Past President Alan Bowes welcomed all present and especially guest speakers Ian Watson and Chris Preston, along with exchange student Fabio Gomes. He welcomed back Svet Lineham after a bout of sickness. Currently off duty and unwell are Rotarians John Reid and Doug Maclean to whom we send our best wishes for a good recovery.
Rotary Grants Seminar at Ararat - Sunday November 3
Past President Anne Adams is urgently seeking someone to accompany her to Ararat this Sunday.
Nomination Forms
Anne also has nomination forms for Director positions.
Facebook Page
Sergeant Andrea Sampson expressed the Club's appreciation to Sharon Stark for the great job she is doing with our Facebook page and encouraged all members to look and like from time to time.
Highlands Foundation Working Bee - Saturday November 2
Past President Svet Lineham reminded members of the working bee next Saturday to assemble mother and baby kits at the Guide Hall in Manifold Street from 10:00 am.
Bonfire Night Cancelled
Rob Cuzens explained that wet weather has held up shearing and his wool shed is a bit on the sad side just now. Not quite a suitable venue at this time.
Next Week' Meeting
Rotarian Trevor Williams encouraged all members and their partners to attend our special Melbourne Cup meeting at the Wangoom general Store. Notify David of partners and visitor numbers and bring your own drinks for a 6:30 pm beginning. A night not to be missed.
Rotary Club of Warrnambool - Annual General Meeting - 19 November 2013
In accordance with the provisions of the Club’s By-Laws, one month’s notice is given that the Annual General Meeting and Election of Office-Bearers will be held during the Club’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday 19th November, 2013. Prior to the AGM the Club will be seeking nominations to fill vacancies of President-Elect 2015-2016; Vice-President 2014-2015; Secretary 2014-2015; Treasurer 2014-2015, and 4 Vacancies of Director 2014-2016 [2years]. Nomination forms are available from President John Hunt, and Secretary Anne Adams.
Past President Judy Ross introduced Rotarians President Ian Watson and Past President Chris Preston from Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak.
Ian and Chris participated in a Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) project in Sariri village, Papua New Guinea. This country was selected for a RAWCS project because it is Australia’s nearest neighbour, has a very high infant death rate, relatively few doctors and only one third of children attending school. The visit lasted from 24 May to 10 June 2013, and built on work previously done there.
Following persistent floods and cyclone Guba which destroyed the area in 2008, the village was relocated inland by two kilometres and the Rotarians are helping to build it.
Chris said the Rotary clubs in district 9780 devised a five-year plan to help develop Sariri, which was on the north coast of Papua New Guinea.
Nine villages were wiped out (in the region). Elijah (a Sariri resident) approached the nine chiefs and said why don't we come together and make a bigger village. Two of them said 'no not interested'. Seven of them said yes. Out of those seven (chiefs), three donated parcels of land, that we're building on, two ks away from the river and they're starting afresh. So you've got their old traditions, converging with modern technology.
Residents of Sariri and members from Rotary clubs Warrnambool Daybreak, Geelong and Geelong East have built wooden houses and this visit built a school, using locally milled timber and other materials sent up from Australia, including a solar electricity system.
Warrnambool East Rotary member Andy Graham, who has shipped tanks to East Timor for a separate project provided tips about constructing them overseas. The galvanised steel tanks are shipped in sections, along with fittings, pumps and pipes, and were pieced together on arrival.
The tanks were made by McLaren Sheetmetal Fabrications' Ray Gurry, who is was one of the few remaining tank makers in Australia. The tanks hold about 3200 litres of water.
Warrnambool East Rotary Club donated money to have the tanks made, at a subsidised rate. Wells were dug and timber lined in readiness for the tanks' installation and would save the village's women walking two kilometres for water .
The solar panels on the roof of the two-room two-room school will be used to power the well pump, provide lighting, enable use of computers and sewing machines and recharge the batteries.
Many district Rotary clubs contributed to the project and Chris and Ian thanked our Club for is support.
Past Presidents Judy Ross and Alan Bowes thanked our two guests for their inspiring presentation.
The Rotary International 2014 Convention is being held in Sydney from 1st to 4th June 2014 and the venue for this event is the Sydney Olympic Centre (the convention centre is being demolished).
Early bird registrations close on 15th December 2013, after this date, registration fees increase the closer to the event.
This is a great opportunity to witness the true internationality of Rotary and to see what Rotary is doing all over the world.
The last time the Convention was in Australia, it was held in Melbourne back in the 1990’s and 15,000 people attended from all over the world, it was held at Rod Laver Area and PP Eric Williams was able to secure for us, accommodation in Swanston Street, within walking distance of the venue.
Sydney is a city known all over the world and is expected to draw as many as the Melbourne held convention. Registrations are beginning to flood in and the demand for accommodation is increasing.
For those who haven’t been to a Rotary International Convention before, it offers an insight into the real world of Rotary and its work all over the world. It will provide the opportunity to meet and mix with people from all over the world as well as key people within the Rotary circles, including RI Directors, past RI Presidents, the General Secretary and Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.
Could I recommend this convention to those who have not attended a convention before, it is a way of learning about the international organisation to which you belong, its work and its many many humanitarian and educational programs as well as enjoying the friendship of Rotarians and spouses of the world?
It is in Sydney and it is on our back door step. You may never have a better opportunity to attend a convention without the expense and trauma of overseas travel.
For those who would like some help with registering, see me at Rotary or call me and I will assist you where I can.
You may never have a better opportunity to attend a truly international event like this again so register early and see Rotary at work.
Fines master Ian Cairns had a field day at the show! Initially fining himself for coming then not coming then coming! John Nisbet for wife Betty rolling in dough after cleaning up the cookery competition, Doug Maclean for a sick excuse, (aww poor Doug), Michael Boyd for sitting on his tail all day (again), Past Principal Duncan for grilling the alleged schoolies about concession ages and flicking miscreants to Andrea for judgement, and Trevor for buying the world’s biggest stuffed penguin off a Show visitor from the Philippines, driving the price down from $20 to $15. He also fined Fabio for keeping an eye on all the cute girls on Saturday, and for the success of the amazing Brazillian surfer Carlos Burle for surfing the biggest ever wave of 100 ft off Portugal, Ian Sharman for being brilliantly photographed by Sharon Stark looking like a bearded and cap wearing seafarer in his little ticket booth, Jim Hanrahan for not backing a sure winner, and all lucky shareholders of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter shares as they head skyward.
