COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING June 16th. 2025
President Adrian welcomed 21 members to our meeting last night and no guests attended.
Tonight was a get to know your member in this case Mark Reardon. More on that below.
Some business was put forward including:
- Birthdays Myffy and Barry chocolates all round, thanks Albert. Something about the world’s longest bout of hiccups seems to have been 68 years for one such gentleman.
- Paul reminded members that the Junee RC change over is this Sunday at the Junee Ex Services Club at midday. They always support our change over and events so if you van make it please do so.
- Mary said that we had a good result form the Red Shield appeal at the football, In all around $802.80 has been collected to date. The Board then decided to round it up to $1,000.00.
- Garth reported on the MHERV days in Coolamon and Ganmain. It appears that Ganmain put through 33 and Coolamon 29 members of the public. Bear had a lot to do with that.
After dinner Adrian then began the Q&A of PP Mark Reardon who joined CRC on March 1st 1985. Mark was president in 1996-1997.
So in brief here are the highlights from the Q&A of Mark which raised many questions:
I have created a document which you can down load below for the full story of Mark’s life to date:
Here are some of the highlights from Mark’s story:
- Mark grew up in “Homewood” in Mimosa 30ks form Coolamon and Temora.
- The Northern Riverina County Council played a big part in his earlier life as a District Electrical Mechanic.
- Mark was then promoted as the regional General manager looking after water/gas and electrical infrastructure.
- Recently Mark set up his business “Electrical Design Solutions: based in Wagga Wagga.
- EDS employs 14 electrical engineers all have a Master Degree and 2 have Doctorates.
- EDS also do some high level consultancy work in large solar farms/batteries, wind turbines Co-generational sites and HV connection sites etc.
- Mark and Sharon hope to travel to Canada and Alaska soon.
- Mark and Sharon have travelled extensively.
- Mark’s major statement which had several member curious was that we need synchronous generators to allow renewables to work.
You can read Mark’s beliefs here:
Thank you Mark for you thoughts and insights into the future of power generation. Interestingly this article appeared on social media today and makes one think that we do not have all the answers yet or will we ever? The debate continues!
Over 435,000 new balcony solar units were installed last year alone, making energy generation more decentralized and citizen-led than ever before. Meanwhile, wind power produced 136.4 TWh, outpacing entire national grids like Norway’s, and solar energy delivered 72.2 TWh, more than Argentina’s annual electricity use.
With a goal of hitting 80% renewable electricity by 2030, Germany is turning policy into impact—and setting the pace for Europe’s clean energy future.Adrian thanked mark for his answers to the questions put to him.
The raffle was won by Albert a voucher for Foodworks.
Albert then conducted a brief fines session as our S@A and in particular Dick had 5 fines levelled at him as did Grahame. all in all another excellent night of learning some controversy and above all good fellowship.
The meeting closed at 8.40pm.
NB. Next Monday we are having the meeting at the Coolamon Hotel (Bottom Pub) 6.30 for 7.00pm please get your numbers in to Ian by Friday for catering purposes, thanks.
ROTARY DOWN UNDER ONLINE
You can now read Rotary Down Under online:
OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE ROTARY MHERV VAN
Ganmain again topped Coolamon for the number of locals who attended the MHERV van last weekend.
Here are some photos from Ganmain:
For more on what MHERV does go to their website below:
MHERV and Rotary.
DIARY
Sunday June 15th Red Shield Appeal details to follow.
Saturday 21st-25th June 2025 RICON IN Calgary, Canada
Calgary RICON 2025 Calgary Facebook Page
*Monday 23rd June Social Meeting: Meeting at the Coolamon Hotel (Bottom Pub) 6.30 for 7.00pm.
*Monday 30th June CRC 54th Annual Change Over Dinner. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.
*Monday 14th July Guest Speaker Caleb Smith from the Salvation Army. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.
Saturday August 2nd Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory: Volunteers needed. Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.
*Guests welcome to bring their partners and friends.
UPCOMING CLUB CHANGE OVERS IN OUR AREA
Temora Saturday June 21st @ 6.30pm Temora Bowling Club
Junee Sunday 22nd. June @ Midday Junee Ex Services Club
South Wagga Monday 23rd. June @ 6.00pm Wagga Aussie Rules Club
Wagga Wagga Thursday 26th June @ 6.00 for 6.30pm in the Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL
Tumut Saturday 28th. June @ 6.00pm Club Tumut
Wollundry Wagga Wagga Saturday 28th June 6.30pm at The Grange.
Coolamon Monday 30th June @ 6.30pm Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club
JUST FOR LAUGHS
All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook. Credit to the owners.
ROTARY NEWS
1. NEW ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
Francesco Arezzo, partner of the Rotary Club of Ragusa (Italy), has been selected by the RI Board to serve as Rotary International President 2025-2026.
Arezzo will assume the presidency on July 1st.
The RI Board held an extraordinary meeting following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo received on June 8. Based on the RI regulations and code of rules, the Directorate selected the new President-elect from a group of candidates that had been considered by the Rotary International Presidential Proposal Committee in August 2023.
The 2025-2026 Presidential Message, announced in February at the Rotary International Assembly 2025, will continue to be United for Good, which urges Rotary partners to be a force of unity in a world increasingly divided by politics, geography and ideology.
Art work by Debbie Vance from Canada.
2. ROTARY ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
A moment in time: Rotary magazine’s 2025 Photo Awards
Sparks fly as Rotary members focus their cameras and freeze-frame the wonders of the world
Blaze of glory: In the little town of Rollag, a few miles southeast of Fargo, North Dakota, folks gather every Labor Day weekend for the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. At the nocturnal “spark show,” sawdust and wood chips are fed into the firebox of an antique steam-powered tractor, and the fiery explosion that follows etches cascades of gold into the night sky.
RI FELLOWSHIP of ROTARIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
The IFRP group is a community of Rotarian photographers who share their photos and experiences, with a focus on travel, wildlife, and Rotary Club events. Members participate in photography contests and share their knowledge and skills with each other, fostering a sense of fellowship and community.
IFRP Facebook Group.
PS This photo below was awarded an honourable mention in the 2012 RI Photography competition:
Rotary Fellowships
JUNE IS ROTARY FELLOWHIPS MONTH
ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2024-25
Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club
- President: Adrian Lindner
- President-Elect 2025-2026: Mary Potts
- Secretary: Paul Weston
- Treasurer: Mary Potts
- Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
- Membership Director: Brian Pattison
- Service Projects Director: Anne Rzeszkowski
- Youth Services Director: Lexi Furner
- Club Admin Director: Ian Jennings
- Public Image Director: Grahame Miles
- Sergeant @ Arms: Albert Suidgeest
- Club Environment Representative: Adrian Lindner
- Immediate Past President and Vice-President: John Bond
- Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
- Webmaster: John Glassford