Bulletins

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING July 14th 2025

President Mary Potts welcomed us all to the meeting and our guests were introduced and included our guest speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army in Temora.  Lexi introduced Ivan and Helen and Michael Boland, Michael is Ivan’s cousin.  There were 18 members present tonight.

The meeting started with a report by our secretary Paul on the immediate board meeting and these included:

• Several nominations for prospective Friends of Rotary.
• Approval for payments to RDU, trailer signage and name board.
• CRC will sponsor a prize for the Up to Date Art Show.

Mary has some notes below which covered most items upcoming apart from reminding members:

• Saturday 2nd August Shakespeare night at Coolamon Cheese more in Mary’s notes.
• Rotaract Uranquinty Trivia Night.
• Saturday 14th September Marrar Madness.  Bear said that we are only able to do the parking as we needed many more to do the gates etc.
• Club Assembly Monday 4th August among many ideas is the invitation of corporate members.

After dinner our guest speaker was Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army in Temora.

Caleb started by saying that the Salvation Army and Rotary have many shared ideals of community service.

Caleb went on to outline some of the work that they do in Temora and district.   These included:

• Volunteers who help in their Opportunity shop on Temora.

• School Breakfasts in Temora every Wed, Thursday and Friday.  Here they provide breakfast for around 40 children.  Caleb said that they are great kids with no discrimination between the haves and the have nots.
• The Salvos run a drop in programme for people in a tight spot usually they supply a meal.  Food helps people to improve their thinking.
• They have a programme called Food in the Kitchens.  Here they teach children on how to plan their nutrition.  This gives these children some dignity and budgeting skills.
• The Salvos help people to get to their medical appointments mostly in Temora.
• Caleb concluded on describing the fun part which is a community family dinner.  This is held every month in Temora

Salvation Army Web Site

Several questions followed from our guests and members.  Mark Reardon gave a vote of thanks for Caleb and for the work that he does in Temora.

Caleb then drew the raffle which was won by our guest Michael Bolton.

A fines session then ensued with Sgt Dick at his very best again. Not many were spared well done Dick.

The meeting finished at 8.30 am with plenty of time for some good fellowship.

PRESIDENT MARY’S NOTES

President Mary’s Notes July 14^th.

A few items for the Bulletin

A reminder for the night at Coolamon Cheese all profits to Rotary Club of Coolamon should be a fun night, hopefully our members can support this and bring some friends along.

Tickets $40 per head from Civic theatre booking office, this includes show , glass wine and small cheese platter.

The following have volunteered to help out on the night to help seat people commencing at 5 pm, hopefully they will also purchase a ticket and stay for the show, please wear name badges.

Lexi, Grahame, Leslie, Paul, Howard, Vicki and Mary.

Hopefully members can start thinking about our club assembly on 4^th August. This will be a good Chance for everyone to put some ideas forward to keep our club going strong. We are a great ​and it can continue to be one. We can continue with the theme Unite for good

We have started a register of friends of Rotary for those that wish to help out with events but don’t want to commit to weekly meetings etc. these volunteers are very important to the club, so if anyone has any friends or contacts that would like to help out in this way let us know.

Another item to think about is the off the grid challenge , a fundraiser for ShelterBox. If we had enough support we could organise one for Coolamon when the weather is a little warmer, we may even get some Wagga clubs members to join in Garth joined in one last year in Boorowa (I think)

The Wagga Wagga Rotaract club are holding a trivia night in Uranquinty on 6 September. This is jungle themed and should be a fun night. Tickets available humanitix.

Mary.

OUT AND ABOUT WALKERS

You are invited to join a group of walkers who meet at 7.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays  Contact Mary for further details:

OUT AND ABOUT WITH LANDCARE

Friday 25 July @ 9.00am: Tree Planting, Seeding and WETLAND VISIT. Lindoris see Out & About.

Monday 28th July  Regular Meeting. Coolamon Sport Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd – Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Volunteers needed.  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club, with assistance from CRC. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

Monday 4th August – Club Assembly.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 11th August– Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 5.00 pm

*Monday 11th August Guest Speaker Helen Moriarty on Research on Farmers and Chemicals.

*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

1.  ROTARY DOWN UNDER MAGAZINE

You do get the Rotary Down Under magazine in print form every moth.  However when you need to read back editions or the current edition on your laptop or mobile you can read it on line.  There are some excellent articles in this edition and well worth reading.

RDU ONE on Facebook.

The RDU website has been redesigned and has a great new look go to the link below and check it out:

ROTARY DOWN  UNDER WEBSITE

2.  MEMBERSHIP REFLECTION

Often among our selves we often say that we are not getting any younger and that we need more members.  As a club in D9705 previously D9700 we have performed so much better than the majority of clubs in D9705.  Easily proved when you look at the ratio of members to the population in our membership catchment area.  In this case it is the Coolamon Shire.

