Our Meeting
Posted by Doug Sutton on Oct 04, 2016
Rotary Information
James Hamilton presented today's Rotary Information on Poverty and Rotary Health.
Did you know
The United Nations estimated that 200 years ago that 80% of the world’s population lived in poverty. In 1981 44% of world’s population lived in poverty and in 2011 16.3% of world’s population lived in poverty. Of the 16.3% about 700 million people live in extreme poverty where their income is less than US$1.90 per day. Rotary has played an integral part in the reduction of poverty world wide.
Rotary Health
Hat Day, is an initiative of Australian Rotary Health, one of the largest not-for-profit funders of mental health research in Australia.
Australian Rotary Health engages with a variety of funding partners to provide Research Grants and PhD Scholarships. These projects encompass a broad range of general health areas including cancer, heart disease, children’s health, motor neuron disease, diabetes and more.
There are two ways we fund health research:
- Funding Partner PhD Scholarships
- Research Companion PhD
Since the year 2000, Australian Rotary Health has focused its funding on mental health research. In 2012 this focus narrowed to the Mental Health of Young Australians, and in 2013 research projects focussing on the Prevention of Mental Health Disorders were included.
John Egan enlightened us further with the following information: One in five Australians will suffer a mental illness during their lives. Laughter is the best medicine along with Fellowship and exercise. He reminded us to keep a lookout for the symptoms of depression in our friends and families; withdrawal, sadness, lack of interest etc. and make sure to ask them how they are.
John reported that our hat day raised $268 which will be met by the Board making a grand total of $536 which will be forwarded to Rotary Health.
President Geoff determined the winners of the Hat Competition: 1st Prize to Burmo (Looking a lot like Yasser Arafat), 2nd to Tim McMullen and 3rd to Ken Taylor with a special mention to David Pyke and Rob Nicholson.
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Foundation Facts
FOUNDATION FACTS NUMBER 11
“Did you know that less than 20% of Rotarians in New Zealand make regular personal contributions to THE ROTARY FOUNDATION”
BECOME A FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTOR.
Note; It is my understanding that our club has a higher percentage of regular contributors but in this year which is the centenary of Rotary Foundation, I would urge all of our members who don’t already contribute, to become regular contributors.
Bob Willis
Foundation Chair.
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The Forrest Centre Appeal Doug Conkey is looking for helpers at the Golf Day on October 14th. This is in support of the Forrest Centre’s Palliative Care centre. If you can help can you please contact Doug as soon as you can. If you’d like to play, its $50 and you get two free golf balls (should get some of us half way round!!)
Sergeant. Laurie Blowes was today's sergeant and he ordered Corporal Paul Milde to carry the box. With reference to the Gears and Beers Festival, Laurie quoted Mark Twain as saying " learn to ride a bike and you won't regret it - if you live". Everyone was fined for one reason or another: backing the losing football side AFL or NRL; naming Laurie - Blowers instead of Blowes; John Flynn for witnessing a nasty accident in the 50 k ride and Dr Neil Pinto for coming to the rescue with a portable stretcher (a flattened box). He then told an Irish Joke about two cyclists. Paul Milde cross fined Frank Fuller and Peter Green. Mark Hillis fined David Foster for an unbelievable array of stuff up in organising an outing to an AFL match. |
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Gears and Beers
 Phil McIntosh chair of the Gears and Beers Committee and driving force behind our prestige event, said a simple thank you is not enough for the work put into this Sensational Day!
At 2.30 p.m. he was given notice that our event could not proceed in the Victory Memorial Gardens due to the wet conditions and would need to move. A meeting was held, Dave Foster drew up a new map ad we were underway with the fantastic cooperation of Wagga Wagga City Council and their General Manager Alan Eldridge and new Mayor Greg Conkey. All stall holders turned up bar one. Huge credit must be given to Tim Barter who pulled it all together with everyone pitching in to help.
There were 1,102 riders, a new record. Phil said he had spent two hours replying to emails which were all extremely positive about the event. He gave us a sample by reading an email from the owners of the Bright Brewery, who are eager to return again next year.
Phil said that there will be a premiere of an 8 min film of the Wollundry Gears and Beers Festival in about three weeks.
Don't forget to visit www.gearsandbeers.org.au and watch the video of Phil being interviewed by Adam Drummond with many shots of previous rides.
 Tim Barter was equally enthusiastic about the day and thanked everyone who helped out. He said the Facebook response to the event had been great and it appeared the mud and the water had been a positive as far as the riders were concerned.
Tim singled out for a special thank you: Steve McCoy, (Sound and Lighting and Big Screen), Michael Eldridge (his right hand man); Col Duff (power supply); Coates Hire (special equipment) Wagga City Council and Mayor Greg Conkey and Alan Eldridge for their outstanding support and cooperation.
Tim said that the Gears and Beers Festival is not just about how much money we can make. It is much more than that because it creates an event for the community of Wagga which can be enjoyed and shared and that is the most important thing.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF CRICKETING ROTARIANS
All cricket fans are advised that a major international cricketing competition will take place at Duke of Kent Oval starting the 16th of October.
John Gray our chief cricket tragic announced the following:
This will be a great opportunity for fellowship and fun and our Club will support it 100%
BLACK TIE DINNER TWENTY PLUS YEARS
On Tues evening a black tie dinner was held at the Riverine Club for Wollundrians who have completed twenty years of membership. A good crowd came to the event which was hosted by Riverine Club Chair Burmo. A convivial evening of food and drink and fellowship was had by all.
John Ireland and Burmo regaled us with tall tales of a legal variety which centred on the Riverine Club.
The photos below are evidence of the evening.
VISITORS
Tessa Hawkins (John's daughter) and partner Jarrod from Wisconsin.
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