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Date: Tuesday February 18th 2025
Guest Speaker - Ed Connect.
 

At EdConnect Australia, they connect volunteers who want to make a difference, with young people in schools who need extra help and guidance. EdConnect volunteers support students where the school has identified the greatest need. Currently there are places for volunteers at Colac South West Primary School.

Volunteers are drawn from all walks of life, including past educators, professionals, tradespeople, parents and grandparents. Giving their time and the benefit of their lived experience, volunteers share a passion to make a positive difference to the future of our young people.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact  Rhonda Velkovski rhonda.velkovski@edconnect.org.au
Find out more
Guest Speakers February 25th
What is National Youth Science Forum, (NYSF). 
It is a science and technology chance of a lifetime for young people from across Australia.  It ran between 6–23 January for Year 12’s Living on campus at the Australian National University and The University of Queensland, participants are immersed in STEM for 9 days and get to engage with Australian researchers and innovators in a huge variety of fields ranging from AI and cybersecurity to environmental science, health and medicine, and engineering.
The Rotary Club of Colac West and Colac, were fortunate enough to be able to sponsor two Colac Secondary College students, Nick Brien and Indiana Tucker to attend the 2025 NYSF program.  They came to our club last night to present their experiences over the 9 days.
They relayed their stories of student staff volunteers from past programs, called staffies.
The activities they undertook were from Secret Intelligence Service to Nursing and Sport Science and everything in between. Rock analysis, defence force drone racing, climate and fluid dynamics.
Visits to the Australian National Museum, Conservation, Geoscience Australia and the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Game and design, were among their favourites. Both Nick and Indiana loved the University life experience.  We enjoyed their presentation and wish them well in their career choices.
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NYSF web site

Get involved at these great upcoming events
 
  • 25th February - Our National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) students will be speaking at our Tuesday member get together, 6.15pm Central Hotel, all welcome. Click here for more information on what NYSF is about.https://www.facebook.com/NYSFoz
 
  • Sunday 2 March – We have a group of club members attending the Clean Up Australia Day. We are joining in with the 2nd Colac Sea Scout Group who are meeting at the Sea Scout Hall, near the yacht club Hamilton Street at 10.00am to clean up along the Lake Colac walking path.
 
  • Monday 3 March – Eat Up Sandwich Making, Foodshare Shed, Bath Street, Colac at 6.30pm. Please let Lyn know if you are able to attend.
 
  • 4 March – Board meeting
 
  • AFL footy tipping - there are 14 members, family and friends signed up for the big comp.
 
  • Wednesday 5 March – Join the Colac Evening VIEW Club for breakfast to celebrate the incredible women of our local Colac community, while fundraising for the Smith Family Learning for Life kids. Colac Bowling Club by the Lake, 35 Moore Street from 8.00am to 9:30am. Purchase tickets by Friday 28 February. Tickets available by clicking the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1344177
 
  • 7th March International Women's Day free event. 11.00am Lake View Cafe. 
    An invitation to this event for all women in our community to show appreciation and to highlight all the hard work they do.  This event is free, however registration is necessary.
 
  • Friday 7 March – Rotary Safe Families Online Joint International Mega Meeting 11.00am. Rotary SAFE Families is reaching out around the world as a Global Peace Initiative, whilst preventing family violence and fostering respectful relationships and harmony in families around the world. Become a Special Representative and together break the silence on violence! Click the link to register: https://forms.gle/TBxBwTrAZtEEhJH49  We will find out if we can get a recording of this to send out to members.
 
  • 11 March – Colac Rifle Club vocational visit (Rifle Butts Road) – dinner will be a
    BBQ with meat/salad. The Rifle club will provide the meat. Members to bring a salad to share and BYO drinks and chair.  Please let Amanda know ASAP if you are attending for catering purposes. This is a partners and friends evening.  Everyone is welcome.
 
  • Friday 14 March – We have 9 members and partners attending Colac's Longest Lunch – Fundraising event for Colac Area Health Foundation. Lake View Café, 11.00am to 2.30pm. Tickets are $90 each and include a three course meal and a glass of wine. Besides the delicious lunch, they will be running a raffle too. Tickets will be $5 each or 5 for $20. The link to make your booking is: https://www.trybooking.com/CYJCM
 
  • 18 March – No meeting
 
  • 22nd March is the next Bunnings BBQ. Thanks to Indiana (NYSF) student for volunteering to help out.
 
  • Sunday 23rd March - AKD Otway Trail Run hosted by the Rotary Club of Colac Members have been asked if they can help our sister club with this event on the day. Please let Sue know if you can help out. 0419136704
 
  • Sunday 6 April – The Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak. Long Lunch
  • commencing at 11.30am. The Matilda Room, Warrnambool Racecourse.
  • Proceeds go to the Warrnambool Neighbourhood & Community Centre and
  • Foodshare. $100 per person, which includes a three course meal with drinks at
  • bar prices. Phone Janey on 0407 010 956 to RSVP.
 
  • Saturday 24 May – President Elect Learning Seminar (PELS) in Horsham. Online
  • learning must be completed before attending.
 
  • Sunday 25 May – District Assembly in Horsham. Club officials, board members and new members are encouraged to attend.

Click on this link to check out the calendar of events on our website.

 

Project Updates
Share the Dignity
 
The Share the Dignity drive begins March 1st and pink donation boxes will be located at Woolies and Blooms the Chemist in Colac. This important initiative donates all of the donated period and incontinence products to local organisations so if you're shopping any Woolies or Blooms in Colac, please consider adding a product in the pink box.
 
Find out more by clicking on the button below.
 
 
Find out more
Fit for Purpose
This project is an important one for our club as it will help us identify ways in how our club will evolve in years to come and remain relevant to our community.
 
Watch this great video from Mark Huddleston on how we got ourselves in this membership crisis - click on the link below. 
 
 
 
Find out more
Say No to Domestic Violence
The Rotary Club of Colac West are looking for more ways to connect to our community to support this important initiative.
 
Our goal is to have this poster in every public rest room, sports club, restaurant, and entertainment venue to ensure our community is made aware just what family violence or abuse is and where to get help and more information.
 
Can you help spread the word? Please get in touch with Lyn Crook email lcrook14@hotmail.com and help spread the word to say no to domestic violence. 
 
Find out more

Celebrations 

 
MEMBER BIRTHDAYS:
➢ Paul Walsh – 15 February. 
➢ Fiona Okeson – 24 February
➢ Ian Gullan – 25 February.
➢ Heather Green – 9 March.
➢ Trevor McLaren – 10 March.
 
SPOUSE BIRTHDAYS:
➢ George O’Dwyer – 22 February. 
➢ Barney Cuthbertson – 24 February. .
 
ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES:
➢ Paul Walsh – 4 years on 23 February
➢ Trish Hickey – 6 years on 26 February.
 
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:
➢ Ken and Dorothy Riches – 56 years on 1 March.
 
ROSTER FOR COLAC CENTRAL HOTEL
(25 February and 25 March): 
 
CHAIR: Maurie Oates 
ATTENDANCE: Amanda Pugh
FINES: Fiona Okeson and Jill Rodger
RAFFLE AND WELCOME: Sue Schram
ASSISTING TO SET UP AND PACK AWAY: Tony Baldwin and Toni Cuthbertson
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