Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for Week of November 17th 2024

Meeting of Monday 11th November 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed  18 members to our A.G.M. and club assembly tonight.

2024 AGM Chair PE Mary Potts.

The full minutes of the AGM will  be available in due course.

Briefly:

• Mary read out the minutes of the 2023 AGM which was accepted by the members as a true record.
• Mary also read out the Treasurer’s report for 2022-2023.
• The IPP John Bond’s report was tabled from his annual report at the change over dinner.
• Nominations were called for all positions that were vacated and the following directors were voted in.
  • President Elect Nominee 2026-2027 Lesley Weston
  • Treasurer Vicki Langtry
  • Secretary Paul Weston
  • Foundation Gary Truscott
  • Service Projects Anne Rzeszkowski
  • Membership Brian Pattison Bear
  • Youth Services Alexis Furner
  • Club Administration Barry Langtry
  • Public Image Garth Perkin

Other non board positions will be declared in due course.

Congratulations to all of those who volunteered to serve the CRC for 2025-2026.

Club Assembly Chair Adrian Lindner.

Adrian then chaired the club assembly and the following major topics were presented:

1.  COOLAMON COMMUNITY CHRONICLE. (CCC)

Paul Weston and Grahame Miles presented the board’s decision to have the CCC printed by Active Print.  We will terminate the lease agreement with Smiths who provide the printer.  From february 2025 we will no longer be using Smith’s printer and it will be returned.  Grahame presented the costs involved and our pay out will be around $1,000.  The CCC will remain sustainable by going back to Active Print.

2.  CHARITY GIVING OVER 10 YEARS

John Glassford spoke on the actual break up of our charity giving over the past 10 years since 2014.  The Board passed the following motion in 2014.

That we allocate 50% of our charity expenditures to local programs, 25% to national programs, and 25% to international programs.

John did a reconciliation on the past 10 years of our charity giving and we committed 75% to local charity giving, 16% to National charity and 9% to International charity.

John emphasised that the $300,000 raised for our Road MAPS to Africa projects were raised by JJG and PDG Fred Loneragan with a very small amount, not greater than $6,000, coming from Coolamon.  The funds in the main came from other Rotary clubs and private individuals sponsoring our teams on Kilimanjaro 2007, the Mountains of the Moon 2011 and the Mount Kenya 2015 climbs.

3. CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP.

President Adrian advised the assembly of members that the Board has approved our club recruiting corporate members.  Adrian gave examples of the Wagga Wagga Sunrise club who have Bush & Campbell Accountants in Wagga as a corporate member.  The procedures of having a corporate member has been circulated to all members.

Some ideas of who in our area could be approached to join as a corporate member were Commins & Hendricks, Coolamon Shire Council, Coolamon Steel, Hutcheon and Pearce and the Coolamon Central School.

4.  OTHER BUSINESS

• Adrian advised the meeting assembled that David Post from Wollundry RC has up to 10 gift cards of $500 each to be given to any farmers in our area doing it tough this Christmas.
• Grahame presented an idea for a Christmas project to support the Salvation Army’s toy appeal.  Details have been sent to all members and each member is encouraged to buy a toy, wrap it and Grahame and Sharon will deliver them to the Salvation Army in Temora.  Grahame has asked all members to buy the toys from the Ganmain Newsagency toy shop:
• 
• Garth advised us all that PDG George Weston has asked Garth to be the Area 3 Community Leader under the new regionalisation pilot programme for Zone 8.
• Paul Weston reported on the previous Board meeting included in his report
  • We need an email address for our club.
  • The Board agreed to increase the annual giving prizes for our local schools.
  • RYLA is on the 4th January 2025 in Murrumbateman open to 18-28 yo at $1,700 per RYLARIAN.
  • The Christmas Party is set for Monday 9th December at the property of Wendy and Adrian Lindner.  The CRC will pay for the meals.  A detailed map on how to get to Wendy and Adrian’s farm will be sent out.

The winners of the Melbourne Cup Sweep were:

1st place Mary Potts, 2nd place Garth, 3rd place Bruce Hamilton and last place JJG.

We will leave this photo here for your information:

DIARY

*Monday 25th November – Guest speaker Inspector Jill Gibson from the Wagga Wagga Police Local Area  Command:  Inspector Jill’s talk will be on domestic violence.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 2nd December – Guest speaker Robert Shore District Governor Elect, District 9705,  WW2 PoW Stories.   Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 9th December – Annual Christmas Party.  Hosts will be Wendy and Adrian Lindner on their property.  Details to follow.  NB NO BoD Meeting in December.

Monday 16th December LAST Meeting for 2024.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 20th January Board Meeting 5.00pm at Coolamon Sport  Rec Club.

*Monday 20th January FIRST Meeting for 2025.  PP Garth Perkin on ShelterBox.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 26th January.  NO MEETING. Australia Day.

*Guests welcome bring your partners and friends.

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS.

OUR FOUNDATION

•  Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution – see also the D9705 Peace Communities Program
•  Disease Prevention and Treatment – see our District End Polio and End Trachoma pages
•  Water and Sanitation
•  Maternal and Child Health
•  Basic Education and Literacy
•  Economic and Community Development
• Supporting the Environment-more details here:  webpage 

CRC MATCHING GRANT FROM THE ROTARY FOUNDATION.

In 2005 Coolamon and Hout Bay became Centennial twin clubs and we started the main project of raising funds to build and refurbish an AIDS and TB Clinic, which has since become a model for South African Health.

Coolamon House as it is known, in honour of our club, was opened in 2013 and among two other beneficiaries, Nonceba and Phumlani, we have contributed over $US 100,000 to Hout Bay.  This included a TRF Matching Grant for US$22,000.

We worked on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The relationship with Hout Bay RC has been beneficial to both clubs and we have made many good friends in Hout Bay.

The informal settlement, known as Imizamo Yethu, that cropped up in this very expensive suburb of Cape Town grew and grew with the influx of migrants mainly from The Transkei in Northern South Africa.  The demands on the original residents was overwhelming and both Rotary Hout Bay and Lions Hout Bay, in conjunction with the Cape Town Health Department worked on building the medical centre to look after a population of 16,000 people officially.  However the actual number of residents could be as high as 50,000.

The association now 20 years old with Hout Bay RC has resulted in the building/refurbishment of the totally inadequate building that they had to serve this ever growing migrants.

Over a period of 8 years and two mountain climbs in 2007 (Kilimanjaro) and 2011 (The Mountains of the Moon), and then following the Mount Kenya 2015 climb.  We have been able to provide Hout Bay RC with over US$100,000.  This includes the Foundation matching grant of US$22.000.

This project, Coolamon House, is saving lives each and every day.

The funds we raised came from sponsors of each and every climb.  These were individuals or clubs who sponsored our climbers by donation various levels per foot that we reached.

I am in the process of rebuilding our website for our CRC Road MAPS to Africa projects.  However you can learn more about our work in Africa from this website:

THE ORK.

NOVEMBER IS ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

N. B. To all members our Annual General Meeting is set for Monday 11th November.

PS.  CLUB ASSEMBLY FOLLOWS THE AGM.

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for Month of October 2024

Click on the links below for the weekly bulletins from October.

