Monday July 20th 2026 

President Leslie Weston opened the meeting and welcomed 23 of our members to the meeting and 15 guests, including our main guest speaker Anne-Marie Bramich and her husband Jamie.  Tina Kendall-Davies our second speaker on mental health and cancer.   The Lions from Coolamon were there including their president Mark Uhr and PP of CRC Lion Wayne Lewis and Helen and four other Lions.  The Coolamon Men’s Shed was represented by Peter Condon.  Ivan Furner and Garth Perkin made up the remaining guests.

After dinner Wayne Lewis introduced our guest speaker Anne Marie Bramich who is a Prostrate Cancer Nurse and Anne-Marie’s talk centered on what is prostrate cancer and how it can be treated.  Sixty four men in Australia are diagnosed with prostrate cancer each day with around 10 who die as a result, each day from this cancer.

Anne-Marie’s advice was to get a PSA blood test done by your GP followed, and if abnormal you need to have a meeting with a specialist, who will do a physical examination, followed by advanced imaging.  Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy and chemo therapy.  There are several side effects to surgery and treatment which includes erectile dysfunction, fatigue, urinary and bowel problems.

Anne-Marie’s talk was followed up by Tina Kendall-Davis Founder and Director of Anytime Counselling.  Tina is from Coolamon and has built a service that: delivers confidential support to rural and remote communities, breaks down barriers that stop people from asking for help, strengthens families and supports vulnerable women, and builds partnerships with local organisations to reach those doing it tough.

Mental health matters – and in small communities especially, access and anonymity can make all the difference. Tina understands that, and she is making it easier for people not just to survive, but to thrive.

Tina was named the 2026 Cootamundra Electorate Local Woman of the Year, recognised for her outstanding contribution to improving access to mental health support across regional communities.

Tina spoke in detail about why it is so important to talk about your diagnosis with good friends and family.  Tina said that it was important to do this from a mental health prospective. As some men turn to self harm and suicide as a result of their diagnosis.  Tina’s talk prompted Mark Uhr, the Lions president, to bravely speak about his son’s suicide.

All in all a very good wake up call to all of us and there were many questions asked of Anne-Marie and Tina.  Also available is Can Assist in Coolamon who are there to help.  Can Assist provides financial support to local residents who have been given a diagnosis of cancer.  You can contact them on 0493 315 162 or via their website:

Can Assist Canola Way

There was a lot to take in and the subject matter was very much appreciated by all who attended.

Thanks to Mary Potts and Michael Trinidad for the photos.

We then followed with a farewell to PP Garth Perkin given by JJG.

HASTE YE BACK GARTH PERKIN

Tonight PP Garth Perkin officially said fare thee well to Coolamon Rotary as Garth is going to join the e-Club of Brindabella.   Garth is planning to do some travelling over the next few months in his ute and with his two dogs.  Going bush camping!!

John Glassford gave a emotional farewell to our good friend and member of Coolamon RC for 26 years, Garth.

Garth joined the CRC in October 2000 and has been our president twice.  Garth was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship and served as D9705 Assistant Area Governor.  Garth was on of our most active members and served on the Board for many tears and on several committees.  Garth was always one of the first to volunteer no matter what was needed.

I will remember Garth for his international service in Cambodia and in India.  In Cambodia Garth volunteered to help with a school and in India Garth joined Dr. Alok Sharma.  Alok’s project was called Darkness to Light with the RC Of Wagga Wagga.  Alok and his volunteers travel to India restoring sight to those who have cataracts and cannot afford to have the cataracts removed.

Garth has also walked the Larapinta Trek and raised funds for ShelterBox Australia.  Garth is a member of the  D9705 ShelterBox committee.

Garth was also involved in community work outside of Rotary and was a Councilor for the Coolamon Shire Council and on the Local Health Area Committee.

Here are just a few photos of Garth and his time with the CRC:

Please click on the image for a larger version:

Below are some photos of Garth and Marg who supported Garth in his many days and hours of Rotary service.

On a personal note I will always be grateful for Garth’s support for our Road MAPS to Africa projects.  Above all for his friendship with Susan and I over the past 23 years or so.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

Monday July 27th.  Normal dinner meeting.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday August 3rd – Guest Speaker Jane Ross a Prosecutor.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Tuesday August 4th Wagga Wagga Netball Catering. We need volunteers and we need to provide the food.  Their canteen has all the facilities.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  WOLLUNDRY RC ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION

First Place Overall Winner

2.  From wildfires to wildflowers.

3.  POLIO IRON LUNG’S LAST WOMAN DIES.

Martha Ann Lillard, the last known American living in an iron lung, has died at 78 after long COVID and the failure of her aging machine.

Rest in peace 

Lillard contracted polio on her fifth birthday in 1953, just two years before the first effective polio vaccine became widely available in the United States.

Within days, she could no longer breathe or move her arms and legs. Doctors placed her inside an iron lung, a large metal ventilator that used changes in air pressure to expand and contract her chest.

Lillard later regained the ability to walk, but the disease left her with a paralyzed right arm, scoliosis, and only about 25% lung capacity. She continued using the iron lung because modern respirators could not provide the breathing support she needed.

Despite those challenges, Lillard built a creative and compassionate life. She painted, wrote poetry, composed music for the left hand piano, and was remembered for helping people and rescuing abandoned animals.

In later years, post-polio syndrome caused increasing weakness and fatigue. After contracting COVID-19 twice and developing long COVID, she eventually needed the iron lung around the clock.

Keeping the decades-old machine working became increasingly difficult. Some of its parts dated to the 1940s, and her family struggled to find anyone who knew how to repair it. When a tornado caused a power outage last year, her husband kept her breathing through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until help arrived.

Lillard died on June 26. Her obituary listed long COVID as her cause of death.

