Alright I admit it August has been one heck of a month not just for myself but for all of us. The time has come for the slack Bulletin Editor to catch everyone up on the month so far, so here it t is. Just remember the saying a picture is worth a thousand words.
********************************
Vocational Visit to BarellanThis week a small group of Rotarians hit the road and travelled to Barellan to catch up with some locals and enjoy a Chinese meal at the Barellan & District War Memorial Club.
Barellan is a small service town in the heart of the Riverina which is defined by its huge pub - the Commercial Hotel; its grain silos and the fact that Evonne Goolagong Cawley grew up there and is now honoured by a huge tennis racquet in the main street. Prior to European settlement the area around Barellan was inhabited by the Nari Nari people.
Local Max Jamieson gave us a brief history on the town he is clearly very passionate about. Barellan came into existence in 1909 when the railway line arrived to service the surrounding wheat farmers who had managed to clear the surrounding mallee scrub. A post office was opened the following year.
The name of Barellan is an Aboriginal expression which literally means the meeting of the waters. The Commercial Hotel, "a typically large and rather gracious hotel with an impressive upper verandah", was built in 1924. Barellan was also the first town to have a Country Women's Association (CWA) rest house, built in 1924, the same year as the hotel.
Barellan was once a thriving town with four banks, three churches, three land agents, two hotels, two butcher shops, two cafes, two garages, two blacksmith shops, two grocery shops, hospital and doctor, chemist, post office, railway station, fruit shop, sportsground, showground, school and regular sheep sales held every Friday. Visitors today may find this very hard to believe.
A gradual decline in population has been mainly due to larger-sized properties, good roads and better transport, bank closures and lack of community services. However, the town and its’ people have managed to keep the country spirit very much alive. The Museum was created to preserve the local history. This is a treasure trove full of artefacts and the history of Barellan and the surrounding district. The Barellan Museum Committee have created memorable displays to take you on a journey that will keep the country spirit alive. Barellan has a number of heritage-listed sites, including CWA Rest House.
The town's greatest brush with fame was the international success of a local Wiradjuri girl, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who was born in 1951 in Griffith and attended Barellan Primary School. She started playing tennis in Barellan before travelling to Sydney where she developed her tennis-playing skills.
Graham Pellegrino, President at Barellan & District War Memorial Club, provided us with the history of how the Club came to be. Barellan RSL started interest to build RSL Club, they could not get finance so that folded up. Further interest started with the bowling club in early 1944, they decided, with bowlers, to call it the War Memorial Club.
They bought the land, and started to build the bowling green, the Committee called on 50 members to donate £50 pounds each to start an account at the Rural Bank. In 1944 bricks were carted from the Barellan Hotel which burnt in 1941. The bricks carted were used as a drainage for the green. After working bee’s carried on for 18 months to cart soil to build up around the green and covered the bricks. A small shed was built where the mower shed now is, which was used as a luncheon shed and also filled up with a kerosene fridge, which the post master would come over to start the fridge, fill it up with drinks. It was also used by Mrs Bill Kurtignon and Mrs Oram for lunches and afternoon tea.
The bowling green was finished in 1944 and bowls commenced. The green wasn’t officially opened until 1946. In 1948, it was decided that they were making money so a club was started. The committee bought 12,000 cement bricks at Willans Hill in Wagga. Four members volunteered to bring the bricks home, Alan Jamieson, Dick Albert, Bill Trembath and Dave and Frank Oram. These members refused payments for carting the bricks home.
Peter Ohlsen was the contractor to build the club, starting in 1948. When the new club was finished, the 50 members who gave £50 pounds each refused to take the money back when offered.”
In the late 1900s, a basketball court and four synthetic tennis courts were put down, Keno was installed and a Chinese cook was employed. In the year 2000 and onwards, the club interior was opened up and a modern bar and reverse cycle air conditioning was added. An outside smoking area was built, adding to the comfort of members and guests. This small club, with around six hundred members, has always supported many local charities, sporting clubs and organisations with generous donations. The Club remains a community asset for Barellan and district.
********************************
Debutante Ball Eve 
********************************
Debutante Ball 
After a two year absence (we won’t mention why as we all know the answer) the Rotary Belle of the Debutante Ball was back, better than ever. After months of planning, the night was here for all to pull out those special outfits and get all dolled for what many have said was a fantastic night. The debs looked absolutely gorgeous and their partners did themselves proud. A very big thank you to everyone who assisted in any way. A special thankyou to Carol Chiswell, Brian and Jan Munro, Remedy and Arbour & Ivy and the Leeton Soldiers Club. A huge thank you to Anne Lepper and Bruer Chiswell without them it would not have happened.
********************************
Carmel’s Brain Teaser An Arab sheik is old and must leave his fortune to one of his two sons. He makes a proposition: Both sons will ride their camels in a race, and whichever camel crosses the finish line LAST will win the fortune for its owner. During the race, the two brothers wander aimlessly for days, neither willing to cross the finish line. In desperation, they ask a wise man for advice. He tells them something; then the brothers leap onto the camels and charge toward the finish line. What did the wise man say?
********************************
11 August - RFCS BBQ 
Another event and another successful BBQ by the Club in support of the Rural Financial Counselling Service – Recovery and Resilience Forum held on Thursday 11th August at Yanco Ag Institute.Primary producers and small businesses were invited to attend a brief local update exploring industry insights, rural and business finance and how to plan for rising interest rates, and the importance of self-awareness and community connectiveness when things are tough! Answer: The rules of the race were that the owner of the camel that crosses the finish line last wins the fortune.The wise man simply told them to switch camels.
********************************
Welcome Hanna
After months of uncertainty and delays, Hanna our inbound Rotary Exchange student from Brazil, has finally arrived in Leeton to commence her Rotary Youth Exchange year. Hanna who is currently been hosted by the Wades, was fortunate to be in Leeton in time to attend the Debutante Ball. Welcome, Hanna, to Australia and especially to Leeton. We hope your experience will be one you will never forget.
********************************
Director’s Roundup 
- 2022/2023 Subs - $300 per annum. Invoices have been issued, the preferred payment method is direct transfer into Rotary bank account, details of which will be on invoice.
- RYLA 2023 – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, leadership skills for 18-30 year olds to be held Saturday 7th to Friday 13th January 2023 Murrumbateman. Applications can be found online through the District 9705 website at https://rotary9705.org.au/page/ryla. The closing date for applicants is 31st October 2022, however we would prefer to receive applications by early October.
- Leeton Art Society invitation to the Leeton Museum and Gallery for an evening of live painting demonstrations, nibbles and creative conversation. Leeton Art Society Inc is hosting John Wilson, a renowned painter with 49 years’ experience as an artist, tutor and judge. John is one of Australia’s multi-award-winning oil painters. All are welcome to pop in throughout the evening and mingle while you witness John produce a landscape painting and gain insight into creating a masterpiece! Friday 2nd September, 6:30 - 9pm. Entry is $10 at the door with light refreshments included.
********************************
Stupid Silly Joke 
********************************