Bulletin for Monday 14/10/2024

Bulletin for Monday 21/10/2024

Bulletin for Monday 28/10/2024

Meeting of Monday 4th November 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 23 members and three guests including; PP Sue Gordon from the Young RC with Marnie Noakes an Exchange Student from Parkes recently returned from 12 months in Germany.  Also Carla Gash who came to hear Sue and Marnie talk on youth exchange.  Carla’s daughter Aurelia Marangon is interested in going on an exchange to Italy.

Tonight on the eve of the Melbourne Cup we had a draw for our annual sweepstake.  Barry Langtry had control of the draw and the how; following a discussion between Dick, Albert, JJG and Barry on how to do it.  We will announce the winners of the $5.00 sweep next Monday.

Mary Potts advised all members present that the AGM is on next Monday night and is looking for nominations for the Board.  Please volunteer to serve on the Board without a Board we are rudderless!

Adrian and Garth reported on the D9705 conference held in Mittagong last weekend.  The full report and photos are in this bulletin.

Sue Gordon then introduced Marnie Noakes from Parkes.  Marnie has just returned from Germany as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student RYE.

Sue said that this year there were 7 Outbound and 7 Inbound students in the programme in our D9705.  It costs around $12,000 for their parents which includes the air fares, insurance and visas.  The local host club pays an allowance of $150 per month for the student’s monthly personal spending.  The parents also pay for any school excursions, the host families up to 5 in the 12 months feed and accommodate the student for the 12 months.

Marnie then presented her 12 months in Germany in a slide format and then answered many questions form the audience.

Marnie had a wonderful life changing experience with the four host families in Central Bavaria in Wurzburg and with her host Rotary Club.  One highlight was the European tour with other exchange students from around the world who were in Europe at the time.

Here are some slides from Marnie’s talk.

Lexi Furner thanked both Sue and Marnie for their visit and the talk.  I am sure that our club will look at hosting again one day, hopefully sooner than later, as RYE is one of our best Rotary projects to support.

The meeting then ended with the Melbourne Cup Sweep draw and we then had time for some good fellowship and we did not have a raffle tonight.

DIARY

*Monday 25th November – Guest speaker Inspector Jill Gibson from the Wagga Wagga Police Local Area  Command:  Inspector Jill’s talk will be on domestic violence.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 2nd December – Guest speaker Robert Shore District Governor Elect, District 9705,  WW2 PoW Stories.   Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome bring your partners and friends.

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS.

2024 D9705 CONFERENCE REPORT

Last weekend the annual District Conference was held in Mittagong under the leadership of our District Governor Rob Uhl.  We had two members attend, President Adrian Lindner and PP Garth Perkin.

Report and photo above by President Adrian Lindner:

Report follows by Past Area Governor D9705 Garth Perkin:

• This last one of ours in Mittagong 26-27th October was a cracker.
• What a great way to pick up ideas from other clubs and foster Rotary contacts and extended contacts.
• Saturday night being no exception as the theme/dress was Medieval with lots of Serfs and Noblemen (of course I was a Serf. Mind you i believe Mittagong did not rate as highly as Coolamon Rotaries Mad Hat Night.
• Sunday being only a half day amazingly fitted in — A youth exchange presentation. The Exchange students came from Finland, Norway, Germany, France, USA, and 2 from Japan ( what more could you want)
• A presentation on a “Toy Library “. What a great idea for kids that can never own nice toys.
• Plus good updates on RYPEN. Human rights by Austrailers High Commissioner..RIPR Ken Robertshaw from the UK. Polio update.
• Plus all the stalls representing the likes of ShelterBox, Say NO to domestic violence and a school group that are Interactors.

Here are some photos from the weekend taken by PDG John Egan, thanks John.

It is in a gallery so click on the image to get the large version, then to go back to the page click on the back arrow.

OUR ROTARY FOUNDATION BECOME A CENTURION

The Centurion Club was the brainchild of PDG Peter Walsh (D9700 1998-99), who saw the need to establish a program similar to “Every Rotarian Every Year”. District 9700 continued this on since his untimely death, and it is now spread across many other Districts.

Our new District 9705 will maintain this program, encouraging Centurions to give A$100 each year to The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust while ever they are able to do so. Donations can be directed to Annual Giving or Polio Eradication.

This is the easiest way for us as members to support our Foundation.

How to become a Centurion

You can become a Centurion along with fellow Rotarians and others by making a tax deductable contribution of AUD$ 100 or more per annum while ever you are in a position to do so. Your contribution (payable to The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust) supports the work of the Rotary Foundation.

Fifty percent of the money donated to the Annual Programs Fund comes back to the District after 3 years and is used in developing our Foundation projects. Rotarians and their partners and friends become a Centurion by donating AUD$100 each year to The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust.

Rotarians, their partners and friends also receive Paul Harris Fellow recognition credits for each donation made in their name.

The best way is to get a donation tube for $2 coins and simply put one $2 coin in per week.  This will get $100 for our Foundation in 50 weeks.

CONTACT:  Foundation Director Gary Truscott or Chair PDG Ian Tooke, Blayney, 0409 590 547

SHELTERBOX NEWS

There’s still time to secure your chance to conquer Tanzania’s world-famous Mount Kilimanjaro and raise funds for disaster relief!

Join Paul Roger and other ShelterBox supporters from the around the world on the trek of a lifetime. The lunar landscapes and snow-capped summit make this a physical challenge to remember, but that’s not the best bit—whilst you walk, you’ll be making a profound difference in the lives of displaced families worldwide.

This amazing trek is taking place on 20-28 February 2025 and will be one of our best. Find out more here.

We’re asking all our team to please share this trek with your communities – create a post on your social media, share it with your District/Rotary Club newsletter or social pages, send an email to your networks or find your local hiking club and let them know.  

We would love to encourage more people to join the team!

POSTSCRIPT

Huff ‘n’ Puff had two visitors from Melbourne over the weekend looking to build a straw bale home and they left us a present for our hospitality and advice it is The Straw Wolf:

NOVEMBER IS ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

N. B. To all members our Annual General Meeting is set for Monday 11th November.

N.B. Change of programme: *Monday 25th November – Guest speaker Inspector Jill Gibson from the Wagga Wagga Police Local Area  Command:  Inspector Jill’s talk will be on domestic violence.

Meeting of Monday 28th. October 2024

Acting President Mary Potts welcomed 20 members to our Silly Hat Dinner in aid of mental health. President Adrian is away on holiday.

There were several outstanding hats tonight including the nun serving wine!

Before our Q & A with Albert Suidgeest we had some general business to discuss including:

• Mary Potts reported on the results of the Open Garden Days which showed a return of $7,700.  In particular the devonshire teas were a great success.
• Daryl Breust thanked everyone who volunteered and said that the melanoma bands were well received.  Daryl pointed out that these bands DO save lives.
• Paul Weston reported on the last board meeting and among the items approved by the board was the future of the Coolamon Community Chronicle.  The board decided to terminate our printer contract and to have Active print take on the printing.  The extra cost to do this is minimal and sustainable.
• Paul also advised the meeting that our club will be approaching qualified organisations in our area to become Rotary Corporate members of our club.  The board also approved a donation of $400 to the Anglican Church.
• Members present would like a certification of appreciation to the 6 owners of the open garden days.  It was also suggested that we send a letter of thanks to the volunteers who are not members of our club for their work.
• Grahame Miles said that the Shire turned down our request for financial support for the Chronicle.
• Grahame miles reported that a quick survey over the Garden days showed that 50% came from Coolamon and 16% from Wagga Wagga.  The viewers in the main learned about the days from Social Media, Instagram and Facebook 40%, the flyer 20% and the Chronicle 15%.  Word of mouth and 2AAA made up the rest.