JULY IS ROTARY’S  MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday July 13th 2026 

President Leslie opened the meeting and welcomed 18 of our members to the meeting and the following guests, PP Garth Perkin and Susan Glassford.

Leslie started the meeting with some information from:

• Vicki Langtry spoke on the Junee RC Change Over meeting.    They inducted 2 new members and now have 19 members which includes 3 Honourary members.  There was a PHF awarded during the afternoon.
• Mary Potts attended the Wagga Wagga Sunrise change over dinner.
• Secretary Henk Hulsman reported on the preceding board meeting and in particular on the report by our Club Admin Director, Dick Jennings:
  • Dick is organising two guest speakers for August.  On Monday August 3rd Jane Ross a Prosecutor will be our guest speaker.  Hopefully Julie Clarke a former member will give a presentation on her life after leaving Coolamon and on her work with Blaze Aid.  BTW Julie has taken some amazing photos that Julie posts to Facebook on her travels.
  • Vicki will take orders for our high viz vests that we all should wear when we are doing public service e.g. Coolamon to Wagga road clean up.  There are several vests in our shed.  The key to the shed is available from Henk, Albert, Dick, Annie and Paul.
  • Henk asked us all to bring our Working With Children Check # up to date.
• Annie spoke on:
  • the roster for the volunteering at the Wagga Wagga Netball on August 4th.
  • Anzac biscuit making for Saturday 26th September for Gears & Beers.
• Mary Potts suggested that we all do the food handling basic online training course.  It takes an hour and details can be found here: Food Handling Course
• Our guest speaker for Monday 20th July will be prostate cancer nurse Anne Marie Bramich a reminder that it is a joint Lions/Rotary meeting.

We celebrated Lexis’s birthday by eating her chocolates!

S@A Daryl Breust then conducted a brief fines session and the best was on Albert and Ted for getting bogged on a crop drive, very amusing.

The raffle was won by JG the voucher for the Coolamon Butchers.

All in all a productive meeting with plenty of good and enjoyable fellowship, as always.

The meeting closed at 8.30pm.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

*Monday July 20th – Joint Dinner meeting with Coolamon Lions Club. Guest speaker prostate cancer nurse Anne Marie Bramich.  The subject is mental health and those who have been diagnosed with cancer. Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday July 27th.  Normal dinner meeting.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday August 3rd – Guest Speaker Jane Ross a Prosecutor.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Tuesday August 4th Wagga Wagga Netball Catering. We need volunteers and we need to provide the food.  Their canteen has all the facilities.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  Rotary 360 | The official blog of Rotary International

2 .  Saving mothers and children in Nigeria

Health workers do community outreach for the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria program.

By Olubunmi Afolabi, Communications Officer, Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria

I rarely struggle to get out of bed in the morning. The thought of the countless lives touched by Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria (THFN), a Programs of Scale recipient, gives me strength for each new day. Statistics on Nigeria’s maternal mortality – 512 deaths for every 100,000 pregnant mothers – may appear faceless on paper, but not to me. I see the mothers. I see the babies. I have stood in the very rooms where those numbers either become tragedies or triumphs.

On the second day of our Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care:

FULL STORY HERE

3.  SOME STORIES FROM CLUBS IN OUR D9705

1. Temora RC made the news last week with a full page article on their 78th change over dinner:

2.  The Rotary Club of Blayney are calling on our local knitters. We are hoping to add 1 or 2 knitted trauma teddies to our Domestic Violence Go Bags. If you would like to make and donate a teddy to this cause, we are hoping to start with 20.If you would like to knit a teddy, a pattern is available… just google ‘trauma teddies’ and there is information and a pattern available on the Red Cross site. You can drop them off over the next 2 months at 15 Lane St Blayney in the green box on the front verandah.

3.  Junee RC Change Over Dinner. CRC had a good representation at the Junee RC change over dinner.

The president for 2026-2027 is Neil McKenzie.  Junee also inducted two new members and awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship to Bernard Hart.  Mary said that DG Judy Ford, who was at Junee, will try to get to Coolamon soon.

Thanks for the photos Mary:

JULY IS ROTARY’S  MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday July 6th 2026 

President Leslie opened the 1st CRC meeting for the new Rotary year and welcomed 20 of our members to the meeting.  No guests.

Leslie started the meeting with some information:

• Garth Perkin is joining the e-Club of Brindabella.
• Paul Weston is an apology and Leslie said that Paul was not too well due to the chemo treatment that he is having.   We all wish Paul the best.
• Mary Potts advised the members that we have been invited to run the BBQs for the Wagga Netball club.  The last one we supported yielded $1,200 for the club.  They have three events as follows:
  • 4th August, with 200 students plus teachers, 7th  September and the 9th September around 500 students.
  • All we need are volunteers and provide the food.  Their canteen has all the facilities.
  • A roster will be made available next week.
• Mary Potts suggested that we all do the food handling basic online course.  It takes an hour and details are:
  • Food Handling Course
• Our guest speaker for Monday 20th July will be prostate cancer nurse Anne Marie Bramich.

We had some general business which included:

• Ted Hutcheon expressed concern about the catering for funerals at the Sports Club.  Lexi Furner then went into some detail on what can be done.  In a nutshell the providers for this catering is done by the Coolamon and Ganmain Hospital Auxiliary.  They charge $10 per head which goes to the Auxiliary.  The snacks they make are excellent.  Even with many members they cannot get enough to do the preparation of the snacks.  Lexi said that they need new volunteers.  Please contact Lexi if you know of anyone who could volunteer.
•  Dick Jennings our new Club Admin Director then spoke on several items:
  • Dick is organising two guest speakers for August (to be advised).
  • Dick is looking for our high viz vests that we all should wear when we are doing public service e.g. Coolamon to Wagga road clean up.  There are several vests in our shed.
  • The kitchen at the club is about to be renovated and when done our new chef Kevin will have a new range of dishes.  Kevin said that he can cook whatever we like once the kitchen is up to speed.  This is when we only have 20 or fewer in attendance.  However we need to let Kevin know on the Sunday.
  • Dick would like the meetings to start on time at 7.00pm no later so that we can finish on time for the bar staff.
  • There will be a board meeting at 5.30pm next Monday afternoon.
• Daryl Breust spoke briefly on Gears and Beers upcoming in October.  Wollundry RC have been active on social media recently with some great photos:

We then had the raffle draw with 1st prize to Annie and three runner up Gary, Alex and Adrian followed by five jokes.

