Coolamon Rotary News Bulletin #12
MEETING September 24th. 2012
We had the pleasure of our local Federal Member of Parliament The Hon. Michael McCormack as our guest speaker tonight. Ten members were present with some 13 guests from Coolamon and Ganmain. Michael spoke well and entertained us all with is recollections of his time playing “Footy” here in the Riverina. Michael was also very honest about politics in Australia today and wishes that politicians could think beyond the next election. Michael also believed in working with the other side and getting on with working for the people that elect them.
Michael even drops in on Simon Crean the Federal Minister for Development on a fortnightly basis to promote the Riverina. Michael loves the National Party and paid tribute to the former member Kay Hull. The Nationals he said do not have any factions which he is happy about. Michael will be on Channel 10’s The Great Divide this Sunday, and opposite him will be Anthony Albanase the current Leader of the House of Representatives.
Michael concluded by inviting any who wish to attend question time in Canberra to contact him a couple of weeks before so he can arrange the visit.
President Paul Weston introduces Michael McCormack above and Garth Perkin thanks Michael for his talk below.
The raffle was won by Bruce Hutcheon from the Coolamon Lions Club.
Michael McCormack
MP MEMBER FOR RIVERINA
About Michael
Born in Wagga and raised on family properties at Marrar and Brucedale, Michael became the youngest editor of a daily newspaper in Australia when he took the helm of Wagga’s Daily Advertiser at the age of 27.
Although he won numerous writing awards and scholarships at the Advertiser, Michael is proudest of the role he played as a community advocate during his time at the paper. In 1997 he spearheaded the movement to save the RAAF base at Wagga which resulted in the retention and expansion of the base.
Michael has a long history of community service with groups such as Rotary and school P&F Associations. A keen sportsman, Michael’s interests include cricket, Aussie Rules, Rugby League, basketball and hockey. He is also a racing enthusiast, and was director of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club from 1994 to 2003.
Before becoming the The Nationals Federal Member for Riverina Michael had a small publishing and media business in Wagga, where he lives with wife Catherine and their three children.
Michael was elected as the Federal Member for Riverina at the 2010 election.
He is an honorary member of the Officer’s Mess at ARTC Kapooka.
PRESIDENT PAUL WESTON’S REPORT
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the local world of Rotary. The Wagga Wagga Peace Conference held over the weekend drew distinguished speakers from across Australia and around the world. It’s too bad more of our members couldn’t attend the proceedings, but Neil Munro, Dick Jennings and John Glassford were there and were suitably impressed (I ran a projector in one of the sessions on Saturday afternoon, and also came away with a very favourable impression). Congrats to the Rotarians in Wagga who organised this memorable and outstanding event.
On Monday, the Rotary Club of Coolamon and our guests were treated to a talk by the Hon. Michael McCormack, MP for Riverina. As promised, we were entertained by stories of life in Canberra as an elected representative of Parliament, hearing stories that don’t make it on the evening news. It was also great to see a number of Lions in attendance. Stay tuned for news of social get together with the Lions sometime after harvest, likely in January.
The inaugural Scarecrow Festival will be held in Coolamon on Sunday of the upcoming October long weekend. We’ll be dusting off the food van and serving up Kranskys with all the trimmings. We’re still looking for helpers to help prepare and serve in the van, especially in the afternoon, so please contact me to add your name to the roster. There will be a variety of activities for young and old, so make an effort to come out and share in the fun.
We have no meeting on Monday, October 1 because of the public holiday, but we’ll be making a trip to Junee on Tuesday to share fellowship with the Junee Rotarians. Let John Glassford know if you’re able to attend. A couple of us will be driving and taking others with us; we’ll contact attendees over the weekend to coordinate rides.
We finally have the next event in our local business support program in place: an evening workshop on the 22nd of October with a digital marketing firm out of Wagga. Look for details in the coming week.
Enjoy the long weekend, and don’t forget to come to the Scarecrow Festival and to sign up for the meeting in Junee.
That’s all for now. Onward and upward!.
Yours in Rotary,
Paul
DIARY REMINDERS
Sunday 30th September Scarecrow Festival in Coolamon. MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO MAN THE CARAVAN.Monday October 1st NO Meeting
Tuesday October 2nd Joint Meeting at Junee Rotary Club. ALL members are asked to attend this important meeting in Junee.