After dinner Acting President Mary interviewed PP Albert Suidgeest in a Q&A format.

Albert’s answers were as follows:

• Favourite TV: Live Football AFL
• Favourite Actor: Morgan Freeman
• Best Movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Animal or bird: Wedge Tail Eagle
• As an Olympian: Discus, javelin and the 100 metre sprint
• Cars? Not into cars
• Holidays: Africa in particular.
• Things we don’t know about Albert:  He gets very nervous with public speaking
• Future Rotary projects:  Wealth distribution and working on the energy problems of the world.
• Dinner Date:  Marcus Bontempelli from the Western Bulldogs.
• Coolamon Needs: Better environmental planning with long term benefits.
• PM For a Day: Albert would look to implement free preschool for 3-4 year olds.  AND to get more respect for our teachers.

Well done Mary and thank you Albert for your answers.

Here is a gallery of the hats worn last night all in all a great effort from our members to join in the fun.  We donated our raffle money tonight to Australian Rotary Health.

The silly hats judges nominated:

1.  Ian Jennings
2. Gary Truscott
3. Grahame Miles

A very happy and fun filled meeting ended on time which gave us an opportunity for some good fellowship.  Well done Mary most enjoyable night.

SECOND COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB’S OPEN GARDEN DAY 

Saturday Sunday we held our second day of the two days for our Open Garden Days project.  There were 6 gardens on display in and around Coolamon.  This week I have some photos from the Breusts’, Extons’ and Lorraine Farrelly’s gardens.

Jann and Daryl Breusts’ garden is outstanding and the photos don’t do it justice.  Here are some photos in gallery mode.

Six Miles from Coolamon is Jananee Station.  The farm of Kellie and Anthony Exton.  So good to see a local farmers’ garden and it is a lovely peaceful place.  The fire pit looks inviting for cool nights some photos see if you can spot the fly!!!!

Here are a few random photos from other members, includes Lorraine Farrelly’s garden below:

DIARY

*Monday 25th November – Guest speaker Inspector Jill Gibson from the Wagga Wagga Police Local Area  Command:  Inspector Jill’s talk will be on domestic violence.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 2nd December – Guest speaker Robert Shore District Governor Elect, District 9705, Rotary regionalisation.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome bring your partners and friends.

Happy Haggis Halloween.

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS.

Rotary Club of Wahroonga, NSW, hosted a spectacular Hat Day meeting on Wednesday, 25 September, raising much needed funds and awareness for ARH to support vital research into mental health disorders. Well done for their splendid effort and wonderful results!

Rotary Club of Canberra Sundowners, ACT, showcased a colourful array of hats at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, 1 October to help lift the lid on mental illness. Thank you to the team for their commendable efforts and super creative hats!

Thank you to Rotary Club of Altona City, VIC, for their tremendous support of our Hat Day campaign on Tuesday, 1 October. Members showcased a bright and creative hat display at the Kooringal Golf Club, raising over $1000 for research into mental health disorders!

On Saturday, 5 October Rotary Club of Mount Isa South West, QLD, lit up their local shopping centre with a spectacular Hat Day parade, where Members decorated hats with children from the community, having fun and raising funds for research into mental health disorders.

Congratulations to Rotary Club of East Maitland, NSW, for their Hat Day event at El Chapos Restaurant! The gathering not only raised awareness for mental health disorders but also provided the opportunity for Members to engage and foster meaningful discussions around the Rotary mission.

Hats off to Rotary Club of Walkerville, SA, for hosting their most successful Art Show on Saturday, 12 October! A majority of the artwork was sold, with proceeds generously donated to support ARH’s research into mental health disorders.

Well done to the Members of Rotary Club of Highton Inc ,VIC, who held their Hat Day event on Saturday, 12 October! They don’t mind having fun and looking a little silly to raise funds research into mental illness!

Rotary Club of Maitland Sunrise Inc, NSW, dedicated their meeting on Thursday, 24 October to “Lifting the Lid on Mental Illness,” with Members wearing fun hats and sparking joy while raising awareness around mental health issues in the community.

Rotary Club of Westbury brought together their vibrant community at the Westbury Town Common for a walk, followed by a delicious morning tea and sausage sizzle. Much fun was had with prizes for the most creative hats!

Take a look at how much fun Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise is having during their Hat Day event on Saturday, 12 October. A heartfelt thank you to all Members for their generous support in raising awareness and funds for mental health research.

A big thank you to Rotary Club of Kenthurst, NSW, for hosting their Hat Day on Monday, October 14! We loved seeing all the creative hats worn by members and guests—it’s wonderful to see everyone having such a great time. Well done to all involved!

The ARH Head Office Team celebrating Hat Day during World Mental Health Day by sporting their boldest and brightest hats! We would also like to thank all Rotary Clubs who took part in this wonderful initiative to raise funds and awareness for research into mental health illness!

OCTOBER IS ROTARY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ECONOMIC MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

N. B. To all members our Annual General Meeting is set for Monday 11th November.

Meeting of Monday 21st. October 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 20 members, 1 partner Lorraine Hamilton and 11 guests including; Helen Jordan guest of Bernadette, Wayne Rushton guest of Ted, Kay and Alan Heighway from the Sutherland Rotary Club, Dave Fox Marrar, Veronika and Ben Mier from Coolamon, Pradeep Rai and Sosheel Godfrey from the CSU.

We had as our guest speaker tonight.  Dan Fox, from Marrar, Australian Innovation Farmer of the Year.  On Regenerative agriculture and its link to food/health.

Before our guest speaker we had some general business to discuss including:

• Daryl Breust with a report on the recent Gears & Beers weekend.  Daryl thanked all of our volunteers who helped on the day and advised us that Wollundry RC will be visiting soon for a debrief.  Daryl said there were 2000 ANZAC biscuits made, and thanked all who helped bake them.  As well special thanks to Albert for getting the water sorted.
• Albert Suidgeest sent round a roster for members to volunteer to man th egates at Saturday’s Open garden Day.
• Grahame Miles asked us all to volunteer for the roster as it is embarrassing to ask non-members to help out.  We have enough members to man all 6 gates in the two time slots.
• Mary Potts gave a brief report on the funds raised so far from the Open Garden Day 1.

Guest Speaker Dan Fox (above), was introduced by Ian Jennings.  Dan’s talk was very interesting and informative even for non-farmers in our club.  There were some very sobering information on the effect of climate change and what can be done in broad scale farming to help to combat the fact that climate change is real and has to be addressed.

THERE’s a quiet revolution taking place on farms across Australia thanks to people like Dan Fox – one of thousands of Australian farmers taking action on climate change by transforming the health of their soils.

Over the past 20 years Australian farmers have redefined conventional farming methods, with an over-riding focus on soil health allowing farmers to store and sequester large amounts of carbon in their land.

