Month: March 2016

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #34

MARCH IS ROTARY’S WATER & SANITATION MONTH

Message from the Oloimugi Maasai Village on water!

All thanks to John James Glassford and the Coolamon Rotary Club for the water tank in our Cultural centre please have a Happy Easter.

Armicus Philip Mayan.

ROTARY EASTER MARKETS 2016

A picture is worth 1000 words so they say.  Here are a few photos of our Rotary Easter Markets held on Easter Saturday.  Although the stalls in number were down the quality was excellent and the patronage excellent.

The Markets committee have done a great job and thanks to you all.

The committee would like to thank all who volunteered:

Those who came and worked included:

Heather McKinley, Maureen Hulsman, Trevor Parkes, Leslie Weston, Paul Weston, Don Dyce, Dave McKinley, Wayne Lewis, Neil Munro, Myffy Collette, Bern Milne, Dick Jennings (THE Auctioneer), Ian Durham, John Glassford and Henk Hulsman.

No meeting this Monday being a public holiday.

Our next meeting is very important and will be a club assembly to discuss and plan the Friendship Exchange from the USA and the upcoming District Conference among other items of importance and of interest to all our members.

N.B. Note Bene

Reminder to attend the meeting on Monday April 4th where we will allocate billets for the USA Visitors from D 5610.

DISTRICT 5610 USA SOUTH DAKOTA, IOWA 

Diary Reminders

Monday April 4th Club Assembly and Planning of Friendship USA Exchange from D5610.

Sunday April 10th District Assembly Club Directors Training at Grenfell High School 9.00 am start.

Monday April 11th TBA

Wednesday April 13th Board Meeting

Thursday April 14th BINGO Roster: Ian Durham (Capt) Wayne Lewis, Paul Weston, Leslie Weston.

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 2016 D9700 Conference in Wagga Wagga.

Monday April 25th ANZAC Day 2016 USA District 5610 USA Friendship Exchange.

*Saturday May 14th International Night at the Ganmain Hall in aid of RAGES Inc.

Saturday 28th May 2016 – Wednesday June 1st Seoul RICON South Korea  

*Monday June 27th Change Over Dinner at Coolamon. DEFINITE.

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Ian Jennings on 0428 492 157  BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

K.R. RAVINDRAN “RAVI”

While back at Rotary headquarters this week, General Secretary John Hewko, Past General Secretary Ed Futa, Don Garner, and I hosted officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Organization (TECO). Pictured with us is (from left to right): Deputy Director General Samuel Kuo, Director General Calvin Ho, and Director Joseph Sun.

I would like to thank Taipei officials for their support of Rotary. In the past five years, membership has grown to 726 clubs with more than 34,000 members in Taiwan.

PS Coolamon will be manning the RAGES display in the Upper Foyer at the Civic Centre during the DISCON.   Give us a hand please on Saturday, thanks.

THE ROTARY BELL

In 1922, U.S. Rotarians organized an attendance contest; the challenge was that the losing clubs would join in giving the winning club a prize. The Rotary Club of New York City was declared the winner and to them was awarded as a prize a bell from a popular patrol boat, which was placed on wood that came from HMS “Victory”, Admiral Nelson’s vessel at the battle of Trafalgar.

Since then, the bell used in Rotary meetings started to represent, as on the ships, order, discipline and the time to guide us through the weekly hour and a half meetings. The bell informs us with its sound the beginning of the Rotary meeting, at which time people present should stand, same as at the end, in order to salute the national and Rotary flags. The gavel symbolizes the authority invested in the Rotarian elected to the highest position in Rotary, and through him, reminds those present of his authority.

When presidents transmit their positions to their successors at the end of their mandate, they give the bell their last hit turning the gavel over to their successor, symbolizing the transfer of authority.

This is personal and here are some of the rhinos that we met in Sibuya last May:

VERY ANGRY RIGHT NOW!

RAGES WEB SITE       JOIN RAGES HERE.

ONLY IN AFRICA INDIA

 

FOOTNOTE

This will form the raffle prize question this week.