There was a time when we had dropped to 15 members of which 9 or 10 were active and attended weekly meetings.  Over the past years we have reached 29-30 members with 20-22 being active with only a few not so active.  When the vast majority of clubs are losing members and even clubs handing in their charters, why have we been able to increase our membership?

The answer is simple, several members have been responsible for this and what they have done is to ask a friend or neighbour to come to our club for a dinner meeting, usually with a good guest speaker.  I am sure that those who remember how they became interested, would agree that being asked to come along to one of our meetings, was the start of wanting to be part of our club.  The reasons they end up joining us would be varied but overall our club is a happy place to be and prospective members leave with a good feeling.

We are the exception within Western countries like Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Ireland, to a certain extent Canada and the USA.  In these parts of the world membership is declining.  The % of female to male members is on the rise but ever so slowly now around 26%.   The average age of members is also rising which is the biggest problem that we face in the near future.

None of us have the answers but there are countries or continents that are increasing their membership and chartering new clubs.  One such part of the world is East Africa and D9212 which encompasses Kenya in the main with Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan, all with clubs in D9212.  In fact D9212 had to cut the district into two new districts as they had too many clubs and too many members back in 2015.  They look like having to divide the district again in the near future.  Rotary in Africa has been going since the Rotary Club of Johannesburg was chartered in 1921, now 104 years ago.  Rotary started in Australia as well in 1921, in Melbourne and then in Sydney.

So why the difference?

There are many reasons as so much changed in Africa since 1921 with countries achieving independence from colonial rule followed by a population explosion.  An example is my home Kenya which has grown from 7 million in 1963 at Kenya’s Independence, to over 55 million today.  During this time the perception of being a Rotarian in Kenya, has changed from being an old white man’s organisation, to a young person’s organisation, with a mean age of 40-45 and with a 50-50 female to male ratio.

They still conduct local community service and they travel to International conventions and hold amazing district conferences.  In the main Rotary is seen in Africa as being an organisation that is an important part of their C.V. and useful  for business.  Here are some photos from the recent change over of the RC Of Nairobi, the oldest in Kenya, chartered in 1930.  Vibrant and colourful and young.

RC Nairobi Change Over Dinner Video

Below is a photo from 1974 of the RC of Nairobi 11 years after Kenya’s independence.  Dr. Greg Gregory a member in the photo, was the doctor who brought me into the world on 1944.  How times have changed in such a few years.

Also in the photo is our family lawyer, the Nairobi Club president in 1974, Stewart Thompson.  How times have changed in such a short while.  I don’t know the answers but keep asking friends and neighbours to have dinner with us.

JULY IS ROTARY NEW LEADERSHIP MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING July 7th. 2025

President Mary Potts welcomed us all to the 1st CRC meeting for 2025-2026.   Twenty members attended with President Mary Potts at the helm.  We all wish Mary and her team a year of fun, fellowship and service.

Mary commenced the meeting with a one minute of silence in memory of Mark Reardon’s mother, PDG David Kennedy and Yvonne Braid OAM.

Mary advised us that the Public Image Director will be held by both Grahame Miles and Garth Perkin, a good idea.  Mary’s first board meeting is on Monday next the 14th July.

Next Monday Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army will be our guest speaker.

Mary reminded all members that on Saturday August 2nd we are the beneficiary of the Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory.  Mary called for 3-4 volunteers to welcome guests and hand out a cheese platter and a glass of wine.  Volunteers will be needed to be at the Cheese Factory from 5.00pm.  The event starts at 6.00pm and is $40 per person.

The CWA has asked for a letter of support for their hall.

The first club assembly will be on Monday 4th August.

S@A Dick Jennings was in fine form and at the rate he collected fines last night will lead to a bumper year in the fines box.

The raffle was won by Paul and a second prize to Mary.

The meeting closed at 8.30 which left plenty of time for some good fellowship.

Those of you who want to keep up to date with matters Rotary I can recommend the new or refreshed D9705 web site, which can be found on the link below.  Even if you have not registered onto D9705 you can still read the front page and other areas of interest.  DG Robert Shore has obviously put a lot of time into the D9705 web site for 2025-2026.

Rotary D9705 Web Site

Monday 14th July – Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 5.00 pm.

*Monday 14th July – Guest Speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd – Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Volunteers needed.  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club, with assistance from CRC. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

Monday 4th August – Club Assembly.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*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

FULL STORY HERE.

RI President Francesco Arezzo, is a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy.

FELLOWSHIPS PHOTOGRAPHY

Rotary Photography Fellowship Facebook

The above 6 photos are from members of the Rotary Fellowship of Photography.