The shift towards healthier soils, combined with ground-breaking innovation enabling lower fuel and synthetic fertiliser use, means Australian farmers are leading the way in tackling climate change.

Changes made on the Fox farm in recent years include the purchase of new machinery which has enabled practice changes to retain more soil moisture and build carbon levels below the ground.

“Our mothers and grandmothers taught us to put straw mulch on the home gardens to protect the soil from the sun, keep the weeds out and keep the moisture in,” Dan said.

“That’s exactly what we are aiming to do with our system, except our garden is the big paddocks on the outside of the house yard.”

Here are some photos from last night’s talk by Dan.

The Shelbourne stripper front above plays an important role in the harvest leaving the straw almost intact!

Shelbourne Stripper in action.

Single disc seeders set at 6.5″ apart sowing into stubble.

All the residue is left in the paddock and then after harvest the stubble is rolled so that it can break down and add carbon to the soil.

Here is more information on the Fox family in Marrar.

Where REAL Climate Action Happens | Dan Fox, Marrar, NSW

Thanks you Dan and Barry Langtry gave dan a vote of thanks for his talk.

We did not have a S@A session and the raffle prizes were won by Lorraine hamilton, Alex Thompson and Bruce Hamilton.  All in all a busy informative evening followed by some excellent fellowship.

Next Monday night we have a social evening with Albert Suidgeest in the HOT seat as we get to know our member.  It is also Lift the Lid Silly Hat Day.  So please wear a silly or elegant hat to raise funds for Australian Rotary Health.

FIRST COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB’S OPEN GARDEN DAY 

Sunday we held our first day of two days for our Open Garden Days project.  There were 6 gardens on display in and around Coolamon.  Albert Suidgeest and his committee have done a great job and we will do it all again next Saturday.  In the meantime here are some photos from Sunday.  Thanks to Grahame Miles and Adrian Lindner for some of the photos.  The photos of Jill’s garden feature and it is a fun garden using some wonderful imagination. The young children that visited loved it!

Above the welcome at Jill’s garden so many lovely surprises are to be found in this garden.

Our Rotary volunteers, well 4 of them, Myffy, Bern, Wendy and Adrian.

Above Merilyn Hutcheon brought her sister Rosalie and grandchildren along.

One of our hosts Kellie Exton with daughter Audrey. Thanks Kellie!

Above three photos are from the garden of Natalie and Emma.

This garden above belongs to Telea and Anthony

The following photos are from Jill’s eclectic garden such a lot of fun and imagination.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website or the link below in pdf:

CRC Program 24-25 UPDATE

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing Day TWO.

 

Saturday  26th October TRUNK or TREAT Ganmain Park 11.30am

Time to start thinking about your costumes kids!! Something different this year… Decorate your car boot & you could win a prize! Please note parents need to supervise their children for this event

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

*Monday 28th October – Social Night with get to Know Your Member Abert Suidgeest in the HOT seat.  It is also SILLY HAT DAY so wear a colourful elegant hat to raise funds for Lift the Lid on mental Illness.

LIFT THE LID

*Monday 4th November – Guest Speaker Meeting. Sue Gordon Secretary Young RC on Rotary Youth Exchange.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 11th November: CRC Board Meeting Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 5.00 pm. SHARP Please.

Monday 11th November: CRC AGM Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 18th November: Guest speaker John Livermore President, Young Rotary: Cyber security and IT tips Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 25th November – Social Night with get to Know Your Member.

*Monday 2nd December – Guest speaker Robert Shore District Governor Elect, District 9705, Rotary regionalisation.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Guests welcome bring your partners and friends.

It appears Haggis Eggs are now available on Supermarket shelves on the run up to Christmas and Burns night.

ROTARY NEWS.

THE POLIO SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.

A son recalls his father’s great medical achievement

By Dr. Peter L. Salk

Illustrations by Cristian Barba Camarena

I have been president of the Jonas Salk Legacy Foundation since its founding in 2009. As you can imagine, focusing my attention in that role on the legacy of my father’s many contributions to humanity — including his creation of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, just up the road in La Jolla on a bluff overlooking California’s magnificent Pacific Coast — has a special significance for me.

My father, Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the first polio vaccine, was born in New York City on 28 October 1914, exactly three months after the beginning of World War I. From his earliest days, he was someone who wanted to do something to be helpful to humanity. That impulse and drive may have come in part from an incident that was imprinted in his memory when he was a little boy.

FULL STORY HERE

WORLD POLIO DAY INFORMATION.

One Day. One Focus:  Ending Polio

World Polio Day is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good.

All donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling your impact!

OCTOBER IS ROTARY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ECONOMIC MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for Month of September 2024

Click on the links below for the weekly bulletins from September.

Bulletin for Monday 08/09/2024

Bulletin for Week for 2 Weeks Monday 15/09/2024 & 22/09/2024

Bulletin for  30/09/2024

Meeting of Monday 14th October 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 21 members, 2 partners, Maureen and Susan and 7 guests including Ruth Morgan, Leo de Kroo with Marianne, Carla Gash and Louis Marangon from Gigi, as well Bruce Wooten from the Coolamon Mens’ Shed.

We had Tony Donoghue as our guest speaker tonight. Tony is the General Manager of the Coolamon Shire Council.

Mick O’Brien gave a short presentation on the upcoming fund raising event for the Ganmain & Coolamon Hospital Auxiliary.  This Saturday there will be a bus going to the Races in Wagga at the MTC.  The cost will be $50 per person and includes the bus trip, free entry a welcome drink and the aim is to raise $1,000.

Garth Perkin introduced Tony, Garth first met Tony when he was the Building Surveyor for the council about toilets in Garth and Marg’s shops.  Tony grew up in Junee left when he was 17 and went to the city Sydney, the Central Coast and worked in the mines in WA eventually returning to Parkes and then to Coolamon where he became the Building Surveyor in 2001.  In 2014 Tony took over from Terry Kiss as the GM.

Tony gave a detailed and informative talk on the past and the future of the Shire.  There are 9 Councillors who all work well with the staff under Tony’s guidance.  Tony then covered so many topics it was hard to keep up; these included:

• Every 4 years the Community Strategic Plan is released which is not a Council publication.  This plan includes policing, health and other agencies that affect the Shire.
• Tony praised Courtney Armstrong, the Executive Manager, Corporate and Community Service, Tony said that Courtney was the very best accountant for our Shire.
• Tony emphasised how our council works within the annual budget and does a great job with providing the services that are needed in the Shire while keeping rates down.
• Council prepares a 4 year plan based on a 10 year forecast.  That is they are a far seeing Council.
• Tony said that the town of Coolamon is growing and has grown from 1400 to 2500 in a short time.  The Shire itself now has a population of 4,350.
• Coolamon Shire Council is and has developed land for a commercial industrial park, sub-divisions North of Coolamon and 7 building blocks in Ganmain.
• Tony went on to describe the potential of the Coolamon Showgrounds for harness racing with a 1600m track which is highly desirable.  Talk is for 220 stables and the development is being discussed with Harness Racing NSW, CSU and the State Government.
• Tony emphasised that we need the community behind any developments and any ideas are always considered and are essential for the future of our Shire.  Hence the need for advance committees such as Advance Ganmain.
• One are of great importance to all residents is the health sector.  This Shire is blessed by the facilities we have in our Shire.  This is one area which Tony went into great detail about.
• They are looking at increasing the number of beds for emergency stay over beds from 2 to 20, as well as increasing the aged care beds from 12 to 32.

