
Good Luck with the Challenge and I
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Future Meetings 
 
 

 
 
Date
 
Chair
 
Meeting Details 
 
Meeting Venue
Mon 30th AugJan EmmettMichael McQueen Session from Multi District PetsZoom
Mon 6th Sept  Judy Beasley - Guest SpeakerTBN
Mon 13th Sept TBNZoom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

Read more...
Rotary International & District 9780 Info

 
Shekhar and Rashi Mehta at their home in Kolkata. Rashi painted the picture Mother and Child, behind her.
 

When I met Shekhar almost 20 years ago, he was busily manning a booth at the Rotary International Convention. His enthusiasm and energy in showcasing his club’s projects were infectious. A project man myself, I was inspired by the work exhibited at the booth. That casual encounter developed into a strong friendship.

Shekhar is a visionary leader. He always sees things others can’t. He envisaged a way to eradicate illiteracy in India by 2025 and designed the TEACH program (which stands for Teacher support, E-learning, Adult literacy, Child development, Happy school). He started the Shelter Kit project that now is in the vanguard of disaster relief in India. His Saving Little Hearts project, which provides heart surgeries to thousands of children, along with the more than 15 eye hospitals he helped establish, which have served hundreds of thousands, speaks to the scope of his dreams.

Ravi Vadlamani

Rotary Club of Guntur, India
2001-02 governor of District 3150

He has an exceptional talent for building teams and driving them to achieve their goals. Shekhar’s programs and ideas may seem larger than life, but he always walks the extra mile to make Rotarians feel at home.

His power of dreaming big is backed up by planning, perseverance, and patience. He’s an excellent communicator who connects with his audience instantly and can motivate people to move mountains. He is also a family man, ably supported by his spouse, Rashi.

Shekhar’s X factor as a leader? Nobody is able to say no to him when he asks for something.


 
District 9780 Governor for 2021-22 is John Clue from Rotary Club of Port Fairy
 
CLICK HERE to learn more about DG John Clue
 
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
To read the DG Phil's latest District 9780 May eNewsletter CLICK HERE
Rotary Down Under May 2021 Edition 638 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.
 
ROTARY REFERENCE LINKS
District 9780 Directory 2018-19 (D9780 Rotarians Only)
 
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Rotary Global Rewards Program
 
Rotary Global Rewards, our member benefits program, offers discounts on products and services from local and global
merchants, along with opportunities to give back to Rotary. 

Over 33,000 members have signed in to use Rotary Global Rewards. To raise awareness of this program, you can:
  1. Recommend Rotary Global Rewards to all club members. They can visit www.rotary.org/globalrewards from a computer or download the Rotary Club Locator App to use the program on mobile devices.
  2. Post a "Rewards" link to www.rotary.org/globalrewards on your club and district websites. This gives members easier access to Rotary Global Rewards.
  3. Encourage club members to post offers on Rotary Global Rewards. 
  4. Suggest that club members help the program grow in their communities by asking local merchants to post offers. 
You can find instructional videos, how-to-guides, and promotional materials on the Rotary Global Rewards page of My Rotary.  If you have any questions about the program, write to rotaryglobalrewards@rotary.org. 
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