2025-07-09 Rotary Newsletter - The RCGG Breeze (Jul 14, 2025)

Weekly Meeting Highlights July 9

Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton 09 07 2025

Geraldton Golf Club, Pass Street. 7am

President Hugh Lavery

Sergeant Bob Urquhart

Invocation and Toast - Kevin Green

Attendance: Barry Dring, Kevin Green, Bob Hall, Hugh Lavery, Robert Mosel, Terry Stewart, Bob Symington, Ian Taylor, Bob Urquhart, Grant Woodhams.

Apologies: Jim Dillon, Viki Fennell, Don Rolston, Sarah Price-Walkley (OBEx '26)

Announcements:

President Hugh Lavery-

"Unite for Good" is our new Rotary message.

Social evening on Wednesday 30th July. 5.30 to 7.30 at Tarts & Co. More details next week.

Thought for the day with Barry Dring -

"A smart man realises power comes from the socket and not the plug"

Grant Woodhams -

A reflection on the Rotary Conference attendance trophy which has been awarded since 1952. Geraldton and Geraldton Greenough appear there regularly. GW reminds us that Carnarvon, Coorow, Cunderdin, Port Hedland and Southern Cross have also won the trophy. They are clubs that no longer exist. We need to look to the future and create a strong sense of purpose in our club, the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton.

Bob Urquhart -

Rotary Cakes are available every week. $20ea.

Radio Auction Update with Hugh Lavery-

Are we aware of what we are facing this year?

Will we continue to do Radio Auction into the future?

It is part of our journey as a club. What are our thoughts? (One minute for each Rotarian)

Barry Dring - It is our biggest money earner. We should continue to do it unless we can find something bigger and better.

Ian Taylor - The camaraderie and friendship between Rotarians is special to observe and be part of.

Bob Symington - It has gone from a club project to an individual project, with too much pressure on the individual. Recommends we discontinue.

Kevin Green - When it started we had bigger numbers in our club and much of the work was done manually. We are not in a good position to go forward. Give it a spell.

Robert Mosel - Former Rotarian Ken Allen used to pay $3,000 to find someone to do the preparation for the Radio Auction. Could we employ someone?

Bob Urquhart - It takes a big personal toll. We are committed to more community oriented events like Australia Day afternoon tea, Mullewa Muster, Landor Races, Legacy Golf Day which are easier to manage.

Grant Woodhams - Rotary should start projects and then hand them to the community.

Hugh Lavery - A lot of work goes on behind the scenes. This has to change, so the pressure is removed. Our club is now a club of travellers and members are regularly missing. Radio Auction fatigue has set in.

General conversation re Radio Auction- Hugh Lavery.

Hugh indicates he has the time and ability to manage the background work for this year's Radio Auction. He is no longer the Rotary District Secretary which gives him more time. We should look at the Landor model where only a few Rotarians are involved, perhaps the establishment of a 'Geraldton Radio Auction management committee' with Rotarian representation on a community committee. We definitely need to find other people to help.

We have the set up to do it this year and the logistics are in place. The big question should now be how we can hand Radio Auction over to another group in 2026.

25-26 Membership Resources - Hugh Lavery

Hugh has created a draft publication which he will email to all club members.

The ambition of the publication is to provide a template or guide as to where we go as a club. Rebuilding the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton should be our primary objective.

Questions about today's meeting.

Kevin Green - Should we delay the Radio Auction? Hugh - No see above

Bob Symington - Can we get RC of Batavia Coast involved in the Radio Auction? Hugh - We will work with Batavia Coast on many programs, eh RYE

Bob Urquhart - Do we need to explain our many Rotary acronyms eg RYE, RYLA, RYPEND? Hugh - That can be part of the conversation Rotaians have with new prospects

STOP PRESS:

Newhaul ia have an opening of its Office and Workshop next Wednesday afternoon, 16th July.

The Rotary BBQ Crew has been assembled:

Rotary BBQ Crew for The Newhaul Office and Workshop Opening

Hugh Lavery
Robert (Bob) Hall
Peter & Vicki Sukiennik
Barry and Eugenie Dring
Bob and Julie Urquhart and.
Barb Jones

Many hands make lighter work!

Thank you in anticipation.

Psalm Talamo 5 Month Report

Psalm Talamo on Rotary Youth Exchange to Italy

June- July 2025

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 Slovenia for 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.

Hope all is well in Australia. Big hugs, Psalm

A few photos

A few more photos

2025-06-25 Guest Speaker, Amy Ying

Life after Rotary Youth Exchange (to Australia in 2009)

Guest Speaker, Amy Ying, from Taiwan introduced 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 :

Amy's presentation on YouTube

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)

Rotary Youth Exchange -Creating Lifetime Friendship

Photos- L to R

1. Ray Cooper, Alan, Amy, Di Gilleland

2.Bob Urquhart,Amy, Di Gilleland

3. Ray Cooper, Amy Ying, Di Gilleland

4. Amy Ying, Sarah Price-Walkley, Emily Beaver

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"

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”