The meeting closed on time at 8.45 pm.  Thanks Leslie for a well run meeting.  We had plenty of time for fellowship before and after the meeting.

N.B. Editor’s note:  As a member of this club I would like to request that we go back to the U-shaped dinner settings for two reasons.  One is that we cannot talk with many at the long table setting.  Two, some of us cannot hear well, even with a hearing aid and the U shape setting is so much better for those of us who have a hearing problem.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

Monday July 6th – President Leslie Weston’s first meeting for the new Rotary year.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday July 13th – First Board Meeting for 2026-2027.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

Monday July 13th – Regular Dinner Meeting.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday July 20th – Joint Dinner meeting with Coolamon Lions Club. Guest speaker prostate cancer nurse Anne Marie Bramich.  The subject is mental health and those who have been diagnosed with cancer. Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. R.I. PRESIDENT’S JULY MESSAGE

Olayinka H. Babalola

President 2026-27

July 2026

Rotary has a way of surprising you.

It surprises you when a stranger across the table becomes a lifelong friend. It surprises you when a small project in one neighborhood ripples outward in ways you never imagined. And it may surprise you when you realize that the person Rotary has changed most … is you.

That is why this year, we are called to harness the change within ourselves, to look to the future, and to Create Lasting Impact.

Now, I want to be clear about what those words mean. Change is only the beginning. Impact is what endures. We must think of the long-term impact of every project. How can a new water system contribute to the long-term health of a community? Can residents help other communities build their own? How can a new classroom be part of a wider strategy to improve education in the area? That is the sort of thinking we need.

As we prioritize impact, we must also consider how our actions can contribute to peacebuilding. Peace does not happen by accident. It must be built deliberately and strategically. As you plan your next project, ask yourself: “How does this create the conditions for peace?” Consult the Pillars of Positive Peace to learn how we can bring the world one step closer to peace in everything we do.

The more you change your community and the world, the more you will change. Don’t just tell people about the projects you have run or the funds you have raised. Tell them how Rotary has shaped who you are. Those personal stories open doors, inspire new members, and remind all of us why we are here.

Storytelling is also an excellent way to recruit new members and raise funds. We need more people standing with us and more resources if we are to end polio, spread peace, and have a lasting impact on the world. We have set a goal of increasing membership to 1.25 million Rotarians and more than 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030, just in time for Rotary’s 125th anniversary.

Sit down with your club and look back over your accomplishments in the last few years. Find your best year. Maybe it was a record year for new members. Maybe you reached a fundraising milestone. Maybe you completed a project that the whole community is still talking about. Once you find that year, I challenge you to do better than your best.

In these ways and more, we will Create Lasting Impact across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Thank you, my dear friends. Now let’s get to work.

2.  Here’s a great idea to support polio plus!!!!

3.  R.I. MONTHLY THEMES

JULY IS ROTARY’S  MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB CHANGE OVER DINNER 2026

Monday June 29th. 2026 

Tonight was our 55th Change Over Dinner and our Master of Ceremonies was PP Adrian Lindner.

We had 24 members attending along with 41 guests and partners.   Our VIP guests were Mayor David McCann and Angela McCann and our RI representative was our good friend PDG Fred Loneragan.  Apologies from Michael McCormack Federal MP, Stephanie Cooke NSW MP and Tony Donahue GM of the Coolamon Shire Council.

MC Adrian introduced our visiting Rotarians from Kooringal RC, Wagga Sunrise RC, the e-Club of Brindabella and our neighbouring club Junee RC.  Mayor Dave then welcomed everyone to the Coolamon Shire and spoke on how volunteers like Rotary and Lions make such a difference to our community.  Dave especially thanked our club for the work that we have done and still do to produce the Coolamon Community Chronicle.

President Mary Potts then proposed the toast to Rotary International which was responded to by PDG Fred Loneragan.  PDG Fred spoke on how Rotary changes the lives of people around the world and he made special reference to the work that our club does both locally and internationally.   PG Fred reminded all present that Wagga Wagga was the first Rotary Peace City in the world followed by Coolamon which became the first Rotary Peace Town in the world in February 2003.   Fred spoke on what impact Rotarians around the world have in education, peace, health and especially the fight against polio.

PDG John Glassford then proposed a toast to our partners and emphasised that members need their partners to support them otherwise life would be difficult to keep attending our meetings and carrying out volunteering efforts.

President Mary Potts then gave her report for the 2025-2026 Rotary year.  A full transcript of Mary’s report can be obtained on request.  Mary said that it was and honour to serve as our president.  In all we donated $25,565 to various beneficiaries during 2025 -2026.  Our largest donation was to the Coolamon and Ganmain Hospital Auxiliary for $5,000.  Some of our efforts included:

• Gears and Beers supporting Wollundry RC
• Catering with several BBQs including working with Lions on NYE.
• Cleaning up the Coolamon to Wagga road as part of an Epic Rotary Day.
• Christmas Toy Drive for the Salvation Army.

Our club inducted three new members in the past Rotary year:

• Mark Dubois
• Happy
• Michael Trinidad

Mary then made several presentations including:

• The Salvation Army represented by Caleb from Temora.
• The Coolamon and Ganmain Hospital Auxiliary.
• Allawah Lodge.

