Well, we have reached the half way point of the Rotary Year , hasn't time flown by!
My Corporate Membership idea has not taken off yet, but I am determined to make something happen in the second half of the year.
And then Wunta was cancelled, another idea I wanted to pursue.
However, thanks to the great work of Hutto we are on track with the recycling of the Warrnambool Racing Club cans and bottles, this project will grow and grow and grow as we think of other major events around town. The Board has approved the purchase of 40 wheelie bins from Wheelie Waste and stickers from Cassign, hopefully we will be up and running for the Woodford Cup on 31st December, which is only 12 days away!
And Christmas is 6 days away!
This coming Wednesday 20th December is our last meeting for the year with normal services to resume on Wednesday 10th January
Great news regarding our secretary – one of our new Rotarians, Glenn Marler, has stepped up for the role, Bono will still be available to mentor him but it will be a great opportunity for Glenn to see how Rotary works ‘behind the scenes’ – thanks Glenn.
Lastly, Caz and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas, please note it is not Happy Holidays or Happy Xmas (why replace Christ with an X?) it is HAPPY CHRISTMAS and we also wish you all a very prosperous and happy New Year.
Last week the club hosted DG Ian McKay. Rotary's theme for the 2022-23 Rotary year is 'Create Hope in the World'. No doubt one hope the DG is trying to create is the hope that Club President and Assistant District Governor Rob Harris will attend the District Conference in Mount Gambier. Hope springs eternal.
We thank DG Ian for taking the time to come and talk to our club. As always Boré was on hand to document the occasion.
We thank Boré for another great cartoon.
Minutes.
Attendance: Nooka recorded 22 members and three guests in attendance. Our guests were visiting Rotarians DG Ian McKay and AG Janey Preston as well as Ashaan Davies, a past student of DG Ian.
Meal: Roast with vegies. Lindsay was in heaven.
Dillo introduced President Rob to start the meeting. In reports;
Rob observed that our Christmas Party last week was excellent, which Bob agreed with. 36 members and many partners were in attendance.
Rob also reminded members that we have a club meeting next Wednesday, but not the two following weeks.
Tony D reported that the pharmaceutical blister pack recycling scheme community grant has been approved. The four Rotary clubs are working towards getting this going early next year.
Hutto has been doing great work wrangling wheelie bins out of a very generous Wheelie Waste. Well done, Hutto.
Tony D also reported that we have lodged our application to be a recognised charity with TOMRA. Hopefully this will be approved in the next week. This will allow us to deposit the containers collected at the Jericho Cup. It will also allow club members, family and friends to donate the proceeds of any container returns at TOMRA vending machines directly to the club if they feel so generously inclined.
Bob expects the Golden Community Raffle tickets to be out next week. Members will be asked to sell one book each, with all proceeds going to the club.
Hutto, who is still recovering from the club Christmas party, advised that he thinks the vicar may have slipped something into his wine on the night.
Bob updated us on Bruce’s health. He continues to struggle a bit and the club may well do a working be at his place in the new year. Our thoughts are with Bruce.
Bob also informed members that Hayesey’s son David had a stroke recently. David is responding well to treatment and doing okay. We wish David and Peter all the best.
Hutto announced that the Myeloma Rotary Luncheon will be held on Monday April 29th 2024. There will be some great speakers. All proceeds to the Myeloma Foundation and our club so keep the date free.
Rob reminded members that tickets might still be available if you want to join us in the corporate marquee on top of Mount Max for the Australian Speedway Title on the 26th and 27th of January.
Pip reported that Lew took two vouchers to Warrnambool West Primary School for their end of year awards and they were very grateful.
Rob then had the pleasure of awarding a very deserving Nooka the 2023-2024 feral award. Nooka, the inaugural winner of the pig, seemed pleased to have the sought-after trophy back in his grasp. He didn’t seem too upset that he had received his award six months late, which, to be fair, was in keeping with the spirit of the award. Well done, Nooka.