There were many questions from members and guests and it was heartening to hear that the future of our Shire is in good hands.  Thank you Tony!

We had an excellent meeting and had a brief discussion on the upcoming Open Garden Days starting this Sunday.  A roster was prepared and here is a plan of the open gardens:

Contact Albert and the committee to volunteer please.  The gardens will be open from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Garth Perkin handed out a flyer for the combined Sydney and Wagga Rugby male choirs upcoming Thursday October 24th in Wagga.

THE 2024 CRC TELEPHONE BOOK

The 2024 CRC Telephone Book is now at the printers and we will have 2,000 copies printed soon.  The book will then be available at various outlets as well as being sent via the Australia Post mail out for our Shire.  Well done to all who contributed their time to produce this edition.

REPORT GEARS & BEERS OCTOBER 6th October 2024

PP Daryl Breust did another excellent job of the annual Gears & Beers Dirty 130 and the 105 that came through our Shire on Sunday.  Volunteers working at the ANZAC Biscuits and Melon HQ i.e. Lions Park and on the road and manning intersections included; Henk Hulsman, Don Dyce, Garth Perkin, John Glassford, Ted  Hutcheon, Brian Pattison, Mark Reardon, Barry Langtry, Gary Truscott, Bernadette Milne, Dick Jennings, Myffy Collette, Grahame Miles, John Nulty, Lexi Furner, Mary Potts, Jann Breust, Annie Rzeszkowski, and Marilyn Jennings.  I probably missed some!  Here are some photos sent in by Daryl, Mary, Sharon Miles, Wollundry RC and JJG. Remember to click on the image in the gallery below to get a larger version.

Postscript:

‘Really lucky’: Gears and Beers rider revived after on-course cardiac arrest

Credit and full story in The Daily Advertiser Monday 7th October 2024

GANMAIN TWILIGHT MARKETS FRIDAY 11th OCTOBER

Congratulations to the organisers of the Ganmain Twilight Markets held on Friday night.  There were some excellent stalls and food available.  We arrived a bit late however there were still a lot of people there and it started at 3.00pm.

The disco in the Ganmain Hall for the children was a great idea and a huge hit with the young ones.

The street was full with many people from outside of Ganmain and I did not see many from Coolamon. It was hard to get a car park and  Ford Street was closed.

 

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website or the link below in pdf:

CRC Program 24-25 UPDATE

Monday 14th October – Board Meeting.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 5.00 pm. SHARP Please.

*Monday 14th October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Tony Donoghue Coolamon Shire Council GM.   On Strategy and vision of the Shire.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday October 20th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

*Monday 21st. October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Dan Fox, Australian Innovation Farmer of the Year.  On Regenerative agriculture and its link to food/health.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing Day TWO.

Saturday  26th October TRUNK or TREAT Ganmain Park 11.30am

Time to start thinking about your costumes kids!! Something different this year… Decorate your car boot & you could win a prize!   Please note parents need to supervise their children for this event

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

Monday 28th October – Social Night with get to Know Your Member.

*Monday 4th November – Guest Speaker Meeting. Sue Gordon Secretary Young RC on Rotary Youth Exchange.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 11th November: CRC Board Meeting Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 5.00 pm. SHARP Please.

Monday 11th November: CRC AGM Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

JUST FOR LAUGHS SOMETHING DIFFERENT;

The Wildlife Haggis Foundation in Scotland are doing great work in sustainable farming of the wild haggis.

One of the areas that will surprise and enlighten our wool growers is that wild haggis are rounded up at shearing time and they sent me some photos of the wild haggis being shorn.

Below: Scotland’s Beautiful Ancient Art of haggis shearing.

Above: Wonderful haggis wool so comfortable and getting scarce.

ROTARY NEWS.

ROTARY FOUNDATION 7 AREAS OF FOCUS.

The Rotary Foundation’s Seven Areas of Focus, which are more about WHO we serve and our causes:

As we enter October our monthly theme is one of the 7 areas of focus of our Rotary Foundation being:

Community & Economic Development.

7 Areas of Focus

The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have identified seven areas of focus for Global Grants. These areas reflect critical humanitarian issues and needs that Rotarians are addressing worldwide. They will align Rotary with other international development efforts and will strategically further the mission of The Rotary Foundation.

Statements of purpose and goals

Each of the seven areas of focus begins with a statement of purpose, followed by a list of specific goals. The Rotary Foundation will use the goals to establish:

• Projects and activities for global grants
• Possible strategic partners for global grants
• Evaluation criteria for club- and district-developed global grants
• A system for measuring outcome for all global grants

Areas of focus

1. Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
4. Maternal and Child Health
5. Basic Education and Literacy
6. Community Economic Development
7. Protecting Our Environment

OCTOBER IS ROTARY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ECONOMIC MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for W/e September 30th. 2024

GUESS WHERE MARY WAS:

OR:

OR:

P.S. The WESTONS were WINNERS in WEST WYALONG last WEEKEND!

Meeting of Monday 30th September 2024

This Monday we had our 5th Monday evening as a social with little of Rotary business being discussed.  We had our evening at a private party at the new winery in Coolamon:  Methuselah Estate Coolamon.

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 23 members and around 12 partners and guests.  Thanks to Dick Jennings for organising the social evening at this exceptional winery.  It was also wonderful to welcome Sarah Collins back from Victoria.  Sarah is visiting her father John Bond during the school holidays.

We had a great two course dinner catered by Simone and it was very much appreciated by all who attended.  Albert thanked Simone for the dinner.  Dick Jennings then introduced our host Rod (Freddie) Furner.  Rod gave us a brief history of his connections to Coolamon and his goals for the future.  Rod did say that they will not be open for 12 months until the council seals the entry road in Pykes Lane.

This is a beautiful building with excellent craftsmanship using mainly local tradespeople.  The stone work on the columns and walls is outstanding.

President Adrian then thanked Rod Furner for his hospitality and Dick Jennings for organising the event.

Welcome back Sarah so good to see you again.

We then had some business to discuss in the main the upcoming Gears and Beers weekend on Sunday the long weekend in October.  Daryl Breust outlined the roster of our members and advised all volunteers to be at Lions Park from 7.30am on Sunday morning before they go to their posts. N.B. SUNDAY October 6th daylight saving begins with our clocks going forward by one hour!!!!! So volunteers need to get up an hour earlier.

Daryl thanked the volunteers who made the ANZAC biscuits for the participants of Gears & Beers these included Jann Breust, Annie and Myffy.  Daryl reminded us all that after the Gears & Beers event on Sunday that we are all welcome to the Beers part of the festival in Wagga.

Grahame Miles spoke on the upcoming evening at the Ganmain Hall on Friday 4th October.

Albert Suidgeest had a guessing competition question for us to answer with our replies hand written on a piece of paper.  The questions were how to spell Annie’s name and the date of her birthday.  The only clue was that there were two Zs.  Lexi won 1st prize and Mary won the second prize.

