Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #31

Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #31

MARCH IS ROTARY LITERACY MONTH.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

REMINDER that Easter Saturday is next Saturday and we need volunteers for the markets.

 

 

MONDAY MEETING

Monday night we had our monthly member’s night and tonight our Treasurer Henk Hulsman and PP gave a story on his life.  President Paul welcomed all our guests which included, Bernadette Milne, Maureen Hulsman, Marilyn Jennings, Christine Lorraine, Ted Hutcheon, Susan Glassford and we welcomed back Ray and Maria Foley.  There were 13 members present tonight as well.

Grahame Miles reported on the upcoming Saturday Easter Markets and the Grand Design Tour in Coolamon asking for volunteers for the day. Dick Jennings promoted the Coolamon and Ganmain Trivia night and we look like being able to book one table from our members and partners.

Ian Jennings and John Glassford reported on last week’s RYDA {Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme in Wagga Wagga.}  See story at the end of this bulletin.

HENK HULSMAN

The night belonged to Henk or Harmen Hulsman a long time member of our Rotary Club.  Henk is a 1st generation Australian born in Narrandera at the end of WW2.  Henk is Dutch by origin and his father and mother spent many years in the Dutch East Indies as rubber plantation managers.  Henk’s parents met and married in the islands and Henk has 2 sisters and a brother.  The Japanese invasion of Borneo saw Henk’s parents interred in a concentration camp where they were separated and badly treated by the Japanese.

After the war the Hulsmans moved to Australia and lived in Ganmain for a short period and made great friends with the Guthries.  They returned to Bali after Indonesia achieved independence. and left Indonesia for Australia for good in 1950.  Henk became an accountant and worked for the CBC or Commercial Bank in New South Wales and saw much of the country.  Henk married Maureen and they have two children.  Henk ended up in Coolamon as the branch manager for CBC and when CBC got taken over by the NAB he started managing the Sydney Credit Union in Wagga Wagga, as a financial advisor and never looked back.

Henk has since retired and is involved in the Coolamon Men’s Shed and Rotary where he has been a member since 1981, has been President and is currently our treasurer.  Henk was recently awarded a Paul Harris Fellow; richly deserved.  One of the characters of our club with a wicked sense of humour, thanks Henk for your life story.  Enjoy your bowls old mate!

 

 

PRESIDENT PAUL WESTON’S REPORT

President’s report

Things are picking up in Rotary World.  This weekend promises to be a ripper, with the markets at the Up To Date Store, Grand Designs Coolamon Style, and a hundred hot rods in the streets of Coolamon on Easter Saturday.  Between the great weather tipped for the day and the large number of visitors to town for the holiday weekend, it could be a blockbuster.  If you haven’t already been rostered on to sell raffle tickets for the day, please contact Grahame ([email protected]) ASAP to sign up for a spot.

Thanks to Ian Jennings and John Glassford who assisted with RYDA in Wagga last week, and to Wayne Lewis who joined me in stuffing flyers for the markets and Grand Designs in newspapers at the newsagency very early on Saturday morning!

We had another great rollup for our Monday meeting, which featured another episode in our continuing saga of member life stories after a great roast lamb dinner prepared by Andrew.  Henk Hulsman described his life story, which has had a number of interesting twists and turns, especially in his early years as his parents shifted from Ganmain to Bali (this was after his parents had made and lost a fortune in Indonesia).  Henk’s life was a bit more tame than that of his parents, but was interesting nonetheless and involved several moves in southeastern Australia as Henk’s employment the banking industry required him to relocate frequently.  It really is amazing how many surprising aspects there are to the lives of our members.  Next month’s member meeting (29 April) will feature Craig Corrigan, so be sure to note the date in your diary.

Activities of interest abound in April.  April 12 will be Trivia Night at the Coolamon Sport and Rec Club.  We have nearly enough people to sponsor a table of 8, and at $10 pp you can’t go wrong.  If interested in rounding out a table or starting another, please contact me ([email protected]) and we’ll add you to the list.  Later in the month (April 19-21) is the District Convention in Leeton.  Registration is done through the district convention website.  Discussion is taking place for a joint social event with the Lions, so stay tuned as details are finalised.

Have a great Easter, and I hope to see you in town for all the events on Easter Saturday.  Because of the public holiday, there will be no Rotary meeting on Monday next (April 1), so our next meeting will be on 8 April (featuring an interesting talk by Max Chapman entitled “Europe on a Shoestring”).  See you there!

Yours in Rotary,
Paul

 

DIARY REMINDERS

Saturday 30th March Rotary Community Easter Markets in the Up-to-Date-Store,  complemented by ‘Grand Designs Coolamon Style’  & a main street full of 100 or so Hot Rod Cars.

Monday April 1st NO Meeting Easter Monday.

*Monday 8th April Sue and Max Chapman Europe on a Shoe String. Gilbert catering.