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #33

STOP PRESS! URGENT.

We need volunteers for the Easter Markets and the ShelterBox appeal both at the Up-to-Date Store this Saturday morning.  Please contact Leslie Weston or Paul Weston ASAP.

MARCH IS ROTARY’S WATER & SANITATION MONTH

750 million people worldwide don’t have clean water.

World Water Day is March 22. Clean water, better lives!

CLEAN WATER DAY

SHELTERBOX ARRIVES IN FIJI

Last Saturday we held a ShelterBox morning in Ganmain. On hand were Myffy Collette, Bernadette Milne, Trevor Parkes, Don Dyce, Wayne Lewis, John Glassford, Paul Weston, Leslie Weston and Bogart Weston.  As always the Ganmain people are very generous.

RYDA program held in Wagga this week, a big thank you to Ian Durham and Henk Hulsman for volunteering their day last Friday to look after the contingent from the Coolamon Central School and other schools that took part.

RYDA Rotary Youth Driver Awareness now comes under RSE or Road Safety Education a Non for Profit Organisation and Rotary is one of their Corporate Partners.  The Patron is Sir William Deane and the Chair is Kerry Chikarovski.

MEETING MONDAY MARCH 21st. 2016

Tonight we met at the Temora Aviation Museum as guests of the Temora Rotary Club.  Assistant Governor Tony Sinclair Group 4 in D9700 was our Chair.  Coolamon was well represented by 14 members and their partners including, Jan Nulty, Jann Breust, Chez Post, Susan Glassford, Helen Lewis, Sally Farmer and Bethany.

It was a social meeting in the Temora Aviation Museum.  Temora Rotary did a great job and around 92 people were present including the Temora Probus Club.  Chair AG Tony Sinclair welcomed the guests and while we were waiting for our dinner Temora RC conducted a spirited fines session followed by a raffle with many many prizes and Coolamon did well.

The guest speaker was Rtn. Kenny Love who was supported by his wife Rtn. Lisa Love.  Kenny is the CEO of the Temora Aviation Museum and Lisa is the Assistant Manager.  It was an excellent presentation of the recent Warbirds Downunder Show held last November over four days.  This is the biggest Warbirds Show in the Southern Hemisphere and is only held every 2 years.

The Temora Aviation Museum’s President and the Founder is David Lowy, AM.  This is a spectacular museum and a wonderful asset for the Riverina and right on our doorstep.

Over 20,000 people visited the Warbirds Show last November and here is the web site for further information

TEMORA AVIATION MUSEUM

Here are some photos from the wonderful evening we spent with our fellow Rotarians from Temora, click on the thumb nails for the big picture.  THANK YOU TEMORA ROTARY CLUB!

N.B. Note Bene

Reminder to attend the meeting on Monday April 4th where we will allocate billets for the USA Visitors from D 5610.

DISTRICT 5610 USA SOUTH DAKOTA, IOWA 

Diary Reminders

Saturday March 26th Rotary Easter Markets. Up-to-Date Store 9.00 am start.

Monday March 28th Easter Monday NO MEETING

Monday April 4th Club Assembly and Planning of Friendship USA Exchange from D5610.

Sunday April 10th District Assembly Club Directors Training at Grenfell High School 9.00 am start.

Monday April 11th TBA

Wednesday April 13th Board Meeting

Thursday April 14th BINGO Roster: Ian Durham (Capt) Wayne Lewis, Paul Weston, Leslie Weston.

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 2016 D9700 Conference in Wagga Wagga.

Monday April 25th ANZAC Day 2016 USA District 5610 USA Friendship Exchange.

*Saturday May 14th International Night at the Ganmain Hall in aid of RAGES Inc.