VALE PDG DAVID KENNEDY

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING June 30th 2025

Change Over Dinner 2025-2026

Tonight was the Coolamon Rotary Club’s 54th change over dinner and hand over to President Mary Potts and her Board of Directors from IPP Adrian Lindner:

• President: Mary Potts
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Leslie Weston
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Vicki Langtry
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Lexi Furner
• Club Admin Director:  Mark Reardon
• Public Relations & Image Director: Garth Perkin
• Sergeant @ Arms: Dick Jennings and Garth Perkin
• Club Environment Representative: Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: Adrian Lindner
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

PP Daryl Breust was the Chair for the evening and kept the evening to time being able to finish by 9.00pm which included all the proceedings and dinner.  Our thanks to all who brought a sweet for desert.  Thanks go to all those who helped set up the Sports Club for our evening.

The theme of the night was fellowship and catching up with friends old and new.  We had the pleasure of the company of Michael McCormack, Federal Member for the Riverina, and our Shire Mayor, Dave McCann.  There were many guests and partners, too many to list here, and as well a very good turn up of our members.  In all over 60 attended our 54th Annual change over dinner.

Mayor Dave welcomed everyone to the Coolamon Shire.

Paul Weston gave the acknowledgment of country.

Michael McCormack presented the toast to Rotary International, which was followed by the response from PDG Fred Loneragan.

Our thanks to IPP Adrian for a very good year of community service and interesting guest speakers.  All in all a well balanced year of social and service was had by all of our members.  Thanks to the 2024-2025 Directors and committee chairs for the effort and we did achieve a lot as a club.  Some $23,000+ was distributed and in the main to our local community.  Adrian handed over the club charter and the president’s collar to Mary Potts who in turn introduced her board of directors for 2025-2026.

Highlights of the evening including the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow to PP Albert Suidgeest for all is work in our club especially the Open Garden Days.  This was followed by the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow Ruby to PDG John Glassford in recognition of his Rotary work.  Both presentations were carried out by PP Paul Weston and PDG Fred Loneragan.

We wish President Mary a wonderful year as our leader and it is heartening to note that 5 of the 11 members of our Board are women.  Here are some photos of the evening including ones taken by Mark Reardon, thanks Mark.

Monday 7th  July – President Mary’s 1st Meeting for the new Rotary Year 2025-2026.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 14th July – Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 5.00 pm.

*Monday 14th July – Guest Speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd – Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Volunteers needed.  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club, with assistance from CRC. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

Monday 4th August – Club Assembly.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB  2024 – 2025 A PICTORIAL.

As you have read from the change over dinner programme we had a very busy year under the leadership of Past President Adrian and the 2024-2025 Board of Directors.  Here are just a few photos of the year in review and not in any particular order of  dates.

Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-26. Arezzo will become president on 1 July.

Francesco Arezzo Address to the Calgary RICON 25:

RIP Francesco Arezzo 25-26

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026

N.B.  MONDAY JUNE 30th.  CHANGE OVER DINNER

Volunteers needed please.

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING June 23rd. 2025

President Adrian welcomed 23 members to our meeting last night and we met at the Coolamon Hotel (Bottom Pub) for a social night out to celebrate another great year in Rotary.  We had 9 guests which included:  Marilyn Jennings, Maureen Hulsman, Jan Nulty, Trish Truscott, Lorraine Hamilton, Susan Glassford, Bernadette Milne, Mark Hayes from Sydney and Holbrook and the Big Bloke known as Ralph.

Such a good night at the bottom pub was had by all.  The meals were excellent and of good value.  Service was first class  and the staff are a very happy team.  The only downside was the poor acoustics in the dining room not a good place to hold a meeting but a lovely place to have an excellent meal with good friends in Rotary.

Here are some photos from last night:

 

DIARY

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 14th July Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 5.00 pm.

*Monday 14th July Guest Speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Volunteers needed.  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

Monday 4th August Club Assembly.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*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

1.  RI CONVENTION CALGARY 25

When 15,000 changemakers come together in one city, people take notice  This week in Calgary, Rotary members from more than 120 countries are reconnecting and celebrating in friendship and service as they learn from each about creating positive, lasting change.

One of the best ways to learn what Rotary does around our world the annual RI Conventions are the best place to learn and to make lifelong mates.  RICON CALGARY 25 started over the weekend with the opening of the House of Friendship.

Here are some photos from Calgary this is the Ukraine booth in the House of Friendship as you know our General Secretary is a Ukrainian, John Hewko:

Rotary’s General Secretary and CEO John Hewko shared with the Calgary Herald how our global membership works together to improve lives and strengthen communities. This is what global community looks like.

The youth of Rotary are in Calgary and as usual they have a great time.

Below a great friend of mine from Canada, PDG Joan Firkins who I served with on the RFHA Board.  Rotarians For Family Health and AIDS prevention.  This was the first Rotary Action Group approved by Rotary.

DAY 2 at RICON CALGARY 25

Bill Gates announced a further $300 million donation to the Polio Plus campaign.  This is a 2:1 contribution so when we raise $1 Bill Gates donates $2.   With the demise of USAID our help is needed more than ever to finish the job Rotary started back in 1985.

RICON TAIPEI 26

Unite for good in Taipei City

Connect with Rotary members from around the world as we unite for good in Taipei City, Taiwan, for the Rotary International Convention, 13-17 June 2026.

