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President's Message
Jan Emmett
President's Report No 31
Greetings one and all,
Well, what a week…! we’ve emerged from the depths of lockdown once again and I hope this bulletin finds you and you families healthy and in a good place… Workwise I hope for those of you who do have a job that it didn’t disrupt you too much, although I feel so much for those who are getting married or had a special occasion planned. Just doesn’t seem right that it takes one person with a runny nose to lock the whole country down for days on end 😷🤧 such is life with Covid…!
Last weeks’ meeting was back to Zoom, and I was glad to see familiar faces and their partners too which is always good to have them come along. We had many guests, one being AG David Sykes and our special guest for the evening, Cr Rose Hodge who gave us a brief but to the point view on what the Council is doing or planning for Torquay and the Surf Coast and what to look forward to in the future. She was incredibly open and informative with any questions that were thrown at her and I’m sure if you had any other concerns, she would welcome an email or phone call and will answer them as best she can.
I also had the pleasure in making Past DG Chris Sims and Christine Sims Honorary members of the Rotary Club of Torquay. It is with regret that Chris is unable to join us at club meetings, but he’s still kept in the loop via Chrissy and anyone who goes to see him. He’s now living at the ‘Star of the Sea’ and always welcomes a visit and a chat. So please either contact Chrissy or the Star of Sea staff to see which is the best time for a visit. Chrissy will, of course, be a major part of our club and we welcome her at anytime to any of our meetings or social gatherings. She has been an integral part of our club for many years and has always been there to volunteer at many events, even as recently as the Book Fair.
John McDonald is back home again after his sudden admittance in hospital recently, and we all wish him well and hope his recovery is going to plan.
As you already know we will NOT be having a club meeting tomorrow evening due to our annual combined meeting with Grovedale/Waurn Ponds club. So please, if you haven’t already, make sure you register online through the link that Greg sent to everyone. Cut off time is midnight tonight, tomorrow will be too late…!! This is always a fun night and as I gather this will now be a ‘quiz night’ due to the Guest speaker unfortunately being unable to attend, so maybe be prepared for anything.
Harry and myself at the Club's 25th anniversary in 2013 Harry with BBQ trailer donor Chrissy Hayes and President Darrel Brewin
VALE HARRY BERRYMAN
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of one of our previous members of the Torquay Rotary Club – Harry Berryman
President Jan & all members will pass on our respects to his wife Bev and his family .
Harry was a friendly, hardworking & respected member of the Club.
In 2007 with Darrel Brewin as President, Harry was instrumental in designing and organising the construction of the BBQ trailer.
The year after President Greg Plumridge commented “ Special thanks must go to Harry Berryman for the work he does to ensure that the BBQ is always clean and prepared for action “
He was always supportive of Club activities , despite his chronic illness and a regular attendee at our weekly meetings.
Another project that Harry was involved with was to collect used electrical goods from the Salvation Army shop, repair them and then deliver for distribution to the Donations in Kind Program.
We will miss his cheery smile and we send sincere condolences to Bev and the family.
Please remember that there will be NO Regular Rotary Club Meeting on Monday 22nd February as we will be meeting with the Rotary Club of Grovedale/Waurn Ponds on Wednesday 24th instead
Stay tuned for details of our next meeting the week after on Monday 1st March
I have sent out a separate email to all members re our commitment to supporting the R100 celebrations. This will be in the form of a relay, finishing at Christ Church on Sunday 21st March. All current information is in the email.
Lesley will send out a copy of the minutes of the Board meeting, which was very Positive.
Member and past Member updates:-
Paul Desbrowe-Annear spent a week in bright with some friends. When talking to him he sounded very relaxed.
Fortunately he had some car problems, in that as he left Bright the car would not head South. Instead it headed north to Sydney. He is spending the next month with friends from his giftware days. They will head to Noosa, and work their way back.
Phil and Deb are heading to Lakes Entrance, caravanning with friends.
Thelma Steer (Rayfield). Thelma and Philip were in Maroochydore, but have recently moved to Harvey Bay. I rang here for her Birthday (21st of course). She sounded very happy and says they are thoroughly enjoying life.
Joint Meeting with Torquay 24th February Rice Village 6.00 for 6.30 pm
Just a reminder that we are hosting our annual joint meeting with Torquay at Rice Village. It will be a sit down dinner with two courses at $25. Please invite your partners and friends as it will be a great night. For catering purposes I need numbers no later than Sunday 21st February. Please call or text me on 0419341112.
This will now be a Quiz night, as our guest speaker has had to attend to family matters.
Club Calendar
24th February: Joint Meeting at Rice Village with R. C. Torquay.
Gary’s Fun Quiz Night .
Normal Meeting time 6.15pm for 6.30pm.
Cost $25/h
Numbers limited to 60.
Final and Firm Numbers by Monday 22nd Feb, giving you a days Grace.
28th February: BUNNING’S BBQ Gary is organizing this.
3rd March: Committee Meetings. Times and venues to be advised.
2021: the year we celebrate the Centenary of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand!
In 1921 four Rotary Clubs were created in Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and Sydney. from there, Rotary and Rotaract clubs were created everywhere across Australia and New Zealand. What a wonderful achievement for our organisation: an epic milestone and now districts, clubs and Rotarians from across our region and indeed Australia have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate 100 years of doing good in the community, both at home and abroad, and to lay the groundwork for a new era for Rotary ‘down under’ into the future.
The Centenary provides an ideal opportunity for us to raise our profile in the community and to bring local colour and culture to our centenary, through the R100 Baton Relay
This is an event that will connect all Rotary Clubs across Australia and NZ with their communities.
In District 9780 , Torquay Club, represented by President Jan , and a small group have been working with all of the Geelong Clubs to develop our role in the Baton Relay which will begin in Torquay then travel through the Bellarine Peninsular into Geelong , with display and an afternoon of activities in the garden at Christ Church cnr Moorabool & McKillop Streets, Geelong.
SAVE THIS VERY IMPORTANT DATE SUNDAY 21ST MARCH 9am
We need members to see this event as an important Club commitment , and would like as many as possible to support this MILESTONE in Rotary Australia. You will be joining other Club members in Rotary apparel to carry the Rotary 100 Baton along Front Beach Esplanade, then hand the Baton over to President Jan at the Rob Emmett Playground.
Jan will then travel in a Harley Davidson to take the R100 Baton to Barwon Heads, where she will hand the R100 Baton over to Ocean Grove Rotary , it will then travel onto Queenscliff , Drysdale , Geelong East and into Geelong .
At 4pm dignitaries ,and all other Clubs will join in the celebrations in the Christ Church garden with our very own Trevor Pickles and the Shy Boys playing the music , we hope as many members will join us there to celebrate this momentous year in Rotary Down Under .
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.
As some of you experienced, we had a very successful , fun face to face meeting back at the Lions Village and then with the most recent short lockdown we went back to ZOOM !
So depending on the restrictions and as we agreed at the AGM last year we hope to have face to meetings as well as a few social meetings - to ensure we continue with our important Rotary social connections.
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.
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.
