Monday 23rd January 2023
WELCOME ROTARIANS and FRIENDS
to the WEEKLY NEWS NOTES
FROM the DESK of the PRESIDENT
Andrea Conti
Our first meeting of the year is on the 2nd of February. I will be away in Adelaide this week but I will return to see you all next week.
OTHER ROTARY at WORK and COMMUNITY NOTES
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Duty Roster
The next meeting will be on the 2nd of February at the Commonwealth Club at 12.15 for 12.30.
The Speaker will be Russell Dew on the topic of “What are Cryptocurries and why should you care?”
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Date
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2nd Feb
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9th Feb
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16th Feb
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23rd Feb
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Door
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Ross
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Ross
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Ross
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Ross
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Welcome and Opening of the Meeting
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Greg G
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Olek G
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Liz
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Judy R
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Toast to Rotary at Work
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Warrick
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Stephen
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Sally G
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Juris
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Thanks to the Speaker
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Michael R
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Russell D
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Graeme H
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Bill
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ROTARY AT WORK AND COMMUNITY NOTES
Invitation to the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Holocaust
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The United Nations Information Centre for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in partnership with Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, ACT Jewish Community and United Nations Association of Australia ACT cordially invites you to join us on the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the Victims of the Holocaust as per the details below:
Date: Friday, 27 January 2023
Time: 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Venue: Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, Nara Peace Park, Lennox Gardens, Flynn Drive, Yarralumla ACT
Please see attached the invitation.
Kindly RSVP by Tuesday, 24th January 2023 by registering on the link below:
All attendees are encouraged to bring your photo ID.
Yours in Rotary
Michael Rabey
Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin
PS: This is a first for our Club with this group of partners, It would be terrific if as many members as possible could attend also with partners if possible. cheers Michael
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for meeting details, please go to the website.
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AN UPDATE FROM ROTARIANS AGAINST MALARIA
Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM), is working with the Australian Volunteers program and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, to support Vanuatu’s National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) in eliminating Malaria. Rotarians have assisted Vanuatu’s malaria control program since the 1990s. More recently, in 2019, RAM provided funding for malaria elimination activities. RAM is also working with Rotary NZ District 9910 and Australian district 9820 and 9810 on a Rotary Global Grant to establish an Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) program in Vanuatu. Good progress in malaria elimination was made over the last 11 years. However, in mid-2022, Vanuatu documented an upsurge in malaria cases. Thus, the volunteers are vital to lending a hand to the government, to end malaria for good.
Three (3) volunteers are required to support the NVBDCP, deployed via the Australian Volunteers Program. The volunteer positions are for professionals who are either in Public Health, a Medical Practitioner, Epidemiologist or Registered Nurse, to assist in response to current outbreak and planning towards elimination guided by Vanuatu’s National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2021-2026).
The Vanuatu based positions are for up to 24 months with a monthly financial allowance of $3,360
While the volunteer positions mentioned in the attachments might not be for everyone, if you know someone either in Rotary or outside of Rotary who would have the necessary qualifications and might be interested in the volunteer positions, please alert them to the opportunity as soon as possible as applications close on 1st February 2023.
You can find more details and how to apply for the three positions through the following links and in the above attachments:
Rotarians against Malaria (RAM) is a national network managed by volunteers in all Rotary Districts in Australia.
The District 9705 RAM team is also available to be guest speakers at one of your future club meetings. So if you are interested in having a RAM guest speaker, please let me know.
Regards
Gary Davis
Rotarians Against Malaria - Eastern Region Supervisor
Conference Chair – D9705 2023 Conference
Co-President (2022-23), President (2021-22)
Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak
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Promote the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne
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Have you attended a Rotary International Convention and been inspired by the diversity of members who gathered from all over the world? Or by witnessing Rotary’s ability to connect people of action to create lasting change in their communities and globally? Share your experience with your fellow members and encourage them to register for the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, 27-31 May. Attending a convention can turn newer members into dedicated Rotaractors or Rotarians who are passionate about international service. Even longtime members gain a new understanding of Rotary. We’ve assembled resources to help you promote this year’s convention. Read up on Melbourne’s many tourist attractions and find out why the locals proclaim this vibrant and stately city to be Australia’s culinary, cultural, sports, and shopping capital. |
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ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE CENTRAL WEST FLOODS
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Hi Russell,
Purpose. The purpose of this message is to provide D9705 clubs and leaders with an update on our actions in response to floods in the district and what is being planned.
Flood Situation. While it is over two months since the heavy rain and floods at Molong, Cudal, Eugowra and Forbes, there are still communities in the west of the district that continue to have large amounts of water around them. Some farmers near Hillston have been advised not to expect to have road access to their properties until March. Eugowra remains the most heavily damaged location in District 9705 and Rotary action has continued there over the Christmas and New Year period.
