Monday October 19th 2026 

Past President Paul Weston welcomed 19 of our members to the meeting and our guest Matt Christie, Matt baked a birthday cake for Michael and we then all sang happy birthday to Michael, and the cake was delicious.

We conducted the following general business:

1.  Chair Paul thanked everyone involved in the Open Garden Viewing.   A special thanks to the committee with Albert Suidgeest Co-chair and Mary Potts as the other Co-chair plus the members of this committee (Maureen Hulsman, Michael Trinidad and Annie R).

2. Henk read out a letter from Angela McCann:

• The 2026 Up-to-Date Store Art Exhibition was a great success with a record participation.
• Sales of the art work reached $9,000.  142 out of 413 art works were sold over the period.
• There were 2700 visitors.
• Angela thanked all the sponsors including Rotary.
• The proceeds all up of $18,000 will be distributed to the following schools:
  • Matong PS, Ganmain PS, Marrar PS and the Coolamon Central School.

3.  Henk also advised us that the recent Board minutes had been sent to all members.

4.  Albert then gave a verbal report of the Open Garden Viewing Day to summarise:

• Albert thanked his committee and all the volunteers who did so much on the day even though we were short it all went very well.
• Special thanks to Bear for doing a full day at Drover’s Run.  Mind you Bear did have some company.
• Albert feels that we need more signage.
• The balloons were a problem and a few blew out of the back of his car and Albert was left with one or two per garden gate.
• The Coolamon Community Health Centre worked very well and a special thanks to the volunteers from the Hospital Auxiliary in the kitchen.
• Albert feels that we should do it again next year!
• In all we expect to raise around $5,000 from the event–a great result!
• PE Michael said that he would like to hold the garden viewing during his year as president and suggested that we use three of the gardens on view this year plus three new ones.
• Bear said that he had excellent feedback from many who attended.  There were also some excellent independent reports on social media from visitors and garden hosts.
• Albert suggested that we look at presenting the garden hosts with food vouchers to Foodworks .
• Henk suggested that we invite the hosts to dinner at the club one night to discuss the day.

5. Daryl gave a report on Gears & Beers following a meeting that Daryl attended of the G&B Wollundry Committee.  Daryl was very impressed with their efficiency!

6.  Daryl then spoke about some $1926 that is still in the account for drought affected children that we supported.  This is a project run by Janice Menzies from Matong.  Daryl asked for permission to donate the $1926 to the Matong Bush Picnic committee that will be on next October Labor Day weekend.  The recommendation to the Board to approve this donation was voted unanimously by all members present.

7.  Mary and Albert attended an interview with the three prospective Coolamon Central School students for the scholarship that we are offering one student. There were three applicants, all of which looked excellent No decision ahs been made as yet.

8.  Anne advised us that the Wagga Wagga netball day Tuesday is under control.

9.  We need to book or have booked Foodworks for our next two raffles being the 27th November and the 12th of December. NB the proceeds of these raffles will become part of our NYE raffle.

10. We then had a talk by Paul Weston on blood cancers and how it is affecting Paul. This was a sobering talk and one that we learned so much from Paul on the various types of blood cancer.  Paul has myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that requires immediate treatment.  Paul has been through a lot lately and gets very tired very quickly.  Paul has seen many specialists including several in Sydney and Canberra.

11. We then had the raffle draws and 1st prize was won by Vicki.  Other prizes went to Anne, Ian, Grahame and Daryl.

The meeting closed at 9.10pm–a long but productive meeting.

BREAKING NEWS:

Coolamon Landcare will be holding two Aussie Bird Count sessions this coming weekend and we would like to extend an invitation to Rotary members and the general public.

On Saturday 24^th October we will be meeting at 10am at the Kindra Forest main entrance.

On Sunday 25^th October we will be meeting at 9.30am at the Coolamon Wetlands entrance.

Both sessions should be very interesting, particularly with the Apps that are now available for bird identification.

We welcome anyone who would like to attend.  Please forward the details to anyone you think might be interested.

Regards Jim Mellor

Secretary Coolamon Landcare

DIARY

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

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

Saturday 24th October World Polio Day

*Monday 26th October – Guest Speaker:  PP Deidre Tome, Wagga Wagga Sunrise RC who will speak on Cambodian land mines, RATS and Rotary’s response.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00pm

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

OPEN GARDEN DAY MARRAR & COOLAMON

A full report will be published however in the mean time the Open Garden Viewing in Marrar and Coolamon was a great success with six gardens opened for viewing on Sunday.  The CRC Open Garden Day Committee led by Albert Suidgeest did a tremendous job and all six gardens were excellent.  Great choices all round.  Here are some photos from the day.

Congratulations to all the volunteers and our sincere thanks for turning up today.  These included but not all I feel, apologies if I missed anyone:

Albert, Daryl, Ian, Alex, Don, Geoff McKenzie, Henk, Paul, Gary, Maureen Hulsman, Sharon Miles, Grahame, Bear, Michael Trinidad, Howard, Mary, Marylin Jennings, Maryanne de Kroo, Lexi, Annie…….,

A special thanks to the SIX owners for opening up their gardens and homes.  They all did such a remarkable job preparing their gardens, top job.

Here are some photos in no specific order;

1.  Chamberlain “Drovers Run” Marrar

2.  Annie Bush “Annie’s Run” Marrar

3. Prior’s Marrar

4. Allison & Brett Robinson Coolamon

5.  Jess Inch Coolamon

6. Barb & Kevin Maddox Coolamon

7. Some of our volunteers

8.  Photos by Mary Potts:

9.  Photos by Grahame Miles

PE MICHAEL OUT AND ABOUT

Rotary Club of Kooringal Wagga Wagga

PE Michael was a guest speaker at Kooringal RC last Thursday night.  Good on you Michael it is the best way to see how Rotary works is visiting other clubs.

Member Harry Nixon introduced our guest speaker, Michael Trinidad President Elect from Coolamon Rotary.

Michael spoken on UNDERSTANDING FILIPINO CULTURE THROUGH FOOD:

Michael spoke about his family and their involvement in public life in the Philippines. Going all the way to the top in 1946 where his great grand father and mother were notable Filipino political figures. Michael’s mother was a member of congress. Suffice to say that the name Trinidad is well known in the Philippines.

He has a close family with siblings in New York and they get together every 2 years.