RICON TAIPEI 26 

2.  FELLOWSHIPS; THE ROTARY BREW FELLOWSHIP

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 Website

Rotary Fellowships

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING June 16th. 2025

Here are some of the highlights from Mark’s story:

1. Mark grew up in “Homewood” in Mimosa 30ks form Coolamon and Temora.
2. The Northern Riverina County Council played a big part in his earlier life as a District Electrical Mechanic.
3. Mark was then promoted as the regional General manager looking after water/gas and electrical infrastructure.
4. Recently Mark set up his business “Electrical Design Solutions: based in Wagga Wagga.
5. EDS employs 14 electrical engineers all have a Master Degree and 2 have Doctorates.

Electrical Design Solutions.

• EDS also do some high level consultancy work in large solar farms/batteries, wind turbines Co-generational sites and HV connection sites etc.
• Mark and Sharon hope to travel to Canada and Alaska soon.
• Mark and Sharon have travelled extensively.
• Mark’s major statement which had several member curious was that we need synchronous generators to allow renewables to work.

You can read Mark’s beliefs here:

Mark Reardon Q&A 2

Thank you Mark for you thoughts and insights into the future of power generation. Interestingly this article appeared on social media today and makes one think that we do not have all the answers yet or will we ever? The debate continues!

Over 435,000 new balcony solar units were installed last year alone, making energy generation more decentralized and citizen-led than ever before. Meanwhile, wind power produced 136.4 TWh, outpacing entire national grids like Norway’s, and solar energy delivered 72.2 TWh, more than Argentina’s annual electricity use.

With a goal of hitting 80% renewable electricity by 2030, Germany is turning policy into impact—and setting the pace for Europe’s clean energy future.

Adrian thanked mark for his answers to the questions put to him.

The raffle was won by Albert a voucher for Foodworks.

Albert then conducted a brief fines session as our S@A and in particular Dick had 5 fines levelled at him as did Grahame.  all in all another excellent night of learning some controversy and above all good fellowship.

The meeting closed at 8.40pm.

NB. Next Monday we are having the meeting at the Coolamon Hotel (Bottom Pub) 6.30 for 7.00pm please get your numbers in to Ian by Friday for catering purposes, thanks.

ROTARY DOWN UNDER ONLINE

You can now read Rotary Down Under online:

RDU ONLINE

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE ROTARY MHERV VAN

Ganmain again topped Coolamon for the number of locals who attended the MHERV van last weekend.

Here are some photos from Ganmain:

For more on what MHERV does go to their website below:

MHERV and Rotary.

DIARY

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting: Meeting at the Coolamon Hotel (Bottom Pub) 6.30 for 7.00pm.

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 14th July Guest Speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Volunteers needed.  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

UPCOMING CLUB CHANGE OVERS IN OUR AREA

Temora Saturday June 21^st @ 6.30pm Temora Bowling Club

Junee Sunday 22^nd. June @ Midday Junee Ex Services Club

South Wagga Monday 23^rd. June @ 6.00pm Wagga Aussie Rules Club

Wagga Wagga Thursday 26^th June @ 6.00 for 6.30pm in the Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL

Tumut Saturday 28th. June @ 6.00pm Club Tumut

Wollundry Wagga Wagga  Saturday 28th June 6.30pm at The Grange.

Coolamon Monday 30^th June @ 6.30pm Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS

1.  NEW ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Francesco Arezzo, partner of the Rotary Club of Ragusa (Italy), has been selected by the RI Board to serve as Rotary International President 2025-2026.

Arezzo will assume the presidency on July 1st.

The RI Board held an extraordinary meeting following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo received on June 8. Based on the RI regulations and code of rules, the Directorate selected the new President-elect from a group of candidates that had been considered by the Rotary International Presidential Proposal Committee in August 2023.

The 2025-2026 Presidential Message, announced in February at the Rotary International Assembly 2025, will continue to be United for Good, which urges Rotary partners to be a force of unity in a world increasingly divided by politics, geography and ideology.

Art work by Debbie Vance from Canada.

2.  ROTARY ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

A moment in time: Rotary magazine’s 2025 Photo Awards

Sparks fly as Rotary members focus their cameras and freeze-frame the wonders of the world

Blaze of glory: In the little town of Rollag, a few miles southeast of Fargo, North Dakota, folks gather every Labor Day weekend for the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. At the nocturnal “spark show,” sawdust and wood chips are fed into the firebox of an antique steam-powered tractor, and the fiery explosion that follows etches cascades of gold into the night sky.

FULL STORY HERE

RI FELLOWSHIP of ROTARIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS

The IFRP group is a community of Rotarian photographers who share their photos and experiences, with a focus on travel, wildlife, and Rotary Club events. Members participate in photography contests and share their knowledge and skills with each other, fostering a sense of fellowship and community.

IFRP Facebook Group.