We then had the presentation to Chris and Joanne Berry from the Coolamon Fire Museum which was done by Henk Hulsman.  This was the award for Excellence in Workmanship and community spirit.  The fire museum has been going for 10 years and is an excellent attraction for all who visit Coolamon and they hold a muster every October Labor Day weekend.

We then drew the raffle which was won by Don Dyce and runner up Daryl Breust.

The lucky door prize was won by Colin Wiese from Sunrise RC.

President Mary then Inducted PE Leslie Weston as our President for 2026-2027.

President Leslie then inducted her Board of Directors for 2026-2027.

Our caterers Michelle Seymour and her team provided an excellent three course dinner enjoyed by all present.

MC Adrian then closed the meeting and thanked everyone for attending another excellent change over dinner for our wonderful vibrant club.

Our thanks go to PP Mary and her 2025-2026 Board for an excellent and enjoyable Rotary year.  We wish President Leslie and her Board all the best for the next twelve months.

Here are some highlights of the evening, remember to click on the image to get a larger version.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

Monday July 6th President Leslie Weston’s first meeting for the new Rotary year.  Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  THE GAME CHANGER

Meet your 2026-27 Rotary president, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola

Olayinka “Yinka” Hakeem Babalola is sitting on the wrong side of his desk, staring at the tiny squares on the laptop perched in front of him. He’s just finished speaking on a call with 300 Rotaractors from the African continent and other parts of the world, Rotary’s president-elect explains as he turns down the volume. “They held a celebration for me because I’m a past Rotaractor,” he says. By seeing Babalola, himself once in their shoes, embarking on the highest position in Rotary, who knows how many of the 300 he will inspire. It’s early October, less than two months since the Rotary International Board of Directors selected Babalola to lead Rotary, in a special session in late August after the resignation of RI President-elect Sang Koo Yun, who died shortly after, following months of cancer treatment.

FULL STORY HERE

2. WOMEN IN ROTARY

As we enter the next Rotary year at the CRC with Leslie Weston as our President following last year with Mary Potts as our President.  I thought that you might like to read the history of when women were allowed to join Rotary.

There would be no women in Rotary without this amazing trailblazer. From RI President 2022-2023 Jennifer Jones and RI President 2024-2025 Stephanie Urchick on down, we all sit at Sylvia Whitlock’s feet. Educator and Rotary icon, Sylvia is the woman behind the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that required Rotary to allow women in its member clubs.

The Rotary Club of Duarte (CA) wanted Sylvia to be its president, Rotary begged to differ, but the Ex Rotary Club of Duarte wouldn’t take no for an answer. One of the silver linings of the Pandemic was her virtual appearance at the 2021 Rotary District 7230 Conference “weekend.” Here she is in Taipei, going strong.

In 1987, Whitlock became president of the Rotary Club of Duarte making her the first woman to hold such a position within Rotary International. The chapter’s charter had previously been revoked in 1978 after they violated Rotary International policy by admitting women. The Duarte club filed suit in the California courts claiming that Rotary Clubs are business establishments subject to regulation under Unruh Civil Rights Act.

On May 4, 1987, the United States Supreme Court confirmed the Californian decision supporting women, in the case Board of Directors, Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte. After the ruling, Rotary International ended their policy of gender restrictions.

Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award

A huge congratulations to our charter President Diane Collins on receiving this year’s Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award at the Women in Rotary function at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg.

This award was established in 2017 and was first presented at a Women in Rotary event at the Atlanta Convention. The award recognizes individuals (men or women) who have contributed to the success of women in Rotary.

{Editor’s Note: Dr Diane Collins is a good friend and the wife of Past RID Ken Collins RC of Freshwater Bay, now deceased.}

JULY IS ROTARY’S  MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING 

Monday June 22nd. 2026 

President Mary Potts welcomed 22 members and 8 guests including: Marilyn Jennings, Kevin and Heather Parker (Annie’s brother and sister-in-law),  Happy’s husband Glen Bartram and his sister Cindy Bartram.  Also present were Cassie Goding and her mother Fiona Goding, Cassie creates leather products and is a neighbour of Happy.   Tonight was a special night for our club with the induction of Happy who joins us.

We welcomed back Garth Perkin from his very recent visit to Europe.  We are looking forward to hearing about the countries that he visited.

Mary opened her last meeting with a report on the Red Shield Appeal and thanked the following volunteers:

Bear for collecting $545.45 at Marrar the previous weekend and at the Coolamon v Ganmain game on Sunday  we collected $1,500 thanks to Dick Jennings, Mark Dubois, Happy, Annie and her family.  An excellent result with just over $2,000 collected this year for the Salvation Army.

Mary said that we have a guest speaker coming on Monday July 20th.  This will be a joint Coolamon Lions and Rotary meeting.  Clr. Wayne Lewis has invited Tina Kendal-Davies (Anytime Counselling).  The subject is mental health that is an integral part of anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer.

PE Leslie reminded everyone that the change over dinner is next Monday 29th June.  Please get you numbers in as soon as possible.  Ian Jennings has agreed to send out the SMS.  So get your answers in to Ian ASAP as the caterers need to know, thanks.  Volunteers who will be setting up the change over tables will meet at 3.00pm on Monday afternoon to help.

After dinner we had the raffle draws for the excess dinners and there were 7 in all.  Won by Bondy, Myffy, Annie, Marilyn, Lexis, Barry and Gary.

President Mary then called up Happy for her induction into Rotary and our club.  Happy has an amazing CV and very impressive.  We look forward to what Happy will bring to our club and her expertise in all things Internet wise and wigs!!!

Mary conducted the induction and we all welcomed our newest Rotarian world wide, to our wonderful club.  Thanks to Paul for making Happy’s dinner badge which reads Happy Okpidama and Happy’s classification is Wig Entrepreneur.

Happy said that she was very excited to become a member as you can all see by her smile above!