Michael became an Australian citizen in 1995 and has been in the hospitality industry for 20 years as a qualified chef. He graduated from the CSU as a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology in 2020. He is the cellar door manager at the CSU Winery.

Michael then spoke about the Philippines some interesting facts and most passionately about their food culture. He told us that you never eat alone, and it is an insult if you run out of food it doesn’t matter how many are in attendance.

Filipino Christmas runs from 1st September to Chinese New Year (early January).

He told us about some of the animals in the Philippines, Philippines Eagle which is a national symbol also the smallest primate (Philippines Tarsier) and more.

After fielding questions Member Malcolm Nixon on behalf of the members thanked Michael for his presentation and presented him with a certificate of appreciation in which we donate to Australian Rotary Health on his behalf.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  GEARS AND BEERS A DOUBLE WRAP

Latest photos from the Wollundry RC Gears & Beers Facebook page:

Something different that we don’t get to see as we are mostly all working on the day.

Click on the thumb nails below for a larger image.  Thanks to Wollundry G&B committee for posting these photos on their Facebook page.  Some great images.

2.  GRIFFITH AVANTI 

Griffith Spring Fest Street Party 2026 17th and 18th October!

3.   VALE PP BUTCH LIEBENBERG PHF. Hout Bay RC

Butch Liebenberg was a great supporter of our Road MAPS to Africa project right from the start in 2004.  In 2005 after the Chicago RI Convention Hout Bay RC and Coolamon RC became Rotary International Centennial Twins.  We became great friends with many of the Hout Bay RC members including Butch, who with Patrick McLaughlin, were the prime movers and doers, to get the TB/AIDS medical clinic built in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay.

With funds raised by the Road MAPS projects CRC with the Rotary Foundation and a matching grant or two, were able to finance the buildings.

Butch and Lyn visited Coolamon in October 2016 when Don Dyce was our president.  It was then that our club presented a Paul Harris Fellow in the form of a sapphire to Butch.  PDG Fred Loneragan made the presentation to Butch.  Without Butch and Patrick and with the support of their fellow members; Coolamon House would not have been built.

Those who met Butch will miss this man with his passion for the Springboks and everything Africa.

Just some pics of Butch and Lyn’s time in Coolamon:

Above Butch and Lyn at a winery near Stellenbosch, I believe.

Cheers Butch and RIP old mate.

OCTOBER IS ROTARY’S ECONOMIC & DEVELOPMENT MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday October 12th 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 24 of our members to the meeting and our visiting Rotarian Garth Perkin.  Another excellent role up of  members for a dinner meeting.

After dinner Leslie opened up the meeting with general business including but not all:

• Thanked the Gears & Beers volunteers for a splendid effort on the long weekend just passed.
• Leslie asked members to keep getting their WWCC#s up to date and thanked all who have done so recently.  Only a handful to go now.
• Daryl Breust reported on the Gears and  Beers weekend and said that:
  • Everything went well with the whole two days with only one accident requiring medical attention.
  • It was the best year yet for the Gears & Beers event.
  • Daryl thanked all the volunteers for turning out and doing such a great job.
  • David Byfield will be  visiting the club on the 23rdd November or the 7th December for a debriefing for our club.
• Leslie said that she has spoken with Laura regarding the NYE upcoming and what we as a club is being asked to do.  This included:
  • Lions and Rotary cooking sausages for the children with vouchers.  Last year we cooked 680 sausage.
  • Street raffle prizes to be decided asap.
  • Mention of a wheel barrow.
  • Council would like us to do the raffle this NYE as well as outside Foodworks date/s to be decided.
  • Leslie said that we will need volunteers to make all this work and work well as it is worth it for some fund raising but above all the presence of Rotary in our community.
  • Anne needs to know the dates, the prizes for the Foodworks day/s.
• Albert then reported on the upcoming Garden Viewing day on Sunday and has prepared a roster seen below:

Each of the 6 gardens will have one in charge of getting the table and chair/s.

Mary said that 24 dozen scones have been made for Sunday.

Registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Secretary Henk gave a verbal report on the preceding board meeting and items discussed included:

• NYE Raffle prizes TBD dates probably 1st November and teh 1st of December for Foodworks.
• Monday 26th October – Guest Speaker: Randi Rotnei from the CSU Veterinary College. POSTPONED.
• Volunteers needed for the next NETBALL Day in Wagga Tuesday 20th October.
• Gary Truscott Foundation Director is looking for Centurions to join on a regular basis.  November is Rotary Foundation Month.

• Youth Lexi advised us that we are interviewing three potential candidates for our Rotary Scholarship for school leavers to attend tertiary education.
• Lexi also said that our RYPEN candidate has withdrawn this year.
• Vicki Langtry has submitted the club’s finances for the last month.

Henk said that he will send the minutes in a timely manner.

• Anne Rzeszkowski spoke on the Netball Carnival Day at the Equez Centre in Wagga on next Tuesday October 20th starting at 8.30am at the Netball grounds in Copland Street Wagga Wagga.  The following members have volunteered:  Adrian, Mary, Gary, Vicki, Annie, Albert, Don and maybe Bear.  Thanks to you all.

The S@A then held a lively fines session and targeted those who did not have their dinner badges on.  JG for his “Kiwi Netball shirt”  which is actually the official NZ Rotary Shirt’ anyhow 50:19. Ted was cross fined for breaking into his car with a coat hanger.

The raffle was won by Lexi and second prize to Ted.

Albert thanked Daryl for all of his work in organising Gears & Beers for the club and was given a rousing and loud, enthusiastic expression of approval, from our members present.  Well done Daryl!

Another most enjoyable meeting which closed at 8.30pm giving us plenty of time for a chat.

See  you all one way or the other at the open garden Viewing this Sunday.

DIARY

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

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

Sunday 18th October – Coolamon Garden Viewing.  Registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be on from 10.00am to 4.00pm.  Volunteers are needed and a list will be available.

Saturday 24th October World Polio Day

*Monday 26th October – Guest Speaker: Randi Rotnei from the CSU Veterinary College. POSTPONED.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  GEARS AND BEERS WRAP

From the Wollundry RC Gears & Beers Facebook page:

Wow… what a weekend at Gears + Beers

A bumper year with 2484 riders + $239,080 raised from rider regos. 1st release tickets for 2027 on sale now (early bird pricing capped at first 500 riders).

