We welcomed guest speaker Deb Maes, who shared a deeply personal message about meeting life’s challenges with courage and presence.
Deb opened with a reminder that “We have not gone into the world, not even for a day, and found everything just as we would like it.” Challenges are part of every stage of life, and modern society adds plenty of stress and strain along the way.
Deb spoke bravely about the loss of her husband Hans in November 2024 after an acute leukemia diagnosis. In navigating that heartbreaking journey, she learned the importance of meeting each moment as it comes, asking only “What is needed now?” and responding to the reality in front of her.
She shared insights from organisational learning pioneer Alan Briskin, who encourages us to welcome everything rather than fight with reality. When we stop resisting and recognise the challenges we face, we can find the inner resources needed to meet them.
Deb also highlighted the practice of Practical Encouragement: Noticing when something is difficult, and focusing on asking yourself what you need to do to meet that challenge. Over time, this builds resilience and confidence in dealing with each challenge you encounter.
She closed with a beautiful intention:
“Today may I welcome what arrives, the hard, the unwanted, the uninvited… without argument.
May I open to what is here not because I like or chose it but simply because it is here.
May I put aside judgement.
May I put aside resistance and meet reality just as it is.
May I ask ‘What is Needed Now’ and discover the wisdom waiting beneath the noise.”
A heartfelt and inspiring message for all of us.
Thanks to James Hindmarsh for the notes
DUTY ROSTER MON.13th July
CAPT. Henry melssen
Room Prep: Peter Smith, Jim Bannigan
Door: Steve Searl, Dave McDonald
Toast & Welcome: Col Quast
Intro & notes: Phil Lyne
Thanks: Henry Melssen
Sergeant: Graeme Mills
MONDAY 20th JULY
Room Set up: Scott Edwards, Henry Melssen
Door: Jim Bannigan, Col Quast
Toast &Welcome: David McDonald
Intro Speaker: Steve Searl
Thanks: Peter Smith
Sergeant: Phil Lyne
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Another great roll up on Monday night, to be enlightened by Deb Maes about meeting life's challenges. Please read James Hindmarsh's great summary of her presentation. The Club received a very generous donation from Graham Crane after an enjoyable family celebration last weekend, for which we simply assisted with some items from the catering container. Many thanks Graham. Please keep in mind those members who are having health challenges at the moment and make contact if you have time. A few items on the calendar that require our input, the first is the sporting car club gate detail which needs a few more bodies to help. As of Monday we need two people on Saturday morning 18th July and one person on Sunday morning 19th July. The Men's Health Van will be in town in August and may need some helpers, however First Light is managing that one so we await their contact. We have a board meeting on Wednesday evening 6pm at Dillo's business. Until next week,
YIR Gav
ATTENDANCE - Meeting of Monday 13th July 2026
Select the link below to the next meeting attendance ONLYif you are attending our next meeting on Monday. The cut off time is 7pm on Sunday.
The caterer is advised of numbers just after 7.00pm Sunday evening here
Closing time for the bulletin is 8:00 pm Tuesday. Geoffgalloway218@gmail.com , cc jimarie2@gmail.com That’s it for this week. Thanks to all who’ve contributed. Keep it up fellows!
