Our meeting on 21 April was a truly special occasion as we celebrated our club’s rich history with the opening of the 2001/02 AquaZone Time Capsule.
We were delighted to welcome back several members from 24 years ago, including 2001/02 President John Stuckey, John Harris, and Richard Hawker. We also heard from long serving Rotarians Brian Trenery and Alan Bowes, who were members during that time and have remained dedicated contributors ever since.
Current members Terry O’Neill, Brook McLeod, and Glenn Brotchie read letters from past Treasurer Gill Attridge, past Youth Officer Tonia Mizzi, and past Foundation Officer Dede Friebe, respectively.
Fun Facts from 2002:
The Rotary Club of Warrnambool had 63 members.
Club leadership included:
President: John Stuckey
Vice President: Brian Trenery
President Elect: Dede Friebe
Immediate Past President: Max Smart
Secretary: Kay Snowden
Treasurer: Gill Attridge
Sergeantat Arms: Bob Bowman
Home internet access surged from 16% of households in 1998 to 46% by2002.
“Get the Party Started” by P!nk topped the Australian charts.
The Brisbane Lions won the 2001 (and 2002) AFL Premierships.
Unleaded petrol in Melbourne averaged 87.7 cents per litre.
The median house price in Warrnambool was $160,000.
Former Rotarians who sent apologies included:
Duncan Stalker, Robert Cuzens, Gary Parsons, John and Kathy Moir, Michael Boyd, Dedy Friebe, Bob Bowman.
Apologies were also received from Ann Donaldson, John Hunt, Rob McDonald, and Peter Smid.
All items from the Time Capsule have now been scanned and will soon be available for all members to explore.
You can visit the online folder with the documents here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F6V7DuDhOeJxrAUc7PTv3Og1NViTWHWc?usp=sharing
As we look ahead to our club’s centenary in 2029, a clear theme emerged from those who spoke on Tuesday: immense pride in what our club has achieved, and deep appreciation for the friendships, service, and personal growth that Rotary has brought into their lives.
A very happy birthday to Alan Bowes on 24 April.
And a special thank you to Brooke, who represented our club by laying a wreath at the ANZAC Day morning service at the Warrnambool War Memorial.
Next Meeting:
28th April
Bruce Campbell from Warrnambool Coast Land Care
6pm for a 6:15pm start.
Warrnambool Bowls Club,
Cnr of Kelp and Timor St.
If you are not able to attend, please message David Brown via 0438 647 536 or
Meeting Jobs:
Sergeant:
Svet Lineham
Fellowship:
Margaret Ross
Invocation:
Leon de Villiers
Property:
Kayla Biender
If you are not able to complete the upcoming position, please let Leon know via 0439 945 656 or leon.devilliers65@gmail.com
Upcoming Speakers:
April
28th - Bruce Campbell from Warrnambool Coast Land Care
May
5th - May Race Week at Wangoom Hall
12th - Andy Alt
19th - Louise Mugavin
26th - RYLA Presentation
June
2nd - Progressive Dinner
9th - On the Couch
16th
23rd
30th - Changeover Dinner
Upcoming Events:
May
5th-7th
Racing Carnival
(Volunteering opportunity for the Leila Rose Foundation)
12th
RYDA Session #1
(Volunteer Opportunity)
23rd
Volunteer Expo
(Volunteer Opportunity)
August
10th-11th
Science and Engineering Challenge
Volunteering
September
7th-9th
RYDA Session #2
(volunteer Opportunity)
Additions to the bulletin...
Please contact Debra or Brooke via debferg61@icloud.com or brookeemmajensen@gmail.com
Wisecrack of the week
from Rotarian John Beks
“THE TRUMP TRANSLATOR” (1 – 3)
1) “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Ronald Reagan, 1987.
“Trump Translator”: Frankly Mr. Grubachef, this is a LOUSY wall. I know walls. I’ve built the best walls in the world. Everyone says so! This wall should be OBLITERATED! Terrible wall! Very weak!
2) “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” George Santayana, 1905.
“Trump Translator”: Some people – very low energy people – forget the past and it becomes a TOTAL DISASTER! But I have a tremendous memory. Which is why, as your COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF – I will not – and let me repeat myself, I will not – and I will not be repeating the past. Because repeating the past means you forgot it. AND I NEVER FORGET!!
3) “Veni, Vidi, Vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered)” Julius Caesar, 47 BC
“Trump Translator”: I CAME. Great entrance, by the way. I designed that entrance. My idea. People loved it. Then I SAW. Because I have VERY SHARP EYESIGHT. Incredible eyesight for someone my age. My doctors say they have never seen anything like it. And I CONQUERED – more than the Romans, who,by the way,are very OVERRATED! Still haven’t finished their Colosseum! LAZY!
Grow future leaders, grow rotary
In Japan, one community project helped double club membership, growing from 32 to 62 members in just one year.
For Makoto Inoue, that shift started with a lakeside cleanup, where Rotary members and young volunteers worked side by side. Seeing that connection in action changed how he viewed Rotary. It also sparked a new idea: create a space for young leaders to get involved.
The result was a satellite club that brought in new members, new energy, and new ways of serving.
This fantastic article is from Rotary 360, the official blog of Rotary International. To read the article, click the button below
Rex's Adventures
An update from our Youth exchange student Rex Harris. Rex writes....
In the last month of my year in Denmark I have done many different things and experienced a lot.
I have been to the Lego House in Billund where I saw a lot of huge and amazing Lego builds. My favourite was the massive tree in the centre of the building!
I also went to a place called Ribe to see an old church and a castle ruins. The castle was pretty much completely destroyed with only a statue really left but the church was still running and was very impressive (although all the stairs to the top were not)
In the last month I also went to an organic crop farm owned by a Rotarian named Jens Peter just outside of Brørup (my host club's town) and was given a tour through the many fields that they own and was shown through their extensive collection of tractors and farm machinery. Then after that i was taken out to the fields with one of Jens Peter’s workers to be shown how they spread out the slurry onto the fields. (They grow corn and beans)
This month was great and as well as all of this I think that I am doing well with the language and fitting in well with my friends and classmates. Good luck all in Australia and thanks again for this opportunity
Vi ses og tak
-Rex Harris
Reminder! We are collecting 10c bottles for our projects. This is a really easy way of earning 100% profit for out club. You can utilise the app, or Brooke has business cards with the barcode on it. All you need to do is scan the barcode at the machine, then put the bottles in.
Alternatively, you can put your bottles in the bucket at each Rotary meeting, or drop them to Brooke and George's house on Kelp St.
Rotary Down Under Magazine
The Rotary Down Under magazine for March/April 2026 is now out and available to read. Click the link below to read online.