Saturday 28th May 2016 – Wednesday June 1st Seoul RICON South Korea  

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Ian Jennings on 0428 492 157  BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

K.R. RAVINDRAN “RAVI”

Rotary works to support literacy and reduce gender disparity in education. Make an impact:

http://on.rotary.org/RotaryGive

Did you know that the first Rotary Convention in Japan was held in Tokyo in 1961? Learn more about Rotary conventions and test your knowledge by taking our quiz:

http://on.rotary.org/ConventionQuiz

RYDA WEEK IN WAGGA WAGGA

 D9700 2016 DISCON in Wagga Wagga. 

District 9700 Web Site

Conference Chairman:

INSTITUTE EQUIPS REGIONAL LEADERS TO ADVANCE ROTARY’S STORY

 

Regional leaders from around the globe gathered at Rotary World Headquarters in Evanston in early March for training they will use to inspire members in their respective areas.

Several participants – most of whom will begin their term on 1 July – noted that the true measure of the institute’s success will be how well the information they learned is transmitted to Rotary members.

“We have to realize that training doesn’t stop at the district level,” said Michael Boyer, a Rotary public image coordinator from Pismo Beach, California, USA. “We train people really well to be governors and club presidents but we have to realize that we also have to train our members in how to talk about Rotary.”

 

FULL STORY HERE

 

RAGES NEWS

PALM OIL FREE EASTER

 

What’s the best ingredient for an orangutan friendly Easter?  Certified Sustainable Palm Oil or palm oil free!

Unsustainable palm oil production is driving orangutans to extinction – it’s the leading cause of deforestation and peatland destruction in Indonesia. It’s also contributing to climate change. Choosing products that contain Certified Sustainable Palm Oil or are palm oil free this Easter means you are making a difference.

Relaxed labeling laws make it difficult to know which products contain Palm Oil, so we’ve put together a list of CSPO and Palm Oil free products to help you choose orangutan and climate friendly treats this Easter.

Palm Oil Free
-Woolworths: hot cross buns
-Whittaker’s: all chocolate products
-Lindt & Sprungli: Lindt Excellence and Lindt Creation chocolate blocks
-Green & Black’s: most chocolate blocks (except Butterscotch, Raisin & Hazelnut)
-Cadbury: Dairy Milk, Old Gold, Dream chocolate blocks
-Choceur, Just Organics, Moser-Roth (from Aldi): all chocolate products
-Haigh’s: all chocolate products
-Carob Kitchen: all carob chocolate products

Palm Oil Free & Vegan
-Moo free: most chocolate products (except mint and orange flavoured)

CSPO
-Cadbury: chocolate products other than Dairy Milk, Old Gold, Dream chocolate blocks (e.g. filled chocolates like Caramello)
-Lindt & Sprungli – chocolate products other than Lindt Excellence and Lindt Creation chocolate blocks (e.g. filled chocolates like Lindt balls)

So remember, eat all the chocolate you like this Easter, just make sure it contains CSPO or is palm oil free.

ELEPHANT WORTH.

Learn below how much more an elephant is worth alive than as blood ivory.  (Click on the image for the full picture).

RAGES WEB SITE       JOIN RAGES HERE.

ONLY IN AFRICA

 

FOOTNOTE

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #32

MARCH IS ROTARY’S WATER & SANITATION MONTH

MEETING MONDAY MARCH 14th. 2016

Another great meeting at Coolamon.

Dr. Paul Weston thanks Dr. Allan Ernest of CSU for his amazing talk on gravitational waves.

GRAVITATIONAL WAVES

The club was treated to an excellent presentation Monday night by Dr Allan Ernest, professor of astrophysics at CSU and a former resident of Coolamon.  Allan gave a thoroughly engaging talk describing the recent discovery of gravitational waves, how they were detected, and the significance of this discovery for science and humanity.  Even though much of the content was challenging to understand because it dealt with concepts that were unfamiliar to most of us, Allan did a great job explaining things and illustrating his points with very helpful graphics.

The full significance of the findings actually remains to be seen, but Allan likened their potential impact to the changes that followed Galileo’s exploration of the heavens with a telescope.  Although gravity waves are very difficult to detect, the technological advances required to detect them will likely have scientific applications far beyond cosmological research.  The engagement of the audience with Allan’s talk was evident from the extensive number of questions asked of the speaker at the end of his talk.  Paul thanked Allan for his excellent talk and presented him with our usual token of appreciation, a kangaroo hide change purse.

