How are you all doing? Unused caravans, boats, four wheel drives and even businesses. Wow what a change, and likely to go on for quite a while. My advice is to do what many of your fellow Rotarians are doing - look upon this situation as an opportunity. My wife has a list of jobs to do as long as my arm*. Brownie points are hard to come by so go for it cause there’s not much else to do.
Cheers
Tim Goodall
*[Sounds like Di is going to be busy Tim – Ed.]
Robbo in lockdown.
Last week Robbo was kind enough to send us an account of how he and his family are spending the lockdown. I have reproduced it here for members' interest.
It would be great if members could write to us and give us a brief explintion of how they are spending the lockdown. I am sure members would love to read these stories.
Robbo writes,
We are doing very well. Erica & Ben came home a week ago as both their workplaces have had to shut up for the duration,…whatever that may be. We are having an enforced, unexpected, delightful time! Loving it….but feeling guilty for those working on the various frontlines.
There just seems to be a really strong community feel out and about. Not that there is much ‘out and about’. ….but we are walking and bike riding, cooking together, gaming, reading, writing, and generally enjoying each other’s company. In our case, converting the home from one of parents with the residue of infant children…to one of parents with adult children who live at a distance. Lots of overdue discarding and de-cluttering. We may never get another opportunity like this.
Loving the fine, warm days,…and also the current mid-Atlantic winter ones. Re-connecting with a number of old friends at a distance, where we’ve each let the contact slip over the busy child-rearing years. I’m even surprising a few with …shock,.. horror,..hand-written notes in the post.
It would be lovely to have Oscar home as well, but he still has ongoing work, and so can’t now join us either for a weekend, or for a ‘’permanent’’ home stay if and when his work shuts down. Lucky he has his faithful whippet “Max”(Gawn) to keep him company.
We thank Robbo for his update. Please write and tell us what you are up to. Send it to
bulletin.warrnamboolcentral@gmail.com
Update from Jann.
Greg has kindly sent us a comprehensive update from Jann. Unfortunately it will take your slack editor some time to convert it to a format we can present in the Central Spoke. We hope to bring Jann's news to you next week.
Stay Connected.
There was lots more discussion this week about all the things people are getting up to during the shutdown. The highlight for your correspondent this week was Mick renovating his whole kitchen in 4 hours and 9 minutes. Super job Mick.
How to join:
The platform we are using is Facebook Messenger.
If you are already use FB messenger, please message James and he will add you to the group.
If you do not have Facebook, you will need to establish an account. You can have strict privacy settings.
Facebook messenger has a chat app available for all smart phones and can be accessed via Facebook.com
If you are already on FB and have been added to the group and you are friends with other members, you can add them.
Facebook is widely used. If you need assistance to establish an account and navigate to messenger, ask a grandkid!!! But also feel free to call James 0414833012
Rotary Foundation.
Lew has kindly forwarded us the following letter.
Dear Lew Officer,
Good morning everyone,
In writing to you, I mention in my correspondence attached, that I do so with some hesitation, knowing everyone has been called upon to support so many unforeseen disasters over the past 12 months.
I thought it important for you to know of the current situation of our Rotary Foundation as in three years to come, there will be little funds to support projects.
There are three attachments, correspondence explaining the financial situation, the other two are various contribution forms for you to use if you are able.
Regards,
Brian Trenery
Chair DRFC.
I have not included the conribution forms, however if members would like to assist please contact me (bulletin.warrnamboolcentral@gmail.com) and I can forward you the forms. - Ed.
Rotary Horse update.
The mighty Vassa Blue has been nominated for race 1 in Toowoomba on Saturday. Can his new Queensland trainer can get the magnetic gelding up and going where all previous attempts have failed? We know he is built for pleasure, but is he also built for speed? Tune in on Saturday and hopefully we will start to get an answer to this question.
Closer to home, Sirileo Miss is now getting close to a jump out in Warrnambool. Third time lucky for our club and race horses? Or will your correspondent have to go into hiding to avoid the people he persuaded to join the syndicate? Only time will tell.
As always, the Central Spoke will keep you up to date with all the exciting Rotary Horse news.
Pandemic etiquette.
In these difficult times, it is important to observe the correct etiquette applicable to our current situation. Pip Ritchie is a man who always knows how to conduct himself in any situation, and this week he kindly brings us this advice.
Boré’s view
We are all staying home to ‘flatten the curve’. This week Boré brings us Leunig’s observation that, during this long stay at home, the curve may not be flattening as much as we might like.
Road rules explained.
When we all get out and moving again, road safety will be very important. This week road safety expert Pip Ritchie brings us some clarification from Macca about the meaning of one often misinterpreted road sign.
Why won't the antibiotics cure my viral infection?
Generally here at the Central Spoke we avoid politics. However this week Bore has persuaded me to make an exception. I had been contemplating writing an article for the Central Spoke explaining bacteria and viruses, what the difference is and how they work (but decided it might be too boring). We are in the middle of a viral pandemic and in my experience some people don't have a good grasp of what a virus is. For example, how often have you heard people say 'I am taking antibiotics because I have a cold'. For the record, by definition, antibiotics cannot work on viruses. Ever.
We wouldn't expect everybody to understand the basics of microbiology and the treatment of microbial infections, but it would be good if the President of the United States had a basic understanding during this pandemic. He announced at a press conference recently, 'The virus is very smart, it is so smart that antibiotics don't work on the microbe.'
