Weekly Meeting Highlights August 20

 
Rotary Meeting 20th August 2025 - RC of Greater Geraldton
7am @ Geraldton Golf Club
 
President Hugh Lavery
Sergeant Bob Urquhart
 
Invocation and Toast Bob Urquhart
 
Attendance: Kelly Bennett (Ibex host mother), Barry Dring, Di Gilleland, Kevin Green, Bob Hall, Hugh Lavery, Russell McKinnon, Robert Mosel, Esther Barbosa Rosa (Ibex), Bob Symington, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams, Anthony Ambrose, Terry Stewart.
 
Apologies: Ian Taylor, Don Rolston.
 
 
President Hugh Lavery-
"Unite for Good" is our new Rotary message.
 
Announcements:
 
Hugh Lavery - Leadership course, provided by Shirley McKinnon will be held each Sunday in September from 1230-1400. It is open to all members and is a good opportunity to invite potential club members. An EOI will be emailed.
 
President Hugh Lavery:
- Russell McKinnon's "WA Caravan & Camping Magazine" is on our tables. Good info for Bob Hall who is travelling shortly. He's actually in the magazine along with Mayor Jerry Clune and Councillor Peter Fiorenza. 
 
 
- Rotary Youth Exchange. In discussion with another family about hosting Esther in autumn or winter next year.
 
- Bob Hall will be away for a few weeks. We need a Programme Director in his absence. Any volunteers?
 
- Four Way Speaking Competition. Year 6's had their final in Perth. It'd be good to get Yr 6 comp going in Geraldton next year.
 
State Final for Year 10's is in Geraldton at Grammar School on Sat Sept 20th. Everyone invited. Ian Burrows Refuel Geraldton has provided 4x$100 fuel vouchers for competitors travelling to Geraldton. Nexus Airlines is offering discounted airfares at $199 one way. We are still looking for accommodation for visitors. Russell McKinnon has offered to take three people.
 
NB: Geraldton Grammar School is holding their School Heat on August 27th at 12:25 PM - Members welcome to attend.  The Winner and Runner Up will be speaking at our Meeting on September 3rd.
 
- Membership invoices have been sent out by Treasurer Rob Mosel.
 
Di Gilleland
- Radio Auction update. Waiting for more pledges to be registered. Current tally is $49k. Tks again to Barry Dring for his work. Tony Ambrose suggests we should get a stall at the Sunday markets. Tony to follow up on this.
 
 

Esther (Brazil)

Kelly Bennett (Host Mother), Esther (Brazil) and PP Barry Dring
 
Inbound Exchange Student report with Esther Barbosa Rosa:
Esther described her last week on a day by day basis including doing zumba, going to the beach (where it was cold), dancing classes, watching "Survivor" on television, having coffee with Jo Clarke who is her current mentor, and getting her school timetable. She says school is different here. At home in Brazil she only goes in the morning and does not have lunch at school. Also the teachers move class rooms, not the students.
 
Kelly Bennett, Esther's host mother, asked what is the best format for photos that Esther wants to share with us. Loaded on to a USB was the general response.
 
 
Thought for the day with Barry Dring:
..."...don't stop playing because you get old..."...
 

"Guest Speaker #1"  Russell McKinnon

Did a brief update on the World Water Polo Championships from Brazil. These were covered from his home in Geraldton. He has a contract to cover events world wide, but only travels overseas once a year.
Mostly he is working in a different time zone so often getting up in the middle of the night to access the television coverage before putting his stories together. Shared the story of meeting with Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry (now the President of the International Olympic Committee) who was once given a silver Mercedes Benz by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
 
Told us about "WA Caravan and Camping Magazine", which he produces three times a year. He sources the material and the advertisements, writes the stories, and does the layout. He is a one man band. Many WA caravan clubs travel every month on a rally. The current magazine has coverage of the State rally which this year was held in Geraldton. The Mid West club has fifty members and they generally travel for ten months a year.
President Hugh presenting Russell McKinnon with a Certificate representing 50 vaccinations to the Polio Plus program
 
 
 

"Guest Speaker #2 " PP Jim Dillon

Jim's son Levi holds around thirty different training tickets/qualifications and is currently in Moora training and assessing unemployed Aboriginal people to use equipment like graders, rollers, diggers etc. He has previously done this sort of work in Derby, Kalgoorlie and Collie. After Moora he will move on to Merredin. According to Levi women make better machinery operators than men. Over ninety percent of those who complete the course are offered employment.
President Hugh presenting Jim Dillon with a Certificate representing 50 vaccinations to the Polio Plus program
 
 
Raffle of Rotary celebration cake won by Rob Mosel.
 
Fines Session with Sgt Bob Urquhart:
Among those fined are...
Bob Urquhart (yes he white-anted himself)
Russell McKinnon (numerous times and was variously described as the 'misbehaver' of the week)
Rob Mosel (raffle winner)
Terry Stewart
Grant Woodhams (foreign tax)
Bob Hall (soon to be travelling again)
Hugh Lavery (Queen and country)
Hugh Lavery (Kinross the new version of McKinnon)
 
Hugh Lavery thanks Di Gilleland for updating and maintaining our Facebook page. Thanks Di!
 
Also see our Facebook page for more excellent photos and information  https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofGreaterGeraldton/