RC Mt Barker Bulletin 16th August 21 (Aug 16, 2021)

President, James Hawker

Welcomed Rotarians and guest, John Rowley, Blakiston RC President.

Congratulated members on being compliant with Covid rules as we were all wearing masks.

Cancellation of Royal Adelaide Show has seriously impacted the club budget but if any member knows of a deserving project or cause they should bring it to the attention of the Board.

Reminder application for District Grants deadline is 22nd August.

DG Jeff Neale’s visit on October 25th will be a special night with partners invited. A board meeting will be held at 1730.

DG Neale survey includes corporate, social media platforms, club website, branded clothing, strategic plan, greatest opportunity to grow membership, what tools or apps does your club use to communicate with members outside meetings.

James attended a meeting on 12th August with Mt Barker Council regarding Council grants to community groups and our club may qualify.

On the 16th August James attended Operation Flinders presentation to Mt Barker High School students who attended the hike.

A questionnaire email sent by the DG requires careful completion and James encouraged all to do so.

The sub-committee for the Art Show will be chaired by Peter Schaefer and includes Shawn Hutchinson, Carola Sanders, Marg Inglis, Dave Gilles, Ann Franken Peter McGinn and Chloe Head from the Council. The first meeting will be on 24^th August.

District Conference April 1-3 2022.

Peter Schaefer, Art Show Committee Chair

Gave an update on the Art Show. Annie Franken will assist if she is able. A date in the first quarter of 2022 is suggested. This is a community event but we would like to make it a fund raiser for the club.

Jack Cooper,Program Coordinator, Club Almoner, Bulletin Scribe

Gave a report on the Operation Flinders event involving the Mount Barker High School team at the Mount Barker polo ground building .

Jack and President James attended and the students were presented with certificates of achievement.

Mayor Anne Ferguson gave an impassioned address followed by representatives of Operation Flinders including the team leader and the High School.

President James gave a succinct speech on the long term benefits of completing the exercise. An enjoyable session with positive vibes from all present.

Presentation of certificates to the Mount Barker High School students who recently participated in the Operation Flinders hike at Yankaninna Station.

PDG Peter Schaefer, Guest Speaker, An Interesting Life

President James introduced the guest speaker our members. Peter spoke of his German heritage. He lived in Clarendon as a child and after school aged 18 joined the Royal Australian Navy. After 2 years on varied duties he became an electronic technician working on weapons systems, missiles and anti-submarine warfare. The RAN’s role was support for the Army. He worked on aircraft and helicopters and informed us of the capabilities of the versatile Sea King helicopters including its ability to display the height of waves for very low flying and its sonar sensors submerged on cables to detect submarines. He mentioned the rescue of the yachtsman Tony Bullimore who incidentally didn’t thank them. He was involved in wildlife rescue, drug detection, firing the ship’s big guns and military intelligence. The latter he found boring but important, including just waiting at sea for 3 days during a coup in Fiji. His military career was not conducive to marriage and it was dissolved. He left the Navy after a very varied 25 years that he often found to be fun. He met his wife Jenny and they moved to a very remote part of the Gibson desert where the Aboriginal communities still lived their traditional way of life. Some communities had their first contact with white persons as recently as 1974. Jenny is a doctor attending to the needs of the communities and for a time he was a tutor for the School of the Air. He and Jenny would be involved in Aboriginal ceremonies. After 2 and a half years they moved to Darwin where he lectured at Charles Darwin University, then to Alice Springs working for the Red Cross and he purchased an accommodation business that he later sold. He joined Rotary in 2003, was a District Governor helping to organise major events including Carols by Candlelight. That was very challenging. In answering questions he explained the dangerous and precarious procedure in lowering someone down a helicopter winch cable. Peter really has had an interesting life and for most of us his talk was a revelation. Most enjoyable.

Rod Cooper, Treasurer

He has applied for council grants for the Art Show and for the fishing competition and for the costs of the computer refurbishment that he has just completed.
More use of our BBQ trailer could alleviate some of the shortfall caused by cancellation of the royal Show. A considerable sum must be retained to cover registration costs for the Royal Adelaide Show in 2022.

There are still a few Members who have not paid their annual subscription. With invoices now being received from Rotary International, Rotary District 9510 and Rotary Down Under, prompt payment would be appreciated. Towards the end of last financial year, Rod submitted an Event Support application to the District Council of Mount Barker for a contribution towards the Art Collective and the Fishing Competition. He has received confirmation that we have been allocated $1,000 and $500 respectively. Rod was approached by Mark Clemow who told him he doesn’t bring cash with him to meetings and, therefore, can’t contribute to the Foundation of Fines. We are now going to trial a “token” system for those who wish to use them instead of cash. You pre-purchase a bag of 20 tokens for $20 and you use those tokens each week until they are all used. Great idea. This editor also no longer carries cash. The Computer Refurbishment Project has now all but come to an end. Thanks to Karen Nolan, Jack Cooper, Mark Clemow and Ian Rose for assisting last Friday morning with the “packaging” phase. Also, to President James for his “cameo” appearance near the end of the morning. The Computer Project came out of “left-field” last financial year, and Rod thanked the Board for agreeing to reimburse him for out-of-pocket expenses. Rod is in the process of compiling and submitting a Council Grant to get monies allocated to the Club for this project.
President James congratulated Rod on his overall work as treasurer.