Last week we had a pleasure of Sheri Symons from Aussie Wool Pellets as a guest speaker. Sheri was a wonderful stall holder at our Garden Show last year. It was fantastic to see such innovation and passion involved in Sheri's venture, and we can see bright things for her future.
Aussie Wool Pellets are pelletised soil enhancers made from wool that was not suitable for normal manufacturing. This is a great upcycle story that has created a booming business for Sheri. The pellets have slow release nitrogen for your plants and will naturally breakdown into the soil over time. They hold water and are a natural snail prevention method.
Everything Sheri has done has been locally done within Victoria and with sustainability in mind. She is also looking to the future of the business by designing and releasing new products. You can read about all of the products through the website: https://aussiewoolpellets.com.au/
You can order through the website or Debbie is putting an order together for club members who are interested. We look forward to seeing the heights Sheri will take this amazing endevour.
Apologies for the meeting were:
Janet Blackley, Robbie Blackmore, Rachel Furnell and David Brown.
We welcomed friend of Rotary Phillip Ross to the meeting.
Congratulation to all involved in the book sale over the weekend. We look forward to a report on Tuesday night. It was amazing to have District Governor Lesley Shedden down for the weekend and volunteering time at the book sale. A massive thank you to all sponsors of the event too. An anonymous person sent in a photo of Rotarians 'Hard at Work'....
We regularly mention the network within Rotary and Rotarians across the world, but you don't take too much notice until you are at events such as the district conferences and other. Even more to this point is when you make connection with people you have never met who turn out to be Rotarians.
Last week we made contact with 'Gawk' publishing who run the 2 digital billboards here in town. This is where we met Stephen Walker, a Rotarian from the Club of Murray Bridge in SA. After an amazing conversation, Stephen was able to pull a few strings for our club which meant that we had billboard advertising for the book sale this weekend.
Thank you to Stephen and the team at Gawk, and to the network of Rotary!
This week Rotarian Brooke will be talking all things youth. What youth projects are out there within Rotary and what is coming up in the year. We will also hear back from her NYSF trip as a Rotarian Volunteer and if she was able to keep up with 230 year 12 students.
Have an amazing week,
Gossip Rotarian
Next Meeting 28th January
Youth projects and NYSF volunteering from member Brooke.
6pm for a 6.15pm start
Warrnambool Bowls Club. Corner of Kelp and Timor St
A reminder, if you cannot attend the meeting; please contact David Brown via 0438 647 536 or dljb3280@gmail.com
Meeting Jobs
Sargeant:
Greg Lee
Fellowship:
Sharron Kenny
Invocation:
Judy Ross
If you are unable to fill this position, please contact Anne Adams on 0418 528 787 or
adamsanne49@gmail.com
Member Announcements
Robbie Blackmore
Social Outing!
A day at Timboon - A social day which will include a visit to the strawberry farm, lunch, plus fudge and ice cream shops. Date is 16th February and if you would like to go, please contact Robbie.
Judy Ross
Bread Tags
The bread tags have been going to Bakers Delight in the coles carpark at the rear of Target. Feel free to drop them in if you are in the area. However, if you still want to bring them to Rotary, I am happy to deliver them on your behalf.
Ann Body
Bottle Top Collection
Ann will happily take your plastic bottle tops. Please make sure they are washed and dried before you give them to her. They are sent to the lids for kids program in Mt Gambier.
Rachel Furnell
RYLA 2025
will take place in the April 2025 school holidays. We are seeking participants to attend aged between 18-25 at the time of the camp. Applications will open around October. If you have anyone in mind, please contact Rachel.
Brooke McLeod
Youth Exchange
Rotary internationally promotes youth exchange across the globe. Our district has 3 incoming 16 year old students for the 2025 year. Maria from Brazil will be living here in Warrnambool, and as such we are looking for homestays for Maria. This basically means taking on board Maria in your house for a minimum of 6 weeks. She will be attending school and volunteering at Rotary events while here in Warrnambool. If you are not able to take her on board, there are options that if you are doing something fun or 'cool', you are welcome to take Maria along as she is here is experience everything Australian culture. Peter has offered to bring her to the Australian Open for example.
Please get in contact with me about what is means to be a homestay parent.
More info about Rotary Youth Exchange (maybe you know someone we can sponsor out-bound?)
- https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges
- https://ryea.org.au/
Our district: https://rotary9780.org/sitepage/youth-services/what-is-youth-exchange
Upcoming Speakers
January
28th - Brooke
February
4th - Chris Preston
Wheel Chair Project
11th - Debbie Ferguson
On the couch
18th - Sharyn Anderson
Dorothea Mackellar
25th - Brian Trenery
RI Constitution
March
TBA
April
TBA
May
TBA
June
TBA
Upcoming Events
January
24th-26th
Book Sale
February 8th - 9th
Melb to Warrnambool
Bike Race
16th
Social day at Timboon
March
7th-10th
Port Fairy Folk Festival
April
May
Upcoming Meeting Jobs Roster
Date
Sargeant
Fellowship
Invocation
schedule TBA
Additions to the Bulletin
Please contact Brooke and Sarah to add items to the bulletin
brookeemmajensen@gmail.com and sarah.adams2509@gmail.com
The Folkie is just around the corner!
Each year we provide volunteer support to the folkie. The requirement is for each volunteer to work two shifts of 6 hours a shift over the course of the long weekend in Tent 5 as ushers providing guidance/directions to festival patrons. In return for this work volunteers receive a weekend pass to the Folkie.
If you are interested in volunteering, please get in contact with David Brown to fit yourself into the roster via 0438 647 536 or dljb3280@gmail.com
RYLA applications are now open!
We are on the hunt for 18-25 year olds.
For further information about the program visit our website: https://ryla9780.org/
Please see Rachel about any information or if you have someone interested. Rachel also has physical copies of the flyer if you would like one.
Wisecrack of the week
From John Beks
WHAT IS A MAN??
GOD created a creature – beautiful, stong and terrible – and He called it “MAN”.
And He asked His creature, “Art thou satisfied?” And the creature answered “No!”. Then God asked, “What is it that thou dost want?”
And the creature replied, “I want a mirror to reflect my glory, a potion to fire my blood, a casket to receive my gifts, a pillow to rest upon when I am tired, a veil to hide behind when I am miserable, a puppet to play with, a muse to inspire me, a beacon to show the way, and a victim on whom to blame all my shortcomings!”
Then God created “WOMAN”.
Reminder about the container deposit scheme
Our club is collecting applicable 10c containers in efforts to fundraise for the Early Loss Memorial Tree at Tooram Memorial Park. We are currently at $195.70 which is a great effort. We will start to collect the containers at the end of each meeting for an extra few cents to add to the total.
You can scan this barcode at any return depot and simply insert your containers. You can also visit the Big R Shed and present the barcode to them, and they will do all of the work for you. If technology isn't your friend, you can also drop off your containers to Brooke and George and they will return them for you. This is free and easy fundraising for our projects, thanks to those who have participated so far!
DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2025
Time to put March 21 - 23 in your diary and get ready to head to the Surf Coast for District Conference. Numbers are strictly limited to 200 attendees, so hop online and register now to get the Early Bird Special price! https://rotary9780conference.com.au/