D9705 Response and Actions over Christmas. Our Rotary action at Eugowra has included:
- arranging essential supplies of food and household cleaning items, both from donated items or through purchases;
- dealing with unrequested and unwanted donations of clothes and other goods;
- labelling and distributing RAWCS-provided mosquito-repelling candles to communities most at risk;
- standing up a new Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) project 42-2022-23 as the means of delivering benevolent relief.
- identifying the benevolent projects that will help people recover, and
- working with Eugowra leadership to maintain appropriate relief action.
The most tangible and publicly-appreciated aspect of Rotary is the continuous direct action in Eugowra by the RC of Orange Daybreak led by Michelle Duncan (President) and by Colin Nayda supported by volunteers and other clubs. Behind the scenes, Robert Shore, Scott Griffiths and Deidre Tome have undertaken vital planning. consultation and coordination functions that entail a lot of driving and a lot of telephone time. Things like mattresses and pillows are sourced and managed. Peter Thompson has taken on a key role in benevolent project planning.
There are also indications of Rotary club donations coming through, including one of the many $500 vouchers donated by the RC of Hall getting to a devastated Eugowra arts and crafts business. Inner Wheel has contributed $10,000 to the early childhood centre at Eugowra, and the RC of Parkes is planning to provide all Eugowra public school children with uniforms, shoes and school essentials.
Mosquito Candles. Brad Quilliam of RAWCS has arranged for 4 more pallets of mosquito candles Both Deidre Tome (RC of Wagga Wagga) and Peter Thompson (RC of Parkes) have been arranging for thousands of candles to be distributed via Rotary clubs and other service organisations. We have received feedback that the candles are greatly appreciated and valued. Distribution has been along the rolling lines before Christmas, with further deliveries since.
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Receiving Towns
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Boxes
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Condobolin. (Will cover isolated farms).
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20
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Eugowra
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18
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Forbes (will cover Begerabong)
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16
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Trundle & Bogan Gate
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4
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Bimbi
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2
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Garema
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2
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Warrinya
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2
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Parkes
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2
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Anglicare Care Hampers Parkes/Forbes
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3
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Supporting Contributions by Rotary & Rotaractor clubs
Canberra Rotaractor Club. The Canberra Rotaractor Club provided $1,000 to support the RC of Orange Daybreak to maintain essential food supplies to Eugowra over Christmas.
The Rotary Club of Griffith East. The RC of Griffith East also directed $1,500 to the RC of Parkes to enable similar service and grocery lines to be supplied to Eugowra for deployment by the actions teams of RC of Orange Daybreak
Action by the Rotary Clubs of Forbes and Forbes Ipomoea. Together with the Forbes Ipomoea Rotary Club the new Forbes Rotary/Forbes Ipomoea Rotary Flood Relief Fund account at the CWCU has been able to supply the following to the below organisations to victims of the recent floods:
- 50 x $200 gift cards to the Rural Financial Counselling Service Forbes Office
- 25 x $200 gift cards to the Catholic Care office at CentreCare in Forbes
- 20 x $200 gift cards to Uniting Health Care in Forbes
These cards will be distributed confidentially by these three groups at their discretion to farmers, rural business owners and private home owners who have been adversely affected by floods. This has only been possible through the following donations:
- Forbes Rotary Club $5,000
- Forbes Ipomoea Rotary Club $3,000
- Ginninderry Rotary Club $1,000
- The Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club $2,000
- Canberra Rotary Club $5,000
- Northbridge Rotary Club $2,000
- Harden Rotary Club $1,000
- Orange Daybreak Rotary Club $2,000
- Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club $1,000
- Spring Bay Rotary Club (Tasmania) $1,500
In addition, Chris Finkel reports that the Forbes flood account has received some small cash donations from local donors and had pledges for donations from the Hillston CWA and Kiama Rotary with the current flood account balance standing at $2854.65. Chris and club member 'Dorsey' visited Eugowra again and spoke with some members of the Eugowra Uniting Church about the flood damage to the church hall and the state of some of their parishioner’s homes. As a result, the Uniting Church committee in Forbes has agreed to be another distribution centre for the previously mentioned 20 x $200 gift cards. Afterwards, Dorsey drove his utility to Orange to collect a pallet of dog food which is currently being distributed to assist flood victims feed their pet and working dogs.
Christmas Cakes and Puddings. In addition to the above actions by Rotary clubs, 150 x Christmas cakes were donated by Smeaton's Bakery of Parkes. Col Nayda also reports some 50 x Christmas puddings were made by four sisters who originally came from the area.
