Daybreak eBulletin 26-2-2020 (Feb 28, 2020)

Weekly Meeting – Our guest speaker this week was Helen Bayne and she was accompanied by Emily Lee-Ack. Helen works as a Partnership Broker for South West Local Learning & Employment Network Inc. Her talk was very interesting and based on research she has recently conducted on the dynamic changing world of work, highlighting the altered face of the employment industry and the challenges that education and people of different ages face as technology, globalisation and new business structures dramatically impact and alter the nature of training and the employment sector.

We welcomed Lydia back to our meeting this week as well as Barry Moran who has been helping yet again in the affected areas. Well done Barry.

We had an interesting meeting in others ways, being evacuated from the Lady Bay after someone wanted their toast well done! After the fire brigade attended, the toaster checked and the alarm silenced, we were let back into the building to continue our meeting. There will be a hefty fine session if the toast culprit is identified.

Our guest speaker next week will be Jessie McConnell who is on the Planning Committee for RYLA. The fun session will be conducted by Drew Giblin.

Future Guest Speakers and Fun Sessions – Listed below are the guest presenter and fun session roster for the weeks of February and into March. The rostered members are to either give a presentation or to organize another guest speaker. Remember that it can be just as interesting to hear the life story of one of our members, so don’t be too shy to speak about yourselves as it gives our newer members an insight into who you are and your life journey. Please advise me in advance if you have organized another speaker for your rostered session.

March 11 – Andrew Suggett, Fun Session Mehul Patel

March 18 – Jenny Turner, Fun Session Chris Preston

March 25 – Max Taylor, Fun Session Janey Preston

April 1 - Mr Adee-Jonathan Davidson, Urological Surgeon, Fun Session – Jan Read

April 8 – Children’s Day – Easter theme

The Long Lunch 2020 – what a wonderful day we had at this year’s Long Lunch. Not only was the weather perfect, we have had glowing reports on all aspects of the event. The event was our 20^th anniversary Lunch and it coincided with the 115^th anniversary of Rotary, giving us a double celebration. The funds raised are estimated to be above $8,000 making it another successful fundraising event for Daybreak. We thank Mehul and Ronika Patel for their most generous donation on behalf of Specsavers to South West Healthcare and also to Ronika for organising a further $500 from her employer Saputo which was also donated to South West Healthcare. The core committee for the Long Lunch comprised Sandra, Jenny, Janey and Jan and we thank them for the many hours they put in to make the Long Lunch 2020 a success. Thanks also to Gerard who secured a Standard reporter which resulted in a full page spread in Monday’s edition of the Standard; great advertising for Daybreak.

Bushfire Appeal Update – Chez has recently received an update from Gillian Reeve from the Bairnsdale Rotary Club relating to how the donated funds are being spent. There has been over $400,000 donated through this particular appeal (Rotary Relief Fund) and it is where Daybreak’s money has been directed. They are providing vouchers to be spent at local businesses to the amounts of $25, $50 and $100. The vouchers are given to people directly affected to spend with local businesses, three hundred of which are involved in the scheme. If the vouchers aren’t used they are not paid for by the Rotary Relief Fund. So far in excess of $80,000 has been paid out.

Most affected people have had no insurance and there have been over three hundred homes lost. Some hay has been purchased and some has been donated. 30% has been used each for cattle, sheep and horses. The paddocks and landscape in general is starting to recover with green shoots appearing on the trees. All in all, everyone is in cleanup mode as they attempt to recover from the disaster of the fires. To date Daybreak has donated $4500 which includes the money that Wunta collected from the breakfast.

Clean up Australia Day – As previously notified and due to other commitments Daybreak are unable to join other community members at the usual Clean Up Australia Day on March 1. Alternatively Glenn has organised with the Council that Daybreak members do their clean up two weeks later on Sunday March 15. The meeting place will be our usual location along Aitkins Road and the boys from Clontarf will be joining us for the cleanup. Hopefully we can organize a social get together at the conclusion of the clean up.

Bunnings BBQ 2020 – We have recently been notified by Bunnings that Saturday April 25 (ANZAC Day) is available to Daybreak for a Bunnings Fundraising BBQ. As Daybreak has missed out on previous allocation dates we have decided to accept the date offered. Rosters will be circulated to members at our weekly meetings. Please contact Ian if you can assist with filling the roster. ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday and there is no public holiday allocated on the Monday, meaning there will not be a long weekend on this date. Given it is ANZAC Day, at this stage we do not know what time the BBQ will commence.

Peace Concert – Chez is currently selling tickets for the Rotary Peace Concert scheduled for Thursday March 5 at the Lighthouse Theatre. Tickets are $40 per head so please contact Chez if you want to attend. From all reports the concert will be a sell out.

District Conference – The District Conference is fast approaching and it looks like we have several members attending. The booking links can be found on the district website, including tickets for the dinner and light show.

Foundation Movie Night – Sue has confirmed the date for our next Foundation Movie Night which will be Thursday May 21 at 7pm. I am Woman which focuses on the story of Helen Reddy and the impact of her iconic song, especially on the feminist movement, is our selected movie. We will be asking members to sell tickets when they become available as this will be a major fundraising event for the Foundation.

Group 5 Social Day – Rotary Club of Port Fairy are hosting a Group 5 Social Day on Sunday May 17. More details will be circulated as the program develops but please mark this date in your diary as it is sure to be an enjoyable day. It provides great opportunity to network with the other Rotary club members within the Group 5 district including the Rotary Club of Portland and the Rotary Club of Portland Bay.