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This Week at Rotary – A Big Thanks, Updates & Opportunities

Thank You, Lyn & Brian!
A huge thank you to Lyn and Brian Crook for their wonderful presentation this week on their recent European adventure. Their stunning photos and entertaining stories had many of us turning a little green with envy! It’s clear they had an incredible time exploring, and we’re so grateful they shared their highlights with us.
 

Sara Update – Happy in Denmark
Maurie gave us a lovely update on Sara. She’s doing really well and looks extremely happy in Nibe! During a recent FaceTime chat, she spoke fondly of her 2-week Eurotour—especially her time in Nice, where she was awestruck by the pristine blue ocean. She’s currently on summer break until 12 August and enjoying local day trips before heading to her host family’s summer house on an island near Copenhagen from 19–26 July. When school returns, she’ll be back with the same group of friends.
 

BBQ Sale – Members Get First Pick
We’re upgrading to a new beaut BBQ for more efficiency at future catering events! Our two current BBQs are up for sale. If any member is interested in purchasing one (or both!), please get in touch.
 

Youth Exchange Support
Scotney Hayter, our District Secretary, is seeking clubs to sponsor two exchange students. While it looks like Swan Hill and Belmont clubs will take this on, a few of our members have kindly offered to host for a short term (1–3 weeks), particularly during school holidays. Great community spirit!
 

Support for Janelle Oates
Jill shared the GoFundMe page to support the family of Janelle Oates. The goal is $18,000 and, as of this week, it's already at $17,225. If you’d like to help, you can donate HERE.
 

Plastic Lids & More – Collection Resumes
Amanda let us know we can once again bring in plastic bottle top lids for recycling. Please separate any No. 4 lids (check inside the lid—glasses may help!), as they’re treated differently by the school that recycles them. Amanda passes them on to Graeme Fischer from the Rotary Club of Camperdown, who delivers them to a school in Geelong.

You can also continue bringing:

  • Used spectacles

  • Hearing aids

  • Used stamps

  • Plastic bread tags

For more info, click HERE.
 

Membership Subscriptions – Reduced Fees This Year
Invoices will be sent out soon, but good news—the Board has reduced this year’s membership fee to $200, with the club covering the remainder.
 

Youth Update

  • Defying the Drift: Applications have now closed with 30 out of 40 spots filled. We’ll be helping send 4 students from Trinity College to the 3-day program from 22–24 September.

  • National Youth Science Forum: One student from each local secondary school has applied. We’ll be covering costs for the successful applicants.

  • Books for Beginners: This program will launch in Term 3.

Walk for Respect – Gearing Up!

Sue Schram is powering ahead with the organisation of our upcoming Walk for Respect—thank you, Sue, for your fantastic efforts!
 
A big thanks also to Jonathon Graham from OCRFM, who will be providing the sound system for the event.
 
We’re excited to share that HIP Pocket Colac has come on board as a sponsor and will be supplying caps for the walk. These will be available for purchase at just $10 each—a great way to show your support and help spread the message.
 
We encourage all members to chat with friends and family about the walk and help us get as many people involved as possible. Let’s make this a strong and meaningful community event!
 
 

Our Woolemi Pine Finds a Happy Home

To mark our 50th anniversary, we were gifted a Woolemi Pine by the Colac Rotary Club—a thoughtful and lasting gift to mark the occasion. We explored a number of community locations where it might be planted, but after finding that the shire already had sufficient plantings of that species, we settled on the Joseph Paatsch Reserve.
 

Unfortunately, the tree didn’t quite thrive there. However, we’re pleased to share that it’s now been successfully relocated to Anam Cara, who kindly offered a new home for it. The Woolemi seems much happier in its new surroundings, and we’re grateful to Anam Cara for their support in giving it a fresh start.

EAT UP SANDWICH MAKING - 2025 DATES

Volunteers, be sure to pop these dates in your calendar!
 

We’re back for another round of Eat Up sandwich making, and we’d love to see you there. It’s a simple but powerful way to give back—come along for some good company and help feed hungry kids across our region.
 

Feel free to invite family and friends to lend a hand, too!
 

2025 Dates

  • Monday 21 July

  • Monday 25 August

  • Monday 6 October

  • Monday 10 November
     

Let’s keep making a difference, one sandwich at a time!

Bunnings BBQs – Volunteers Needed!

Time to fire up the BBQ and throw on those aprons! 🌭
 

We’ve got a few Bunnings BBQs coming up, and we’d love your help to make them a sizzling success. It’s always a fun day, a great fundraiser, and a good chance to catch up with fellow members and volunteers.
 

🗓 Upcoming Dates

  • Sunday 27 July

  • Saturday 30 August

  • Sunday 14 September
     

For our next BBQ on Sunday 27 July, we still need a couple of volunteers:
 

  • 8:30–11:00 am shift: Order

  • 1:30–4:00 pm shift: Cook
     

If you can help out, please get in touch with Amanda:
📧 highview4@bigpond.com
📱 0409 165 027
 

Thanks in advance for lending a hand!

 

JULY COLAC ROTARY CLUB MEETING DATES

As we continue to grow closer with our friends at the Rotary Club of Colac, joining their meetings is a great chance to catch up, enjoy a night out, and strengthen those ties as we look toward a future together.
 

Here are a few upcoming dates where some of our members are already planning to attend:
 

🗓 Tuesday 16 July – Social night at La Porchetta

  • Trevor McLaren

  • (Room for one more!)
     

🗓 Tuesday 23 July – Guest Speaker: Sue Schram – "Fit for Purpose"

  • Peter Liepins

  • (Why not join him?)
     

🗓 Tuesday 30 July

  • Shar Brett

  • Beth Wilson
     

If you’d like to come along to any of these evenings, just let Amanda know:
📧 highview4@bigpond.com
📱 0409 165 027
 

Everyone’s welcome!

 

Round 17 Update: Only seven rounds to go!

Leader board
 
1. Patricia H
2. Matthew Taylor
3. Deb H
 
Patricia and Matt stay solidly in the lead. If will be interesting to see how the ladder shakes out - keep those tips coming!
 
 

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

MEMBER BIRTHDAYS:
  • Doug Tanis – July 2nd
  • Toni Cuthbertson - 21st July
PARTNER BIRTHDAYS:
  • Una Shivers - July 6th
  • Brian Crook - July 23rd
ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES:
  • Bill Chivers – 52 years on 3 July
  • Ian Gullan – 26 years on 3 July
 WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:
  • Lorraine and Curly Williamson – 58 years on 1 July

Upcoming Get Togethers / Meetings

Here’s what’s coming up for the rest of July and early August:
 

  • 15 July – No Meeting
     

  • 22 July – Dinner Meeting

    Guest Speaker: David from the Essendon Rotary Club, Ambassador for The School of St Jude in Tanzania.
    Want to learn more before the night? Click here to read up.
     

  • 29 July – No Meeting
    (We’re considering a social night—stay tuned!)
     

  • 5 August – Board Meeting
     

  • August Focus will be Membership and New Club Development.
Bulletin Editor
Beth Wilson
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)