The ShelterBox fundraiser for victims of the cyclone in Fiji is on for Ganmain on Saturday morning.   Rostered on from 8:00-10:00 are Wayne, Trevor, Ted, Myffy, Bernie, and Don; Leslie, Paul, John and Garth are rostered on from 10:00-12:00.

Diary Reminders

Saturday March 19th ShelterBox in Ganmain.

Sunday March 20th International Night Committee Meeting in Coolamon at 5.00 pm

Monday March 21st Temora Aviation Museum joint meeting with Temora Rotary.

We are meeting at the Coolamon Golf Club at 5.45 pm to collect meeting badges and organize vehicles etc. BYO drinks and glasses.

Saturday March 26th Rotary Easter Markets. Up-to-Date Store 9.00 am start.

Monday March 28th Easter Monday NO MEETING

Monday April 4th TBA

Sunday April 10th District Assembly Club Directors Training at Grenfell High School 9.00 am start.

Wednesday April 13th Board Meeting

Thursday April 14th BINGO Roster: Ian Durham (Capt) Wayne Lewis, Paul Weston, Leslie Weston.

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 2016 D9700 Conference in Wagga Wagga.

*Saturday May 14th International Night at the Ganmain Hall in aid of RAGES Inc.

Saturday 28th May 2016 – Wednesday June 1st Seoul RICON South Korea  

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Ian Jennings on 0428 492 157  BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

WINDOWS

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

K.R. RAVINDRAN “RAVI”

Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran met with the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame to discuss how Rotary can work with Rwanda to enhance their health sector.

http://on.rotary.org/1QvSs38

Here’s why I joined Rotary. Why did you? I would like to hear about your experiences, your accomplishments and your favorite moments. Share your ‪‎Rotary Story‬ by adding a photo, a video or just a few sentences:

http://buff.ly/21llYKD

 

 D9700 2016 DISCON in Wagga Wagga. 

District 9700 Web Site

Conference Chairman:

RAGES NEWS

One Fight Unite RAGES want to thank David Pocock most sincerely for signing the ‘SAY No’ poster. David signed the poster shortly after the match recently played in Perth Western Australia showing his support for the campaign even though he had just sustained an injury.
David Pocock, a rugby player extraordinaire grew up in a farming area in Zimbabwe. Due to political unrest in this country his family moved to Brisbane, Australia to start a new life in 2002.

David captained the Australian U20s at the Junior World Championship in 2008 and later that year made his Wallaby debut against New Zealand in Hong Kong. In 2010 he was awarded the John Eales Medal. In 2011 he played in the Rugby World Cup.

 

 Rhino horns are piled up before being burned during the Global Rhino Horn Burning Ceremony on the eve of World Rhino day at Dvur Kralove zoo in Dvur Kralove September 21, 2014. REUTERS/David W Cerny

(Reuters) – An executive with a Beverly Hills gallery and auction house has pleaded guilty of conspiring to smuggling at least $1 million in animal products that included rhino horn and elephant ivory, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Joseph Chait, 38, a senior auction administrator with I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison on the wildlife smuggling charge, the U.S. Justice Department said.

He also faces a maximum prison term of five years after pleading guilty to violating a federal law that bans trade involving illegally gained wildlife, they said.

Chait falsified customs forms by stating ivory and rhino horn were made of bone, wood or plastic. After a rhino carving sold at auction for $230,000, Chait made false documents putting the value at $108.75, and saying the object was made of plastic, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Lawyers for Chait were not immediately available for comment.

The case comes as conservationists and law enforcement officials in the United States and globally have been trying to crack down on the illegal trade in products from the two threatened species.

Rhino horn sells at prices higher than gold in places such as Vietnam, where a belief with no basis in science has emerged in the past few years that it can be used to cure cancer.