PS This photo below was awarded an honourable mention in the 2012 RI Photography competition:

Rotary Fellowships

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING June 2nd 2025

Adrian said that migrants have helped build Australia. Think 65% of the snowy mountains scheme workers between 1949 and 1974. Recently Coolamon has been blessed to have migrant doctors, nurses, aged care workers, mechanical engineers, welders and spray painters from various countries. We wouldn’t be able to function without them.

Coolamon Rotary Club is celebrating their contribution to our society  tonight, with our award winning guest speaker Dr Saba Nabi OAM. Saba is a Board member of Multicultural NSW and a member of the Rotary club of Wagga Wagga.

Dr Nabi arrived in Australia from India almost 10 years ago as a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences at Charles Sturt University. Shortly after arriving she began volunteering at the university to ensure international students could integrate into tertiary and community life. Dr Nabi was the first international student elected to the University Council and later won the State Award.

You can read a copy of here of Dr. Saba Nabi OAM Bio and it reads like a wonderful example of how hard work and belief in your dreams to come from India to Wagga Wagga, can come true. Through her research, Dr Nabi identified a gap in the knowledge about mammography and cancer pre-screening tests of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Through this research Dr Nabi was able to engage with local refugee and diverse communities, advocating for mammography and breast screening for women in the Riverina.

Dr Nabi community work includes positions as an AFL Multicultural Ambassador, a member of the Federation for Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, Publicity Officer for the Country Women’s Association of NSW and a board member of the Riverina Cancer Care Council.

Saba gave a wonderful talk outlining her journey to Wagga Wagga.  It was very evident that her love of the city came through in her talk.  Saba has also joined the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga.

There was so much to take in and to be inspired by Saba and her family.  Saba spoke on the many awards that she has been given over her 10 years in Wagga Wagga.

One award that got my attention was being awarded the OAM Order of Australia Medal in 2023.

FULL STORY HERE.

Alex gave Saba a hearty vote of thanks on behalf of all present.  Saba then went on to draw her own ticket in the raffle with other winners being Daryl and Mary.

We then followed up with a little bit of business:

• Mary advised us that the MHERV in Coolamon on Friday and Ganmain on Saturday this week.  A list of volunteers will be circulated ASAP.
• The Red Shield Appeal is set for Sunday 15th June again details to follow.

Thanks to Grahame for helping with teh photos.

Thank you Adrian for organising Dr. Saba Nabi as our guest speaker tonight, an excellent choice.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.

DIARY

Friday 6th June MHERV in Coolamon.  https://mherv.com.au/

Saturday 7th June MHERV in Ganmain.

Monday 9th June NO MEETING: Public Holiday King’s Birthday.

*Monday 16th June Guest Speaker: Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra on State Issues for the Coolamon Shire.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.  POSTPONED.

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be PP Mark Reardon.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

UPCOMING CLUB CHANGE OVERS IN OUR AREA

Wagga Wagga Sunrise Tuesday June 3^rd @ 6.00pm The Gardens Event Centre

Wagga Wagga Kooringal Wednesday June 1^st (Time and place unknown)

Temora Saturday June 21^st @ 6.30pm Temora Bowling Club

Junee Sunday 22^nd. June @ Midday Junee Ex Services Club

South Wagga Monday 23^rd. June @ 6.00pm Wagga Aussie Rules Club

Wagga Wagga Thursday 26^th June @ 6.00 for 6.30pm in the Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL

Tumut Saturday 28th. June @ 6.00pm Club Tumut

Wollundry Wagga Wagga  Saturday 28th June 6.30pm at The Grange.

Coolamon Monday 30^th June @ 6.30pm Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS

1. OUT AND ABOUT WITH BIGGEST MORNING TEA.

Last week Sharon and Grahame Miles hosted the biggest morning tea in aid of cancer research.

Here are some photos from Thursday’s event. Thankyou Grahame and Adrian for the photos.

Well done Sharon a great effort!

2. OUT AND ABOUT WITH the WAGGA RUGBY CHOIR

As you are aware Don and Garth are members of the Wagga Wagga Rugby choir and last week travelled to Adelaide.

54 members of the Wagga City Rugby Male Choir performed with other male choirs from all over Australia in Adelaide to a full house at the Entertainment Centre last Sunday. Over 300 male voices were at:

The National Festival of Male Choirs Gala Concert.

3. ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS

Here is a list of Rotary Fellowships that you can join if interested.  Click on the image to enlarge the list:

Rotary Fellowships

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING May 26th 2025

DIARY

*Monday 2nd June Guest Speaker:  Dr Saba Nabi, Member of Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga & Multicultural NSW Board member. Topic, Multicultural communities contributing to Australian society.

Friday 6th June MHERV in Coolamon.  https://mherv.com.au/

Saturday 7th June MHERV in Ganmain.

Monday 9th June NO MEETING: Public Holiday King’s Birthday.