All in all another very pleasant evening with good food and good friends.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website or the link below in pdf:

CRC Program 24-25 UPDATE

Sunday October 6th – Gears & Beers.   Wollundry RC. Website

Monday 7th October – NO MEETING (October long weekend).

*Monday 14th October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Tony Donoghue Coolamon Shire Council GM.   On Strategy and vision of the Shire.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday October 20th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

*Monday 21st. October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Dan Fox, Australian Innovation Farmer of the Year.  On Regenerative agriculture and its link to food/health.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing Day TWO.

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

Monday 28th October – Social Night with get to Know Your Member.

*Monday 4th November – Guest Speaker Meeting. Sue Gordon Secretary Young RC on Rotary Youth Exchange.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 11th November: CRC Board Meeting Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 5.00 for 5.15 pm.

Monday 11th November: CRC AGM Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS

ROTARY HISTORY

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.

Paul Harris
Rotary founder

READ MORE HERE

The first Rotary Club was formed when attorney Paul P. Harris called together a meeting of three business acquaintances in downtown Chicago, United States, at Harris’s friend Gustave Loehr’s office in the Unity Building on Dearborn Street on February 23, 1905.  In addition to Harris and Loehr (a mining engineer and freemason), Silvester Schiele (a coal merchant), and Hiram E. Shorey (a tailor) were the other two who attended this first meeting. The members chose the name Rotary because initially they rotated subsequent weekly club meetings to each other’s offices, although within a year, the Chicago club became so large it became necessary to adopt the now-common practice of a regular meeting place.

The first four Rotarians. From left: Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram E. Shorey, Paul P. Harris.

The First Four Rotarians.

Click on the image above to read it!

My favourite banner exchange in Chicago at the centenary of RI Convention.

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for W/e September 22nd. 2024

GUESS WHERE MARY IS:

Meeting of Monday 16th September 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 22 members, 5 partners and 17 guests too numerous to mention here.

President Adrian welcomed back a very sun tanned Albert and then all our guests were introduced to the meeting.

We had Arron Hutcheon as our guest speaker tonight. Arron is Managing Director of Hutcheon & Pearce.

There was very little Rotary business discussed tonight apart form the details of our 5th Monday Social night.  Dick Jennings has arranged for a private party at the at the new winery in Coolamon:  Methuselah Estate Coolamon.

Dinner will be catered for by Simone Macalister and will be $25 per head which includes roast lamb and sticky date or apple crumble as derets.  It is a BYO event.

After dinner Ted Hutcheon introduced his son Arron.  Ted said that Arron went to Coolamon Central School and then to Yanco Agricultural High School.  Ted noted that Brian Roberts the former principal of Yanco Ag High School was present.  Brian is also a member of teh Kooringal RC.  Ted went onto say that Arron was offered an apprenticeship with Hutcheon & Pearce.

Arron’s talk began with a history of Hutcheon & Pearce. Which can be found here:

Hutcheon & Pearce History 

“Just like many of our customers we are a generational family business since 1953, when my diesel mechanic grandfather George acquired “J.R Ritchie” of Coolamon, in partnership with Cec Pearce.”

Above: PP George Hutcheon at our 40th Birthday

Arron went onto say that he bought the business of his father ted in 2010 and his the 3rd generation of Hutcheons that run the company.  In 2010 they had 6 outlets with 100 staff today this has grown to 20 outlets and 560 staff.  When they expanded out West and in particular Griffith the cotton industry had a huge impact on their growth.

Their continued success owes a lot to their far sighted management using technology to the fullest advantage i.e. a call centre to assist their customers.  They have won several awards including the John Deere Dealership of the year.

One of the most interesting parts of Arron’s talk was on technology and the next 5 years.  They now employ more IT people than mechanical engineers.  Some of these innovations by John Deere include:

• Smart applications of sprays which can identify the fruit or weed and hence save up to 70% in using the old method.
• Driving the tractor using an APP on your mobile phone
• Sense and sct technology.
• Digital tools.
• Electrification of tractors EV and anything over 100 hp becomes economically viable.  Even lawn mowers will be electrified and at the Henty Field Days they will be unveiling one such mower.

Arron then answered many questions from the audience.

Ian Jennings gave Arron a vote of thanks on behalf our our guests and members present.

Thank you Grahame for the above two photos.

We had a raffle with three prizes 1st prize was won by Brian Roberts.

All in all a wonderful night of learning and above all fellowship.

MARRAR MADNESS  SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER

That was one of our community services that was so impressive.  So many cars for us to look after and thanks to the volunteers: Bear, Ian, Henk, Myffy, Bruce, Dick, Adrian, Alex, Annie, JJG, Daryl and Gary.  I hope that I got that right as I only saw Bear and Alex.

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website or the link below in pdf:

CRC Program 24-25 UPDATE

*Monday 23rd September – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Louise Graham from CDAT Community Drug Action Team.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 30th September – Social Night (5th Monday).  Private party at the new winery in Coolamon:  Methuselah Estate Coolamon

Sunday October 6th – Gears & Beers.   Wollundry RC. Website

Monday 7th October – NO MEETING (October long weekend).

*Monday 14th October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Tony Donoghue Coolamon Shire Council GM.   On Strategy and vision of the Shire.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Sunday October 20th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

*Monday 21st. October – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Dan Fox, Australian Innovation Farmer of the Year.  On Regenerative agriculture and its link to food/health.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing Day TWO.

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

Monday 28th October – Social Night with get to Know Your Member.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION & EDUCATION

More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.

Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.

Rotary Club pairs students with celebrity and CEO mentors

Inside the inn’s restaurant, Jackie Huie sits at a corner table explaining the student mentoring program that the Rotary Club of St. Joseph & Benton Harbor started a decade ago – a program that has helped more than 400 local high school students learn more about their dream careers by connecting them with professionals in those fields.

The exposure to community service that the program provides has led students to start Interact clubs at six local schools, including one at St. Joseph High School that has about 150 members. As the Rotarians work their connections to find mentors for students, they have strengthened the bonds between the 140-member Rotary club and its community. And in small ways, the program is even building bridges between St. Joseph and its “twin city” across the St. Joseph River – Benton Harbor, a once-affluent manufacturing town fallen on hard times.

For the full story go to this page:

TRF Education Mentors Students

Take action on International Literacy Day

Consider making a gift to The Rotary Foundation in honor of International Literacy Day on 8 September. Your donation will help communities address educational challenges so that students can focus on the most important thing — learning!

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
The Rotary Foundation

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for W/e September 8th. 2024

Meeting of Monday 2nd September 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 20 members and our guests were Lorraine Hamilton and Wendy Lindner.  Also present were our two guest speakers Cheryl Roberts and Elaine Post from Days for Girls.  We had some notices including:

• Reminder of the End Polio Now movie on Friday 6th September i.e. this Friday.
• Marrar Madness Saturday 7th September.
• Paul said that the Coolamon Community Chronicle is now out and thanks go to all who made this possible, another excellent edition.
• Annie spoke about the Gears & Beers ANZAC biscuits bake off which will be on the 28th Saturday and Sunday the 29th September at the Coolamon Central School and volunteers are needed.
• Paul has published the puzzler for August which is in last week’s bulletin.
• Scott told us that the Driver Simulator will be back in Coolamon on Monday the 16th September?  Check the date with Scott.
• Scott also announced that his farewell will be on Saturday the 14th September at 2.30pm at St. Andrew’s Coolamon for afternoon tea.

