August 20 Rotary Newsletter - The RCGG Breeze (Aug 25, 2025)

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/

Weekly Meeting Highlights August 13

Rotary Notes 13 08 2025

RCGG meeting at Geraldton Golf Club 7am

President Hugh Lavery

Sergeant Bob Urquhart

Invocation and Toast: All club.

Attendance: Anthony Ambrose, Jim Dillon, Barry Dring, Di Gilleland, Kevin Green, Bob Hall, Hugh Lavery, Robert Mosel, Don Rolston, Terry Stewart, Robert Symington, Ian Taylor, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams.

Apologies: Jerry Clune, Dave Freeman, Russell McKinnon, Peter Sukiennik.

Guests: Esther Barbosa Rosa (IBEX), Kelly Bennett (IBEX host mother).

President Hugh Lavery-

"Unite for Good" is our new Rotary message.

Announcements:

Announcements:

Hugh Lavery - RCGG Board is meeting tomorrow night (14/08/25) at 1830 via zoom. A link will be forwarded.

Di Gilleland - Radio Auction update. QUBE have provided $6500 to sponsor our lift out in the MW Times. There are 18,000 MW Times printed. Thanks to Rolstons, Urquharts, Drings for follow up phone calls for RA. Currently we have $34,000 in auction items committed. There is room for one more block sponsor package.

Grant Woodhams - Thanks to Hugh Lavery for behind the scenes work to make this year's Four Way Speaking Competition a success. There will be a zoom meeting tonight. Link will be provided for club members interested.

Esther (Brazil)

Esther Barbosa Rosa IBEX Report- She has settled in and enjoying school where she has made some friends. She is taking dance classes. Kelly her host Mum is says she has settled in, although the winter weather has been a struggle!

Barry Dring Thought for the Day -

A very complex version of Time = Money. (You had to be there. Ed.)

Hugh Lavery - Do we always need guest speakers? Our discussions often provide considerable fellowship.

"Guest Speaker" Kevin Green. (I'll give you four minutes!)

Kevin has been in Perth regularly looking after his granddaughter and grandson. The reason is one of his grandson's, Fletcher, has been with his parents in Canada at the U/21yo World Water Ski Championships where he finished eleventh. His granddaughter, is preparing for the U/17yo World Champs in Argentina. Kevin's son Ryan is the Australian National Coaching Director, his wife Sarah, helps him with this. Most of the training takes place at Baldivis, south of Perth.

Questions from Tony Ambrose, Bob Symington.

Kevin observes the sport is is travelling well, although the need for a motor powered boat to tow skiers makes it difficult for the sport to gain entry into the Olympic Games. (It was a demonstration sport at the 1972 games in Munich. Ed.)

FYI Kevin Green is a deckie for Bob Urquhart. Bob says Kevin has a dicky knee which limits his onboard skills, and Kevin confesses to being uncomfortable in the sea where sharks and octopi abound.

Heads and Tails - Don Rolston wins the Chateau Rouge Rotary.

Fines Session with Sgt Bob Urquhart

Hugh overnaming Esther Rosa Barbosa.

Ian Taylor professing to be a Republican.

Bob Hall won't run for CGG council election.

Don Hall for being a former LG councillor.

Rob Mosel for having his name in an old fine book of Bob Urquhart's.

Kevin Green referencing U/21's.

Grant Woodhams back from OS with foreign capital.

Jim Dillon's workplace injury with a pen.

Di Gilleland continuing to talk after the bell had rung to start the meeting.

Tony Ambrose non apparent Rotary badge.

Tony responds with "... don't try to out stubborn a cat..."

Further general discussion/announcements.

Bob Hall wants everyone to know that the CGG have planted three trees on his verge. He's very happy about this because the Mahomet's area is not well treed. Bob thinks it may be the work of the Geraldton Tree Canopy Advocates. (RCGG gave $2,000 to GTCA to purchase trees. Ed.)

Di Gilleland, meanwhile, has spent big money having a tree removed from her property...

Barry Dring demonstrates the "boot jack" which he has made. (Once again you needed to be there. Ed.)

Hugh Lavery wants to know what Esther Barbosa Rosa mean in English? Literally translated it is Star Wood Flower. Esther just wants to be known as Esther, or even Es.

Hugh Lavery thanks Di Gilleland for updating and maintaining our facebook page. Thanks Di!

Hugh Lavery with a reminder that anyone who has ideas for guest speakers should contact Bob Hall.

Also see our Facebook page for more excellent phots and information https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofGreaterGeraldton/

The Magic of Rotary - President Hugh

President's Report - Hugh Lavery:

Apologies for not presenting in person. Thanks for getting zoom working to enable the sharing of the incoming World President Stephanie Urchick's address:

It can be found on the internet here: “The Magic of Rotary”

Short version

Long Version and well worth the 15 minutes.

It is also very rewarding to watch Stephanie Urchick's presentation on making a Rotary Club irresistible.

Hugh's message echoes Stephanie's in making our meetings irresistible and engaging. Have conversation, connect, learn and get involved in the Community. It is important that we become a more diverse membership.

HMAS Sydney II Memorial

“OUR GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY”

In 1998 the Rotary Club of Geraldton (now Greater Geraldton) embarked on an ambitious journey to build a memorial on Mt Scott in Geraldton, dedicated to the 645 sailors lost at sea when the HMAS Sydney II was sunk off the Mid-West coast during World War II. The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is by far the largest and proudest project the RCG has undertaken.

Australia’s worst naval disaster occurred on 19 November 1941 when HMAS Sydney II was lost following a battle with the German raider HSK KORMORAN, in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast. Geraldton was the last port visited prior to her demise. The loss of the SYDNEY with its full war complement of 645 sailors remains etched in the nations psyche. The KORMORAN was also sunk, but 317 of its crew of 397 survived. The fate of the Sydney remained one of Australia’s greatest wartime mysteries until the location of the wreck in 2008.
“LEST WE FORGET”