South Africa, which has more rhinos than any other country in Africa, saw nearly 1,200 of the animals killed by poachers in 2015, its environment ministry said.

RAGES WEB SITE       JOIN RAGES HERE.

ONLY IN AFRICA KENYA

 

FOOTNOTE

Making up a meeting.  It is customary in Rotary that when you travel to another area away fomr your club that you attend the nearest Rotary Club to make up a missed meeting at your own club.  I do not do this as a habit or because I have ot but because I want to.  Meeting other Rotarians in other ares around teh world is one way of making great new friends and learning about that club and the area that they represent.

This week I attended the  Rotary Club of Beechworth in NE Victoria.  A delightful town and very pretty this time of year being Autumn.  The members at Beechworth made Susan and I very welcome indeed.  The meeting was a membership night where Beechworth invited prospective members to attend and learn about Rotary and what Rotary does.

President George Browne welcomed all the members and the prospective new members and invited a few including myself to do a 5 minute spot.

The banner reflects the work that Beechworth Rotary Club has done for the Beechworth Chinese Gardens.

Beechworth Rotary Club

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #31

MARCH IS ROTARY’S WATER & SANITATION MONTH

Feb 2016. In the midst of a serious drought it is interesting to see how certain animals manage the situation. This hole in a ‘dry’ riverbed was dug by an Elephant which becomes an important life line for other animals to make use of. Here a Kudu bull is quenching his thirst whilst two male Impala wait their turn. There were a number of different species that made use of this waterhole that I saw. From Baboons, Bushbuck, various birds etc.

MEETING MONDAY MARCH 7th. 2016

Another very busy week for the Rotary Club of Coolamon.

Last week we went to Wagga Wagga to support Polio Plus by going to the movies.  30 members, partners and friends attended.   It was also an excellent turn out from the Wagga and surrounding Rotary clubs.  Dame Maggie Smith starred and it was based on a true story.  Most enjoyable night which started with a meal at the Thirsty Crow!

DG’s Second Coming March 7th 2016

Monday night we had the pleasure of the second visit by our DG Gary Roberts and Marilyn Roberts.  Also present were the AG Bryan Short and his wife the AG Group 4 from Temora, Tony Sinclair and some of the members of Temora RC.

Present 13 members from Coolamon and our guests were:

DG Gary Roberts and Marilyn Roberts, AG Group 5 Bryan Short and Sally Short, AG Group 4 Tony Sinclair and visiting Rotarians from Temora, Brendon Fritsch, Peter Glasgow, Arthur Bradley and Lisa Love.

Also Helen Lewis and Susan Glassford.

We had a jovial meeting with DG Gary promoting the upcoming D9700 DISCON. One of teh highlights of the conference will be Saturday night with a move from tradition in that we will be at a Beatnix Concert.  DG Gary and Marilyn have lined up some excellent speakers and the RIP representative will be PRIP Kalyan Banerjee.  Also PRIP Bill Boyd is teh key note speaker as Chair of WASRAG.

Marilyn Roberts who is also the D9700 Secretary spoke on the Governor’s partner’s project:

CLUB MATTERS:

PE Don Dyce spoke on the PETS training that he attended.  Don presented President Wayne with the Membership Development Award that our club received at PETS for achieving the highest retention rate over the past 3 years n D9700.

Reminder that D9700 Assembly is on at Grenfell on Sunday April 10th all incoming board members are requested ot attend.  Starts at 10 am at teh Grenfell High School.

JUST IN:  Monday 21st March we have been invited to attend the Temora meeting at the Temora Aviation Museum.

Board meeting tomorrow Wednesday night.

ShelterBox for FIJI appeal to be discussed at the board meeting.  See Footnote.

Diary Reminders

Tuesday March 8th International Women’s Day 2016

Wednesday 9th March Board Meeting.

BINGO: Thursday March 10th Grahame Miles (Capt) Dave McKinley, Myffy Collette, Bernadette Milne.

Monday March 14th TBA

Sunday March 20th International Night Committee Meeting in Coolamon at 5.00 pm

Monday March 21st TBC Temora Aviation Museum joint meeting with Temora Rotary.