Monday 8th -Friday 13th April RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.  Alex Thompson is our club’s sponsored student this year at Camp Kurrajong, Oura Road, Wagga Wagga.  RYLA web Site.

Thursday April 11th Rotary Bingo: Rostered on are: Leslie Weston, Paul Weston, Ian Jennings, Garth Perkin

***New Event:  Friday April 12th TRIVIA NIGHT in aid of the Ganmain/ Coolamon Hospital Auxiliary.  Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club 7.00pm.  $10/head, best bet make up a table, contact Maree Jennings on 6927 3074 for further details.

Monday 15th April Business and Board Meeting Club catering

Friday 19th to Sunday 21st April 2013   D9700 Conference Leeton.

Monday April 29th Members Night Craig Corrigan.  Club catering.

Saturday June 8th Coolamon Rotary Street Raffle.

June 23-26 2013 Rotary International Convention in Lisbon.   RI Convention Lisbon.

*Monday July 1st our 42nd Change Over Night.

*Partners and Guests Night.

 

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT SAKUJI TANAKA

 

While visiting District 2490 in Israel RI Director Gideon Peiper and I toured the facilities of the Israeli-based Save a Child’s Heart, an international humanitarian project which provides care to children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease. I want to thank District Governor Moshe Edelman and Past District Governor Yoram Cohen for their assistance during my visit, and all the Rotarians and other volunteers who support this lifesaving project.

イスラエル訪問中、心臓疾患のある発展途上国の子供たちを治療している病院を訪れました。ロータリアンをはじめボランティアの方々が病気と闘う子供たちを励まし、支援しています。素晴らしいプロジェクトです。

 

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Bad Day

There I was, sitting at the bar, staring at my drink, when a really big, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink, and gulps it down in one swig.

“Well, whatcha gonna do about it?” he says menacingly, as I burst into tears.

“Come on, man,” the biker says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can’t stand to see a man crying.”

“This is the worst day of my life,” I said. “I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with the gardener, and then my dog bit me, so I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all. I buy a drink, drop the capsule in it, and was sitting here watching the poison dissolve when you show up and drink the whole thing!! But enough about me, how’s your day going?”

ERIC VAN SOEST

Compo

A farmer who’s been involved in a terrible road accident with a large truck ended up in court fighting for a big compensation claim. “I understand you’re claiming damages for the injuries you’re supposed to have suffered? ” Stated the counsel for the insurance company. “Yes, that’s right,” replied the farmer, nodding his head. “You claim you were injured in the accident, yet I have a signed police statement that says that when the attending police officer asked you how you were feeling, you replied, ‘I’ve never felt better inn my life.’ Is that the case? “Yeah, but ” stammered the farmer. “A simple yes or not will suffice,” counsel interrupted quickly. “Yes,” Replied the farmer.

Then it was the turn of the farmer’s counsel to ask him questions. “Please tell the court the exact circumstance of events following the accident when you made your statement of health,” his lawyer said. “Certainly,” replied the farmer. “After the accident my horse was thrashing around with a broken leg and my poor old dog was howling in pain. This cop comes along, takes one look at my horse and shoots him dead. “Then he goes over to my dog, looks at him and shoots him dead too. Then he come straight over to me and asked me how I was feeling. “Now, mate, what the heck would you have said to him? ”

 

ROTARY INFORMATION

RYDA {ROTARY YOUTH DRIVER AWARENESS.}

One of the best youth projects by Rotary is the RYDA week or Rotary Youth Driver Awareness programme held every year for one week in Wagga Wagga. Year 11 students attend and it is a huge success.  Coolamon Rotary was rostered on for last Friday 22nd March and Ian Jennings and John Glassford volunteered.   Here are some photos from the day.

 

RYDA Web Site now known as Road Safety Education.

 

BUCKET LIST

PORTUGAL 2013 LISBON RI CONVENTION

While you are in Portugal go visit The Initiation Well in Sintra,

 

CAUSES WORTH SUPPORTING

Governor of District 9700  Greg Brown

Coolamon Club President  Paul Weston

Coolamon Club Secretary  John Glassford

Club Treasurer  Henk Hulsman

Coolamon Rotary Club Inc. P.O. Box 23 COOLAMON N.S.W. 2701

Websites of Interest

Coolamon Rotary Club: http://coolamonrotary.com

Road MAPS to Africa a Coolamon Rotary Project: http://www.mountainsofthemoon.org/

Rotary Down Under on line: http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/26587/49598/pub

The Orphan Rescue Kit a Coolamon RC Project: http://theork.com/

Our Rotary Centennial Twin Club Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: http://www.rotaryhoutbay.org

Don’t forget to regularly check our club web site for current information such as bingo rosters and various newsletters from the District Governor, the School of St. Jude’s, the monthly membership on the move newsletter as well as several other club bulletins.