Finally we have been allowed to socialise responsibly and our regular luncheon meeting went ahead last week. It was fantastic to see everyone there – a total of 18 that included guests Christine Lynch and Wayne Koppel. We heard from Caitlyn Carter who was the recipient of the Frank Glasson Award and she had faced many challenges herself due to the Covid-19. She is still studying and already enrolled into 2nd Semester. She expressed her thanks to the club for supporting her with her studies. Well done Caitlyn!
As the Rotary Year finalises up this week we congratulate Bob Booth for his tremendous 18 months as our President. Bob successfully initiated the fundraising for the Defibrillator at the GBH and we now have 6 mobile defibrillators in the Grafton CBD.
We welcome our change of leadership with the new board;
President Robert Blanchard
Immediate Past President Bob Booth
President Elect Lee Taylor
Secretary Greg Butcher
Treasurer Johannes Venter
Service Projects - Foundation Amanda Ryder
Youth Director Leila Thompson
Club Service – Membership Jenny Hyland
Public Relations Des Harvey
Congratulations and well done to you all we look forward to another Rotary year full of fun and interesting projects.
Rotary Grace
Oh Lord and Giver of all Good
We thank thee for our daily food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our days
Bring local colour and culture to our centenary. The R100 Baton Relay is an event to connect all Rotary Clubs across Australia and NZ with their communities.
Imagine Rotarians, local personalities, Councillors, community leaders, community groups and everyday people carrying the baton of service and passing it forward.
Energise your Club and create a celebration of 100 years of Rotary by planning an event – a Dinner, a Fundraiser, a Walk through Town or maybe a Fun Run. Involve your community in the planning, engage community groups and local businesses to be part of your group. Reach out to media to get your message out.
Your event is a fun way to build your network, build healthy fellowship and diversify engagement.
Be Proud. Be Bold. Be Involved. Be People of Action.
For more about this R100 Centenary Initiative, contact PP Linda Humphries R100@District9820.org
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Trivia 3rd Place Setters - We have a table booked every Wednesday evening - numbers are limited due to social distancing rules - please let us know if you would like to come along.....
A huge congratulations to 3 of our upstanding members - 31 years ago on the 26 June they joined Rotary. Between them we have 93 years of knowledge. Well done to you all you are all amazing members.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
Grant applications for projects will be accepted beginning on 1 July 2021. Gifts and commitments from Rotarians and others will be sought to provide global grant support for the new area of focus.
More information about this new cause will be announced soon.
By Dr. John Philip, Chair of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Doctors
Many of our members are on the front line in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. As the International Fellowship of Rotarian Doctors, we decided to reach out to them, show support, share views and ideas to learn from each other.
We held two online ‘round table’ discussions attended by 30-35 members and guests from different parts of the world. During the first meeting, members from different countries – including the UK, US, Canada, Uganda, Nigeria, Malaysia, India and Mexico – exchanged views and shared experiences.
As the Chair of the Doctors Fellowship, I found it moving to hear stories of our members going the extra mile to look after seriously ill patients under challenging circumstances, often at personal risk. It was clear that many were burdened by shortages of personal protection and inadequate equipment. Some also commented about having to cope with social stigma and hostile responses to Covid-19 patients.
The second online round table discussion focused on two specific topics – end of life care and challenges of providing maternity care.
Members of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Doctors
Health professionals are facing unprecedented difficulties during this pandemic. The number of deaths is overwhelming – in some units there is little time to get over one death before having to move on to care for another patient. Relatives are unprepared, almost always unable to offer love and care to sick family members and unable to receive comfort and support during bereavement.
Maternity care – especially in emergencies – expose attendant doctors and midwives to special risk. Anaesthesia, when needed, require special protective provisions. There are often practical problems in allowing partner’s presence in the delivery room.
Many doctors are suffering under the strains of overwork and personal risk with little support. Our discussions reassured them that the whole Rotary world prides in their dedication and wishes them well. The International Fellowship of Rotarian Doctors is a multidisciplinary, international group. We are the natural home of all health professionals in Rotary and beyond.
Through these online meetings and email communications, we are now in contact with colleagues from different parts of the world. We hope that our network will grow, and we will be able to draw together grass root views and experiences at this time of global crisis.
Since these meetings, there have been increased discussions relating to treatment options. Other issues that were raised are – exit strategy, prevention, ethical considerations, digital technology (do’s and don’ts) and collateral damage.
We are planning future online round table discussions. To find out more, please contact me.
Rotary Fellowships allow you to stay engaged with members by giving you an opportunity to connect with people with a shared interest all over the world. The pandemic has changed the way many members connect with each other; Fellowships have always been a way to connect virtually with like-minded Rotary members. June is Rotary Fellowships Month. Learn more about these groups.
We all know the familiar and pleasing scent of fresh rain, but what is it exactly? This refreshing odour is released when humidity increases right before the rain and fills the pores of stones with miniscule droplets of water. This tiny amount of water is enough to flush oil from the stones, releasing it into the air along with a compound known as geosmin, which is a by-product of a particular type of bacteria. Once the rain begins to fall, the scent spreads easily on the breeze.
And yes, there is a name for the smell of rain. In 1964, two Australian scientists from the CSIRO, Isabel (Joy) Bear and Richard Thomas came up with the word ‘petrichor’. This word is derived from the Greek ‘petra’ for stone, and ‘ichor’ which, in Greek mythology, is the ethereal blood of the gods. So there you have it: petrichor – the blood of the stone.
Kind regards
Amanda Ryder
JOKE CORNER
Had to wait in line at the cash machine after I did my shopping and
someone pinched the frozen peas from my bag.
You really have to watch your peas in queues these days.
When I want a family meeting, I just turn the wi-fi off and they all come running
I met the guy who invented the oxo cube in the Co-op earlier today!!!
He was quite stocky...
I just bought a Thesaurus and when I got home the pages were blank! I have no words to describe how angry I am.