Some photos from Wollundry RC:

2.  24 TEENAGERS. ONE TALL SHIP.

 Rotary One and All Sailing Challenge

All were about to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

As the lines were cast off and family and friends waved goodbye from the wharf, the reality began to sink in. The next five days will be filled with new challenges , new friendships and experiences many will remember for the rest of their lives.

Divided into three watch groups — Red, Green and Blue — and guided by a professional crew of 12 , these young sailors will learn far more than just how to sail a tall ship. They will discover leadership , teamwork , resilience , communication and self-confidence while living and working together at sea.

This voyage marks the 26th Rotary One and All Sailing Challenge to depart from Port Adelaide over the past eight years, a remarkable achievement made possible through the support of Rotary clubs across District 9510.

Before departure, District Governor Tim Mee shared words of encouragement with the participants , reminding them to embrace every opportunity , support one another and make the most of this unique adventure.

For many of these young people, this is much more than a sailing trip. It is an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone, develop new skills, build lifelong friendships and discover strengths they never knew they had.

An experience of a lifetime has begun.

Interested in giving a young person this opportunity in 2027?

Rotary One and All Sailing Challenges 2027

10–14 January 2027

11–15 April 2027

Investing in young people today creates stronger leaders, communities and futures tomorrow.

3.  POLIO PLUS IN ACTION NIGERIA NOMADS

Field Coordinator Mansur supervised the nomadic vaccination activities in Daura LGA, Katsina State, engaging with Bororoji nomadic communities in Mazoji B Ward, Arewa Settlement.

Through supportive supervision, Rotary International continue to strengthen vaccination efforts and help ensure that children in nomadic and hard-to-reach communities are reached with life-saving polio vaccines.

Every child deserves protection.

OCTOBER IS ROTARY’S ECONOMIC & DEVELOPMENT MONTH

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday October 5th 2026 

SPECIAL EDITION FOR GEARS & BEERS

I am not sure when we started supporting the Gears & Beers weekend.  My records so far only go back as far as 2014 or 12 years as far as Gears and Beers goes, to be confirmed.  I know that Daryl Breust joined us in August 2015 and Daryl has been involved in Gears & Beers for at least 11 years now.  This weekend was no exception and Daryl did a great job in getting our part of the event running smoothly.  Thank you Daryl for all the effort that you put in on behalf of our club it is very much appreciated.

Guess what year this photo was taken below:

Our thanks also go to all the members who volunteered as marshals and helpers on Sunday.

Well done to the Wollundry RC and their very efficient Gears & Beers committee.

Here are some photos taken on Sunday morning thanks to Mary and Leslie, also some that I took.   I hope to get photos from the Gears & Beers Facebook page when they post them.

The photos are in a gallery as there are so many:

These are from Mary Potts:

Some from Leslie and the editor JJG:

DIARY

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

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

Monday 12th October – Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

Monday 12th October – Regular Meeting. Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club, 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm.

Sunday 18th October – Coolamon Garden Viewing.  Registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be on from 10.00am to 4.00pm.  Volunteers are needed and a list will be available.

*Monday 26th October – Guest Speaker: Randi Rotnei from the CSU Veterinary College. Randi is an excellent speaker with a vast experience in veterinary science and has some great stories to tell.  Partners and guests are especially welcome. Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club, 6.30 pm 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 and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  NEPAL UPDATE FROM SHELTERBOX

Nepal Project Update

More than 85,000 people have been affected by the devastating flash floods that swept through Nepal, leaving many families displaced and facing an uncertain future.

A ShelterBox team is in Nepal working with local partners to provide emergency shelter and essential items.

We’ve already distributed tarpaulins, sleeping mats, ropes and pillows to hundreds of households, with support reaching around 1,000 families.

Family tents, solar lights, thermal blankets and winterisation kits have also arrived. With damaged roads and collapsed bridges continuing to isolate communities, helicopters are being used to transport aid closer to remote villages.

This support will help families create safer places to sleep, protect themselves from the weather and prepare for colder temperatures in the months ahead.

2.  RC OF KAREN COWPOOP DAY

Here is a great idea on raising funds, been done before however this with a Kenyan twist!

COWPOOP DAY

Beyond the fun, there was a purpose.

Cowpoop Family Fun Day was held in support of the Education Fund in honour of the late FT Nyammo, whose heart for education continues to live on through the opportunities created for learners.

The day gave us an opportunity to remember his legacy, share the story of the Education Fund and bring people together around something he believed in deeply: education.

Every conversation, every contribution and every person who showed up became part of that story.

This is what happens when a community comes together for a cause that matters.

And as we look back on the day, we also want to say thank you.

Thank you to the vendors, security team, sponsors, Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, our host school, Ngendo, the Cowpoop Committee, partners in gifts and every guest who joined us.

You each played a part in making Cowpoop Family Fun Day what it was, and we are grateful that you chose to be part of the story.

PS EDITOR’S PRIVILEGE

October 5th 1986 40 years goes by so quickly:

OCTOBER IS ROTARY’S ECONOMIC & DEVELOPMENT MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday September 28th. 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 23 of our members to the meeting and one partner Ivan Furner.  An excellent turn up of members tonight.  Welcome back Annie!

Our meeting was devoted to the upcoming Gears & Beers upcoming on Sunday from 7.00am.

We began the meeting with some general business:

President Leslie reminded all members to get their WWCC# up to date if expired and if they did not have one to apply asap.  Leslie and others will help those who want it to get it done.  We have 3 members whose WWCC# has expired and three members who don’t have a WWCC#.

Henk spoke about the upcoming garden Viewing day on October 18th.  Henk visited all the 6 gardens and said that the owners had spent countless hours making them look so good for our open day.  Michelle Bartholomew has pulled out and in her place Phil Prior will open his garden in Marrar.

The following gardens will be available for viewing:

Barb and Kevin Maddox Coolamon

Phil Prior Marrar

Terrie Chamberlain Drovers Run, Marrar

Annie Bush Annie’s Run, Marrar

Alison and Brett Robinson, Coolamon

Jessica Inch, Coolamon

Michael Trinidad offered to get the maps done and organise a radio interview for Mary to be interviewed by Matt.  Flyers are going up in and around Coolamon, Marrar and Ganmain.

