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President's Report.
 
G’day Rotarians,
 
We had a really good meeting last week as we welcomed our newest member into the Club - Bruce Anson. We got to know a little about Bruce’s “back” story - in more ways than one. If you didn’t make the meeting, make sure you welcome our newest member. It will be great to have Bruce involved and a member of our Club.
 
As I mentioned, we will vote on the redistricting proposal that has been developed by the Redistricting Working Group at this week’s meeting . The group was established at the direction of the RI Board following the January 2026 Board meeting. The group was led by RI Director Jennifer Scott and included representatives from each District Governor cohort, the Rotary South Pacific Board, the Regionalisation Pilot Steering Group, and RI staff.
 
The following are extracts from bulletins that we have received:
 
As per the June RI Board meeting, the proposal is to move from 19 districts to 9 districts, effective 1 July 2028, subject to obtaining club approval for the relevant district mergers. The proposed structure is based primarily on jurisdictional boundaries, while also considering membership balance, cultural needs, business alignment, geography, and existing relationships between districts and communities.
 
The proposed move is intended to create stronger and more vibrant districts, build deeper leadership capacity, provide stronger support for clubs, and create a more sustainable governance structure for the future.
 
This redistricting proposal is described as a significant opportunity to strengthen Rotary in Zone 8, create deeper leadership, provide stronger support to clubs, and build a governance structure that is fit for the future. The presentation thanks district leaders for helping shape the process and acknowledges the bold leadership required to proceed with the plan.
 
The vote that all Clubs are to hold isn’t about whether or not to re-district, but what the proposed redistricting looks like. The proposal sees Warrnambool being in the new Zone 6, Victoria West, Victoria North, which will contain 163 Clubs and just over 4,000 members.
 
There may not be democracy sausages on the menu, but there will be a vote on Wednesday. See you then.
 
This weeks bridge is from Getxo Spain, just north of Bilbao - the Vizcaya Bridge. It’s the oldest operating transporter bridge in the world - opening 1893. It is 45 meters high and 160 meters long and uses a high metal framework with a suspended hanging gondola that takes about 90 seconds to cross, running 24 hours a day.
 
See you Wednesday!
 
Sláinte Mhaith
 
Paul
Upcoming Events
 
Late August - Constructing shed for Loved and Shared.
 
17th September - Bowling and Bojangles.
 
Early January - Meeting with our first ever inbound exchange student, Jenny Myers.
Rotten Returns.
 
Ron writes,
 
 
Ron, unfortunately, it is so much worse than you think.  
 
It has been demonstrated that large language model A.I.s (LLMs) have been programmed to prioritise giving you the answer you want rather than the answer that is true.  LLMs are programmed to be sycophantic.  They will almost always agree with you and give you the answer they calculate you are looking for.
 
Psychologists genuinely worry about whether young people who grow up having conversations with LLMs will learn the skills to cope with the grittiness and complexity of having a relationship with a real person.
 
So, the person who wrote Ron’s meme has it completely wrong.  The meme should read,
 
In the near future,
A.I. will never tell a woman they
are wrong and to calm down…
 
And that my friends will be the
end of you.
Bridge report.
 
 
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Warrnambool Central
Imagine Rotary
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Warrnambool Bowls Club
75 Timor St
Warrnambool, VIC 3280
Australia
Phone:
0493 467 248
Send Email to Club
Please join us for lunch at the Warrnambool Bowls Club.
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District Site
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Executives & Directors
President
Paul Reilly
 
President Elect
Lindsay Bullivant
 
Secretary
Glenn Marler
 
Treasurer
Sam Baulch
 
Club Service
Jon Vertigan
 
Community Service
Francis Broekman
 
Vocational Service
Gerald Irvine
 
International Service
Stuart Bethune
 
Rotary Foundation
Bono O'Neill
 
Membership/Welfare
Anthony Robinson
 
Youth Service
David Jellie
 
Environment
Ian McPhail
 
Immediate Past President
Bono O'Neill
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
Phillip Ritchie
 
Bore’s View
 
 
It is always great to induct a new member into our club and into Rotary.  It reenergises the club and adds something valuable to the group at the same time.  We welcome Bruce Anson.  It is terrific to have you on board Bruce.  
 
 
Boré writes,
 
 
We thank Boré for another excellent cartoon.
Minutes.
 
Bono does an excellent Nooka impersonation.
 
 
Attendance: Just fifteen members and one guest, the soon to be inducted Bruce Anson, were in attendance.  Our guest door accountant Bono put the numbers in the book.
 
Bono gives us the attendance report.  Matt couldn't care less.
 
Meal: Fish and chips.
 
 
Bob got the show on the road with a joke about a man whose wife disappeared after she ducked down to the shops to get some milk.  He got by on powdered milk.  We repeat the joke here because only about half the members present appeared to have got the joke at the time.
 
 
President Paul stepped up to the podium and announced;
  • In a district with 1,200 members, 24 logged in to the redistricting Q&A webinar.  If you do the maths, with Paul logged in, our club had a higher percentage of members in attendance than the district average.  Well done us.
  • The club held a board meeting that morning.
  • Please send Sam a message if you donate to either the Bruce Ludeman Community Fund or the Rotary Foundation (Centurion) as part of your membership renewal.
In reports;
  • Robbo asked, on behalf of Verto, for members to suggest possible guest speakers to Jon.
  • Francis spoke about the upcoming working bee at Loved and Shared.  It will be on a Monday morning, more details to follow.
  • David reminded members the inbound exchange student, Simon Larsen from Denmark, is still looking for host families.  Please let David know if you or anyone you know may be interested.
  • Robbo informed us that, if you count the two draws as wins for everyone, lots of people picked nine last week in the footy tipping.  Nooka advised that there was no money to distribute and so no money would be paid.  Robbo controversially suggested that he may award the draws to those who picked the longer odds teams and not to those who picked the favourites.  Some members complained but Robbo reminded them this is not a democracy and, in Nooka’s absence, he makes the rules.  No report on current scores, but Robbo is unbackable odds to take first prize.
 
 
We then had the great pleasure of inducting Bruce Anson as a new Rotarian and member of our club.  His mentor, Bob, spoke about Bruce’s family, background, and many achievements.  Bruce has known many of our members for many years through his work with the Warrnambool City Council and as a member of Gracey’s gym. 
 
Our President formally inducted Bruce and members welcomed Bruce in the traditional way.  Bruce then spoke about his understanding of the importance of volunteering and community through his extensive experience leading in the Warrnambool community. 
 
Bruce did mention that, when it comes to hands on working bees, he sees his role more in middle management than hanging on to the end of a shovel.  You will fit right in Bruce.  We welcome Bruce and hope he enjoys his time with us and in Rotary.
 
 
Bono than conducted an entertaining fines session based on our knowledge of each other.  Well done Brendan.  The barrel was drawn and Bob pocketed the free lunch.
 
Ten Years Ago.
 
Fifteen years ago, our Rotary club organised a trip to the footy at the MCG for families from the drought and then flood ravaged Kerang district.  Sam, Penno, Mitchel and Maxi, our exchange student from Germany, were there to help out.  The kids all got caps and merch show bags from the Sydney Swans.  You just can't get more family friendly than the Swanies.
 
Our Club Fundraiser 2023 - every hand on deck!
Building on 2021-2023 - Supporting ROMP
Date TBC
Send contributions to;
 
bulletin.warrnamboolcentral@gmail.com
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