Guest Speaker, Ross McKim, CEO City of Greater Geraldton - 16 July 2025
Ross wanted to be a Shire Engineer and studied to achieve this ambition. He joined local government and spent time in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Redlands, Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, all in Queensland, before migrating to Geraldton.
He thanked Rotary indicating our community is a better place because of the work we do with other volunteer groups. There are roughly six hundred active volunteers in Geraldton. Three hundred of them involved in bush fire groups. Volunteer numbers are declining and younger people are not becoming involved.
Technically he is CGG's only employee having been appointed by the Mayor. He is in charge of appointing the rest!
The city faces the challenge in the coming months of electing a smaller council. Only eight councillors are permitted by the State Government. Ross encourages all to vote and be actively involved.
He described the challenge of our modern society that requires barriers on the counters at our public library to mitigate against unsocial behaviour. While drug and alcohol issues are part of the problem, the role of social media and its associated commentary can inflame situations.
Ross indicated while there are downsides to his role, the upsides are meeting a wide range of marvellous people from all walks of life. Running the CGG is a complicated business!
In their recent strategic plan the CGG received eight hundred written responses, which is a great outcome. Those eight hundred rated the three major issues for the CGG as safety, housing and health.
On the health front the Mullewa Doctor is now fully funded by the CGG. The Mullewa Hospital is soon to receive a $20m upgrade.
Some other projects that CGG is involved in include a new Youth Centre, now opened in the old Rocky's Gym building opposite the Aquarena. CGG is also operating a Youth Centre in Mullewa.
CGG is also engaged in Project Zero. Several agencies and NFP's in Geraldton are working on reducing the city's homeless number to zero. Along these lines CGG is building seven homes on the Willcock Drive/Olive St site to alleviate the lack of housing for government employees.
Questions and comments from Jim Dillon, Ian Taylor and Barry Dring.
Hugh Lavery concludes by thanking Ross and updates us as to the City's involvement in resurrecting the Wishing Well on Brede St.
Attendance - Jim Dillon, Barry Dring, Kevin Green, Bob Hall, Hugh Lavery, Robert Mosel, Terry Stewart, Robert Symington, Ian Taylor, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams, Ross McKim (guest).
Apologies - Viki Fennell, Di Gilleland, Russell McKinnon, Don Rolston.
President Hugh Lavery-
"Unite for Good" is our new Rotary message.
Announcements:
President Hugh Lavery -
RYE - our next IBEX Esther Barbosa Rosa (Brazil) will be here at the end of the month. We need two more sets of host parents to be her second and third families.
We are catering for Newhaul's bbq this afternoon at 3pm 475 Edward Road. Please look at their website. There is the possibility of our becoming involved with them in running next year's RWADE.
The Rotary BBQ Crew, Bob Hall, Barb Jones, Peter and Vikie Sukiennik, Bob and Julie Urquhart, Barry and Eugenie Dring and Pres Hugh put in a mighty effort on Wednesday Afternoon. You can view the fun in the YouTube Slideshow here
Social evening at Tarts on Wednesday July 30th. (5.30 - 7.30) Please bring partners, family and friends. It is an opportunity to grow Rotary. We need to aim at the 30-50 yo demographic.
Radio Auction committee is meeting tomorrow (Thur) morning at 10am. Bob Symington is the contact. Pledges for sponsorship are being sent this week.
Our next Board meeting has been postponed from Thursday 17th July to Thursday 14th August. Pressing issues can be resolved by Exec C'tee via email.
Centacare Gala Afternoon has been postponed until next June.
Presentation of Rotary Badges to incoming board and directors including Hugh Lavery, Bob Hall, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams, Barry Dring, Kevin Green, Rob Mosel and Jim Dillon.
Recognising some of our Board Members
President Elect Bob Hall
Vice President Jim Dillon
Secretary Grant Woodhams
Director Foundation Kevin Green
Director Membership Barry Dring
Bob Hall -
Did a makeup in Albany at the Albany Port Club. A very small but convivial gathering. Bob tried to attend Albany Rotary Club but it had postponed its' meetings.
Bob Urquhart -
Reminder that Rotary cakes are available every week. $20ea
Grant Woodhams -
There will a Rotary video presentation on homelessness. It would be good if some from our club can watch, listen, participate. Grant will send link to members.
Barry Dring (Thought for the day)
"Some ideas are so ridiculous only intellectuals understand them."
Ciao, Jo and Hugh, and Members and Friends of the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton. Another busy month. Here is my month 5 report:
At the start of June, we finished our last week at school. On the final day, there was a celebration for the graduating class of 2025, and after school, we spent the afternoon at the beach together. I was so happy for school to be finished—HAHA.