A discussion then took place on where best to have the maps available as not everyone attending will know where the Coolamon Community Hall is!

Lexi briefed the members on the upcoming interviews of the three short listed students for the Rotary Scholarship for school leavers to attend tertiary education.

Michael T is organising a guest speaker for Monday 26th October and it will be Randi Rotnei a vet from the CSU and Michael’s boss.  Randi has a regular stint on ABC on Sunday mornings.

GEARS & BEERS BRIEFING BY DARYL BREUST.

The meeting was then handed over to Daryl Breust to outline the upcoming duties of our volunteers for Sunday’s Gears & Beers event.

Daryl started by thanking the 11 volunteers who turned up to make Anzac biscuits and some 1,600 were made.

In brief here are some of the items that Daryl put to our members:

• The marshals will have their instructions by now and Daryl handed out flyers to those marshals present.  They need to be at the Coolamon Peace Park by 8.00am to get registered and pick up their flags and instructions.
• The Dirty 130 enters Coolamon from Marrar.
• Daryl then went through the routes that awe are looking after and pointed out the various aid stations along the way.
• Daryl has purchased a 1000 litre water tank which Dick will use on his ute.
• The Gears & Beers committee from Wollundry RC is an excellent well run committee with every one of the 15 members having a role to play.
• We expect the first riders into Coolamon at around 9.00am.  They leave Wagga at 7.00am.
• Daryl reminded all present that daylight saving starts at 2.00am on Sunday 4th October.

You can get an idea of the courses from the following website:

Gears and Beers 2026

President Leslie thanked Daryl for his organisation for our involvement in this year’s Gears & Beers.  Daryl took on the responsibility over 14 years ago now on behalf of the club.

S@A Daryl then had the raffle draw and the winners were:

1st Ian Jennings and other prizes which included delicious dried mango strips from the Philippines donated by Michael T included: Paul, Bear, Daryl, and Barry.

The S@A then had a brief fines session.

The meeting closed at 8.40pm.

OUT AND ABOUT COOLAMON

On Saturday we held the big Anzac biscuits cookathon at the Coolamon Central School.  The biscuits all 1600 of them are destined for next weekend’s Gears and Beers event.

Thanks to the following volunteers:  Lexi Furner, Daryl Breust,  Jann Breust, Howard Atkinson, Garth Perkin, Bear, Gary Truscott, Myffy Collette, Henk Hulsman, Vicki Langtry and Alex Thompson.  An excellent turn out of volunteers well done to all.

There were some 1,600 Anzac biscuits baked packed and stored a mighty effort.  Our thanks to Linda Crocker CSC Principal for the use of their kitchens and 7 ovens.

Thanks to Lexi for the above photographs.

DIARY

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

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

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers  We have 20 volunteers to date.

The Dirty 130

Monday 5th October Public Holiday No Meeting.

Monday 12th October Board Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

Monday 12th October Dinner Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 pm for 7.00pm.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be on from 10.00am to 4.00pm.  Volunteers are needed and a list will be available.

*Monday 26th October Guest Speaker: Randi Rotnei from the CSU Veterinary College. Randi is an excellent speaker with a vast experience in veterinary science and has some great stories to tell.  Partners and guests are especially welcome.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  HOUT BAY RC OUR CENTENNIAL TWIN CLUB

Happy Heritage Day 24th September 2026 from all of us at the Rotary Club of Hout Bay!

Today we celebrate the beautiful diversity, cultures and stories that make us who we are, our incredible Rainbow Nation.

Wishing everyone a joyful Heritage Day filled with pride, connection and community.

When you visit South Africa and Cape Town the RC of Hout Bay will make you very welcome.

Some Photos of visits past to Hout Bay from some of us from Coolamon RC.

Above how time flies my second visit to Hout Bay RC in 2005

2. WORLD POLIO DAY 2026

25 DAYS TO WORLD POLIO DAY !

Every action counts. Every voice matters. Every event can help us move closer to a polio-free world.

Rotarians, Rotaractors and Rotary Clubs, now is the time to get your World Polio Day 2026 activities on the calendar!

Whether it’s a walk, awareness campaign, fundraising dinner, community outreach, fitness activity, beach picnic, Bead & Sip, or any creative activity your club can organize.

ROTARY ENDING POLIO

Plan it. Register it. Promote it. Mobilise your club.

Together, we can turn every World Polio Day activity into action for a polio-free world.

Register your event today!

3.  ROTARY SERVICE PROJECT IN COLUMBIA

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY’S  BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY

MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday September 21st. 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 18 of our members to the meeting and the following visiting Rotarians including: Phil McIntosh, David Byfield and Pat Ingram from the Wollundry RC and PP Garth Perkin from the e-club of Brindabella.

Welcome back Michael Trinidad just returned from the Philippines.  Michael brought along a desert of OTAP! ( is a thin, oval-shaped puff pastry cookie from the Philippines that is famously crispy, flaky, and generously topped with sugar.

Our visiting Rotarians introduced themselves.  The Wollundry delegation were here to advise us of the upcoming Gears & Beers weekend.

President Leslie asked all members to get their WWCC# up to date if expired and if they did not have one to apply.

Lexi advised us of the upcoming Open Garden Day and said that the committee was working hard.  Michael T, Henk, Maureen and Lexi have started the media campaign and flyers are being printed for distribution.  Special thanks to Michael T. for the flyer below.

Lexi said that we need more volunteers for the Anzac cookies bake off this coming Saturday from 9.00am at the Central School in Coolamon.

Michael T is organising radio publicity with an interview.

After dinner Phil McIntosh, a welcome visitor from Wollundry, brought us all up to date with the requirements of our support on Sunday 4th October:

• Most important was safety for the marshals and a briefing will take place for the marshals.  It is important to remember that the vehicle traffic cannot be controlled  and the marshal’s priority is to manage the riders NOT the traffic.
• Phil said that entries were 25% up on last year a remarkable result.
• The committee is working on getting 1000 entries for the smaller rides around Wagga, especially those involving families.
• The entry fees have gone up a wee bit but that has not deterred entries.  Funds are needed to run the event and the Wagga City Council is supporting the event for the next 3 years.
• All registration fees will be going to local charities including Coolamon.
• Volunteers are reminded to bring a mobile phone, chair, sunscreen, hats and if asthmatic a puffer.
• David Byfield is the contact for us this year as Phil will be riding in the event after 14 years of organising it, Phil will actually experience the ride.
• There are farm stops and farm activity for the riders as it is NOT a race!
• Phil has tested some of the roads and says that the roads in the Coolamon Shire are in excellent condition.
• This year riders of the Dirty 130 will be going down Dead Camel lane not up, so there could be some falls.

