Rotary Club of Leeton Bulletin (Nov 04, 2022)

President: Graeme Kruger

District Governor: Geraldine Rurenga

Editor: Carmel Cristofaro

Rotary Club of Leeton Bulletin

Volume: 83 Edition: 16 Date: 04 November 2022

Katariina from Finland to Leeton

Acting President for the evening Peter welcomed our guest speaker Katariina Kimpimaki from Finland. Katariina was the Club’s incoming RYE student 20 years ago. Among our other guests for the evening were two of this years’ incoming RYE participants Hanna Maeda from Spain (hosted by our Club) and Joelle Kuhnel from Germany (hosted by Griffith).

During her stay in Leeton, Katariina attended St Francis College and was hosted by the Kirk, Wade, Roddy, Brumfield and Weston families. After returning home from her RYE experience, Katariina quit high school, opting instead to attend trade school to study catering. In 2006 she commenced at University of Applied Sciences and even completed her work experience at Leeton Soldiers Club.

During her studies she worked ‘all the time’ firstly manly as a waitress but also cooking. She said she has worked as a waitress, kitchen hand, bartender, cook, chef, restaurant manager, ‘dish washer’, etc. You name it she has done it including pastry chef. Christmas 2009 saw Katariina graduate with a professional degree in food services.

Christmas 2017, Katariina decided it would be a good idea to buy an old, neglected school located at Southern Ostrobothina / Western Finland by the lake. The buildings operated as a school for about 60 years until 1968. The building had been vacated for quite a number of years. During its operation the school was closed on a number of occasions including WWI and the Winter War of 1939 (Soviet Union and Finland). After some renovations, in March 2018 she started her own business using the premises as a wedding venue and function centre.

In the summer she can accommodate about 150 people, during the winter this number drops to about 110. During the summertime there is usually a wedding every Saturday and some other function on Sundays, with catering usually in the form of a buffet . Also during the summer she operates a café from Monday to Wednesday serving hot and cold beverages, pizzas, burgers, sweet and savoury pastries. Katariina does the cooking, cleaning and serving, although she has staff to assist with function she admits her family in the way of her mum, dad, aunt and uncle help out a lot!

The venue has accommodation for about 20 people. She has even renovated the attic for additional accommodation including her own living quarters. The venue even has a beach sauna.

Katariina will return to Finland shortly. The gas heating costs expected this year during the Finish winter to keep the premises heated will make it unviable to keep it open during the extremely cold winter. So what will Katariina do, she will get back on a plane and come back to Leeton, keeping herself busy working at the Whitton Malt House. At the end of the evening Katariina treated us to a sample of her cooking, which we all agreed tasted just as good as it looked. Katariina you are most welcome to come and visit us anytime you like, and if you want some taste testers, we would be most obliging.

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Graeme’s Something to Smile About

“Umbrella is comfort, rain is life!

You must often leave comfort to touch a life”

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Carmel’s Brain Teaser

Fourteen of the kids in the class are girls.

Eight of the kids wear blue shirts.

Two of the kids are neither girls or wear a blue shirt.

If five of the kids are girls who wear blue shirts, how many kids are in the class?

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Director’s Roundup

Club Christmas Party – 24 November 2022 – Draper’s home, BBQ and BYO drinks. More details to follow.

Leeton Chill & Grill -It has even become a bigger boost to the kitty with the notification that the Club will be compensated for manning the check in gate for the event. Thanks everyone for assisting.

Farewell 2022 – Last meeting at The Hungry Fox - Thursday 8 December 2022.

Club AGM – Thursday - 8 December 2022.

RAWCS Donation – We have been advised that RAWCS donations must be for a specific cause therefore the $500 originally allocated to RAWCS will now be used in the Maribyrnong Area of Victoria, to support flood victims in that area.

Farmers’ Market & Band Spectacular – Saturday 5 November 2022, remember many hands make light work.

David Dean – one of our members received a call from David this week and says hello to all. David told him he felt compassion and sense of community for a young mum with 5 kids living in a tent. This has compelled him to act and is considering joining the local Rotary club.

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Sergeant Peter

President Elect Peter also makes a darn good Sergeant. For someone who supposedly wasn’t prepared he sure did a good job. It is amazing how much money can be raised from the topic of flat pack furniture. Answer: 19. Just think what he could have done ‘if he was prepared’. The term ‘testosterone dilution’ was mentioned when the comment was made about how nice it was to see more females than normal in the room.

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Silly Joke / Meme

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Rotary District 9705 Conference

We all know George’s favourite colour is green so this photo should come as no surprise. Given how much green being worn at last night’s gathering he should have been as happy as a pig in mud. Unfortunately not everybody got the message.

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Graeme’s Quote of the Week

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ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGY BOOKINGS

The Rotary Club of Leeton meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the MIA Function Centre, Racecourse Rd, Leeton.

Apologies must be given before 11:00 am on the day of the meeting to:

Weston & Weston

Ph: 02 – 6953 3199

Fax: 02 – 6953 3551

Email: admin@westonandweston.com.au

Members please note that the Club will charge you for your meal if you do not put in an apology.

Notices

ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGY BOOKINGS