Week of 10th September, 2018
President Daryl opened the meeting with 15 members in attendance and guest speaker John Nixon and Wayne’s guest Helen. Members and guest sat down to a delicious meal and discussed the following:
- The very successful Gaiman Trivia Night which was enjoyed a great deal by those Rotary members that attended. Coolamon was able to field two tables. Table Rotary Won lived up to its name and was the winner for the night. The second table, Rotary First, was unfortunately underrepresented due to a forgetful member or two and took out the wooden spoon.
- We got a report on Jackson’s progress in Finland. He is now with his final host family who apparently enjoy hunting and Jackson is absolutely loving he experience.
- The Junior football presentation went well, with a great deal of frantic cooking, but a successful night.
- All members are asked to give their apologies via Ian next week as John N will be away.
- Beers and Gears will need eight intersections covered on the day – we were reminded that the course will be run in reverse from what it has in the past. Volunteers are sought to man the intersections. Please put you name forward if you can assist.
- Bingo is Thursday the 13th Septemeber.
- The driver simulator is coming on the 20th and 21st of September. Two people will need to be billeted for the night. If you can do so that would be most helpful. Please contact Daryl.
- Wayne has now got a firm date for the ROC Matekeeper workshop which will be a the Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club at 6:30 on the 24th of September. All community members are welcome and Rotarians are encouraged to attend. This will be in place of our normal Rotary meeting night on the 24th. Finger food will be provided.
- Sunday the 30th September, the same day as the Beers and Gears, Howard will be having an open day at he convent and has also volunteered the convent as the site for raising money for Rotary during the all-of-town garage sale in October. Members are encouraged to bring any unwanted items they think would be suitable to sell in the sale to the convent prior to the day.
After a pleasant meal we all gave our attention to our guest speaker
Guest speaker – Jon Nixon
John Nixon came to speak to us from Can Assist which is a community-based charity to help the sufferers and their carers through their fight with cancer
John began his talk by giving his own personal history with cancer and the role that Can Assist played in helping him and his family. Whilst living in Temora, both of John’s parents fought cancer. His mother fought and lost her battle with pancreatic cancer and his father fought and won his battle with prostate cancer; in both cases, Can Assist Temora was there to help the family through this difficult time by providing assistance with accommodation and travel for appointments with specialists and helping the carer in the family cope. John then informed us all of his own battle with bowel cancer which started with a trip to the blood bank and resulted in an immediate referral to the doctor because his iron levels were dangerously low. At this point, John had a proportion of his bowel removed, started chemotherapy and learned that his mother had been a carrier of a genetic condition that often resulted in a 50% chance of getting cancer, a condition he had inherited. Knowing what Can Assist Temora had done to help support his parents, John now found himself seeking their assistance too.
On winning his battle with cancer, John moved to Wagga Wagga and was amazed that Wagga didn’t have a Can Assist association to help cancer sufferers and their families. So last year in October, the call went out to the Wagga community to start a local branch and an executive team was voted in, which includes John as president. John emphasized that Can Assist and the Cancer Council do very good work but that they operate under different principles and objectives. The Cancer Council is a charitable organisation that is seeking to implement preventative strategies and find treatments and cures for cancer and as such need paid staff and are national in nature. In contrast, Can Assist is local, raising money for local people through volunteer efforts such that all money raised in the local area stays in the local area and is only used to support the people and their families touched by cancer. Can Assist has 52 branches across NSW, with over 3000 active members.
Can Assist Wagga now has Lilier Lodge as accommodation and is helping families with travel and even respite care. John told use of one gentleman whose wife was fighting cancer and due to family upheaval was also having to care for his autistic granddaughter, a circumstance which made it very difficult to even visit his wife in hospital. Can Assist was able to assist with getting respite care so this gentleman could have some time for himself, an important factor in making sure carers cope with the stress the situation brings. Wagga Can Assist is currently supporting 35 clients and their families including John’s own son who is fighting liver cancer.
Clients are NOT approached and Can Assist is completely confidential; doctors and welfare officers will recommend Can Assist to clients. Can Assist operates on a open trust arrangement with assistance being offered to all referred clients; on rare occasions that trust and assistance is abused in which case no further assistance is offered.
