We welcomed our guest speakers Hayley McCosh, Kate Palmer and Wei-Lin who shared with us the refugee experience and what is being done in Warrnambool to smooth out the bumps caused by not having good English, and misunderstandings that come from things been done differently here. There are certainly opportunities for us to extend the right hand of Rotary fellowship to a group of people who are looking to become part of the
Warrnambool community. Svetlana will be able to keep us in contact. Thank you, Leon for stepping up as sergeant of arms.
We had apologies from Janet Blackley, John Hunt, Cathy Bligh, Brooke Jensen, George McLeod, Rachel Furnell, Chris Stebbing, Judy Ross, David Brown, and Andrew Body.
On the weekend, Tony and Joan Austin and I attended the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne. Rotarian Tony was invited to be a flag bearer representing District 9780 at the opening ceremony. He was given this honour for the work he had done with the PNG project. It was very exciting, and we know so well deserved. Chris and Janey Preston from Daybreak also were flag bearers. Warrnambool was very well represented. The speech by the first woman president Jennifer Jones, offered some very real challenges to Rotarians to step up and be part of a movement for change. In her year she has made it her business to talk to world leaders rather than wait for the invitation. She will be a hard act to follow, and the challenges facing Rotary are not getting smaller. The presentation by Melbourne born young man Hugh Evans, who started an organization called Global Citizens made me very proud. The aim of his organization is to eradicate world poverty. Global Citizens have partnered with Rotary on polio eradication and will work with Rotary on poverty. We heard from many amazing people, enjoyed world class musical entertainment, and sat and chatted with people from all over the world who left us proud and enthused. The next convention is in Singapore next year. It is worth thinking about. Finally, we met up with Janet Blackley and Gerry Delaney for dinner Saturday evening Gerry sends her greetings to the club
Hopkins Falls Landcare Group – working bee at Hopkins Falls, Sunday 4th June 10 – 11.30 am. BYO gloves and spade for site maintenance.
Tree planting at Deakin University, Saturday 17th June 10 am – 12.30 pm as part of the Glenelg Hopkins CMA-Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network’s “Hopkins River tree’s for fish” planting day. Meet at the old golf course car park at Deakin, BYO wet weather gear, sturdy footware, gloves and water. Our Rotary Club has been invited by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA to be part of the larger “Rivers of Warrnambool” program. The CMA is keen for the Rotary Club to develop and have its own small project as part of the larger program.
For board members: Articles for the Annual Report are overdue
Judy Ross
LIDS FOR KIDS: Please continue to bring along your washed milk bottle tops. Svet and her Girl guides are working with Lauren, who came and spoke to us. You can give the lids to Svet or Judy. Bread tags are also still being collected.
If for any reason you are rostered and can't be there, would you please let Judy know ASAP, and she will arrange for someone else to fill in, or you can arrange your own replacement and let Judy know. (0429 672 446) Judy will be up at the Footy club by 5.45pm each Tuesday night to hand over the Badge board to the members on duty.