All present made Happy feel very welcome to our club and following her induction, we had 7 jokes in lieu of a fines session.  The winner was Vicki with a blonde joke!

All present gave President Mary a vote of thanks by acclamation and thanked her for a wonderful year leading this club.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm which left plenty of time for fellowship and catching up.

One of our best meetings for a while, the future looks good for this club!

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. RICON TAIPEI 2026

Above plenty of Kenyans!

This is why you go to Rotary Conventions thanks to PDG Eric Kimani from Kenya Rotary D9212.

Taiwan, Belonging, and the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

“Taiwan has left me with indelible memories. A simple act—our colleague’s phone returned within an hour by the police after being left in a taxi—spoke volumes about the efficiency, warmth, and integrity of this country. It is a place where systems work, and people care.

Yet beyond these moments of hospitality, my last few days here have been filled with deeper reflections. Rotary’s General Secretary and CEO, John Hewko, reminded us that loneliness is the next global pandemic. Japan has already appointed a Minister for Loneliness, and Taiwan, with its trains full of passengers absorbed in their phones, may soon face the same challenge. Rotary has chosen “belonging” as our antidote—through relationships, purpose, and meaningful social interaction.

Voices of inspiration echoed throughout our gathering. Nobel Laureate Malala reminded us that “ordinariness together makes us extraordinary.” A young TED speaker, in her poem on hope, urged us to remember that history does not favor the passive—the hero’s journey is long, but it demands courage. My greatest takeaway: people are not the periphery, they are the principal.

As I prepare to leave Taiwan, I carry with me the anticipation of Barcelona next year—a city where Rotary found me in 2002 and set me on a path from ordinary to extraordinary. And I celebrate the milestone ahead: my friend and District Governor classmate, Hakeem Yinka Babalola, will become only the second African to serve as Rotary International President in 116 years. He is a game-changer. Watch his space.

Taiwan has shown me efficiency, kindness, and cultural richness. Rotary has reminded me of belonging, courage, and the power of ordinary people united in extraordinary purpose. Together, they reaffirm that the future is not built on systems alone, but on people—always people.”

One of my best Rotary mates from Kenya who now lives and works in Nigeria is Jane Mberia some of you met Jane when Jane came over to our D9700 Conference in Griffith and was accompanied by our Tracy Ochieng.

Our new RI President is from Nigeria:

2.  ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS:

Explore our fellowships: BREW

Above: Welcome from Taipei. Having a little of the Taiwan Beer with Director Kevin Stevens. 

Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (BREW) Fellowship is one of the newest officially recognized Rotary fellowships. The fellowship was created for Rotarians around the worlds who love to drink and make beer.

BREW founders Moses, Steve, Patrick and Martin BREW was started and organized in 2013 by Past District 5160 Governor Steve Lack, a member of the Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill, California USA; Moses Aryee, Past Assistant Governor of the then District 9102 and member of the Rotary Club of Accra-West, Ghana and Past District 5440 Governor Martin Limbird of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Colorado, USA.

BREW GOALS

The goal of BREW is to create the largest fellowship in Rotary. An international community of Rotarians who share a love of beer. We also strive to support efforts and projects to bring clean water to those in thirst since water is the primary ingredient in beer.

BREW WEBSITE

3.  RYLA 2026 D9705

WELCOME TO RYLA 2026

Leadership begins with opportunity and today, we proudly welcomed 40 young leaders from across our district as they commence their RYLA journey.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is a transformational program designed for emerging leaders who are ready to challenge themselves, build confidence, and strengthen the skills they need to create meaningful impact in their communities and careers.

Throughout the program, they will take part in structured leadership development, collaborative challenges, and reflective learning designed to strengthen their capacity to lead with purpose. We congratulate each participant and look forward to supporting them throughout this transformative experience.

If your club is interested in sponsoring a participant for 2027 or learning more about the program, we’d love to hear from you.

Reach out via message or email us at [email protected]

JUNE IS ROTARY’S FELLOWSHIPS MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING 

Monday June 15th. 2026 

President Mary Potts welcomed 20 members and 1 guest, Happy.  A special welcome back to Don Dyce following his accident with a grinder.

Mary opened the meting with an impressive ringing of the Rotary bell.

The board met prior to our ordinary meeting and decided that Happy will be inducted next week as our newest member.

Our volunteer Bear raised $545.45 at the Marrar football last Saturday for the Red Shield Appeal.  We have been allocated the gates at the Coolamon v Ganmain game on Sunday.  It will be a bucket donation, no receiots required.  The volunteers are:

10.00 am to 12.00 pm.  John Bond, Ted Hutcheon, Dick Jennings.

12.00 to 2.30 pm.  Annie, Happy and Mark Dubois.

Reminder that Michael Trinidad and the “BUCCANEERS BOUNTY” is on again this Friday at Coolamon Cheese.

Change over on Monday 29th June please book now via Henk Hulsman, cost of the three course dinner is $40.00 per person.

John Bond invited members to a concert at the conservatorium in Wagga this Friday night from 6.00pm.  Contact Bondy for details.

After dinner we had a short joke session with Vicki leading the way followed up by Mary.

The raffle was for dinners not taken by members who were unable to attend.  There were 7 prizes won by Adrian, Gary, Bondy, Annie, Howard and Don.

We had an early finish which allowed for plenty of good fellowship and discussions.  Great to be back.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. RICON TAIPEI 2026

This by all accounts has been a huge success to date and most enjoyable. Here are some photos from the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei.  Most taken by good friends of mine who I met during such past RICONS.

2.  ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS:

Explore our fellowships: RUNNNING

This looks like a good fellowship to join, especially for our President Mary!

Rotary Fellowship For Runners

The RFFR – Rotary Fellowship for Runners

is a group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting any distance running and endurance sports as an opportunity to experience fellowship.
The objectives of our Fellowship are:

• to develop and promote world-wide friendship through running events and engaging in touristic activities
• to serve the community locally, nationally and internationally through running activities
• to promote international understanding and peace through running activities.