After dinner we had our guests present the story on days for Girls.

Lexi Furner introduced our two guest speakers Cheryl Roberts and Elaine Post.

Cheryl led the way and we learnt so much about this wonderful project that is growing.

Cheryl is a team leader for Days for Girls Australia.  Cheryl has been a volunteer for 6-7 years now.  There are now 100 teams across Australia including the Wagga Wagga team.  The Wagga team started 10 years ago.

Days for Girls Facebook Page

Days for Girls Australia is a registered Australian not for profit and is a Country Affiliate with Days for Girls International. Volunteers across Australia mobilize to increase access to menstrual products and vital health information for women and girls around the world.

Cheryl went on to say that:

• One in five Australian girls and young women don’t have access to menstrual products as food on teh table comes first.  It is called period poverty.
• There are myths and taboos around the world causing stigmatisation and shame Cheryl gave some examples in Nepal and PNG.
• This created days away from school and work.
• Better educated women leads to better educated children.

Elaine then showed us some examples of the user kits that are made by the teams around Australia and Wagga Wagga.  These user kits are washable and last up to five years.  There are now 540 volunteer teams across the world. Australia distributed 42,000 kits in 2022-2023.

Cheryl concluded the talk by saying that we can help by volunteering and making the project known via social media.

Photo by Father Scott Mudd thanks.

Annie gave a vote of thanks to Cheryl and Elaine for the talk and for educating all present.

N.B. MARRAR MADNESS ROSTER – SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER

12.00-3.00 pm: Bear, Ian, Henk, Howard and Myffy

3.00-6.00 pm: Bruce, Dick, Adrian, Bear and Alex

6.00-8.00 pm: Annie, Bear, JJG, Daryl and Gary.

N.B. END POLIO NOW MOVIE NIGHT

N.B. SHELTERBOX BOOROWA RC OFF THE GRID

Off the Grid for ShelterBox Boorowa RC

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website:

CRC Program 24-25

Saturday 7th September – Marrar Madness. Coolamon RC is manning the car park.  Volunteers required.

Monday 9th September – Board Meeting.  Coolamon Sport  Rec. Club, 5.15 pm.

Monday 9th September – Regular Meeting.  Coolamon Sport  Rec. Club, 6.30pm for 7.00pm.

*Monday 16th September – Guest Speaker Meeting. Arron Hutcheon will be speaking.  Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 23rd September – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Louise Graham from CDAT Community Drug Action Team.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 30th September – Social Night (5th Monday).

Sunday October 6th – Gears & Beers.   Wollundry RC. Website

Monday 7th October – NO MEETING (October long weekend).

Sunday October 20th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

One of the highlights will be DG Michael Lapina, a treat indeed.  Yes Michael the current D9800 District Governor, and I heard him sing at the Zone 8 Conference in Canberra.   Michael and Heather McInally also had the Singapore Convention delegates give them a 6 minute standing ovation following their duet.  As you know Heather is the wife of Past RI President Gordon McInally.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

ROTARY NEWS

1.  Club provides an antidote to troubled times

By Diana Schoberg

Members of the Rotary Club of Springboro, Ohio (from left): Scott Marshall, Sarah Garrette, April Walker, and Doug Buchy.

Image credit: Meg Vogel

It was 2020 and the world was, as Sarah Garrette puts it, “a dumpster fire,” roiled by the global pandemic, unrest over police violence against Black Americans, and a divisive election in the United States. “I felt pretty isolated and wanted to give back, but I felt out of control with things happening in the culture and with the pandemic,” she says. “I thought, I can’t change the big things, but if I start on the microlevel — in the community — those little impacts add up.”

She hopped on Facebook and typed “volunteer opportunities” into the search bar. The Rotary Club of Springboro popped up.

Her dad had been a Rotary member, so Garrette reached out over Facebook. Because of the pandemic, meetings were held over videoconference, and she dropped in to check a few out. She found a dynamic group of people of all ages, about 50/50 women and men, who want to strengthen their community.

This thriving membership wasn’t always the case for the club. It chartered with 25 members in 2004, but by 2007, that number had shrunk, perilously, to 13. Doug Buchy, a member of the Rotary Club of Dayton, was asked to transfer his membership to help bring the Springboro club back to life. While he was Springboro club president in 2009-10, it grew to 17 members. “We stopped the bleed,” he says. “We kept growing and growing.” Today club membership stands at almost 40.

FULL STORY HERE

2.  COOLAMON RC GLOBAL GRANT KENYA

Kisiriri Primary School Project Overview

Here is one example of how we as a club supported an education project in Kenya.  The Lake Chelan RC from Washington State contacted us to ask for help in obtaining a Rotary Foundation Global Grant.  This was in line with our Orphan Rescue Kit project to provide education and facilities to young and vulnerable children in Kenya.

The Project:

This is a school in dire need of Rotary help.  Sanitation is poor, infrastructure is dilapidated, and new desks and school equipment is needed, and academic standards are low.  The purpose of this project is to:

• provide rain water harvesting as a means of providing a source of clean water. There will be two 350,000 litre tanks.  One will be for the exclusive use of the school.  The second will be available as a backup for the school and a source of clean water to community members.  Community members will buy the water and the receipts will be used to fund maintenance costs.  Collection of funds will use a cashless collection system enabling funds to be deposited directly in the school’s bank account.
• install new roofing, facia boards and guttering to facilitate water collection
• install underground piping to carry water from the roofs to the rain water collection tanks
• renovate an existing school building. This will necessitate the replacement of the roofing, the building of a wall between two classrooms and the laying of a concrete floor.  The building itself is sound and is concrete block construction
• build 28 new biogas toilets with hand washing facilities (12 boys, 12 girls, 2 preschool, 2 teachers)
• provide additional school desks for students
• provide tables and chairs for teachers
• provide basic curriculum text and writing books and materials for students and teachers
• institute a mentorship program for pupils, teachers and the parents
• install solar power (240vac) and solar lighting system for the school computer room.The computer room has power from the grid but it is turned off. The school does not have the funds to pay for power
• provide access to the internet

In a second phase of the project, the plan is to provide a school library and equip it with books and access to the internet.

Here is how the global grant awas calculated and we contributed US $13,000 from our Road MAPS to Africa account.

*Whenever cash is contributed to the Foundation to help fund a global grant project, an additional 5 percent is applied to help cover the cost of processing these funds. Clubs and districts can receive Paul Harris Fellow recognition points for the additional expense.
THE RESULT:

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary Bulletin for Month of August 2024

Click on the links below for the weekly bulletins from August.

