Well, Happy new year and welcome to the 2024 Prattles, I am now 25 days into retirement and seem to be handling this well, however I must say, that with Rotary involvement at this time of the year for Daybreak with the BBQs and our recent shift into Woodford and the new hobby of setting up the Bee Hive, has kept both Janey and myself very busy. We extend an invitation to you all if you would like to come and visit to see our new location and share a cuppa with us.
…. January Theme: Vocational Service Month ….
Where can we go to visit this year? Looking for ideas from amongst our members. I have already suggested, and Sandra has followed up with a visit to the NEW library located at TAFE. Even though this has been opened since October 2022, I am sure most members have not been there, perhaps a morning visit after our breakfast meeting may work for the library. I know this will not suit working members. I didn’t go to Loved & Shared for that reason, however, look how that evolved for Daybreak and Loved & Shared.
Daybreak was on the lookout for a club secretary in 2024-25, Mehul Patel’s Presidential year. We congratulate Gerard Lourey for accepting this position.
Well done Gerard, this is fantastic news. Gerard enters this position with 4 years straight as club secretary in years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-2010. Gerard then went onto to serve as Daybreak President in 2012-2013, then acting as club bulletin editor for a number of years. Certainly Service above Self Gerard, thank you for stepping up and being willing to help out again.
Mehul is building his team for 2024-25, I encourage all members to please consider taking on a role, if we all do a little bit to help spread the load this does make everyone’s Daybreak Rotary journey enjoyable.
Stephen Bellamy has been quietly working away in the background with the Food Share calico bag Warrnambool Food Drive.
Stephen recently emailed on Thursday 11th January to all members this information.
Hello Daybreakers, I have another 4 small calico bags (as per attachment) to fill for Western district Foodshare. If you are in a position to donate non-perishable food items in the coming days-weeks, it would be most appreciated.
I am happy to pick donations up or you could drop items into me at 16 Sharpe Avenue. I will then take the bags to food share. If you wish I can drop in a bag for you to fill and take to food share yourself or i am happy to pick them up.
Warm Regards
Stephen
Thanks Stephen for doing this, I know Barry Brooker has always been a big advocate for Food Share as well.
The RSL manager Andy (Andrea Lawson) phoned me Friday just to ask if we are all happy with the meals, she encourages us to supply any suggestions regarding the meals, Andy said they can certainly do the Bacon and Egg only option, however be mindful that this will still be $25.00.
Have a think and lets have a quick discussion on Wednesday morning so I may get back to Andy.
Andy said the chef is very happy with the phone in meal options and member numbers, this helps him prepare in advance. Stephen Bellamy is doing a great job with this ever week, thanks Stephen.
……. DID YOU KNOW….. ?
It began with an elephant in the room.
In 1963, the Rotary Club of Bayswater, Vic, marked the completion of a significant community service project: a tubular steel masterpiece shaped like an elephant. This creation, crafted with dedication and skill by Rotarians, provided a safe space for children to climb and play. However, the disappointment arose when their story, along with photographs, intended for publication in The Rotarian, never materialized.
President Jim Robinson and Rotarian Les Gilbert of the Rotary Club of Bayswater pondered the missed opportunity and speculated about other untold stories of noteworthy projects within the Rotary community. Their solution was to create a magazine to complement The Rotarian, fostering the exchange of regional information and project ideas.
At the subsequent district conference, Bayswater sponsored a motion that faced opposition but resulted in the formation of a ways and means committee. This committee was tasked with conducting a feasibility study and presenting a report at the next conference.
Simultaneously, Paul Henningham from the Rotary Club of Newtown, NSW, shared a similar sentiment. After attending make-up meetings in northern NSW and witnessing the enthusiastic service provided by Rotarians in various districts, Henningham questioned why these remarkable Rotary activities were not widely known beyond their districts. He proposed the idea of a national or regional newsletter or magazine to share project ideas and information.
Thanks to the leadership and persistence of visionary Rotarians like Robinson, Gilbert, and Henningham, the first "pilot" edition of Rotary Down Under emerged in April 1965, with Paul as its editor and secretary. The official inaugural issue followed in July 1965, marking the beginning of a storied history. Today, Rotary Down Under remains a valuable source of information in Zone 8, proudly showcasing inspiring stories, ideas, and projects from the districts it serves.
