Our meeting was attended by 18 club members with no guests on the night.
I presented our chef Kumara with an embroidered black Rotary apron with the Rotary Wheel logo and the wording ‘Chief Chandima Kumara’ for all his extra efforts lately in providing our meals which are a feature of our meetings. Our meal for this meeting was an Italian theme which was delicious, in particular, the Tiramisu being the classic coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and cocoa.
A big thank you to Neil Jones who gave a fantastic talk and Power Point Presentation on the full history of the Sister Clubs of Tauranga, New Zealand, Kasaoka, Japan and Broadbeach.
On May 24, 1992, a three-way Sister Club Agreement between the clubs was signed in Kasaoka in conjunction with that club's 35th Anniversary. Members from Broadbeach and Tauranga have attended 40, 50 and 60 year milestone celebrations in Kasaoka in 1997, 2007 and 2017 and we now have an invitation to join their 70th Anniversary Celebrations in April 2027.
In 1995 a party of 15 members and wives paid a visit to Tauranga Club for its 50th Anniversary Celebrations. Broadbeach Members have attended 60, 65, 70 and 80 year milestone celebrations in Tauranga in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2025. During COVID participation in Tauranga 75th Anniversary Celebrations was by ZOOM.
Members of both of our Sister Clubs have joined us to celebrate our Club's 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th and 50th Anniversary Celebrations held in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 217, and 2022.
In 2008 The Language Trainee Agreement between Kasaoka and Broadbeach was signed and sealed. Under this scheme Kasaoka sends out a student to study English at Bond Uni for up to six weeks. Our club supply the home hosting and support. Miki Yagyu was the first unofficial trainee. In September 2008 Chiho Nagashiki arrived as the first official trainee under the program. Five students followed in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019. The program was halted due to Covid but Kasaoka is interested in resuming the program.
The three clubs have been involved in 3 separate projects totalling over US125K to provide medical, dental and ophthalmology equipment on Mercy Ships operating in the South Pacific Region.
Our Sister Club activities forms a wonderful part of our Club History and we all have the opportunity to be part of the next page, the Kasaoka 70th Anniversary Celebrations 16 to 18 April 2027. Please let Neil Jones know if you are at all interested.
It was put to the meeting if members would be interest in attending a Fund Raiser Melbourne Cup Calcutta night on Monday 2nd November at The Hub. With a show of hands, it was almost all members saying yes to the idea. So put the date in your calendar and invite some friends.
Also please put Tuesday 29th September in your calendar to invite friends to a Fund Raiser Trivia Night, conducted by Colin Welch.
I will be overseas for our Fellowship meeting on 18 August and Vice President Pauline will be standing in for me.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Ron