*Monday 16th June Guest Speaker: Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra on State Issues for the Coolamon Shire.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be PP Mark Reardon.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

UPCOMING CLUB CHANGE OVERS IN OUR AREA

Wagga Wagga Sunrise Tuesday June 3^rd @ 6.00pm The Gardens Event Centre

Wagga Wagga Kooringal Wednesday June 1^st (Time and place unknown)

Temora Saturday June 21^st @ 6.30pm Temora Bowling Club

Junee Sunday 22^nd. June @ Midday Junee Ex Services Club

South Wagga Monday 23^rd. June @ 6.00pm Wagga Aussie Rules Club

Wagga Wagga Thursday 26^th June @ 6.00 for 6.30pm in the Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL

Tumut Saturday 28th. June @ 6.00pm Club Tumut

Wollundry Wagga Wagga  Saturday 28th June 6.30pm at The Grange.

Coolamon Monday 30^th June @ 6.30pm Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club

JUST FOR LAUGHS

ROTARY NEWS

1. OUT AND ABOUT WITH CRC

The CRC was asked to cook a BBQ for high school students attending the Ag Industry Day at TAFE NSW – Primary Industry Centre. This is the North Wagga campus on the Coolamon Road

This was a fundraiser for Stacey Suidgeest for Wagga Wagga takes 2, the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald house.  Stacey provided all of the food and barbecue, we just had to cook and serve; all the students were very well behaved.

We cooked and served 400 sausages and onions in bread. There were only about seven sausages left.  They were year nine and 10 children from all over some Coolamon, Temora, Tumut and Wagga and surrounds.

Thanks to those who volunteered and flew the flag for our club. Anne, Daryl, Howard, Barry, Mary and Gary.

2.  BATEMANS BAY RC MAASAI PROJECT IN KENYA

FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE NEW COOLAMON HOTEL

The Coolamon Hotel. has been shut for years. But if you’ve walked past lately, you’ll know something’s been brewing behind those old brick walls. Two locals. Five years. A full-blown rebuild of the pub they grew up in. This Sunday, we take you inside for the very first time — before the doors officially open.

The link below goes to a video that was made last week:

COOLAMON HOTEL LATEST NEWS

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING May 19th 2025

Jeff completed a PhD on dual-purpose canola at Charles Sturt University. This work included field crop agronomy research, plant physiology and APSIM modelling. In 2010,Jeff commenced work with NSW DPI as part of the EverCrop program with Future Farm Industries. The primary focus of this position was investigating the establishment of pastures by under sowing in the mixed farming zone. In 2012, Jeff moved to Lincoln University, New Zealand, as a Plant Science Lecturer. Teaching included first year plant science, crop science and crop and pasture agronomy. Jeff came back to CSU as a lecturer in Agronomy in 2016.

Adrian said there are 6 Rotary Clubs in PNG and PNG is in D9620 a Queensland District.  The Rotarians in PNG do some great work in PNG with Malaria, HIV education, Domestic Violence, Wheel Chairs and Water supply.

Tonight Jeff spoke on Paua New Guinea from an agricultural perspective and how agriculture in PNG is so different to Australia. In particular Jeff highlighted Mount Hagen with a population of 12 million.  Their is a high unemployment rate in the Mount Hagen area.  So the project that Jeff and Wendy de Luca are involved in is called TVET or Technical & Vocational Education & Training packages.  The TVET packages are an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs programme in combination with the PNG Government.

Out of the population of Mount Hagen 85% grow their own food and 85% work in agriculture.  Jeff said that the staple diets are as follows:

• Sweet potato 66%
• Bananas 6%
• Sago 7%
• Casava 6%
• Taro 4%
• Coconut, tea, rubber and coffee.
• Palm Oil

The Mount Hagen Technical College is providing courses to improve the lives of the men and women from subsistence agriculture to a technical trade:

Mount Hagen Technical College

Jeff went on to talk about meat in PNG and said that they have chicken, pigs, goats and cattle.  They produce 16,000 tonnes of meat and import a further 76,000 tonnes of meat annually mainly from Australia and New Zealand.

Jeff spoke about the limitations of working in PNG citing violence, corruption, trained human resources and supply chains for marketing crops such as coffee and tea.

An excellent presentation and with many questions.  Barry thanked Jeff for his most interesting talk.

We then closed the meeting after a fines session by Cpl. Garth and his assistant Dick.

The raffle was won by Garth and  the meeting closed at 9.00pm.

DIARY

*Monday 26th May Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be PP Mark Reardon, Mark has been a member of our club for 40 years!  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 2nd June Guest Speaker:  Dr Saba Nabi, Member of Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga & Multicultural NSW Board member. Topic, Multicultural communities contributing to Australian society.

Friday 6th June MHERV in Coolamon.  https://mherv.com.au/

Saturday 7th June MHERV in Ganmain.

Monday 9th June NO MEETING: Public Holiday King’s Birthday.

*Monday 16th June Guest Speaker: Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra on State Issues for the Coolamon Shire.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be President Adrian Lindner.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

ROTARY NEWS

1  ROTARY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The Rotary South Pacific Regional Council is pleased to announce that the Rotary South Pacific Social Channels are officially up and running.

Please check us out at:

• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/RotarySouthPac
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rotarysouthpacific/
• LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/rotary-south-pacific/about/

As we grow our platforms and the content, we encourage you to follow the pages and share them with your Rotary and local community connections. Read more in the link below:

Social Media

If you have any questions please contact Sr. Coordinator Communications and Public Relations, Angela Stavro at [email protected] and Public Image Director, Liz McDougall at [email protected]

CRC SOCIAL MEDIA.

Believe it or not the club has had social media since 2004 when PP Les Millis and JJG created our website using Word Press as our platform to host the website.  We also have a CRC Facebook group with 25 members in that group.  Adrian and Ian are administrators for our group.  You can access our Facebook group and join as a member:

CRC Facebook Group

We do not have an Instagram page nor do we have a LinkedIn profile.

If any of our members wish to create an CRC Instagram page or a LinkedIn presence I am sure that our Public Image Director would be able to create both social media outlets.  I have been on Facebook for 18 years now mainly for Huff n Puff.  I use Instagram sparingly and I have left LinkedIn.

OUR WEBISTE

2.  CELEBRATE ROTARY YOUTH SERVICE MONTH

May is Youth Service Month —a time dedicated to celebrating the local and global impact of Rotary International’s young leaders. While their impact is felt year-round, this month provides a special opportunity to showcase the leadership growth and service efforts of the 350,000+ young people engaged in Rotary’s youth programs worldwide.

Join us in celebrating Rotary’s young leaders in the following ways:

Follow @RotaryYoungLeaders on Instagram

Rotary International has a new Instagram account that celebrates and showcases the experiences of Rotary’s youth program participants! Follow along for content about Interact clubs, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), and Rotary Youth Exchange. Throughout May, there will be special themed content connecting to Youth Service Month.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

RYDA Rotary Youth Driver Awareness PAST

Some photos from past RYDA days in Wagga Wagga:

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING May 12th 2025

All in all an excellent evening of fellowship and friendship.

DIARY

*Monday 19 May guest speaker Professor Jeff McCormack, Associate Head of School of Agriculture, CSU on “Agricultural research project in PNG”.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 26th May Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be PP Mark Reardon, Mark has been a member of our club for 40 years!  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 2nd June Guest Speaker:  Dr Saba Nabi, Member of Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga & Multicultural NSW Board member. Topic, Multicultural communities contributing to Australian society.

Friday 6th June MHERV in Coolamon.  https://mherv.com.au/

Saturday 7th June MHERV in Ganmain.

Monday 9th June NO MEETING: Public Holiday King’s Birthday.

*Monday 16th June Guest Speaker: Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra on State Issues for the Coolamon Shire.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be President Adrian Lindner.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

Sitting on the highway, waiting to catch speeders, a state trooper noticed a car slowly puttering along at just 22 MPH.
He thought, “That’s just as dangerous as speeding!” 

So, he flipped on the lights and pulled the car over.
Inside were six elderly ladies — two in front, two in the middle, two in the back — all wide-eyed like they’d just seen a ghost. 

The driver said, “Officer, I don’t understand. I wasn’t speeding. What’s the problem?”
He replied, “Ma’am, driving too slow can be just as dangerous as speeding.” 

The woman, very matter-of-factly, said, “But I was going exactly 22 miles an hour!”
Trying not to laugh, the officer explained, “That’s not the speed limit, ma’am — that’s the route number.” 

Her face turned red with embarrassment.   “Thank you, officer!” she chuckled.

As he turned to leave, the officer glanced at the other ladies — still pale and silent — and asked, “Are they okay?”
She smiled and said, “Oh, they’ll be fine in a minute, Officer. We just got off Route 142.” 

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS

1.  MEMBERSHIP

The Batemans Bay Rotary Club inducted three new members tonight: Tricia Pye, Darren Knight and Andrew Parr. All three have already been active in the Batemans Bay community and will join the club to become further involved in local and international projects. Batemans Bay Rotary have inducted 12 new members this year.

Also tonight Matte Willis and Jake Cartwright spoke about why they had also joined the club earlier in the year. Jake spoke about being part of the community when he was younger and how the Rotary Club had given him a scholarship. Matte spoke about being new to the community and how the club had made her feel very welcome.

Matte is already involved in a project at the club to provide a water bore for four Masai villages in Kenya. She may go to visit the site in June.

FOOTNOTE

Last week I posted a story on our Past  RI Director Jessie Harman Zone 8, on her trek to base camp on Everest.

Congratulations Jessie!