• Magpies are in full attack mode at the moment.
• Phil then invited all of us to attend the party in Wagga after the event.

Daryl Breust will bring us all up to date next Monday regarding marshals and volunteers on duty.

S@A Daryl Breust then had the raffle draw won by JJG with runners up Ian and Happy. Michael T donated some dried mangoes from the Philippines:

A brief fines session by the S@A and the meeting closed at 8.20pm with plenty of time for some fellowship.

OUT AND ABOUT PORT MACQUARIE

Mary Potts writes form Port Macquarie where Mary has been on holiday.  Mary has seen a lot of whales, some dolphins and great sunsets.  Mary will be back next Monday.

DIARY

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

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

Saturday  26th September Anzac cookie baking for Gears & Beers.  Cooking Anzac cookies at the Coolamon Central School at 9.00am on Saturday 26the September so far the following have volunteered, however we need more please: Albert, Lexis, Vicki, Alex, Bear, Daryl, Gary, Henk, with Sharon Miles cooking gluten free biscuits and Myffy possibly cooking from home.

Monday  28th September: Planning Meeting for Gears & Beers at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 pm for 7.00pm.  Everyone involved as a marshal or volunteer please attend this important briefing by Daryl Breust.

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers  We have 20 volunteers to date.

Monday 5th October Public Holiday No Meeting.

Monday 12th October Board Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

Monday 12th October Dinner Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 pm for 7.00pm.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be on from 10.00am to 4.00pm.  Volunteers are needed and a list will be available.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. PEACE CENTRE THRIVES ON COMMON GROUND

FULL STORY HERE.

2.  DG JUDY FORD’S $1,000 CHALLENGE

3.  WORLD POLIO DAY OCTOBER 24th 2026

Be a part of history

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY’S  BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY

MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday September 14th. 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 21 of our members to the meeting and  guests including: Marilyn Jennings, Susan Glassford and Helen Moriarty.

Tonight was a dinner to thank the hosts of the upcoming garden viewing day in Coolamon and tonight the following gardeners attended:  Barb and Kevin Maddox and Alison and Brett Robinson.

After dinner we had a lot of general business including:

• Short report on the preceding board meeting.  The minutes will be sent by Henk via email.
• Leslie has been in touch with legal services about the Working With Children Check and their advice was to maintain our individual WWC#s and if we don’t have one to get one.  If out of  date then renew.  Help is available form several of our members with the application or renewals.
• Mary reported on the Wagga Wagga girls netball day held last Wednesday in Wagga.  There were 17 High Schools represented from the Riverina and competing on 12 courts.  Mary said that all the students were very polite.  Thanks go to the volunteers from our club: Bear, Mary, Gary, Barry, Alex, Vicki and Adrian.  We raised around $1440 over the two days with a net profit of around $700.
• Mary also reported on a very successful Bottom Pub raffle held last Thursday which raised $468.40.  Thanks to all the volunteers once again.
• Leslie spoke on the ShelterBox Australia appeal for Nepal.  The board had decided not to display a ShelterBox in Coolamon but to donate the proceeds from the Netball days and the pub raffle.  The amount that the CRC will donate will be $2,000 or two “ShelterBoxes”.  An excellent result.
• The board will be donating to the Anglican Church’s Christmas Box appeal.    The Coolamon Anglican and Uniting churches pack gift-filled shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies for children in need globally.  Operation Christmas Child.
• The board is working on the Christmas and NYE programmes.
• Paul Weston said that he has plenty of excellent horse manure that he can load into your trailers.
• Mary advised us all that we need to cook scones at home for the Open Garden day details TBA.
• Reminder that next Monday some of the Wollundry RC Gears & Beers committee members will be attending our meeting, to bring us all up to date on the event.

Garden Viewing Hosts were introduced by Albert and tonight we had the pleasure of hosting Barb and Kevin Maddox with Alison and Brett Robinson two of the six gardens that will be on view on the 18th October.  Albert thanked our garden hosts for the 100s of hours that they put in to make their gardens available for viewing by the public.

Albert said that registrations will take place at the Coolamon Community Hall in Dr Buchanan Drive where maps and arm bands will be issued.  The open gardens and the community hall will be on from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

The following gardens will be available for viewing:

Barb and Kevin Maddox Coolamon

Michelle Bartholomew Coolamon

Terrie Chamberlain Drovers Run, Marrar

Annie Bush Annie’s Run, Marrar

Alison and Brett Robinson, Coolamon

Jessica Inch, Coolamon

Happy Birthdays to Henk Hulsman and Ted Hutcheon.

The raffles were won by Mark Dubois and second to Bear.

Mary bought the Nepalese flag auctioned by Dick.

The meeting closed at 8.00pm followed by plenty of fellowship.

UPCOMING VOLUNTEERING :

1  Cooking Anzac cookies at the Coolamon Central School at 9.00am on Saturday 26the September so far th following have volunteered, however we need more please: Albert, Lexis, Vicki, Alex, Bear, Daryl, Gary, Henk, with Myffy possibly cooking from home.

2  Gears and Beers Sunday 4th October.  We have 20 volunteers to date.  More details will follow after next Monday’s meeting.

OUT AND ABOUT GANMAIN.

Happy visited Ganmain this week and has started to explore the country outside of Coolamon.  It was wonderful to welcome Happy to Ganmain.

DIARY

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

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

Saturday 19th September Ecumenical Men’s Breakfast 7.00am for 7.30am start.  St. Andrews Anglican Hall Coolamon.,  $10 per head call Peter Lucas 0429 960 395.

*Monday 21st September Guest Visitors Wollundry RC Gears & Beers presentation, at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday  26th September Anzac cookie baking for Gears & Beers.  Details to follow.

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers Volunteers will be needed.  Details to follow.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Details to follow.

*Monday 19th October 

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. THE IRON LUNG

Vaccines made it possible for children to live long enough to grow up.

