For your diaries
- 27th July 2024. High Tea/Lunch at Chris Smith's house. A fundraising event for RC Goolwa.
- 05-11th April 2025 Australian Federation of Rotary Golfers golf tournament. Details to follow.
- 11th-13th April 2025 District Conference at Morphettville Racecourse. Details to follow.
Meeting 1616- 02 July 2024 - RC Goolwa Changeover Dinner
Apologies: Ingrid Stockwell, Linda Steffens, Brian Tapping, Hon Michael Scott, Jim Davis, Duncan Norris and Shirley Coleman.
Visitors: Honourary Member Mayor Keith Parkes and Tracey Parkes, District Governor M-l Lees, Rotary Community Leader Linda Sweeney and Gordon Sweeney, Chris Smith (formerly RC Loxton, new inductee) and Phill Smith, Deb Drew, Mary McInnis and Lesley Picotti (Whalers Emporium), Greg Casson and Wendy Lippett (MC's for the evening), Malcolm Horton (V-P) and Jane Horton (RC Stirling), Sue Morisset (P-E) and Peter Francis (Pres) RC Encounter Bay, Maxine Timbs (Pres, RC Victor Harbor), Tracy Miller (IPP) RC Morphett Vale, Di Shepherd (friend and PP of RC Blayney, NSW), Tony (President) and Deb Snelson (2nd JVice-President) (Lions Club of Goolwa), Honourary Members of RC Goolwa Alan Jones, Roger and Tracey Sheldon.
Guests: Nan Williams and Georgia McRobbie,
MC Greg Casson welcomed everyone and invited President Jan to open the meeting. Jan welcomed everyone and invited the Mayor Keith Parkes to perform the Toast to Rotary International. District Governor M-l Lees responded to the Toast. M-l talked about 5 key messages, including the theme for the 2024/25 year "The Magic of Rotary".
Induction of New Member
Chris Smith (formerly RC Loxton) was inducted into the RC Goolwa by President Jan. Chris has 22 years of Rotary service and will now join the Community Team under Director Debbie Buckingham.
(l) President Jan introducing new member Chris Smith with Noeline ready to give Chris her bag of goodies. (r) Chris with her new badges and Club shirts.
Induction on New Honourary Members of RC Goolwa
Honourary Membership was bestowed on three former members. They are Jim Davis (who unfortunately could not make the meeting), and former Presidents of RC Goolwa Greg Casson and Wendy Lippett.
President Jan with new Honourary Members Greg Casson and Wendy Lippett.
President's Report
Following a delicious dinner, President Jan gave a summary of the year 2023/2024. Jan took over as President in December 2023 when former President Andy Wood resigned to move to Clare. Since then the RC Goolwa has undertaken a number of fundraising ventures from traffic management at member Shannon's Front Yard Festival to a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, with bar and catering duties in between. Our club has also held a couple of popular raffles plus a fashion parade and garage sale. We also sponsored a Duke of Edinburgh Award student on the "One and All" and assisted some of the disadvantaged in our community via Whalers. It's been a busy six months.
Presentations to new Paul Harris Fellows
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to two worthy recipients by Vice-President Noeline. (Information for Mary and Jan provided by Noeline).
Mary McInnes
Mary has been a volunteer for Whalers for 30 years. 20 years ago, Mary and her husband founded Whalers Peninsular as a not-for-profit registered Charity assisting the homeless and Domestic Violence victims. Mary assisted with self-build housing in Victor Harbor in 2020, and currently manages housing for disadvantaged people in North Goolwa. Mary is a councillor and has provided free council to hundreds of people over the past 30 years.
Mary received a SA Premiers Award in 2006. The Rotary Club of Goolwa is honoured to bestow our highest honour of a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of Mary's tireless service to our community.
(l) Mary receiving her pin from Noeline with Deb Drew looking on. (r) Mary with her plaque.
Jan Lawrence
Jan is a long-term resident of Goolwa and we were fortunate to have her join our Rotary Club of Goolwa on 21st December 2020. Jan has always been a motivated Rotarian and committed to Environmental, Youth and Community projects.
‘No’ and ‘We Can"t do’ are NOT in her vocabulary. In 2022 Jan was fast-tracked and encouraged to become our President. After a group visit to the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, nothing was ever the same for Jan or us. Her motto now is ‘YES WE CAN’
Jan motivates everyone to be better Rotarians through participation and force of personality. She has raised the Rotary Club of Goolwa profile, locally and in the District and Australia-wide.
In January 2024 Jan stepped up to replace the President when Andy resigned. And tonight she signs on as President for another year. Jan is thoroughly deserving of this recognition from our club, and we know she will wear it with pride.
(l) Jan receiving her pin from Noeline while Wendy looks on. (r) Jan with her plaque.
Induction of Incoming President
Jan has been acting-President since Andy's retirement in December. She was officially inducted as President of RC Goolwa for 2024/25 by Community Leader Linda Sweeney. Jan thanked all for their help and support and said she is honoured to be President of RC Goolwa.
(top) Jan and Linda following Jan's induction as President for 2024/25. (Bottom), Jan with Vice-President Noeline and President-Elect Debbie.
Induction of RC Goolwa 2024/2025 Board Members and Rotary Theme
President Jan introduced the RC Board Members for 2024/5. They are:
President - Jan Lawrence
President-Elect - Debbie Buckingham
Immediate Past-President Jan Lawrence
Secretary and Vice-President - Noeline Biermann
Treasurer - Lyn Crouch
Director Club Services - Sue Porter
Director Community Services - Debbie Buckingham
Director International Services - Bronnie Daws
Director Youth Services - Janet Tapping
Director of Environment - Meredith Harton
Director Membership and Public Image - Tamara McRobbie
Risk Management - Lyn Crouch.
Board members for 2024/25 from (l-r) Janet Tapping, DG M-l Lees, Lyn Crouch, Jan Lawrence, Noeline Biermann, Bronnie Daws, Tamara McRobbie, CL Linda Sweeney, Sue Porter, Meredith Harton and Debbie Buckingham.
The Rotary Theme for 2024/25 is "The Magic of Rotary".
Raffle Draw
The raffle was drawn and the lucky winners were Maxine Timbs, Yvonne Hurrell and Tony Snelson.
President Jan thanked all for coming and then closed the meeting. It was a great evening.
Other Business
Donation to Whalers
RC Goolwa donated four waterproof backpack beds to Whalers to distribute to people in need in the Community.
Treasurer Lyn, President Jan and Mary with one of the backpacks being donated to Whalers.
Donation to RC Goolwa from Bendigo Bank
RC Goolwa received a $5000 donation from the Bendigo Community Bank to be used to fit out our new food trailer. The Bank hosted an event on Thursday 11th July to present a number of donations ($200,000) to various organisations in the Fleurieu region. RC Goolwa members Jan, Lyn, Sue and Tony attended the event which was very informative.
(l) President Jan with Bendigo bank representativesdescribing what we will use the food trailer for. (r) Jan with Bendigo Bank representative.
