Rice Is Not Just Rice

Our very own Rotarian and current President, Dr Laurie Lewin, was our guest speaker this week.  Laurie who recently presented to the CWA ladies shared his presentation with us.  Laurie’s fascination with rice started in 1969, when straight out of university he started researching rice at Yanco Agricultural Institute.
 
 
 
Rice Over Time
  • Domesticated about 12,000 years ago
  • Upper reaches of the Pearl River, China
  • Tools for cultivation date back 8,000 years
  • Spread throughout world (120 countries)
  • Main staple for 3.5 billion people
   
 
Rice in Australia
  • High Yield
  • Organised Industry – now over 1 billion dollars
  • Produce types to meet different markets
  • Market to about 60+ countries
  • Mills in Australia, PNG, Jordan, Vietnam, California.
          
 
A new set of challenges
  • Water Reform
  • Competition from other crops
  • Climate change
  • Distorted World Markets
   
 
The Rice Challenge
  • Raise Water Productivity from about 0.8 tonnes/ ML to 1.5 tonnes/ML
 
So, Rice is not Just Rice, But it sure is Nice.   
 
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  Director’s Roundup
 
  • Ham Carnival to be held at Farmers Market – 4 December.
  • Repainting the Showground Gates in heritage colours, details being finalised.
  • Leeton Connect – letter of support.
  • Light Up Leeton – 5 December, Club proposing to attend with BBQ trailer.
  • Joan Graham – formatting a new style of club
  • November is – Rotary Foundation month
 
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Member Update  
 
  • Thursday night, Bob Parsons was presented with a thank you gift for auditing the Rotary financials.
  • As part of Lift the Lid, what do you do when you have forgotten you hat, you improvise Len. 
  • After seven months of travelling Jennifer is back in town and has asked to join our Club.  We welcome her with open arms.
 
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  Laurie’s Quote of the Week
 
The Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
 – Reinhold Niebuhr
 
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Carmel’s Riddle of the Week  
 
What breaks yet never falls, and what falls yet never breaks?
 
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  The Menu  
 
Wow this week we were treated to an authentic Indian feast by our very own ‘indian’ Matt, under the watchful eye and taste tester Singh to ensure everything was up to par.  We were treated to tandoori chicken, vegetable pakora, vegetables with prune chutney and for dessert jalebi with ice cream.
 
         
 
As it was his birthday Len was given the privilege of choosing next week’s.  His selection was Chile (South American) cuisine. 
 
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Riddle Answer: Day, and night.