Planning Next Steps (See attached graphic)
We continue to support the Eugowra community and leaders but are now shifting our focus to the delivery of project-based benevolent relief.
- End of Action at Eugowra. The Rotary Action Team so ably led by Robert Shore and Michelle Duncan’s RC of Orange Daybreak will close action in Eugowra on 26 Jan 2023. That said Michelle Duncan will still need volunteers to help with the management of donated goods until then. If you can help, contact Michelle on michellebd74@gmail.com or call 0401404212
- Special Events & Projects. There will still be some Rotary actions in about Eugowra, most notably:
- Assistance by the RC of Orange Daybreak to the Orange Ex-Services Club (OESC) on 28 Jan to facilitate the distribution cash vouchers to flood affected people and businesses);
- The showcasing of a video by the RC of Parkes of the Rotary flood response at the Eugowra Bowling Club on Sun 5 Feb; and
- Club-based actions in and about Eugowra such as the provision of new school uniforms by the RC of Parkes.
- More Mosquito Candles. The distribution of RAWCS-provided Mosquito Candles (thanks to Brad Quilliam) through the flood region has been continuing and may continue over the weeks ahead. Local Rotary clubs including Parkes, Forbes and Wagga Wagga (Deidre Tome) have been doing that well and the feedback received has been very positive. If the demand continues, we may seek more candles.
- Donated Goods. Scott Griffiths and his team from the RC of Orange have done heroic work to manage the donations of unrequested goods. As such, Rotary is the steward of resources that are properly owned by the Eugowra community. Scott is seeks the Eugowra community leader’s direction on what is needed and what is not. He will then move useful items to Eugowra clear the temporary Orange storehouse. If necessary, he will dispose of unneeded items, ideally to organisations that can process them (like clothes). We will try to avoid having things go to landfill, though that may be necessary.
- GIVIT. We will review and possibly re-think the use of GIVIT. It has not been helpful so far, but might be in other ways outside of disaster response.
- Application of RABS Project 46-2022-23. This project is the vehicle for delivering benevolent projects that will help flood-affected people in Central West NSW and the Riverina. We ( Tony Maple and Peter Thompson) are getting that underway and will participate in Eugowra community consultations on 21 Jan and 3 Feb and work with the local de-facto leader of Eugowra (Sean Haynes).
- At this time, we have some ideas for benevolent projects including:
- Trauma counselling for children and adults (some children have had trouble going into a bath or shower);
- Help to the Eugowra Pre-School destroyed by the flood noting Inner Wheel has contributed $10,000 to help reestablish the facility
- Emergency housing for the many 'de-homed' people still camping in caravans at the showgrounds;
- Funding working air conditioners for people that have lost their electrical units
- Refurbishing kitchens destroyed by floods.
- Appropriate funding assistance for people in distress not covered by other grants
- Replacement of colorbond-type fences between houses
NOTE: In due course we may seek the assistance of clubs to organise and conduct a project with the supported by RABS funds. Interested clubs should contact Tony Maple
- Dimensions of Need. I have discussed the dimensions of the need with David Galloway, Executive Officer of the Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW. That organisation is dealing with the flood-affected farmers and rural small businesses in central and southern NSW. That is a larger area than Rotary D9705, but he described the thousands of farmers that had been affected. Some 24 small businesses in Eugowra alone and 125 famers in the Forbes Local Government Authority need help.
Other Factors. We will monitor the developing situation and the many organisations involved in recovering from the floods. Factors like the role of the new state organisation Reconstruction NSW is unknown and may affect our actions. Then there are planning factors like the future population of Eugowra given the likelihood some families will leave. In doing so, we will stay close to the leaders of the Eugowra community and support their plans as best we can.
Speaking for Rotary. We are also mindful of the possibility of NSW Government enquiries and consultations concerning the flood response. Some Rotarians may be invited to speak and contribute their views and observations. Club presidents can always speak for their clubs and DG Geraldine Rurenga will speak for the district. But please be careful about such situations and avoid committing Rotary to any specific action. If you are invited to join a forum or to speak about your experience and observations, please let me know in advance.
Thanks to Volunteers. Lastly, I wish to express my personal thanks to our many Rotarian volunteers - too many to name - that have contributed long hours of action on the ground in and about Eugowra, and in the distribution of candles and goods across the long reaches of the district. We have been engaged continuously for nearly two months and that may be an unprecedented Rotary response to a natural disaster in Central West NSW and the Riverina. Those who put in long and often very hot days of effort are truly People of Action!