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING May 5th 2025

President Adrian asked for any general business and we had a few:

• Reminder that RYDA starts at 9.00am at the Wagga Showgrounds.
• Henk thanked Annie for doing the flags, I think Annie did say that she was not tall enough!
• Reminder that the wood raffle is from 3.00-6.00pm on this upcoming Friday at Foodworks.
• Paul thanked Annie for distributing the Chronicle.

After dinner Adrian introduced our guest speaker Leigh Mathieson.  Adrian reminded us that one of the seven areas of Rotary’s focus is supporting the environment and became Rotary’s seventh area of focus. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Leigh Mathieson, Murrumbidgee Landcare on “Narrandera koalas and other Landcare projects”

Leigh gave a comprehensive talk on koalas and described in detail some of the work that he is involved in at Narrandera in the koala colony there and beyond.

Koalas have been around for 45 million years and have a common ancestry with wombats.  The Indigenous people of Australia see the koala as a spiritual being.  As of February 2022, the Australian government listed the koala as an endangered species.

Some of the interesting points that Leigh brought up and there were many included:

• Koalas are being reduced in number mainly due to habitat loss and disease.
• In 1972 23 koalas were introduced to the 2ha Narrandera Koala Reserve which has grown to a population of 300 today.
• One area that was addressed in Narrandera was to fence the area to prevent road deaths of koalas.
• A Koala Committee was formed with the National Parks and Wildlife.  Involved was Leigh and Joanne Dutton. This committee fund raises for the koalas in the local community.
• The Murrumbidgee landcare group is involved in a 3 tier project:

  
  

• The Narrandera population is healthy and thriving.

• In the future they propose to relocate koalas from Narrandera to other part of the NSW including Sydney and Talbingo.

Adrian thanked Leigh for an excellent talk enjoyed by all present.  More information on Leigh:

“Leigh is a dedicated individual with a passion for the environment, sustainability and biodiversity. After studying a Diploma in Animal Technology, he gained years of valuable experience in pre-clinical medical research, working on projects related to cancer pharmaceuticals and diabetes transplant technologies.

Eventually, Leigh felt a desire to return to his roots in the countryside, where he discovered an unexpected opportunity in the pig industry”.

READ MORE HERE

The raffle was won by Lorraine Hamilton and a heads and tails was won by Barry.

The meeting closed at 8.50pm.

FOOTNOTE:

All our members and partners wish Ted Hutcheon a speedy recovery from his confrontation with the fork lift.  We believe the score is now Ted 1 Forklift 1.  See you soon Ted.

Friday May 9th RYDA in Wagga Wagga at the Showgrounds.  9.00 am Volunteers are: Adrian, Dick, Howard, Annie, Daryl and Alex.

Friday May 9th: Firewood raffle at Foodworks.  Roster is:

3.00-4.00 pm Ian and Mary

4.00-5.00 pm Vicki and Henk

5.00-6.00 pm Lexi and Annie

Monday 12th May Board meeting 5.15pm, Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club.

Monday 12th May Club Assembly Meeting .  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 19 May guest speaker Professor Jeff McCormack, Associate Head of School of Agriculture, CSU on “Agricultural research project in PNG”.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 26th May Social Meeting:  In the hot seat will be PP Mark Reardon, Mark has been a member of our club for 40 years!  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm. meeting.

*Monday 16th June Guest Speaker: Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra on State Issues for the Coolamon Shire.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.

Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada

Calgary RICON 2025  Calgary Facebook Page

*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS

1.   NYSF NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM

Applications for the 2026 NYSF Year 12 Program are now open!

Apply Now

Applications close 20 June 2025. We encourage you to start your application early so you have time to complete the application and gather any required information. Find tips on applying and answers to common questions on the How to Apply page.

Applications close 20 June 2025!!!

As far as I can remember our last NYSF student was Bethany Crocker:

NYSF WEBSITE

2.  PRID JESSIE HARMAN EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK

Past Rotary International Director Jessie Harman has trekked to the Everest Base Camp to raise funds for Polio Plus.

Jessie is a member of the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast in District 9780 (Victoria).

Jessie was our RI Director for Rotary Zone 8 in 2021-2023, Zone 8 covers Australia and New Zealand.  Jessie said before the trek:

“Why I am fundraising for The Rotary Foundation?

To help eradicate polio once and for all, I will be walking 6 km every day for 60 days, culminating in a final challenge: a trek to Everest Base Camp. I’m taking this journey to raise awareness and funds to End Polio – a disease that is 99.9% eradicated but still threatens children in vulnerable communities.

Every step I take represents the millions of steps needed to deliver vaccines, educate communities, and provide other essential support. But I can’t do this alone – I need your help!

By partnering with me, you will be:✔ Keeping children safe – from this devastating disease.

✔ Making a global impact – your contribution directly supports Rotary’s polio eradication efforts

✔ Being part of history – Rotary and its partners are on the verge of eradicating polio forever. Your support helps make that possible!

Please make a donation to help us obtain the vaccines, transport and materials needed in our fight against polio – or share my page to spread the word.”