The idea of founding this organization originated at Paris Marathon in 2005. The charter initiation party of our fellowship was celebrated in 2006 during the marathon in Berlin. The main intention of the RFFR is to organize one Rotarian event a year during an international marathon, where you can meet Rotarian friends and run for a beneficial purpose. Members have come together once a year since 2005 to run in a nominated marathon. We have previously participated in the Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Medoc, Vienna, Townsville / Great Barrier Reef, Graz, London, Rome, Budapest, Ljubljana, Queenstown Marathon New Zealand, Reykjavik and Cape Town Marathon South Africa steadily raising funds for Polio Plus. The true international spirit of Rotary and the fellowship is always manifested at such gatherings and long lasting friendships have been developed over the years.

www.Rotarianrun.org is the passionate Rotarian runners fan’s first port of call next to Facebook. Here, all the news about our events is posted and people can share ideas and experiences.

The RFFR is open to all Rotarians, Rotaractors and their families and friends. All you need is enthusiasm for the challenge of running; amateur runners any distance are more than welcome.

3.  ROTARIAN KING CHARLES III 

Did you know our King is a Rotarian?

His Majesty King Charles III shares a long and genuine connection with Rotary International — and it’s something every Rotarian can be proud of.

Since 1992, King Charles has been an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Banchory Ternan in Scotland, not far from the Balmoral Estate. He has regularly been spotted wearing his Rotary pin at public engagements — a small but meaningful sign of a connection that runs deep.

That connection is most visible in his long championing of causes close to Rotary’s heart. In 2003, he joined a polio immunisation program in a village near Delhi, and a decade later was photographed wearing an End Polio Now scarf during another visit to India — a public acknowledgement of Rotary’s extraordinary efforts to eradicate the disease.

His environmental leadership has also been recognised at the highest level. In June 2022, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, Rotary International presented King Charles with its most prestigious honour — the Rotary Award of Honour — for his lifelong commitment to nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.

The Royal Family’s Rotary ties don’t end there. Princess Anne addressed the 2018 Rotary International Convention in Toronto, bringing worldwide attention to Rotary’s humanitarian work.

From ending polio to protecting our environment, the causes our King champions are the causes Rotary champions. We’re proud to call him one of our own

JUNE IS ROTARY’S FELLOWSHIPS MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING 

Monday June 1st. 2026 

President Mary Potts welcomed 19 members and 1 guest, Happy.

We will be doing a collection at the football for the Salvation Army red Shield appeal on 13 June. We will be at Marrar we have the following to help from 10 am till 12 noon. We have Ian Jennings and Daryl and from 12 noon till 230. We have Alex and Bear and Mary if needed.  On 21 June at Coolamon we have from 10 am to12 noon John Bond and Ted and then from 12 till 2:30 we have Annie Rz Happy and Mark DuBois.

Everyone enjoyed the meal tonight we had a couple of different options. The Raffle was one by Michael Trinidad. Second prize was Mark DuBois who said redraw  and then Mark Reardon came 2nd.

We had a joke from Albert Mary Henk Vicki and Daryl Mary and Hank won the prizes which was some leftover food
Michael spoke about his Filipino afternoon on Saturday. If everyone could please bring a chair and let him know if you’re coming he will have piles of food. He also mentioned a theatre production that he will be in at the Coolamon cheese. It is called the Buccaneers bounty and is at Coolamon cheese on the 12th and 19th of June . It would be great to have lots of people to support this show. It is sponsored by Kooringal Rotary.

There is no meeting next Monday as it is public holiday so the following Monday, 15 June there will be a board meeting and a general meeting.

PE Leslie Weston spoke briefly on the change over she still requires a club admin volunteer and also a president elect so it would be great to have a few volunteers for this. The meeting closed early for fellowship.

Also on 20th of July we will have a joint meeting with the Lions club and a guest speaker on prostrate cancer and there will also be a mental health nurse attending.

As reported by President Mary Potts.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  GEARS AND BEERS UPDATES

0

130 days ’til the Dirty 130 @ Gears + Beers Festival (NSW Oct long weekend in Wagga Wagga). Time to sort your accommodation and grab your tickets!

https://www.gearsandbeers.org.au/

2.  RC of Wagga Wagga From Darkness to Light:

Ten Eye Camps and four School Camps

22,000 people attending the camps

2,550 cataract operations

11,500 people screened for glasses

3,500 pairs of glasses issued

10,000 medicines provided

3. ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS:

Explore our fellowships

Interested in a particular subject? Visit the group’s website or email it to learn more.

JUNE IS ROTARY’S FELLOWSHIPS MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING 

Monday May 25th. 2026 

President Mary Potts welcomed 21 members and 4 guests which included;  Happy, Marilyn Jennings, Maureen Hulsman and Matt Christie.  Tonight’s report by Mary Potts:

“Our guest speaker tonight was Matt Christie, Michael Trinidad’s partner.

Matt gave a passionate talk about his life and his work

Matt was born in Italy and moved to England and then to Melbourne for his education.  He spoke about establishing, with Michael, their school for teaching English and various skills, to those students who need this education to work and stay in Australia

Matt does his work not for money, but because he loves to do what he does.

He met Michael 16 years ago and together they have set up the school.  Matt runs a radio station in Hay.

Matt moved to Euroa in 2023 and organised to form three branches of the CWA in Euroa as it had been closed down for many years.  He has also started an expo for arts and crafts in Euroa

Matt said he doesn’t need much sleep and he loves to work.”

Looks like I missed an excellent talk, thankyou Matt.

Thanks to Ian, Mary and Michael for the photos and notes.

Matt Christie Speaker Coach Press Media Kit

OUT AND ABOUT ROTARY SERVICE

Agricultural Industry Day at the CSU Farm near Wagga Wagga

Wednesday May 20th Agricultural Industry Day at the CSU Farm near Wagga Wagga 11.00am-2.00pm we were invited to cook for the Agricultural Industries Day.  Everything is supplied and we will get a donation to our club for our service.  150 students we all  fed at 12.25pm.  Thanks to the volunteers who were: Alex, Mary, Happy, Daryl, Annie, Gary and Barry.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

A nun woke up one morning and started making her way through the convent looking unusually grumpy.

The first nun she passed smiled and said,
“Looks like somebody got out of the wrong side of the bed today.”

The nun frowned but carried on walking.

A little farther down the hallway, another nun looked at her and said exactly the same thing.

“You must’ve gotten out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!”

Now she was getting irritated. 

Then a third nun said it.
And a fourth.
And a fifth!

By now she was absolutely furious. She marched straight into the Mother Superior’s office and snapped,

“Before you say ONE word… don’t tell me I got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!”

The Mother Superior looked at her calmly and replied,

“I wasn’t going to say that at all…”

“I was simply going to ask why you’re wearing the Bishop’s slippers.” 

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  THE BUCCANEERS BOUNTY IN COOLAMON

Sponsored by the Kooringal RC

From Michael Trinidad:

“Did I mention I’m in a show?

I may not be wielding a sword, but plenty of my fellow cast members are. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the Wagga Fencing Club teaching some of us how to handle a blade.

What could possibly go wrong?”

JOIN US FOR A SPLASH OF THEATRE AT COOLAMON CHEESE CO

• BUCCANEERS BOUNTY 

FRIDAY 12TH AND 19TH OF JUNE

Hold hard me hearties! Come and enjoy The Buccaneers Bounty, a raucous, romp with a boatload of rascally, rogue pirates and Buccaneers!

Tickets are on sale now, via the Trybooking link:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1537621

LIMITED SPOTS AVAIILABLE BOOK NOW!

2.  ROTARY CLUB #1 CHICAGO 

In 1935, Rotarians gathered to celebrate a significant milestone: 30 years of Rotary.

Just three decades earlier, in 1905, a small group of professionals in Chicago came together with a simple idea: build connection, foster friendship, and serve their community. By 1935, that idea had grown into a global movement.

Picture that anniversary lunch, leaders and community members seated together, reflecting on the journey from a single meeting room in Chicago to an international network built on service, integrity, and goodwill. Even in the midst of a challenging era, Rotary’s commitment to fellowship and service remained steady and forward-looking.

3.  District 92112 Conference & Assembly 2026 — The Last Dance

Can you tell from the photos below why Rotary is growing in East Africa.  When the Mt Kenya Team from Coolamon attended the DCA in Mombasa in 2015 ,it was D9110 which then divided into D9212 and 9211.  Now D9212 has to divide into 2!

Rotary District 9212 is a part of the Rotary International service clubs of Rotary, Rotaract and Interact located in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Eritrea.

What a powerful moment in Rotary history. As District 9212 gathers for its final District Conference Assembly before the transition into two new districts, this truly feels like the end of an era — and the beginning of a new chapter.

The energy, fellowship, colour, and spirit at DCA have been unforgettable, and Rotary Club of Karura is proud to be part of this landmark occasion alongside Rotarians from across the region.

We are especially thrilled to celebrate our club members who represented us so vibrantly and helped us emerge as 2nd Runners-Up in the Best Dressed Category

Style, unity, and Rotary spirit? We brought all three.

A special highlight was the opportunity to connect with Rotary leadership from around the world, including a memorable moment with the Incoming RI President — a reminder that Rotary continues to inspire hope, service, and impact across generations.

Here’s to honouring the legacy of District 9212, celebrating the friendships built along the way, and stepping boldly into the future of Rotary.

Effective July 1, 2026, Rotary District 9212 will comprise two new Districts; 9215 and 9216, marking an end to 13 years of District 9212.

District 9215 will comprise of Kenya (Western region, including the Rift Valley and Western Nairobi) and South Sudan. District 9216 will comprise of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya (Central Highlands and Eastern regions, including Coast region and Eastern Nairobi).

District 9212 currently has 3,727 Rotarians and 2,096 Rotaractors. The District has 110 honorary Rotarians and 141 honorary Rotaractors. There are a total of 267 clubs, comprising of 146 Rotary Clubs and 119 Rotaract Clubs. There are also two satellite Rotary Clubs.

MAY IS ROTARY’S YOUTH SERVICE MONTH

Why are more young people joining Rotary South Pacific? 
Because it’s more than a club, it’s flexible, modern, and built for people who want to make an impact.

 Build real career skills
 Network with people who actually matter
 Make friends for life
 Work on meaningful projects, both locally and globally

If you want to grow, give back, and be part of something bigger, this is where it happens.

Image courtesy of the RC of San Francisco West.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING 

Monday May 18th. 2026 

President Mary Potts welcomed 20 members and 18  guests which included; Maureen Hulsman, Marilyn Jennings, Sharon Reardon, Natalie and Michael McCaig, Susan Glassford and Ivan Furner.

Mary introduced her guest who until very recently lived in Ghana, Happy, I did not get her full name.  Happy is a Nigerian and has moved to Coolamon and is looking for work.  Happy has an online business.

Special guests were introduced by Rtn. Michael included Michael’s partner, Matt Christie, who is our guest speaker next Monday.  As well Michael had invited the Filipino community of Coolamon, some who work at Allawah Lodge and the Coolamon Steel works. They were accompanied by Melanie Stubbs from our Council.  There were ten Filipinos including one delightful little girl.

Introductions of our guests and partners created a lot of interest from our Filipino guests.  We all learnt a lot from these happy people.