Monday March 28th Easter Monday NO MEETING

Monday April 4th TBA

Sunday April 10th District Assembly Club Directors Training at Grenfell High School 9.00 am start.

Wednesday April 13th Board Meeting

Thursday April 14th BINGO Roster: Ian Durham (Capt) Wayne Lewis, Paul Weston, Leslie Weston.

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 2016 D9700 Conference in Wagga Wagga.

*Saturday May 14th International Night at the Ganmain Hall in aid of RAGES Inc.

Saturday 28th May 2016 – Wednesday June 1st Seoul RICON South Korea  

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Ian Jennings on 0428 492 157  BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Editor’s note: No child was harmed in this story.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

K.R. RAVINDRAN “RAVI”

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

MARCH 2016 

Some years ago, I was asked to speak at an Interact club in my home city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. I have always taken my interactions with Rotary youth very seriously, so I prepared my remarks carefully and put the same effort into my presentation that I would for any other event. After the meeting, I stayed to chat with a few of the Interactors, answering their questions and wishing them well.

I came out of the classroom where we had met into the autumn afternoon. The bright sun was shining directly into my eyes, so I found a bit of shade behind a pillar where I could wait for my ride.

As I stood there, hidden from view, I overheard a group of the very Interactors who had just listened to my speech. Naturally I was curious: What would they be saying? What had they taken away from my presentation? I quickly realized that what they had taken away was not at all what I had intended.

FULL MESSAGE HERE

 D9700 2016 DISCON in Wagga Wagga. 

District 9700 Web Site

Conference Chairman:

The fierce July sun beat down on us as we approached the field where the match was to take place. It wasn’t much of a soccer pitch, with its uneven terrain and rusty poles for goalposts, but the local teens we had met came ready to play. They guided us over the piles of bricks and broken tiles that separate their neighborhood community center from the field behind it and took their positions.

Much like any schoolyard competitors, incursions from grazing cows notwithstanding, players stretched and warmed up, took turns retrieving out-of-bounds balls, and, after the final goal, lined up to exchange high-fives. The Vietnamese contingent handily outscored our group of American Rotary volunteers, but the defeat was far from bitter. The five Rotarians, four Interactors, and two 20-something alumni of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards had already achieved what they had come to Vietnam to do: distribute durable soccer balls to promote play and to spread Rotary’s message of service and goodwill.

FULL STORY HERE

Australia First Country to Place Immediate Ban on Lion Trophies.

Above two members of a pride of lions that we met in South Africa, protected and as they should be.

Australian environment minister Greg Hunt made a bold and important move for the welfare of lions by signing an order banning any import or export of any trophy body part of a lion.

Hunting of lions for sport, show, and profit has become a major problem for wild lion populations over the past 25 years especially. A practice known as “canned hunting” has become unfortunately widespread in which lions are intentionally bred in captivity only to be more or less handed over to international hunters for sport. Often times in these circumstances the lions are drugged or baited, further adding to the gruesome inhumanity of it.

Due to a multitude of factors, the lion population has fallen to 40,000, 50% less than it was 25 years ago, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. There are many factors contributing to this such as habitat loss, human conflict, and skewing of the genetic balance within lion communities by removing large male lions for illegal hunting purposes.

Hunt announced the new policy during a “global march for lions” at Melbourne’s Federation Square and said the practice of canned hunting was “cruel” and “barbaric.”

RAGES WEB SITE       JOIN RAGES HERE.

Hope Update – Saving the Survivors

As with everything our Rhino girl does, Hope is taking everything in her stride! She is unflappable (or she is saving up all the cheekiness for later on – which is entirely possible knowing Hope).

Over the weekend she seemed to settle into her new surroundings. There was very little pacing or aimless trotting around her boma (enclosure). The one thing she definitely is, is hungry! She is polishing off all the feed that gets put out for her. This is great sign as animals who are under great stress tend not to eat and drink.