Children under 5 once accounted for nearly a third of recorded U.S. deaths.

In 1900, that share was 30.4%. Today, it’s less than 1%. The latest final CDC figures, for 2024, record 23,893 deaths among children under 5 out of roughly 3.07 million deaths overall.

That does not mean a third of children died before their fifth birthday. It means nearly one in three.

People whose deaths were recorded in 1900 was a young child. Historical records also covered only part of the country.

The improvement reflects generations of public health advances.

Clean drinking water and sewage systems reduced exposure to deadly infections. Safer milk and food, better nutrition, and improved hygiene helped protect children when diarrhea and other infectious diseases were major killers.

Vaccines prevented diseases such as measles, diphtheria and whooping cough. Antibiotics made many bacterial infections treatable. Better prenatal care, safer deliveries and advances in newborn intensive care helped more babies survive complications of birth and prematurity.

Vaccination was an important part of that progress, but it cannot explain the entire decline.

The comparison also reflects a changing population: Americans live longer, and older adults make up a larger share of the population and its deaths. The percentage alone cannot tell us how much each medical advance contributed.
And less than 1% still meant almost 24,000 young children died in a single year.

The progress is real. So is the need to preserve the clean water, vaccination programs and medical care that helped make childhood safer.

2.   THE ORPHAN RESCUE KIT: THE ORK

This is Rotary’s Basic Education & Literacy Month and I want to share our story with you all.

Above The ORK and what it contains for basic education in Africa.

I was invited to join Rotary in 2003 and my main aim was to help with the education of the orphans of HIV/AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa where a pandemic was raging.  Some 22 million orphans had been identified as needing education.  In most countries in Africa, education after primary school is not free, AND children have to have a uniform.

This idea began in our club in the 2005.  After I joined Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, RFFA, at the Rotary Centenary Chicago in 2005, I came up with the idea of the Orphan Rescue Kit.  RFFA adopted the concept and it is still promoted today on RFHA’s web site {RFFA is Now RFHA Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS}.

In 2008-2009.  DG Fred Loneragan supported RFFA and the ORK and raised over $65,000 in his year as DG for RFFA.

The ORK has now raised over $300,000 for our Road MAPS to Africa projects.  We have supported a Medical Care Centre in Cape Town and the School of St. Jude’s in Tanzania.

I would like to think that we have made a difference for the orphans of HIV/AIDS in Africa.  In a small way we have helped over 100 primary school students get a basic education in Sierra Leone, we have supported several children into high school and one into University.

PDG Fred and I between us took the ORK to every club in D9700 and promoted the ORK at several Rotary D9700 Conferences.  We have also climbed three of the highest mountains in Africa for the same causes.

3.  BARCELONA 2027 JUNE 26th.-30th.

At the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, we will come together to learn from one another, strengthen friendships, and discover new ways to Create Lasting Impact in our communities.

I hope you will join thousands of Rotary members from around the world for this unforgettable experience.

This looks like an excellent RI Convention well worth going to if you want to learn more about Rotary and make new friends from around the world.

Early Bird Registration opens on the 17th September 2026.

Barcelona Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe 

Credit to the owner on Facebook for the above photo.

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY’S  BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY

MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday September 7th. 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 19 of our members to the meeting and 7 guests including:  Marilyn Jennings and Susan Glassford.  Visiting Rotarians from Junee RC John Bell, Alan Gremlin and Bernard Hart.  Our regular visiting Rotarian from the e-club of Brindabella Garth Perkin.

Our guest speaker Mayor Dave McCann was introduced by Dick Jennings.

After dinner we had some general business to discuss including:

• Leslie reminded members that we have another day at the Wagga Wagga netball carnival this Wednesday.  There will be 120 students attending and Mary said that we have enough sausages and sausage rolls.
• Mary reported on the results of the netball carnival catering held on the 7th.  Mary said that we raised around $1,000 with a net profit of $500.
• Bottom Pub raffle this Thursday from 5.30pm.  Our Mayor Dave suggested that there would be a large crowd as the finals of the Riverina Football involving Coolamon, is on this week and that the pub would be very busy.  Mary suggested that we get as many of our members there.
• Reminder that next Monday night we are hosting the owners of the 6 gardens that will be open for the public on Sunday 18th October.  There was talk about lemonade and lemonade scones?
• Daryl advised that Gears and Beers is going very well and a form for volunteers was sent round the meeting.  We need volunteers for the baking of the Anzac cookies on Saturday the 26th September and Sunday the 4th October.

• John G. spoke about using our ShelterBox to raise awareness and possibly funds for the Nepal flood appeals.  Two sites came to mind being in Cowabbie Street next door to Barty’s on the area between Barty’s and the gym  The other site being at Foodworks.

We had the raffle draw which was won by Ian Jennings.

S@A Daryl carried out a spirited fines session.

Thanks to Grahame for the following photos of the meeting:

Our Guest Speaker Mayor Dave McCann OAM and Bar (Dave has two OAM Medals), then followed:

Dick Jennings introduced Dave and said that Dave has worn many hats in his life to date.

{Editor’s Notes}  I took copious notes on the talk by Dave and I have summarised his talk in bullet form:

• Dave grew up in Armidale and joined the NSW Railways after high school.
• Enlisted  in the RAAF as a clerk and was posted to Wagga Wagga initially.
• Met Angela and married a lass from Coolamon.
• Trained with the RAAF #5 helicopter squadron.  Here Dave was posted to many and varied operations including:
  • Black Sunday Bush Fires at Bright.
  • Middle East Post in the early 80s.
  • Solomon Islands cyclone relief.
  • Was heavily involved in counter terrorist training with the RAAF.
  • Awarded the OAM Order of Australia Medal one of two that Dave has been awarded.
  • Dave left the RAAF when his squadron was amalgamated into the Australian Army and Dave did not want to be a soldier.
  • It was then that Dave joined the NSW Police Force did his training and was posted to Sydney then Wagga Wagga and then to Coolamon.
  • In 2003 Dave went to East Timor with the Australian Federal Police as a member of the peacekeeping force under the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).  Dave said that the East Timorese people are a warm and very friendly people.
  • In 2006 Dave was promoted to Seargent and put in charge of the Junee Police Station.
  • Then became a major shift in Dave’s life in that he was elected as a Councillor of the Coolamon Shire Council and now Dave is the Mayor.

