This last weekend, we continued to sell Christmas Trees at Bunnings Kent Town. It was a slower weekend for sales with a few trees left over for Bunnings to sell at their leisure but our thanks go to Rob, Lili, John, Liz, Helen, Di, Paul, Alison, Stephan and Bruce for their assistance in selling, assisting and banking the funds.
Last Thursday’s guest speaker was Pamela Rajkowski OAM on “Desert Voices Talk”. Pamela is a research author specialising in the history, heritage and contribution of the Australian Afghan Cameleers (1860-1930), and regularly collaborates with the descendants of the Afghan Cameleers across Australia. Pamela has written several books such as “In the tracks of the Camelmen” and “Linden Girl”. Pamela told us how camels acted as a lifeline for the inland region with their Indian and Afghan drivers, forging new paths across the centre of Australia and various tracks in Western Australia. Camel strings brought stores, mail, building materials and fodder to isolated settlements and returned to the coast with produce for local and overseas markets. The Cameleer routes were a crucial contribution to the opening up of the Australian continent and contributed to Australia’s growth, development and prosperity. A wonderfully informative talk, thanks Pamela.
Pamela also mentioned that she would like the assistance of our Club on Saturday 3 May 2025 when a special “Desert Voices” – a gathering of Afghan/Indian Cameleer descendants who will meet at the Church of the Trinity, 318 Goodwood Road, Clarence Park from 9.00am to 6.30pm to talk about their families’ traditions of being cameleers. This event will be open to the public from 2pm to 5.00pm.
Our Club’s assistance would be instrumental in helping the event run smoothly. Around 10 Club volunteers would be needed to set out the meeting rugs (carpets) for the speakers and chairs for the audience, help welcome and direct speakers and guests to the appropriate areas, refreshment/lunch assistance, carparking at the start of the day, etc. A full list of volunteer’s jobs will be formulated early in the new year by Pamela. If anyone would like to help, please let me (Yvette) know so that I can keep a list of volunteers.
We will be holding a Coffee Catch-up at the White Picket Cafe on 19 December, but then we will recess until Thursday 9 January for breakfast at the South Terrace Croquet Club.
Our next Coffee Conversation will be in late January.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a wonderfully joyous, safe and prosperous 2025. Yvette, President.
United in the spirit of Service we value truth, fairness and friendship; and we welcome the opportunity that Rotary gives us to contribute our talents and resources in support of others.
Rotary Club of Adelaide Light Mission Statement
To have fun and engage interest from new members and friends as we use our strengths for a better world here and abroad - a welcoming, flexible group having fun doing hands-on activities for positive impact.
Getting away from their high-stress jobs, a couple spends relaxing weekends in their motor home.
When they found their peace and quiet disturbed by well-meaning, but unwelcome, visits from other campers, they devised a plan to assure themselves some privacy.
Now, when they set up camp, they place this sign on the door of their RV: “Insurance agent. Ask about our term-life package.”