FOOTNOTE

DESPERATE NEED FOR SHELTER IN FIJI IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE WINSTON

ShelterBox Response Teams are working across Fiji to provide shelter for families after Cyclone Winston, the worst storm ever recorded in the southern hemisphere.

The storm hit on 20 February, bringing torrential rain, wind speeds of 200 mph, and 40ft waves to the country’s 330 islands. The sheer force of the storm has obliterated up to 90% of structures and left an estimated 120,000 people without shelter.

We’re ramping up our response to Cyclone Winston in Fiji and are planning to send 2,000 ShelterBoxes plus other essential aid. We need your help!  Click on the ShelterBox logo for their web site.

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford

Our annual craft and produce markets will be held on Saturday, 26 March, 2016 (Easter Saturday) at the Up To Date Store in Coolamon.  

The market will open at 9:00 am and run through 2:00 pm, and will feature a unique event to Coolamon, the first ever Up To Date Store Art Battle!  Local artists and patrons of the market will contribute to artwork that will be judged and then raffled off afterward.  With running commentary by our own illustrious Dick Jennings, it will be an event you won’t want to miss!

If you’d like to run a stall at the event, please download the application by clicking on the link below, and follow the instructions in the document.  Please note that all stallholders need to have public liability insurance (or operate under an entity with such insurance).

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #30

MARCH IS ROTARY’S WATER & SANITATION MONTH

WASRAG

WATER & SANITATION ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP

Mission Statement

Providing human,  technical and financial support to Rotary clubs and districts seeking to help communities to gain sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Officers:

PRIP Bill Boyd (Chair – District 9920, New Zealand)
Nicholas Mancus (Vice Chair – District 9220, Uganda)
Stan Galanski (Treasurer – District 5890, USA)

Rotarian Mark Balla Shares His Story

Recently, Mark (a presenter at WWS7 in Sao Paulo in May 2015) presented at TEDx, New Zealand. In the talk you will hear about his organization and their first project in India completed very recently. This project is to build 15 toilets in a school of 500 kids. The Rotary Club of Box Hill Central in Australia (district 9810) and the Rotary Club of Nasik Road in India (district 3030) were partners.

They are now developing a more ambitious project, this time involving seven or eight schools and as many as 5000 children. Beyond that, over the next few years they intend to reach tens of thousands of children. Listen to the TEDx talk or visit the facebook page to learn more!

Mark Balla Story

MEETING MONDAY FEBRUARY 29th. 2016

This week has been a very busy one for our members starting with the Presidents Elect Training Seminar held in Young at the weekend.  PE Don Dyce attended and will report to the club soon.  here are the 41 Presidents for 2016-2017 thanks Paul Murray for the photo.

On Saturday morning our club conducted a street raffle in Coolamon.  The winner of the load of firewood was Ricky Hard.  Thanks go to the volunteers; Daryl Breust, Ted Hutcheon, Garth Perkin, Wayne Lewis, Myffy Collette and Paul Weston.

Monday night’s meeting was held as a Vocational Services meeting in conjunction with Wagga Wagga Sunrise RC.  This was held in Ganmain at the Huff ‘n’ Puff Constructions complex of straw bale buildings.

Susan and John welcomed all 50 Rotarians and their partners to Huff n Puff and we all went on a tour of the 14 straw bale buildings that Huff and Puff have built in Ganmain.  This was followed by dinner at the Ganmain Hall catered for by the Ladies from St. Brendan’s Primary School.  Thanks go to Stephanie Plane and her team.  It was a great meal followed by a slide show of just some of the straw bale buildings that Huff n Puff Have built since 1998 all around Australia.

Special thanks go to the Wagga Wagga Sunrise club for making the effort to come out to Ganmain and share our Vocational visit with them.  Thanks also to Dave McKinley as Vocational Services Director of our club.  PE Don Dyce did a great job as Chair of the meeting.

Below some of the straw bale buildings that Huff n Puff Constructions have built click on the thumb nails for a larger photo.

