Bulletin 1648

Next meeting 18th November 2025 

(meeting 1648)

Together we transform, together we inspire!

President Debbie Buckingham

Secretary Tamara McRobbie

Vice President Noeline Biermann

Next meeting is Tuesday 18th November at the Goolwa Bowls Club

6:30pm for a 7pm Start

Dinner will be Massaman Beef Curry with Rice and Fruit Salad and Ice Cream for dessert.    There will also be a vegetarian/Vegan Choice of Chickpea Korma and Rice.

Two courses are $15 and the bar will be open to serve you your favourite beverages,  bring $5 for the raffle!

By clicking the link above, it will take you to the event page, you then select which meal you want.  It says they are $15 and it looks like it will take you a payment page, it doesn't though, payment is at the bar on the night.

Meeting Responsibilities
 
 
18th November
2025
2nd December
2025
16th December
2025
Sergeant
Bronnie DawsShannon WelkDi Keach
Fellowship
Sonia LauckeDee BaillyNoeline Biermann
Sergeant's Helper  & Invocation
 

 

David McDonald

 

Alan Williams

 

Ian McKinnon

Club Events for your diaries (Members will be contacted for assistance)

  • 23rd November 2025 - Purple Waves of Change - Moana
  • 7th December 2025 - Evening - RC Goolwa Christmas Dinner and game of bowls
  • 3rd February 2026 - Club dinner visit from Rotary Club of St Peters.

Other dates for your diaries

  • 7th December 2025 - Morning - Goolwa Christmas Pageant - Goolwa Community Association - Food Van and potential pageant float?
  • 20th December 2025 - Goolwa Christmas Concert - Goolwa Community Association - Food Van
  • 17th Jan - Goolwa Community Association - Riding out the Bloom, Daryl Braithwaite concert - Food Van
  • 14th February 2026 - Valentines Day Dance - Goolwa Band - Running the Bar

Don't forget to follow the RC Goolwa Facebook and Instagram pages for information regarding upcoming events.

Meeting 1647 - 4th November 2025 

Apologies: Bronnie Daws, Malcolm Horton, Wendy Lippett, Chris Smith, Shannon Welk, Dee Bailly, Linda Steffans, Theresa Wurlod, Judy Newport

Visitors: 

Guest Speaker:  NA

Ingrid had Sergeant duties and opened the meeting.  David provided us with an impromptu invocation.  President Debbie welcomed us to the Goolwa Secondary staff room for a lovely fun and social evening with nibbles and drinks, thanks to Tamara, Noeline, Debbie and Di for providing our supper!

Debbie spoke about the Purple Waves of Change and asked for volunteers on the day.  She spoke about the dog walk and dog biscuits and then Carrol showed us the wonderful duck she has been making over for the Dress A Duck competition.   Sonia helped her stick on the fake eyelashes as we continued the meeting.

Debbie announced that Sonia was taking a step back from Membership and to focus on Public Image, Noeline will be taking over the Membership role for the foreseeable future.

Two minute spots were had by Tamara who showed us the new calendars for the Murray Bridge Rotary Club.  They are $20 a calendar and the club gets $10 from each sale.  Each Calendar also has a weekly chance to win either tickets for two to Monarto Zoo or a $50 Drakes Voucher.

Di spoke about her planned RCP twilight supper and drinks with the counsellors - more info to follow.

David McDonald talked to us about the upcoming trailer raffle.  The trailer was set to arrive at the Mall on the 11th of Nov and ticket sales start as of the 13th of November.  Tamara talked about how the ticket sales would be trialled as being sold electronically via QR code this time, we can also do cash sales and much to the apprehension of some of the members, Tamara tried her best to talk them around! It just needs to be added here that as of the 12th of November (when I am typing this), we have sold 75 tickets just by having the QR code in the mall, one person bought 50 tickets and another purchased 25! you can get your tickets below.

There was a lot of chatter on the night and it was a lovely relaxed feel.

Ingrid finished off the night with a Quiz with chocolates as prizes! Alan and Sue were the big winners on the night with Sue not realising that there were crunchies in the box until it was nearly too late!

 

In Fellowship we Keep

Damian Leach DGN

The last few weeks have reminded me why Rotary is more than an organisation — it’s all about culture.

I’ve just returned from the Rotary Zone Institute and National Conference, where I spent time with leaders and friends from across Australia and beyond. Before the conference, I’d joined DG Jenn Wong for a visit to Monarto Safari Park — one of those easy, laughter-filled days that remind you how friendship is often the most enduring form of service.

The week that followed was a blur of connection. I shared a table at the conference dinner with PDG Amanda Wendt, who had spoken earlier about Rotary’s work to end polio. We laughed and swapped stories between courses (once we provided our ID so we could get a drink) — the kind of conversations that sit somewhere between purpose and play.

I reconnected with PDG Jodie Sparks, a friend from our District Rotary Foundation Chairs training, and with Claire Scott, who I hadn’t seen since the Rotary Australia Success Conference thirteen years ago. Somewhere between plenary sessions I discovered an unread message from Claire in my inbox — sent all those years ago. I replied right there and then, and when we met up in person the time disappeared.

There were new connections too: DG Emma Davis, whose leadership energy is contagious; DGN Rick Vosila, who turns every conversation into an idea; and reconnections with PDG Michael Lapina, whose passion and storytelling can light up a room; and PDG Andy Rajapakse, a constant reminder that optimism is a leadership skill.

Yesterday, I received the message that Milton Lewis had passed away — the Rotarian who sponsored me into the Rotary Club of Campbelltown after my Youth Exchange days. It was Milton who first showed me what fellowship really meant: that simple act of being noticed, welcomed, and seen.

That moment, set against the backdrop of a week of reconnections, reminded me that Rotary’s success has never been about structure or slogans — it’s about people. The friendships we form, the mentors who encourage us, the peers who laugh beside us when the work gets tough.

Sociologists like Robert Putnam and Marissa King have written about the power of connection — how communities grow stronger and individuals healthier when they share genuine bonds. Rotary proves that research right every single day. It’s a living network of trust — a place where being known and being useful are the same thing.

If you ask me what keeps members in Rotary, I won’t talk about metrics or meetings. I’ll talk about culture. The kind of culture that notices when someone’s missing. The kind that welcomes new voices, keeps old friendships alive, and never stops making space for laughter and wine.

Because in the end, fellowship isn’t what happens after the meeting.
It’s the reason we meet at all.

Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Alan Williams
November 24
 
Meredith Harton
November 30
 
Wendy Lippett
December 20
 
Noeline Biermann
December 25
 
Dee Bailly
December 26
 
Anniversaries
Debbie Buckingham
December 5
 
Join Date
Lyn Crouch
November 1, 2022
3 years
 
David McDonald
December 21, 2021
4 years
 
Alan Jones
December 31, 1998
27 years
 
Meeting Information
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Goolwa Bowling Club
Goyder Street
Goolwa, SA 5214
Australia
Phone:
0429 802 930
1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. 6:30pm for 7.00pm Contact Debbie on 0429 802 930 or Noeline on 0407 944 650
Venue Map
Venue Map
Executives & Directors
President
 
Vice President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Membership
 
Director Community
 
Director Foundation
 
Director Environment
 
Director Youth
 
Club Administration
 
International Service
 
Public Image Chair
 
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