CRC Bulletin July 21st. 2025

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING July 21st. 2025

Tonight PP Daryl Breust took the Chair as President Mary is away this week.  There were no guests and 15 members attended.  All considered a good turn out considering the weather, school holidays and other reasons.

Daryl reminded members of the upcoming Shakespeare night at the Coolamon Cheese factory on August 2nd.  As well the tree planting, seeding and WETLAND VISIT with Adrian Lindner this Friday at 9.00am at Lindoris.  Daryl reminded us all that Gears and Beers is on Sunday October 5th details will follow.

Garth spoke at length on RI in that RI stands for Rotary International and that the CRC has done a fair amount of international service.  Garth spoke about the way $500 donated to Garth for Cambodia helped to build one room for a Cambodian school.

Lexi spoke about school breakfasts and a fitness programme sponsored by the Coolamon Shire.  Call Lexi for  further information and how we can get involved.

Reminder that we have 2 guest speakers next Monday talking about the upcoming Canola Run.

The raffle was won by John Nulty and the second prize was won by Mark Reardon who then shared the red wine with other members.

We had a fines collection by S@A Garth with Albert assisting.

The members wished Paul a speedy solution to his current health status.

We had an early night which enabled us to enjoy some good fellowship and discussions.

Thank you Daryl.

PRESIDENT MARY’S NOTES

Good Morning

I hope that everyone is having a great day. During our meeting on July 28th, Rhiannon Druce and Greg Dillon will join us to discuss a proposal for a running event , the Canola run which will hopefully become an annual event. The proposed date for this year is 7 September.

Rhiannon also mentioned she may bring chocolates as she is marketing manager of the Junee Chocolate and Liquorice factory.

They are asking for Rotary to help with this event and I understand to partner with this event.  Rhiannon is on the Canola Trail Committee and they have come up with the concept as the event will benefit the local community, Rhiannon has had discussions with Coolamon Shire Council the Football Club will also be assisting.

The proposed route for the half marathon is to start at Marrar football ground and finish at the bottom pub it will only be in Coolamon shire as this is the only council that has supported them so far with the idea.  They will also be holding events for children. This would be a great event for the community and could turn into a great fundraiser for Rotary if it could get support of the community.

I met with Rhiannon yesterday and have also asked for more information, something to think about 1

I won’t be at the meeting this week so will see you on 28^th July.  Mary.

OUT AND ABOUT

Where were you on July 20th 1969?

Did you know that Neil Armstrong, the very first man to step foot on the moon, was a proud member of Rotary? It’s fascinating to think that someone who made history in space also contributed to community service on Earth!

I was in Melbourne and watched it on a TV in a shop window and then bought several slides from The Age.

DIARY

*Monday 28th July – Guest Speakers, Rhiannon Druce and Greg Dillon. Subject The Canola Run, Coolamon Sport Rec Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Saturday August 2nd – Shakespeare Night at the Coolamon Cheese Factory:  Project of the Kooringal Rotary Club, with assistance from CRC. Proceeds to be donated to the CRC.

 

Monday 4th August – Club Assembly.  Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30 for 7.00 pm.

Monday 11th August – Board Meeting. Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club, 5.00 pm

*Monday 11th August – Guest Speaker Helen Moriarty on Research on Farmers and Chemicals.

Sunday 7th September – THE CANOLA RUN Details to follow on Monday July 28th.

*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

1. COMMUNITY LIBRARIES: AN IDEA

Bringing free libraries to the community.

A book can open doors to new worlds, spark imagination, and inspire change. That belief is at the heart of the Bromley Rotary Game Changers in south-east London, where their latest initiative is installing free little libraries throughout the community. The idea is simple: take a book, leave a book. Each library is a small beacon of connection, creativity, and access to knowledge.

Some comments:

• The Rotary Club of Strathmore in Melbourne, Australia has installed 2 “Little Libraries” in our local community They are very popular. Both built by our local “men’s shed”, a local group looking after men’s welfare.
• Rotary Club of Boronia has placed and supports 8 Little libraries in the Knox Council area. All are decorated by local Primary schools and registered with the Street Library Association of Australia.
• We have one in Ettalong Beach NSW, sponsored by Rotary Brisbane Water. Great initiative. Our community loves it!

 

FOOTNOTE: EDITOR’S DISCRETION

As you all know by now my vocation is straw bale building.  There is a company in Latvia and Denmark called EcoCocon.  In December 2002 we had an International Straw Bale Building Conference here in Ganmain and at the CSU in Wagga.

Lars Keller from Denmark was a delegate and we showed Lars our first prototype straw panel.  We made these by using a 4’6″ Stihl chain saw cutting a 8’x4’x4′ jumbo bale into 250mm slices.  Over the years Lars and I communicated for a long time working on the panel system.

Lars is now the CEO of EcoCocon in Denmark and they have started building the world’s largest straw bale panel building in the Netherlands:

• 40,900 m² of straw wall panels supplied by EcoCocon – {OR 80,000 small square bales}.
• 155,000 m² of total building area
• Designed for BREEAM Outstanding certification.  Equivalent to some Aussie building standards.
• Integrated with 30,000 m² of solar panels and wetlands, forests, rooftop gardens
• Targeting biodiversity gains of at least +10%

and it is a Timber Logistics Centre.

 

 

NB: Dick can fine me: but we are so proud as to have had an input in EcoCocon 23 years ago now.

JULY IS ROTARY NEW LEADERSHIP MONTH

 

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026