Dave loves his role as the Mayor of our Shire and said that he was very proud of of our wonderful community.  Dave then spoke about his goals and some concerns for our Shire:

1.  Planning on a new and larger Hospital for our Shire and the old hospital to be taken over for aged care.
2.  Aged care is a huge challenge and recently the arrival of 8 health care workers from the Philippines has been a major boost to what we are able to provide.
3.  Dave’s concerns are that volunteers are hard to come by these days especially for the Rural Fire Service and several others including Lions and Rotary to recruit members.
4.  Dave is looking at ways to encourage residents to volunteer, ideas include a discount on Council rates.
5.  The Shire recently lost two valuable service staff.  There is now a new engineer.  Dave spoke highly of his staff and the General Manager Tony Donohue.

Following Dave’s comprehensive talk there were many questions from those who attended.

Ian Jennings then proposed a vote of thanks to Dave and for his outstanding work for our Shire.

An excellent meeting all round which closed at 8.45pm.

OUT AND ABOUT WAGGA WAGGA NETBALL.

Our intrepid volunteers had a very busy and successful day at the Wagga Wagga High School Netball carnival and we thank the following volunteers:  Brian the Bear, Mary, Gary, Barry, Alex, Vicki and Adrian.  Thankyou Mary and  Bear for the photos below:

CONGRATULATIONS MARY

OUT AND ABOUT JAPAN

Happy father’s day too all our fathers in the CRC.  This is a photo from PE Michael Trinidad who visited his father in

Kawaguchiko, Fuji, Japan.

We are all looking forward to hearing from Michael on his return about his visit to The Philippines and Japan.

DIARY

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

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

Wednesday 9th September Catering for the Wagga Netball day we have enough volunteers.

Thursday September 10th – we will be running the raffle in the Coolamon Hotel from about 5.45 pm until 7.30 pm and if other Rotary members could come along to the pub for support.  We need two more volunteers so far we have Mark and Albert.

Monday 14th September Board Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

*Monday 14th September Dinner Meeting with the Open Garden owners at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday  26th September Anzac cookie baking for Gears & Beers.  Details to follow.

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers Volunteers will be needed.  Details to follow.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Details to follow.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  WHAT IS SHELTERBOX?

Every family deserves a place to call home after disaster. 

We work with disaster-affected communities to provide the emergency shelter, essential items and training needed to support people in the long process of rebuilding their lives.

Every disaster is different so we have a flexible approach. We listen and learn from the communities we work with to make sure we provide the right support.

We often go further, working with hard to reach communities who are overlooked by others.

What items are in a ShelterBox? 

Below are some items that are “found in a ShelterBox”.

The ShelterBox team is on the ground in Nepal assessing what is needed for immediate relief for the victims of this disaster.  The ShelterBox team in Kathmandu is meeting with Rotary Nepal and Bhutan District 3292 Governor Bishnu Karkee, Dinesh Raj Manandhar and other members of the Rotary Nepal District Disaster Relief Committees to better understand the challenges facing communities affected by Nepal’s devastating flash floods.

Rotary International members are helping us understand the situation on the ground, including which communities have been hardest hit and what support is needed most. Together, we’re assessing how ShelterBox can help families who have lost their homes and belongings.

We have done this before and the Nepal floods are on disaster that needs as much help as possible right now.

2. SEPTEMBER MESSAGE FROM OUR RI PRESIDENT.

Every member brings something unique: an idea, a skill, a perspective, a willingness to serve.

Around the world, I have seen how those individual contributions become something larger. They become projects that strengthen communities, opportunities that change lives, and connections that bring people together across generations and cultures.

Rotary continues to grow because people see a chance to be part of something meaningful. They see a place where their talents can be put to work, their voices can be heard, and their efforts can make a difference.

If you’re a Rotary or Rotaract member, thank you for being part of that story and for inviting others to experience it. And if you’ve ever wondered whether Rotary is a place for you, I encourage you to connect with a local club and see what is possible when people come together to take action.

By welcoming new voices, new ideas, and new generations of leaders, we can continue to Create Lasting Impact for years to come.

SEPTEMBER IS ROTARY’S  BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY

MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday August 31st 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 15 of our members to Coolamon Cheese for our social meeting and 9 guests including:  Maria Foley, Sally Farmer, Wendy Lindner, Sharon Reardon, Marilyn Jennings, Susan Glassford, Lorraine Hamilton, Dianne Suidgeest and Tim Dubois (Mark Dubois’s brother from Sydney).

It was so good to welcome Maria Foley to the meeting.

We briefly discussed ways to help the current Rotary appeals for help in Nepal and Tibet.  Some ideas follow the minutes from the meeting last night.

Coolamon Cheese and our hosts Sarah Boyle and her mother Dianne and sister Lizzy made us very welcome.  They served us two varieties of pasta sauce and both were very filling and excellent.

Rotarians around the world are working on ways to support the appeals for help following this tragic loss of life and properties in Nepal and Tibet.

1 . Rotarian Mary Brell OAM.  Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak.  (Mary is a good friend of ours and has made many trips to Nepal.)

2.  Letter from Rotarians in Nepal

Letter from Nepal Rotarians

3. ShelterBox Appeal for Nepal

Whole communities have been swept away by flash floods in northern Nepal. ShelterBox is responding.

Families have lost their homes, while roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure have been badly damaged.

Our team is travelling to Nepal to find out what people need and how we can help.

Donate now to help provide emergency shelter and essential aid for families who have lost everything.

We can as Coolamon Rotarians set up a ShelterBox display say at Foodworks (with permission of course) and call for donations probably a raffle as well.  We have a complete ShelterBox and we have done this before in Coolamon and Ganmain.

DIARY

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

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

Monday 7th September Catering for the Wagga Netball day and more volunteers are needed.

*Monday 7th September Guest Speaker Mayor Dave McCann:  at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm

Wednesday 9th September Catering for the Wagga Netball day we have enough volunteers.

Thursday September 10th – we will be running the raffle in the Coolamon Hotel from about 5.45 pm until 7.30 pm and if other Rotary members could come along to the pub for support.  We need two more volunteers so far we have Mark and Albert.

Saturday 12th September Toganmain  TOGANMAIN COCKTAILS IN THE YARD.