We celebrated Myffy’s birthday and then Mary opened the meeting with several items of interest for our members and guests:

• The Thursday raffle at the Bottom Pub raised $556.00, well done to the volunteers, Mary, Grahame, Leslie, Annie, Myffy, Mark Reardon, Mark Dubois and Ian.
• The Epic Rotary Day on Saturday where we cleaned up about 5ks of the Coolamon to Wagga road was a success with 25 bags of rubbish collected and two ute loads full of stuff!  report and photos below.
• Mary visited the Salvation Army in Temora planning their visit and the Red Shield appeal day.
• RYLA we did not get any applications this year.
• RC of Batemans Bay is looking for support for a water project in Kenya through RAWCS.  JG will research this one.
• Lion Wayne Lewis has a guest speaker for Monday 20th July, talking on cancer, Anne Bramich, who is a cancer counsellor and a prostate cancer nurse.  It will be a joint Lions Rotary meeting.

We the drew the raffle and first prize drawn by Happy from Ghana was won by JJG from Kenya!  Second prize was won by Mark Dubois.

After dinner we were entertained by Michael Trinidad and his talk was:

UNDERSTANDING FILIPINO CULTURE THROUGH FOOD:

The presentation by Michael was stunning and full of information and above all passion.  I simply could not get it all down for the bulletin and those present witnessed one of the best talks that we have had in this club.  Some brief notes follow:

• Michael spoke about his family and their involvement in public life in the Philippines.  Going all the way to the top in 1946 where his great grand father and mother were notable Filipino political figures.
• Michael’s mother was a member of congress.  Suffice to say that the name Trinidad is well known in the Philippines.
• He has a close family with siblings in New York and they get together every 2 years.
• Michael became an Aussie in 1995 and has been in the hospitality industry for 20 years as a qualified chef.  He graduated from the CSU as a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology in 2020.  He is the cellar door manager at the CSU Winery and his boss Natalie McCaig is Dick Jennings’s daughter!
• Michael then spoke about the Philippines some interesting facts and most passionately about their food culture.
  • You needed to be there to take it all in however the one thing that stood out was banana ketchup, you work it out!!!
  • The list of dishes is mind boggling and look amazing.  Michael will be cooking up a Filipino storm on June 6th details will follow.

Michael concluded by saying that no one in the Philippines eats alone and food is central to every day living and is shared as a community and a social activity AND no one goes hungry.

Above all helping others in the spirit of community with acts of kindness.  BAYANIHAN

Ian Jennings proposed a vote of thanks to Michael for his talk which was well received by all present.

BTW Michael is publishing a newsletter for our Shire called “A New Voice in Coolamon”  you can down load it below:

News of Coolamon Philippininos

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.  A great night!

OUT AND ABOUT CRC EPIC DAY OF ROTARY SERVICE

Thanks go to all the volunteers for their hard work:  Mary Potts, Mark Dubois, Daryl Breust, Michael Trinidad, Alex Thompson, Myffy Collette, Vicki Langtry, Gary Truscott, Anne Rzeszkowski, Henk Hulsman and Debbie Noble from Ganmain.  Thank you all!

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157, if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!

You can download the full programme here and note that it will change and that will be reflected in the weekly bulletin:  CRC Diary On-Line

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  TRACY OCHIENG OUR STAR IN NAIROBI

It has been a long time since we met Tracy Ochieng in Nairobi back in 2011.  PDG Fred Loneragan and I decided that we must support Tracy through High School and hopefully into University.  Tracy graduated in Journalism from the United States International University in Nairobi and is going form strength to strength.  Tracy is becoming a well known influencer, writer and TV presenter in Nairobi.

Tracy recently wrote:

Stills from the Africa Forward Fest at Afnairobi celebrating authentic African Children’s Literature written by Africans for Africans.

If the stories we tell our children don’t portray them accurately or offer a sliding door or a mirror as one of the brilliant authors, I got a chance to sit down with said, then we are doing a great disservice to them.

My dress @whatshewore_254

Gold sandal heels @wayaz.collection

Makeup by Sony

2.  RYE 2026 ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE SAFARI

Rotary Youth Exchange -D9560 is with Rotary Youth Exchange District 9620 and Rotary Youth Exchange District 9640 Australia.

 Our last day of our Safari-Sydney trip.  The realisation of everyone parting ways tomorrow is beginning to sink in. We spent the morning at Bondi Beach, then experienced the sunset over the harbour. Nicolas was able to perform at Darling Harbour. The trip would not be complete without the flag signing.

 

3. TOGANMAIN RESTORATION A SOCIAL VISIT?

It has been suggested that we arrange a social visit to the Toganmain Woolshed.  This could be to take a bus trip for a day getting home the same day as it is only just down the road!  In 1997 Susan and I looked at buying Toganmain as it was going downhill fast.  We believed that by moving Old Tog to the Shearers Hall of Fame, as the main museum, would save Old Tog.  It looks like they are doing a great job with volunteers restoring Old Tog.

This was 1997:

 

 

Old Tog has now been heritage listed, they look for volunteers and donations and here is their website:

Toganmain Woolshed

Once Friends of Toganmain, now Toganmain Woolshed Precinct Inc! Heritage-listed and volunteer-driven, we’re restoring one of NSW’s iconic woolsheds. Featured on ABC National Television, our mission is to share Australia’s pastoral story.

May 2026:  Just in case you haven’t been paying attention! Compare these two shots to see what’s changed over the last four days.

 

 

Follow us over on Insta for a slightly different take on our unfolding story:

https://www.instagram.com/toganmainwoolshed

MAY IS ROTARY’S YOUTH SERVICE MONTH

Why are more young people joining Rotary South Pacific? 
Because it’s more than a club, it’s flexible, modern, and built for people who want to make an impact.

 Build real career skills
 Network with people who actually matter
 Make friends for life
 Work on meaningful projects, both locally and globally

If you want to grow, give back, and be part of something bigger, this is where it happens.

Image courtesy of the RC of San Francisco West.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026