Week of February 7th

We welcomed President Albert Suidgeest back in the chair.  Albert spoke on his recent family going into isolation after they all had contracted Covid.

19 members attended — another good turnout.

The following matters were discussed:

• Albert presented a bottle of wine to the recent birthday members including Grahame, Bruce, Mary and Bernadette who was an apology.  A very poor rendition of Happy Birthday was sung.
• Albert spoke on the RAWCS appeal for Tonga and encouraged members to donate to the cause.  The Board will make a decision at the next Board meeting on supporting the RAWCS appeal to raise $1 million for the Tongan disaster.
• Henk reminded members that the semi-annual Rotary fees are now well and truly due.
• Gears and Beers still needing volunteers so please advise Daryl Breust of your intentions for the Sunday event on March 27th.
• Scott Reardon night will have further information on our Club Facebook Page.
• Batlow Men’s Shed opening — please give your name to John Glassford if you are attending on Friday 25th February.  So far we have 10 members including partners going.
• Anne advised the meeting that Rotary Youth Exchange gets under way, after a long absence, in May this year.  Details will follow.
• Anne mentioned that our NYSF student, Bethany Crocker, had a wonderful time with the NYSF programme. Bethany will be visiting the club to give us a presentation on the event which was held virtually this year.
• Albert asked for opinions on our changeover night and the general consensus was to hold it on a Monday night at the end of the Rotary year.  PE Paul and Albert will set the date ASAP.
• Daryl pointed out that Covid rules are changing from March 1st and that we should all be aware of them.
• JG asked members to think of where they were on February 6th 1952.  Not many owned up to being alive at that time.  JG was living 50 miles from Treetops in Kenya where Princess Elizabeth became the Queen of England and the Commonwealth that night King George VI died.
• The raffle was won by Howard and the eggs by Chez and Grahame.
• John Bond conducted a short fines session.

IN THE SPOLIGHT

Tonight we had PP Ian Jennings in the spotlight and here are some highlights of the Q&A session with Albert:

• Ian’s family came to the Coolamon area in 1879 from England where they first settled in Moruya and then moved to Albury.  Ian’s great grandfather then settled in Coolamon and started farming.
• To this day, Ian, his brother Stewart and cousin Dick Jennings are still farming in the same area.
• Ian has two sisters and one brother.
• Attended Coolamon Central School from kindergarten until year 10 and then went to Wagga Wagga High school for years 11-12.
• Ian then attended Armidale University where he studied agricultural science for 4 years and then moved back to the farm with his father.
• Ian is not into sports however he enjoys tennis but loves a good wine.
• His favourite actor is Sean Connery and he would love to spend more time in Spain.
• On his bucket list is to visit the home of his ancestors in England.
• Ian met Marilyn at university and they have been happily married ever since.
• Marilyn and Ian adopted a boy from Sri Lanka, Tom.  Ian described this as a wonderful experience.  Tom has three daughters now and the granddaughters are very much loved by Marilyn and Ian.  Tom and the three girls live in Uladulla.
• BTW Ian has been a dedicated member of our club and is our longest serving member, having joined on the 1st May 1977.  He has served as President of our club in 1982-1983 & 1995-1996.

DIARY

Monday February 14th – Regular Meeting. Coolamon Sports Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Wednesday February 16th – CRC Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 7 pm.

Saturday and Sunday, 19 and 20 February – PETS President Elect Training Session {PE Paul Weston}.  Cowra.

Monday February 21st – CRC Club Assembly. Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Friday 25th February – Opening of the Batlow Men’s Shed. Batlow, 12.00 pm.

Friday – Sunday, 18th-20th March 2022 – Temora DISCON {District 9705 Conference}.  See:  TEMORA 2022

Saturday and Sunday, 26-27th March – Gears and Beers. See: Gears and Beers WEBSITE.

Saturday, 2nd April – Sportsman’s Night featuring SCOTT REARDON – The CRC Sportsman’s Committee have organised a fundraising function featuring local Paralympian Scott Reardon.  The event will take place in conjunction with the Coolamon Football Club at Kindra Park.  Time 6.00-10.00 pm.

To all our Facebook users please start sharing the CRC Facebook page which will have all the details for this night uploaded soon.:

Sportsman’s Night featuring Scott Reardon

JUST FOR LAUGHS

Beavers Curling

THE PUZZLER

Answer to the last Puzzler:

The number 8. Slice it in half horizontally and you have two zeroes (nothing). Lay it on its side and you have the symbol for infinity (everything)!

Here’s another riddle to challenge the ol’ grey matter: What do you throw out when you want to use it but take in when you don’t want to use it?

BONUS  PUZZLE

What is this?

ROTARY NEWS

1. RAWCS TONGA APPEAL

https://youtu.be/2iDwutqADGg

Last week we voted on supporting ShelterBox for Tonga however ShelterBox has been closely monitoring the situation in Tonga ever since news of the volcano and tsunami emerged. After much investigation and consultation, it has recently been announced that ShelterBox will not be responding in Tonga.

TONGA VOLCANO ERUPTION AND TSUNAMI APPEAL

The effects of the Volcano and Tsunami on January 15th will be far-reaching, impacting the Tonga Community for months, possibly years to come.

Communication remains problematic with international and inter-island call still no possible due to the damage to the undersea cable.

Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) will be working with Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS) and Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa (Tonga) in providing aid and assistance to the affected communities’ and restoring their livelihoods.

RAWCS has registered a Rotary Australia Relief Fund project to seek financial assistance from Rotary Clubs, the public and private sector.

Donations to the RAWCS Relief Fund are tax deductible.

Donate through https://rawcs.org.au/

2.  ROTARY PEACE CENTRES

Since 2002, The Rotary Foundation established 7 Peace Centres at universities around the world after an extensive selection process. The University of Queensland was one of these 7. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.

Rotary’s most significant effort to wage peace is the Rotary Peace Centres program, established in 2002. Each year, the program trains some of the world’s most dedicated and brightest professionals, preparing them to promote national and international cooperation and to resolve conflict. There are seven Rotary Peace Centres throughout the world. They are in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, Tokyo, Japan, Bradford, England, Brisbane, Australia, Uppsala, Sweden Bangkok, Thailand and Kampala, Uganda. Learn more about Rotary Peace Centre and our investment in Peace Fellowships at rotary.org.

The University of Queensland’s Rotary Peace Centre is part of a global program to advance research, teaching, practical training and knowledge on issues of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building. It offers a tailored Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, aimed at potential world and community leaders, designed to have a practical effect on peacebuilding and addressing international and regional conflicts. The Rotary Foundation’s decision to establish this unique program at The University of Queensland is recognition of the outstanding reputation of postgraduate programs in peace and conflict studies within the School of Political Science and International Studies.

The Centre is one of only six worldwide, the others are housed at:

• Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill USA
• International Christian University, Tokyo Japan,
• University of Bradford, West Yorkshire England
• Uppsala University, Uppsala Sweden
• Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand (Professional Development Centre)

The first cohort of Rotary Peace Fellows started their studies in 2003 and since then there has been a cohort of 10 Fellows selected each year from around the world to study a masters degree in peace and conflict resolution at the University of Queensland Rotary Peace Centre.

University of Queensland Rotary Peace Centre. 

FELLOWS 2021-2022

1. Rachel Buchan USA

February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month

Graphics by Debbie Vance from Canada.

Answer to spare puzzler:

Lockey Hill Cello circa 1780