Yours in Rotary,
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Heritage Week is Coming up on the 15th and 16th of April in Canberra and our Club is with Lennox Garden Tours.
Greetings
The 40th Heritage Festival is slowly taking shape so thanks for your registration!
It is always great to welcome new event organisers – so a big hello to Sarah Stewart with her Foreshore Ghosts and Tales tours and the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin where there is an opportunity to strike the Peace Bell and tour Lennox Gardens.
Our storytelling workshop, lead by the Storytellers Guild’s Holly Bidwell is filling up, but there is still room. Monday 6 February 10-12 noon at Dickson – so please email me if you wish to bring out the teller within you and learn the basics of oral storytelling. This is inline with this year’s theme ‘Sharing Stories’
Our festival is part of the
Australian Heritage Festival and you can also register your event on their website. A reminder though to not open bookings until our launch on 16 March (tbc) at the Canberra Railway Museum.
Need help or answers to your questions? Please email or call on 6205 0255
Cheers
Linda Roberts | Community Engagement & Festival Coordinator
Phone: 02 6205 0255 | ACT Heritage
Environment | Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | ACT Government
Level 2, 480 Northbourne Ave, Dickson | GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601
SAVE THE DATE FOR A FUN TRIVIA NIGHT PROVIDED BY THE WODEN DAYBREAK CLUB
Please find attached a ‘Save the Date’ flyer for the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak’s Trivia night on Friday 31 March from 7pm at the Weston Creek Labor Club at Stirling.
More details about the Trivia Night and how to buy tickets in the coming weeks.
Regards
Gary Davis
Co-President (2022-23), President (2021-22)
Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak
Phone: 0410 028 629
FRIDAY 31 MARCH 2023
- SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT TRIVIA NIGHT
- WESTON CREEK LABOR CLUB IN STIRLING FROM 7PM ON FRIDAY 31 MARCH.
- A FUN NIGHT OF TRIVIA, A SILENT AUCTION, SPELLING BEE, RAFFLE AND FUN GAMES
MORE DETAILS IN THE COMING WEEKS
Draft Minutes for December 2022 Annual General Meeting for Rotary International District 9705 Inc
AGENDA items were voted on by Electronic/Postal Ballot
Returning Officer – PDG Ian Tooke – Public Officer
The Annual General Meeting of the Ordinary Members – the Rotary Clubs of Rotary International District 9705 Inc – was held by electronic and postal ballot from 18 November to 16 December 2022. At the close of the ballot at midnight on Friday 16 December a quorum of 46 voting members had not been achieved, so an adjournment was called with new closing date for the ballot being 23 December 2022. At this later time a quorum of 46 votes were in the hands of the Returning Officer delegated the responsibility for collating the ballots.
Clubs Voting: 44 by email and 2 by Post
Aurora Gungahlin, Batemans Bay, Bathurst Daybreak, Batlow, Blayney, Bombala, Boorowa, Bowral-Mittagong, Brindabella E-Club, Bungendore, Canberra, Canberra Sunrise,
Canberra Weston Creek, Coolamon, Cooma, Cootamundra, Cowra, E-Club Serving Humanity, Forbes, Goulburn, Griffith, Gungahlin, Jerrabomberra Rotary, Lake Cargelligo, Leeton,
Leeton Central, Molong, Moss Vale, Murrumbidgee Canberra, Murrumburrah-Harden, Oberon, Orange, Orange Daybreak, Orange North, Queanbeyan, South Wagga Wagga, Temora, Tuggeranong, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga Sunrise, Woden Daybreak, Wollundry Wagga Wagga, Yass, Young
Clubs not recording a vote: Belconnen, Grenfell, Hall, Merimbula The voting from the members is as recorded here:
1. Acceptance of the Minutes of the AGM held 20 February 2022 by Zoom. (as circulated)
YES - 45 / NO - 1 CARRIED
2. Acceptance of the District Governor’s Report on the status of the District. (as circulated)
YES - 45 / NO - 1 CARRIED
3. Acceptance of the Audited Financial Statement for the 2021/22 Rotary Year. (as circulated)
YES - 46 / NO - Nil CARRIED
4. Acceptance of the Auditor’s Report for the 2021/22 Rotary Year. (as circulated)
YES - 46 / NO - Nil CARRIED
5. Acceptance of Board’s recommendations for changes to the Bylaws
Bylaw Clause 1 – Definitions.
Constitutional documents: RI Constitution and Bylaws and Rotary Code of Policies, including RI Code of Conduct each as amended from time to time;
4.1 A District Finance and Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board each year and shall include:
All agenda items are considered accepted by the majority of members voting. PDG Ian Tooke