Bulletin for Week of 11/08/2024

Bulletin for Week of 18/08/2024

Bulletin for Week of 25/08/2024

Meeting of Monday 26th August 2024

President Adrian Lindner welcomed 21 members and one guest Susan Glassford.  We had some notices including:

• Leslie Weston on some interesting lecture series at the CSU Theatre behind the Civic Theatre Playhouse in Wagga with free cocktails and horderves.  The first night was last Wednesday, by the time you get this bulletin, “On plants and their adaptation to the changing environment” delivered by Professor Weston herself.  There will be other very inspirational lectures including the evolution of woolly mammoths and other provocative lectures and it will become a monthly event.  You can book on line at the CSU website.
• President Adrian thanked all the volunteers who manned the Ganmain Show Car Park.  There was an excellent turn out to the show with great weather and $9,000 above their best ever gate takings.
• Bear spoke on the upcoming Marrar Madness and advised the volunteers that they need a gazebo and to bring a chair and don’t forget your Rotary HiVis shirt.
• Adrian promoted the Boorowa RC ShelterBox event details below.
• Paul will be printing the Coolamon Community Chronicle this week and the usual help will be required.
• Henk advised all the members that the CRC Telephone Book 2024 White Pages was now all but complete with some corrections to be made.
• Dick Jennings brought up The 5th Monday in September which was discussed with a possible private party at the new winery in Coolamon Monday 30th September:  Methuselah Estate Coolamon

Q&A with Mary Potts and Adrian

Mary has had a full and interesting life to date and here are some of Mary’s answers:

• TV show growing up – Homicide or Division 4.
• Favourite actor – Julia Roberts.
• What animal or bird would you be – a cute dog.
• If you got selected for the Olympics what sport – Run the marathon.
• What super hero – Be able to fly and not need a car.
• Dream car – Don’t have one but it would be nice if I could get ALL the kids and grandkids in and go on adventures outback.
• Holidays anywhere in the world – Peru the Inca trail and the amazon any hiking adventure.
• Dream Job – Retirement!
• Career that other are not aware of – Mary wanted to be a chef but was discouraged from that occupation and followed another path and was accepted into nursing at the Canberra Hospital. Mary’s next move was to apply for a traineeship at AKW Chartered Accountants and Wealth Advisors. Mary got the job at AKW and enrolled at university at the Riverina College of Advanced Education and worked full time and studied part time.
• Rotary project you would like to undertake – Reduce gambling, thereby reducing financial and mental health problems facing many Aussies and to assist families affected by gambling.
• Greatest need for Coolamon – Activities and services for our youth.
• If you were Prime Minister for a day what is your Captains Call? – Better budget management.
• Dinner dead or alive, who would you like to meet? – Queen Elizabeth II, a very wise lady!

Thank you Mary and Adrian.

The meeting then had the duo of Perkin and Jennings with the fines session.  Probably the most interesting one was a cross fine by Grahame on Don for his birthday lunch, a vegetarian lamb shank:

The raffle was won by Daryl Breust all in all another good night of fun and fellowship.

THE GANMAIN AGRICULTURAL SHOW SATURDAY 24th AUGUST

Rotarians manned the car parking in conjunction with the Coolamon Lions for the Annual Ganmain Show.  Thanks go to all who volunteered.

It was another wonderful small country town show BUT HUGE in heart and organisation.  Well done to the Ganmain Show Committee.  Here are some photos taken at random;

N.B. MARRAR MADNESS ROSTER – SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER

12.00-3.00 pm: Bear, Ian, Henk, Howard and Myffy

3.00-6.00 pm: Bruce, Dick, Adrian, Bear and Alex

6.00-8.00 pm: Annie, Bear, JJG, Daryl and Gary.

END POLIO NOW MOVIE NIGHT

SHELTERBOX BOOROWA RC OFF THE GRID

Off the Grid for ShelterBox Boorowa RC

DIARY

N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings,  just advise Ian Jennings 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 and in  The Diary on our website:

CRC Program 24-25

*Monday 2nd September – Guest Speaker Meeting. Cheryl Roberts & Elaine Post speaking on Days for Girls Charity. Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday 7th September – Marrar Madness. Coolamon RC is manning the car park.  Volunteers required.

Monday 9th September – Board Meeting.  Coolamon Sport  Rec. Club, 5.15 pm.

Monday 9th September – Regular Meeting.  Coolamon Sport  Rec. Club, 6.30pm for 7.00pm.

*Monday 16th September – Guest Speaker Meeting. Arron Hutcheon will be speaking.  Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 23rd September – Guest Speaker Meeting.  Louise Graham from CDAT Community Drug Action Team.  Coolamon Sport  Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

*Monday 30th September – Social Night (5th Monday).

Sunday October 6th – Gears & Beers.   Wollundry RC. Website

Monday 7th October – NO MEETING (October long weekend).

Sunday October 20th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

Saturday October 26th – Coolamon Garden Viewing

*Friday 25th/Sunday 27th October – D9705 Conference.  Mittagong RSL.  Bookings open now:

D9705 Conference

One of the highlights will be DG Michael Lapina, a treat indeed.  Yes Michael the current D9800 District Governor, and I heard him sing at the Zone 8 Conference in Canberra.   Michael and Heather McInally also had the Singapore Convention delegates give them a 6 minute standing ovation following their duet.  As you know Heather is the wife of Past RI President Gordon McInally.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

All of the above images were obtained from Facebook.

THE PUZZLER

Answers to the last puzzlers:

Riddle: A jumper has a neck but no head and arms but no hands.
Brain teaser: The baby is the biggest of the three because he’s a little Bigger!

This month’s puzzlers:

Riddle: The more you take, the more you leave behind.  What am I?
Brain teaser: Four sisters–Sara, Ophelia, Nora, and Dawn–were each born in a different one of the months September, October, November, and December.

“This is terrible,” said Ophelia one day. “None of us have an initial that matches the initial of her birth month.”

“I don’t mind at all,” replied the girl who was born in September.

“That’s easy for you to say,” said Nora. “It would at least be cool if the initial of my birth month was a vowel, but no.”

In which month was each girl born?

ROTARY NEWS

COOLAMON AND TRACY MONICA OCHIENG

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH

Well, we as a club have supported several education projects in Africa, especially Kenya with our star pupil, Tracy Ochieng.

The 2011 Mountains of the Moon Rotary team, met Tracy in November 2011 in Mathare, one of the worst slums on the planet.  Tracy was nominated by her teachers to give a speech of thanks to Rotary.  Her talk changed our lives as it did for Tracy and others of young girls at risk.  Tracy became our star pupil and we sponsored her through high school and then onto University.  Tracy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Communication and Media in September 2022.  Susan and JG were present at her graduation.

Tracy’s story can be told via the following photos in particular the story on Tracy in the Rotary Africa magazine.  Some of you have met this amazing young lady and some of you would also have read her articles in the Coolamon Community Chronicle.

Tracy’s success was a small part of the funds that we raised climbing/hiking the three highest mountains in Africa.  Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008, The Mountains of the Moon in November 2011 and Mount Kenya in May 2015.  We could not have done this without Rotary clubs in the main from our old D9700.  It was PDG then DG at the time Fred Loneragan who took on board our projects and with his club Wagga Wagga Sunrise have been our partners and supporters since 2009.

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25

Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club

• President: Adrian Lindner
• President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
• Secretary: Paul Weston
• Treasurer: Mary Potts
• Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
• Membership Director: Brian Pattison
• Service Projects Director:  Anne Rzeszkowski
• Youth Services Director: Scott Mudd
• Club Admin Director:  Ian Jennings
• Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
• Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
• Club Environment Representative:  Adrian Lindner
• Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
• Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
• Webmaster: John Glassford