Discussion then turned to how the Coolamon community could support the Coolamon residents, as currently clients from Coolamon have been accessing the Wagga Can Assist branch. Recognising that we as a community need to work to support such residents, Wayne invited John to speak and be present at the ROC Matekeeper evening on the 24th September as it was acknowledged that those touched by cancer (and their carers) often have mental health issues as well. It is hoped that this will help raise awareness for both in the community.
A Fun Trivia Night
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
After the by election in Wagga last week and the recent Leadership spill
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Which famous person made this quote?
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy.”
DIARY
Monday, 17th September – Club Assembly. Coolamon Sport and Rec Club, 6:30 for 7:00 pm.
* Monday, 24th September – Guest speaker: David Post, on Rural Outreach Counselling’s Mate Keeper program. Coolamon Sport and Rec Club, 6:30 for 7:00 pm.
Sunday, 30th September – Beers & Gears followed by Antique Fire Engine Muster, Coolamon.
Monday, 1st October – no meeting (public holiday).
* Monday, 22nd October – Guest speaker: Leo De Kroo on his life in the 60’s – De Kroo Brothers up until now. Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, 6:30 for 7:00 pm.
* denotes partner & guest night
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Sunday, 30th September – Beers & Gears followed by Antique Fire Engine Muster, Coolamon.
Gears and Beers so far has raised!!!!!
REMINDERS
Annual subscription fees are due.
Please get your working with children check completed and give the number and expiry date to the secretary ASAP. Failure to do so may mean you are not covered insurance wise when you volunteer at events.
ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2018-19
Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club President: Daryl Breust 0409 551 140 President-Elect: Wayne Lewis 6927 3501 Service Projects: vacant Secretary: Paul Weston 6927 2972 Treasurer: Henk Hulsman 6927 3486 Rotary Foundation Director: Neil Munro 6927 3156 Club Admin Director: Daryl Breust 0409 551 140 Youth Director: Dave McKinley 6927 8553 Membership Director: Wayne Lewis 6927 3501 Public Image Directors: Myffy Collette 6927 6313 / Bernadette Milne Immediate Past President: Paul Weston 6927 2972 Sergeant @ Arms: Ted Hutcheon 6927 3349 Bulletin Editor: Sarah Collins 0448 118 003 and Grahame MilesSeptember is Basic Education & Literacy Month
DISTRICT 9700 2018-19
District Governor: John Glassford {Membership Retention} Coolamon
District Governor-Elect: John McKenzie {Service Projects} Orange North
District Governor Nominee {New District}: Michael Moore
Immediate Past District Governor: George Weston {Youth} Leeton
Foundation Director: PDG David Kennedy {Foundation} Blayney
Secretary: PP David Benn {Administration} Wollundry Wagga Wagga
Treasurer Finance & Audit: PP Doug Conkey {Budget} Wollundry Wagga Wagga
Communications Director: PP Paul Murray {Public Image} Wollundry
Millennials Director: PP Clare Lawlor {Membership Millennials} Wagga CSU Rotaract
Associate Member: AG Julie Poplin {Assistant Governors}
Other District Appointments
Executive Secretary and Web Master: PP Paul Murray Wollundry Wagga Wagga
District Trainer: PP Geraldine Rurenga Wagga Wagga Murrumbidgee
PETS Facilitator: PDG Tony Monley D9810
Public Officer: PDG Ian Tooke Blayney
2019 Griffith D9700 Conference Chair: PP Ross Grillo Griffith
DIO Insurance/Risk Management: PP Sam Catanzariti Griffith
COL 2019 Representative: PDG Gary Roberts
Assistant Governor (Area 6): Paul Weston
We are also looking at the structure of all the Standing Committees and the Special Committees.
We will post all further news on D9700 2018-2019 on my DGJG Blog:
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 2018-2019
President: Barry Rassin, RC of East Nassau The Bahamas
District 9700 Governor: John Glassford, RC of Coolamon
District 9700 Governor Elect: John McKenzie RC of Orange North
