Each year at this time we collect and donate a gift to make a difference to a child's Christmas.
We are asking you to donate a gift $10 - $20 (boy /girl/unisex) and bring it to our final meeting of the year.
If you are unable to attend you can deliver your gift to past President, Geoff Wood at 7 Hakea Street, Tarcoola Beach and leave it on the back patio OR give it to a member to bring on the day.
Minutes of the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton, Geraldton Golf Club, Wednesday, 10 December 2024 at 7am Present: President Hugh Lavery. Jo Clarke, Bob Urquhart, Terry Stewart, Russell McKinnon, Laurie Dines, Jim Dillon, Barry Dring, Ian Taylor, Robert Mosel. Guests: Alyce Tunbridge of New Leaf Connect; Eugenie Burkett, exchange student Sofia Underland and hostess Raelene Mariani. Apologies: Vicki Fennell, Bob Hall, Per Sukkienik, Bob Hall, Bob Symington
Announcements: Kevin Greene on shelter boxes. We voted for two to be supplied. Because we do it this week, there will be two more donated on our behalf. President Hugh noted that we return to meetings on 8 January and the AGM will be on 15th January.
Noted that next week (18th December) we will stage our vocation/Christmas party visit to Ocean Air at 5:30. Bring along toys for the kids. Food and drink supplied. Bring friends/potential members and Landor volunteers being invited.
Guest Speaker The President introduced Elyce Tunbridge, our guest speaker.
Elyce has established a travel company to look after the Midwest and based in Dongara. She said she grew up in Dongara and attended Geraldton Grammar. She left Dongara long time ago, moving to Melbourne for a couple of years and before going overseas. She returned to Dongara and now calls it home as being a “pleasure and a privilege”.
Elyce gained nursing qualification (Nursing Dip Ed) at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. She combined teaching and nursing in London for four years. She turned to tourism to show people the Midwest through fresh eyes. “Big blue skies.” “I would rather teach through experience, not through photos.” “We have amazing landscapes and produce and this is what she combines in her tours.
Her fleet has expanded and has names like Van Morrison, Christopher Columbo, Gloria (her trailer that helps serve up food), catering for long-table lunches for about 16 people. Mr Lincoln is another and Vincent Van Gogh is coming next year.
There are many tours, including Taste of the Irwin, open arts tour, Gallipoli Trench experience, wildflower tours, Pink Lake day tour, Coral Coast overnighter and station stays. Elyce is also working with Nexus to provide tours for people from Perth.
Barry Dring gave the vote of thanks.
Raffle: Terry Stewart was the deserved winner. Fines: Terry, of course; and for his badge being upside down; and talking back. Russell McKinnon for needing a wheelchair on a recent visit to France. Ian Taylor for exposing himself to Jim Dillon’s wife (in a Dockers gown). President for forgetting what he wanted to say. Ian Taylor for his wife taking home more money that she started with at the races.
The meeting snappily finished at 7:59am.
Caption :Barry Dring, Eugenie Burkett and Robert Mosel
IBEX report with Norway's Sofia Underland:
<-- Caption - Host Mother, Raelene Mariani, Sofia Underland (Norway)
Inbound Exchange StudentSofia Underland:
IBEX report - Sofia gave a report on her recent trip to Sydney, climbing the Harbour Bridge, among the highlights.
She visited the Opera House and the Blue Mountains as well as catching up with other students. Before leaving she visited Perth Zoo and met koalas for the first time.
She has now finished with school and looking forward to doing Christmas baking.
Two Rotary video presentations.
1) Psalm Talamo our Outward Bound Exchange Student f(January 2025) from Warnbro High School.
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.
Rotary International has recently developed an Action Plan for the future and it includes the following
EXPAND OUR REACH
As Rotarians, we’re committed to embracing and exemplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in everything we do at Rotary. We have revised our DEI statement, which now reflects our stronger-than-ever commitment to being an organization that values, respects, and welcomes everyone who interacts with us. Now we’re developing a comprehensive plan of action with achievable, measurable, and meaningful DEI outcomes for Rotary. I strongly encourage you to read and follow Rotary’s new DEI Code of Conduct, which points the way to creating more just, open, and welcoming communities for all people.
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”
he President introduced Elyce Tunbridge, our guest speaker.
report with Norway's Sofia Underland:
<-- Caption - Host Mother, Raelene Mariani, Sofia Underland (Norway) 
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.
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.