Monday 14th September Board Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

*Monday 14th September Dinner Meeting with the Open Garden owners at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday  26th September Anzac cookie baking for Gears & Beers.  Details to follow.

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers Volunteers will be needed.  Details to follow.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Details to follow.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1 .  When a Mountain Breaks:

The Science Behind Nepal’s August 26 Disaster

2. VALE DOLLY PARTON

Before she was “the Book Lady” to millions of children, believed every child deserved the chance to fall in love with reading.

Through, she collaborated with Rotary to expand access to books and support young readers, one story at a time.  We were lucky enough to have her grace the Rotary stage in 2010.

Dolly, thank you for reminding us that literacy opens doors. Your generosity and optimism will inspire generations to come.

MONTREAL 2010 some pics.  I was there but missed Dolly’s key note speech and songs.

ROTARY AND DOLLY PARTON

AUGUST IS ROTARY’S  MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027

Monday August 24th 2026 

President Leslie Weston welcomed 16 of our members to the meeting and two guests, Helen Moriarty and our guest speaker Julie Clark.

After dinner we had some general business to attend to including:

• The Ganmain Show on Saturday was well attended by all accounts.  We managed to get one volunteer to help the Lions in the car park, in Arian Lindner.  The request only came in two days prior to the show asking for our help.
• Ganmain as always put on a great show for a small country village.  This year there were some new events including a wife carrying competition, highland dancers and some barramundi fishing!!!
• In absentia we all wished Don Dyce a happy birthday and shared his chocolates.
• Mary Potts is still taking orders for new Rotary shirts.
• The roster is now out for volunteers for the upcoming two Wagga Wagga Netball days; Monday 7th September and Wednesday 9th September from 9.30am-2.00pm.  We are going to need a lot of volunteers so please contact Mary Potts.
• We congratulated Albert and Dianne on their 50th wedding anniversary.
• The Up-to Date Store has the opening of the Yield Festival this Friday from 6.00 to 10.00pm.  See the Coolamon Chronicle for details. OR  www.visitcoolamonshire.com.au

Dick Jennings then introduced our guest speaker past Rotarian of the CRC Julie Clark.

Julie has had a very interesting life since leaving and now returning to Coolamon.  Tonight Julie spoke about Blaze Aid and organisation that Julie has joined and is very passionate about.

“Blaze Aid is a volunteer based charity that works with families around Australia after bushfires, floods and cyclones. 

We help communities by clearing debris and rebuilding fences, shoulder- to- shoulder.”

Julie said that in 2009 BlazeAid was started by Kevin and Rhonda Butler following the devastating Black Saturday bush fires that destroyed 3 kilometres of their fencing which allowed their sheep to get on the roads and were a hazard for traffic.  It would have taken the couple 3-4 months to repair the external fencing.  So they advertised for volunteers and 25 locals turned up and did the job in one week!

Kevin and Rhonda then decided the need to pay back.  It was Rhonda’s idea to pay the favour forward, saying, “We have had help, now let’s give our neighbours a hand too.”

You can read their inspiring story on the following website:

BlazeAid

Some of the information that Julie gave us included:

• Kevin and Rhonda created the Base Camp where the whole rebuilding of fences in their community was centered on.  This then became the centre piece of the whole programme and since 2009 between 40-50 base camps have been set up and  here are the current active camps: Current Camps in Australia
• Each base camp has a coordinating team leader whose job it is of to laisse with local councils and the community to plan ahead and to provide the help that is needed.
• It costs around $5,000 per week to run a basecamp.  All money spent to feed volunteers 3 meals per day, maintain assets such as vehicles and replace tools, goes back into the local community.  The bread is purchased from the local bakery, the groceries are bought from the local IGA or supermarket, fuel is acquired at the town service station.  Up to $500,000 per basecamp is pushed back into the community, where businesses often struggle from lack of tourism and visitors.
• Boundary fences are a priority.
• BlazeAid has come up with new ideas such as the Long Paddock initiative and also upgrading fire fighting equipment for local farmers and graziers.
• They rely on volunteers and these come from all walks of life from Doctors to retirees.
• BlazeAid is a charity within a charity and relies on corporate donors.
• Since 2009 BlazeAid has:
  • Had 42,000 volunteers
  • Cleared 21, 529 ks of burnt or flooded fencing.
  • Has rebuilt 21,529 ks of fencing
  • Has helped 15,169 farmers’ properties to recover from a disaster.

Julie concluded her wonderful talk saying that BlazeAid does amazing work.

Another passion of Julie’s is the restoration of Toganmain woolshed.  Julie is a volunteer and there is a day at Tog coming up on the 12th September see the diary.

John Glassford thanked Julie for her inspirational talk and reminded members that Julie is a great photographer and has some stunning photos of her journey to date.  E.G.

We ended the meeting with a raffle which was won by Albert Suidgeest and we retired at 8.45pm

OUT AND ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

Looks like Michael Trinidad is having a great time in his homeland The Philippines.  Here are some photos taken from Michael’s Facebook page.  There are so many to choose from so I will leave it up to Michael when he returns to Coolamon.  I am sure that our members would be very interested in this journey by Michael for his father’s birthday.

DIARY

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

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

*Monday August 31st – Social Evening at Coolamon Cheese.  Sarah from Coolamon Cheese will be our host and has advised she would like to do pasta and she can prepare gluten free for those special requirements

Monday 7th September Catering for the Wagga Netball day and volunteers are needed.

*Monday 7th September Guest Speaker Mayor Dave McCann:  at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm

Wednesday 9th September Catering for the Wagga Netball day and volunteers are needed.

Thursday September 10th – we will be running the raffle in the Coolamon Hotel details to follow.

Saturday 12th September Toganmain  TOGANMAIN COCKTAILS IN THE YARD.

Monday 14th September Board Meeting at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 5.30 pm.

*Monday 14th September Dinner Meeting with the Open Garden owners at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday  26th September Anzac cookie baking for Gears & Beers.  Details to follow.

Sunday 4th October Gears & Beers Volunteers will be needed.  Details to follow.

Sunday 18th October Open Garden Day.  Details to follow.

*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

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

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1 . MUNA MODEL UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY

MUNA D9705 WEBSITE

2. ROTARY IN ACTION TASSIE DEVILS

AUGUST IS ROTARY’S  MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2026-2027