Diary Reminders

*Thursday March 3rd Polio Plus Film Night in Wagga Wagga. “The Lady in the Van”. Meet at The Thirsty Crow at 6.00 pm movie starts at 7.00 pm.

Monday 7th March DG Gary Roberts 2nd Coming.

Wednesday 9th March Board Meeting.

BINGO: Thursday March 10th Grahame Miles (Capt) Dave McKinley, Myffy Collette, Bernadette Milne.

Sunday April 10th District Assembly Club Directors Training at Grenfell High School 9.00 am start.

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 2016 D9700 Conference in Wagga Wagga.

*Saturday May 14th International Night at the Ganmain Hall in aid of RAGES Inc.

Saturday 28th May 2016 – Wednesday June 1st Seoul RICON South Korea  

*Partners and Guests Night.

Apologies for Monday meetings call Ian Jennings on 0428 492 157  BY FRIDAY 12.00 pm.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

K.R. RAVINDRAN “RAVI”

Vanathy and I had the great honor of meeting Mrs. Danuta Wałęsa, wife to the former President of Poland, Lech Wałęsa. I gifted her with a Rotary crystal during our visit.

 RI President K R Ravindran, Vanathy and Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith with the members of the organizing committee of the Presidential Conference in Cape Town.

PDG Patrick Chisanga from Zambia with RI President Ravi Ravindran at the start of the RI Economic Conference which he is currently chairing in Cape Town, South Africa.  (Patrick Chisanga and I served on the RFFA Board together).

Today, more than 200 million people worldwide are unemployed. South Africa’s unemployment rates are among the highest in the world: 35% of people there are out of work, including 63% of the youth labor force. Rotary is responding to this challenge by leading initiatives to enhance economic and community development and creating opportunities for decent and productive work for all.

Join us in Cape Town, South Africa—The Fairest Cape in all the World—on 27 February for the 2016 Presidential Conference on Economic Development.

 

FULL STORY

DISTRICT GOVERNOR GARY ROBERTS D 9700

District 9700 Web Site

In rural Ghana, Rotary members supply clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure.

While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.

Join Rotary and help extend the flow of clean water to everyone.
Give now to support a water project.

READ NEWS ABOUT ROTARY’S WORK WITH WATER AND SANITATION

• Rotary helps Ghana surpass clean water goals
• Jack Sim wants you to talk about toilets
• Water summit urges collaboration to quench world’s thirst
• Engineering sustainable water solutions in Latin America
• A global thirst for water

RAGES NEWS

This week we welcome Simon Reeve Aussie TV personality to the Say No! Poster campaign.  Simon is a passionate animal rights conservationist.

Facebook Gorillas

RAGES WEB SITE       JOIN RAGES HERE.

Seen at a Sunday markets near Pretoria.

FOOTNOTE

RIKKI TIKKI TAVI by Rudyard Kipling

The boomslang snake is native and restricted to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The boomslang snake has a highly potent venom, which it delivers through large fangs located in the back of the jaw. Boomslangs are able to open their jaws up to 170° when biting.  The venom of the boomslang is primarily a hemotoxin; it disables the blood clotting process and the victim may die as a result of internal and external bleeding. The venom has been observed to cause hemorrhage into tissues such as muscle and brain. Other signs and symptoms include headache, nausea, sleepiness, and mental disorders.

The mongoose which this story is about is the bravest little fellow that I came to know and loved in Kenya . This story by Rudyard Kipling was my favourite when I was a child.  Please down load it here and read it to your grandchildren, they will love it.

The illustrations are wonderful and the 8 photos at the end were taken in South Africa.

Rikki Tikki Tavi

At the hole where he went in

Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin.

Hear what little Red-Eye saith:

“Nag, come up and dance with death!”

Eye to eye and head to head,

(Keep the measure, Nag.)

This shall end when one is dead;

(At thy pleasure, Nag.)

Turn for turn and twist for twist —

(Run and hide thee, Nag.)

Hah! The hooded Death has missed!

(Woe betide thee, Nag!)

Bulletin Editor and Web Site:  John Glassford