BBQ- BBQ- BBQ
Yes. 3 done. Last Friday night started off very slow, I was a bit worried and seemed to be discarding more burnt sausages than we were selling at the start. With a location change due to the wet ground at our regular position, I was thinking tonight is not going to be very good at all. However we finished off well. Sold out again with the Hamburgers and only left with one packet of Sausages. Drinks were very popular also. The changed location and direction our stall faced suited the money person and the servers as the sun was not in their face. As usual, the camaraderie behind the counter and BBQ’s was good. Probably too good sometimes, as we can easily lose focus and hold up the flow of the sales. The Sausage Police were there this week and we were kept under control. Also, we passed the WCC health inspection site check.
Great job everyone and we will be back this coming Friday night. Location to be determined.
BBQ- BBQ- BBQ
Guest speaker:
We are always looking for guest speakers at our meetings, so please pass on any contact details to our Program Coordinator PP Sandra.
Raffle; HOW ARE YOUR SALES GOING
Club member Sue Cassidy handed out the RC Ballarat South Community Raffle tickets to members in November.
Barry Moran is currently looking after these in Sue’s absence,
Our club gets to keep $1.60 from each ticket sold. Great 1st prize being a $38,000.00 car. And 2nd prize is a $1000.00 Bunning voucher.
If only 20 members sold 20 tickets that would make us $640.00. Seems too easy really.
Perhaps someone is willing to SIT and sell tickets at our BBQ site.
Cheers.. President Chris. Create Hope in the World
-------------------------------------------------------------Calendar Dates to remember :
28or 9 ? Jan - Bunnings BBQ
? Feb - Music Festival @ Civic Green
if you have an item to add to the Calendar, please email details to Jan
Rotary partnership with the United Nations puts the focus on waterways
By Etelka Lehoczky
A new collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme empowers Rotary members to clean up, protect, and monitor their local waterways. The strategic partnership aligns with both the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and Rotary’s environment area of focus.
The partnership “brings together Rotary’s community-based solutions and UNEP’s technical expertise,” RI President-elect Stephanie Urchick said when announcing the partnership on 10 January. She spoke at Rotary’s International Assembly, the organization’s gathering of incoming district governors.
At the center of the partnership is a program enabling Rotary and Rotaract clubs to make commitments to the health of their own nearby waterways. Called Community Action for Fresh Water, the program will encourage clubs to organize river cleanup days, raise awareness in their communities about the importance of healthy waterways, conduct basic water quality tests, and report their findings.
These locally based activities are crucial to protecting the environment on a global scale, says Rafael Peralta, regional director and representative for the UNEP’s office for North America.
“The protection, management, and restoration of freshwater ecosystems is fundamental to combating the triple planetary crises: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste,” Peralta said at the announcement ceremony. “As populations develop and economies expand, so too does the demand for fresh water. This puts freshwater ecosystems under increasing pressure.”
This partnership builds on a pilot program, Adopt a River for Sustainable Development, begun in 2020 by UNEP and Rotary District 9212 (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan). In addition, Rotary and Rotaract clubs around the world have often worked independently to clean up freshwater ecosystems.
“Healthy watersheds help biodiversity, forests, wetlands, and lakes. They help agriculture, help the economy, recharge the aquifers, and provide water to millions of people around the world,” said Salvador Rico, a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers. “A contaminated river and a damaged watershed make the area prone to fires, cause droughts, cause diseases, affect the economy of nearby communities, and contribute to climate change.”
The Rotary Foundation is funding program costs over the course of three years, with the potential for continued support. Clubs can use district funds or apply for global grants to pay for their activities.
To participate, Rotary and Rotaract clubs can identify a local body of water (river, lake, wetland, or natural reservoir) and commit to protecting and restoring it. They can then engage with the local community and other relevant groups to identify any major threats to the body of water and ultimately develop a plan of action in coordination with nongovernmental organizations, private enterprises, or government agencies.
