Sunday was Father’s Day, and on Saturday five of us from East marked the occasion with a Father’s Day Smoko at Yukana Retirement Village. We gathered with a dozen elderly dads, shared tea, coffee, a few alcohol-free beers, and plenty of snacks. Most importantly, we shared time. A couple of hours of conversation may not sound like much, but the smiles told the story.
We’ve been doing a Mother’s Day Tea at Yukana for years. This was only our second Father’s Day Smoko, and I know I’m not alone in finding these visits touching, sometimes a little sad, and often surprising. One gentleman told me of 33 years in PNG building clinics and schools for the Lutheran Church; another shared stories of a decade spent in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Thank you to Geoff K for organising. Good job mate.
The day also got me thinking about fathers and father figures. I’ve coached teenage rugby for more than two decades and have seen firsthand the difference good male role models make - especially for boys working out who they are and how to make good decisions. I firmly believe good men make good men. Fathers, uncles, grandfathers, coaches, even a neighbour down the street — all can play a part. They’re important pieces of kit in a child’s (and a family’s) toolbox.
Speaking of father figures, we could use a few at the Flexischool working bee this Saturday, 14 September. It’s our annual oiling of the deck. This is not hard work, and with a decent turnout we’ll be done in a couple of hours. Flexi always rewards us with coffee and cake!
Thanks to Craig M for stepping up at short notice to give us an entertaining and informative talk about his time in the travel business. Even though Craig has retired, it was impressive to hear so many members speak glowingly of the service he provided over the years.
And finally, a reminder: this Thursday, 11 September, we host District Governor Mark Williams along with members of three other Toowoomba Rotary clubs at our evening meeting at the Sports Club.
A fee will apply to any member late with an apology regardless of whether the number attending on the meeting day of the meeting is over, under or equal to what the Club Secretary submitted to the Downs Club. This fee will only apply to meetings at the Downs Club or any other club meeting where attendance numbers have to be stipulated prior to the meeting.
A Club member will be charged a meal fee of $20 if they
fail to submit any apology before 11am on Tuesday for the meeting the following Thursday (48 hrs later)
need to submit a late apology due to changed circumstance.
Fail to show up after indicating they would be present.
The members owing a fee of $20 will notified by the Club Secretary and Club Treasurer via an emailed
Late apology fee notice.
The fee can be paid by direct credit into the RCTE Club account or by adding $20 to the $35 meal fee at the next club meeting
Apologies 04.09.2025
Cam Ashmore, Wayne Barnett, Dave Birrell, Ron Bowden, Rod Brilliant, Andy Burke, Pete Burrows, Phil Charles, Jim Charlton, Bob Cheesman, Steve Davis, Shane Fisher, David Groves, Roger Klaassen, Andrew Kratzmann, Peter McLoughlin, Peter Nalder, Mark Redmond, Gav Roberts, Toby Sandell, Doc Smith, Paul Stephenson, Ross Watt, Matt Wentzel, Mark Winter