On the 12th of June, I flew to Paris to begin the Europe tour. We visited seven countries in eleven days. We started in Paris, staying two nights, and saw the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum (with the Mona Lisa), Notre Dame Cathedral, and toured the city centre.
After Paris, we took a bus to Brussels in Belgium, where we stopped for lunch, explored the city centre, and tried Belgian fries and waffles. We also visited the Atomium for photos.
Our journey continued to Amsterdam, where we stayed two nights. We cycled around the city, took a boat through the canals, visited Anne Frank’s house, and went to the A’dam Lookout, where some exchange students tried the swing.
The next leg was a ten-hour journey to Berlin. We spent two nights there, visiting the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, seeing the Berlin Wall (including the famous fraternal kiss painting), and even signing our names on the wall. We also toured the city centre and saw the location where Hitler died.
After Berlin, we took a bus to Prague for a lunch stop, admired the beautiful architecture, and tasted the famous funnel cake, which originated in Hungary. We then headed to Vienna for two nights. There, we toured the city centre and visited the Schonbrunn Palace, home of Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph.
After returning to our hotel, we enjoyed a swim in the nearby lake. The following day, we went to the Belvedere Museum before heading to Budapest, Hungary, for a two-night stay.
In Budapest, we toured the city and dined at a traditional Hungarian restaurant with live performances of traditional dances. We also visited the Parliament House at night to see its glowing lights and took some photos.
On our second to last day, we returned to Italy, stopping briefly in Sloveniafor lunch before arriving in Venice. We had free time in the city centre, and that night, we took part in flag signing and a talent show—my friends and I sang "Baby" by Justin Bieber.
We didn’t win, but the Aussie girls and I also danced the Nutbush and sang "Tequilla," replacing the word with "water" in a strong Australian accent. On the final day, we said our goodbyes. It was sad, but the trip was enjoyable and memorable.
I also celebrated my 18th birthday. My mum organised with my host sister to get me flowers and a little Stitch stuffed bear. I spent the day at the beach and had lunch with friends, then dinner with my host family, who bought me a cake decorated with the Australian flag. It was a great day.
Other than the Europe tour, I haven’t done much else. I’ve been going to the beach almost every day with my friends and hanging out with them every night. I’ve also been practising more Italian; my host siblings say I’m getting much better now.
Life after Rotary Youth Exchange (to Australia in 2009)
Guest Speaker, Amy Ying, from Taiwanintroduced by her former host mother Di Gilleland.
The Gilleland's were Amy's first host parents in Geraldton. Other host parents included the Cooper, Beaver and Young families.
Amy says it made a difference to her being a Rotary Exchange student. She learned different lifestyles, hobbies and interests from her host families.
When she returned to Taiwan she went to university. And then she went into business. Up to 70% of business in Taiwan these days revolves around technology and the growth of AI- artificial intelligence.
However Amy has pursued a different track and is managing a 'holiday house' for meetings, re-unions, weddings and the like. She has a video which she plays showing that the wooden 'holiday house' can accommodate up to twenty four people.
She is happy to be back in Geraldton, her second home.
Questions
Hugh Lavery - What makes a good host parent?
Grant Woodhams - What is the relationship between China and Taiwan?
Russell McKinnon - What was it like to leave Taiwan as a teenager and come to Australia?
Emily Beaver - Did you choose Australia as your exchange country?
Hugh Lavery - What advice would you give to other exchange students?
Hugh recorded Amy's presentation, and it can be found on youTube here :
Hugh Lavery presented Amy with our traditional certificate of donation on her behalf of 50 polio vaccinations to End Polio Now and Amy reciprocated with a gift to Hugh. (We suspect he ate it! - No, he didn't - Donated to RC of Batavia Coast's High Tea, Changeover)
5. Andrew Beaver, Sarah, Emily Beaver, Mandy Beaver, President Hugh
After the meeting, President Hugh commented that "the Rotary Youth Exchange Program is the ONE thing we do that connects all of us- within the Club, within our Families and the Community, within our District, and across the World, AND across Time - a fantastic program and THANK YOU to all the volunteers that make it happen"
Apologies for not presenting in person. Thanks for getting zoom working to enable the sharing of the incoming World President Stephanie Urchick's address:
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.
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”
Ross wanted to be a Shire Engineer and studied to achieve this ambition. He joined local government and spent time in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Redlands, Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, all in Queensland, before migrating to Geraldton.
President Hugh Lavery-
"Unite for Good" is our new Rotary message.
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.
