In The Chair: President Carmel
Members: 14
Guests: Joe Briggs
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Joe Briggs – Active Farmers
Joe hails from Coleambally where he is the 5th generation of his family to farm in the area. While the farm business was built on rice, he now mainly grows cotton. The last time he was in the Hydro was in 1996 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of his grandparents.
Back in 2019, when Joe looked across his southern NSW cotton farm, all he could see was brown, parched earth. His finances were dwindling, water wasn’t available to grow crops and the isolation of living on a rural property was biting. He was really struggling.
He got involved with the group ‘Active Farmers’ and signed himself up for a 500km charity bike ride. It worked. The challenge took his mind off the drought and helped improve his mental health. The fitness bug had bitten, and he hasn’t looked back. He sometimes exercises at the Gym in Leeton (along with the Rhodes clan).
Along with his involvement in Active Farmers as a Board member, he is now the president of the Coleambally Community Gym – a facility built almost eight years ago to serve the local area and help get farmers off the tractor and onto the treadmill. He is also a member of the Southern Valley Cotton Association, President of the Coleambally Community Gym, member of Apex, and committee member for the Coleambally Demonstration Farm.
He is a prominent supporter of Active Farmers who has participated in the inaugural 'Ride for Resilience' as well as instigated the Coleambally Active Farmers community and the successful running of the Coleambally Active Games held annually in March.
His new project has him facing a number of challenges over 75 days – reducing alcohol, exercising and reading at least 10 pages of a book each day (the hardest challenge).
As a Board member for Active Farmers, he has suggested they raffle a tractor. The tractor is a John Deer (worth over $280,00) and tickets are $100. Funds will go to the Active Farmers initiative.
Fir more information on Active farmers visit: https://activefarmers.com.au/
Matt thanked Joe on behalf of the club.
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Rebus Puzzle
What does this mean?
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Director’s Roundup
- President Carmel
- We are waiting for Central to nominate their members to the Rotunda Committee.
- We are going to WorkLocker on 5 September and there will be some shirts for a decision on our new style – The majority decision will prevail.
- Roxy Visit (see under Greg Brown).
- Buster Ryan Scholarship. We have agreed to administer the Scholarship to be awarded to two TAFE attendees. We will also provide one member for the selection panel. Please see below for more details.
- Treasurer Len
- All subs but one paid. Some paid twice?
- Greg Brown
- Can facilitate visits to the Roxy. Only 9 – 10 per night before Rotary. Numbers were taken for the first visit next week at 5pm. At the Wade Ave entrance.
- Community Service Director Graeme
- Market day is 7th September. Numbers to Barry next week.
- Bruer
- Work on the Showground gates is due to start very soon.
- Buster Ryan Scholarship
- In honour of the contribution Buster Ryan made to the Leeton community, and to support the promotion of safe work practices among young workers and new entrants to vocational careers, the Killoran Ag company has partnered with the Rotary Club of Leeton to put in place the Buster Ryan Memorial TAFE Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any TAFE student currently studying, working, or residing in Leeton Shire LGA, and will be awarded in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to two recipients in each of those years, with a total of $15,000 to be disbursed in the life of the scholarship.
- The recipient of the Buster Ryan Memorial TAFE Scholarship will be allocated $2500 to spend on workplace tools or equipment that will enhance their health and safety on the job. Recipients will be able to bring the invoice for the items they wish to purchase to the Rotary Club of Leeton Treasurer, who will pay them on the recipient's behalf - the sum of $2500 will not be awarded in cash.
- Applications must be received by the Rotary Club of Leeton before 11.59pm pm Sunday 15th September 2024 to be considered by the judging panel. The award ceremony will be at 12.00pm on Wednesday 23rd of October at TAFE NSW Leeton, 117-119 Palm Avenue, Leeton NSW.
- More information can be gleaned from: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8229/Page/buster-ryan-memorial-tafe-scholarship
- A: Eiffel Tower
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Member Update – Laurie Lewin
Laurie noted that he has retired since the last update and has little to do with rice research any more. But his problems with water (both too much and too little) remain.
He went on to describe how he has used automatic timers plus internet cameras to allow he and Carol to go away without worrying too much about what was happening to the water at home.
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Sergeant’s Session – Graeme Kruger
This was an Olympic test of our Olympics and general knowledge. It ended with some very obscure beer questions. It was a fun session.
Winner of the gold medal was ?. We weren’t sure how the Silver was awarded to an odd number when the graph moves in two’s.
Raffle was won by Geoff.
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We’ll get Brian to Vet this story.
A man takes his sick Chihuahua to the Vet. They’re immediately taken back to a room. Soon, a Labrador walks in, sniffs the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Then a cat comes in, stares at the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Finally, the Vet comes in, prescribes some medicine and hands the man a $250 bill.
“This must be a mistake,” the man says. “I’ve been here only 20 minutes!”
“No mistake,” the doctor says. “It’s $100 for the lab test, $100 for the cat scan and $50 for the medicine.”
“This must be a mistake,” the man says. “I’ve been here only 20 minutes!”
“No mistake,” the doctor says. “It’s $100 for the lab test, $100 for the cat scan and $50 for the medicine.”
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