PRESIDENT’S REPORT :Very well attended meeting this week with Graham Crane doing a toast to the King, Rotary International and welcoming our guests Wendy Kay and Shoko Shimomuro.
Phil Lyne spoke about the Clubs 70th anniversary and Changeover. Phil indicated that from next week you can pay the $100 fee early or in instalments. Phil’s committee was only himself and Col Quast but during the course of Phil’s talk, Mal Macpherson was volunteered to join the committee.
James Hindmarsh spoke on our first quarterly report through Club Runner which came out rather well and we are looking at putting that on the web in the following weeks so we can gain some more exposure.
We have Rotary leadership workshop in Tamworth on Saturday 2 May 2026, the flyer and contact details are in the bulletin.
Tamworth Sunrise are holding the Casino Royale Ball on the Saturday 23 May 2026 and the flyer for the Ball will in the bulletin for those interested.
Also on Club Runner we do have volunteer, request to hand out Anzac Day leaflets in West Tamworth on Friday 17 April, so if anyone that can help out there, please put your name down.
Col Quast and Bede Burkei also spoke on the current impacts of the rising fuel prices on their respective industries.
Our guest speakers tonight were Wendy Kay and Shoko Shimomuro, Shoko being a Japanese exchange student in the late seventies and since that time Wendy and Shoko have remained great friends which is a prime example of what Youth Exchange is all about. Both ladies wanted to acknowledge and thank Bill Forrest for his long standing commitment to the Youth Exchange programme especially between Australia and Japan.
Peter Smith also mentioned his experience with exchange students has been highly beneficial to his family, highlighting our speakers sentiment
Our speakers were introduced by Brian Cox and thanked by Graeme Mills.
Sergeant for this week was incoming President Ian Bath and again he fined the Club with some questionable legality, but in all was a good fine session in any case.
As part of Sergeant Ian’s fine session, James Hindmarsh was awarded the District Change Maker Award which DG Evan did discuss with me when he was in town last week. It put me on the spot a little bit, but James’ name was the first one who came to mind, due to the significant amount of time and energy he has put into not only researching and getting Club Runner up and going, but also ongoing works with the bulletin and our social media footprint. James has also been working diligently for the last several months behind the scenes on our member recruitment/ public image strategies making him a changemaker in our Club. Congratulations James!
Heads and Tails this week was won by James Hindmarsh who donated his honey to Shoko and Steve Searle who donated his honey to Wendy Kay.
Our speakers next week are Dennis and John from the Tamworth Wood Turning Club at the Family 6:00 for 6:30pm. Please check the bulletin for rosters.
Cheers Scott