The District Governor Ian McKay was then kind enough to speak to us about the current priorities for RI and District 9780. Ian shared that the RI President had observed that ‘The Rotary Foundation is the fuel that provides energy for Rotary service.’ The RI President had also dedicated his Rotary service to ensuring his grandchildren could live and thrive.
Current priorities include;
Mental health. The Australia Rotary Health, which is wife Sherril’s chosen project, does important work in mental health awareness and treatment. Australian Rotary Health has a rich history of making significant differences to the management of a range of health conditions. For example, ARH funded research that cut SIDS infant mortality by 80%. Our district has so far donated more than $1.25 million to ARH.
End Polio remains a focus. It is important that we finish the job and not allow polio to get out of control after all the work we have done to get us to this point. You can help by joining the Polio Plus Society (see information below). The Polio Plus Society is run by Gary Newton, who’s life has been significantly affected by polio. Immediate past DG John Clue is also a polio survivor.
‘Say no to domestic and family violence’ is an important project. The Maryborough and Portland clubs have done amazing things in this area. All clubs are asked to do something to raise awareness of this important issue.
Tbe Rotary Foundation, our charity, has invested more than $3 billion in Rotary projects. It is important to keep contributing to the foundation.
We need to let people know what we are doing. Promote Rotary to the broader community.
Rotarians Against Malaria has now freed some countries completely from malaria. Aside from the direct health benefits, this has tripled the economic growth potential of these nations.
Interplast remains an important Rotary project producing wonderful outcomes for people.
DG Ian left us with the advice to ‘Celebrate the difference Rotary is making’. He also invited us to the District Conference in Mount Gambier next year. We thank Ian for his service to Rotary and for taking the time to come and speak to us.
Health advice.
Pip sent us this cartoon. My good and wise wife advised me not to publish it. No doubt she is right.
Rotary Horse Racing Report.
Dirty Angel is probably this correspondent’s favourite name for a racehorse, closely followed by Physicality. I am very excited by the prospect of following the horse for years and years as a part owner.
The DA’s career to date has been a bit frustrating; poor starts have often been followed by good runs that just failed to make up the ground conceded out of the gates. However, the stables have been working on her starts and on Saturday they moved her down to a 0-58 grade race to allow her to build form and confidence. She lined up in the Colac Herald handicap over 2000m. I was confident that this was her chance to put it all together and finally kick start her promising career.
Dirty Angel leapt out of the gates nicely and travelled on the rails, nicely placed just behind the leaders. As they entered the straight a gap opened in front of her and destiny beckoned. Nothing stood between her and glory, between her and a glittering career in racing. These are the moments in racing that, as a horse owner, you look forward to and cherish. This was her time.
Unfortunately, Dirty Angel faded badly, finishing in a very disappointing fifth place. The stables immediately contact owners suggesting the horse be sold. Your correspondent, in shock and mourning, was inundated with advice from our syndicate members to sell the horse.
We started the year with five exciting racing prospects; Sirileo Miss, Power of Song, Dirty Angel, Matrooshi and Overflow Miss. Sirileo has been banned for performance enhancing drug use, Power of Song has been offloaded after a string of poor performances, Dirty Angel now also looks headed for sale, and the stables can’t get Matrooshi into a condition where she is ready to race. All we have left is Overflow Miss.
Fortunately, Overflow Miss is running in Race 4 at Terang today. She is a sure thing. Try as I might, I cannot foresee any way that it can possibly go wrong. Best if luck everyone.
More exciting updates as they come to hand.
Ten Years Ago.
Ten years ago, as we approached Christmas, we reminded readers that a carton of cigarettes was the perfect gift for Christmas. As Ann Southern was paid by Lucky Strike to say, ‘so nice to give, so wonderful to get.’ Of course, Anne Southern lived to be 92, so celebrating Christmas by smoking six cartons of cigarettes surely can't be all bad. Have a great Christmas everybody.
