Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton
November 20th
Geraldton Golf Club 7am
President: Hugh Lavery
Sergeant: Bob Urquhart
Invocation and Toast: Grant Woodhams
Attendance: Hugh Lavery, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams, Laurie Dines, Jo Clarke, Bob Hall, Jim Dillon, Rob Mosel, Barry Dring, Geoff Wood, Ian Taylor, Terry Stewart, Don Rolston.
Guests: Raelene Marianni IBEX host mother, Sofia Underland IBEX, Lara Dalton MLA Guest Speaker, Mike Friday, Shirley Mackinnon, Eugenie Burkett, Julie Urquhart
Announcements:
Hugh Lavery
– HMAS Sydney II Memorial Service was held yesterday (191124) indoors at QEII centre because of inclement weather. Thanks to Rotarians Don Rolston (Jenny Rolston) and Bob Urquhart (Julie Urquhart) for their attendance and commitment.
– Reminder that RCGG Board meets tomorrow night (211124) at 5.30 at Jim Dillon's office in Chapman Road.
– RYLA applications need to be in by November 30th. We have room for more applicants.
– Psalm Talamo our next Outbound Exchange Student (from Secret Harbour) was welcomed to Geraldton, along with her parents Travis and Sonia at Laian's Restaurant last Saturday. Thanks to Rotarians who attended.
– All Rotary Radio Auction inquiries to Jim Dillon.
Barry Dring
-Rotary Christmas Cakes are ready for collection.
Geoff Wood
- A reminder to bring a toy (gift) for 10 yo boy or girl to our Christmas function at Laurie Dines Ocean Air on Dec 18th. NB It is a night meeting starting at 5.30pm. Recipient of the toys is Chrysallis House . Same as last few years.
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Each year at this time we collect and donate a gift to make a difference to a child's Christmas.
I am asking you to donate a gift $10 - $20 (boy /girl/unisex) and bring it to our final meeting of the year on the 18th December at Ocean Air.
If you are unable to attend you can deliver your gift to 7 Hakea Street, Tarcoola Beach and leave it on the back patio OR give it to a member to bring on the day.
Looking forward to your support.
Hugh Lavery
– If you are listed for 'clean up' duty at Rotary you are also rostered to contact our inbound exchange student Sofia Underland and arrange an activity for that week.
– We need someone to co-ordinate our Australia Day morning tea.
– We need someone to organise Driver Education programme for next March. It won't be held at Towns Football Club.
Guest Speaker Lara Dalton MLA – Member for Geraldton
Introduced by Ian Taylor who tells us he first met Lara when they were both doing a MidWest Summer Night's Dream at Theatre 8.
As a member of Parliament she has become much more aware of Rotary's role in the community.
Born and raised here she left when she was nineteen to travel/work and came back when she was twenty six to raise her family. She currently lives in Drummonds Cove and believes in Geraldton that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too!
Her father Barry Dalton came to Geraldton in 1969 to coach Brigades Football Club. He had played in the WAFL for Perth. Her mother Annette worked for Marsh Transport. They lived in Rangeway in State Housing and Lara went to St John's Primary until Year 4 and then went to St Francis as St John's didn't go past Yr 4 back then. She would eventually graduate from Stella Maris College in 1987.
As well as coaching Brigades her father also worked as a soil technician with the Main Roads Department. He would eventually end up running a local TAB but sadly had a stroke at the age of 67 and had to retire. This was a turning point in Lara's life. She learnt from an early age that people always need a helping hand.
Some of her jobs in Geraldton included a time at GTW11 where she worked with Dooper Dog! In getting to know the community she has also worked in her own business (Salt Dish 2009-14), with sporting groups, the Mid West Development Commission and the Port Authority. She spent twenty years in hospitality and was a lecturer at TAFE before the opportunity to stand for Parliament was presented to her. She believes her life guided her in the journey to politics and concludes that her experience endorses the expression that “...community raises the child...”
Questions from Barry Dring, Laurie Dines and Geoff Wood.
Raffle aka heads and tails won by Jo Clarke.
Discussion - Strategic Planning for Membership (Fit For Purpose)
Topics include
Venue.
Engagement.
Membership.
Community Service Projects (Hugh wants one hands on project per month);
Governance & Administration;
By-Laws.
Marketing & Outreach.
Conclusion: We need plans and goals! We need existing members to assist and we need people (who can be outside of Rotary) to run projects.
Ideas from discussion include
-Evening Meetings,
-Are we perceived by potential members as being too burdened with Rotary projects?
-Present ourselves more frequently in public e.g at the Railway Station markets on Sundays and/or Sausage Sizzles at Bunnings.
-When new members join get them to identify projects they are interested in.
STOP PRESS : Our Club is Scheduled (pencilled-in) for a Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings on Sunday, January 19th. Bob Hall is the Head Chef and we are looking to raise some money for The Blokehood Project Scholarships.
1) Psalm Talamo our Outward Bound Exchange Student f(January 2025) from Warnbro High School.
2) Jamie Bravington our Rotary Youth Leadership Award recipient (January 2025) from Tom Price.
report with Norway's Sofia Underland:
<-- Caption - Host Mother, Raelene Mariani, Sofia Underland (Norway) 
President's Report - Hugh Lavery:
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.