Monday 8th October Business Meeting.
Thursday 11th October BINGO on duty: Ian Jennings, John Glassford, Grahame Miles, Mark Reardon
*Monday 15th October Road MAPS to Africa John Glassford.
*Monday 22nd October WORKSHOP for Coolamon Shire Business people on how to use the Internet for marketing your business facilitated by Linda Tillman and sponsored by Coolamon Rotary and the Coolamon Shire Council.
*Monday 29th October Social Night at Marilyn and Ian Jennings home.
*Monday 5th November GUest Speaker Georgie Roberts from the Red Cross.
Monday 12th November AGM and Election of Office Bearers for 2013-2014.
Sunday November 25th Rotary Markets in Coolamon.
Peace Ceremony in Coolamon February 2013
Friday 19th to Sunday 21st April 2013 D9700 Conference Leeton
June 23-26 2013 Rotary International Convention in Lisbon. RI Convention Lisbon
*Partners and Guests Night.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT SAKUJI TANAKA
I visited Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the third largest city square in the world. I was accompanied by, from left, Chief District Secretary Peter Pang, Past District Governor Y. K. Cheng, District Governor Kenneth K. Wong, and District Governor-elect Eugene Fong, all of District 3450. I also attended the World Economic Forum in Tianjin and a breakout session where we discussed the future role of nonprofit organizations.
The International Day of Peace takes on a special meaning this year for Rotarians. Please join me and Rotarians from around the world as we redouble our commitment to achieve Peace Through Service.
今年の国際平和デー（9月21日）は私たちロータリアンにとって特別な意味があります。奉仕を通じて平和を築くために、世界が一体となってがんばりましょう。
In 2012-13, Rotary International will hold three Rotary Global Peace Forums. Each forum will be a two- or three-day program to engage and inspire Rotarians and community leaders to champion President Sakuji Tanaka’s RI theme, Peace Through Service.
The location, theme, and date for each forum are listed here for your reference, along with websites where you can find further details.
Berlin, Germany — Peace Without Borders
- From 30 November to 2 December 2012
- www.rotary-global-peace-forum-berlin.de/en/
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA — The Green Path to Peace
- From 25 to 27 January 2013
- www.peaceforumhawaii.com/
Hiroshima, Japan — Peace Begins with You
- From 17 to 18 May 2013
- www.info-hiroshima.co.jp/peace/
For more information
Download the Rotary Global Peace Forums brochure.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Eyesight
Joe and Gladys are getting ready for bed. Gladys is standing in front of her full length mirror, taking a good hard look at herself. ‘You know, Joe,’ she commented, ‘I stare into this mirror and see an ancient creature. My face is all wrinkled, my boobs sag, my arms and legs are as flabby as popped balloons… and my rear end looks like a sad deflated version of the Hindenburg!’
She turned to face her husband and asked, ‘Dear, please tell me just one positive thing about my body so I can feel better about myself.’
Joe studied Gladys critically for a moment and then said in a thoughtful voice, ‘Well, there’s nothing wrong with your eyesight.’
The doctor says he’ll be able to leave hospital in about a week.
The Professor
A man spent a weekend gambling in Las Vegas casinos, and he won $100,000. He didn’t want anyone to know about it, so when he came back home, he immediately went out to the backyard of his house, dug a hole and planted the money in it.
The next morning he walked outside and found only an empty hole. He noticed footsteps leading from the hole to the house next door, which was owned by a deaf-mute. On the same street lived a professor who understood sign language and was a friend of the deaf man. Grabbing his pistol, the enraged man went to awaken the professor and dragged him to the deaf man’s house. He screamed at the professor:
“You tell this guy that if he doesn’t give me back my money I’ll kill him!”
The professor conveyed the message to his friend, and his friend replied in sign language: “I hid it in my backyard, underneath the cherry tree.”
The professor turned to the man with the gun and said: “He’s not going to tell you. He said he’d rather die first.”
ROTARY INFORMATION
LISBON 2013 Rotary International Convention
Registration is now open for the 2013 RI Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, 23-26 June! Lisbon is an explorer’s paradise. Perched on the west coast of Europe, Portugal’s capital city is a charming combination of old-world appeal and modern flair.
If you have never been to a Rotary International Convention here are some photos just click on the image to enlarge:
Photos above taken from 4 RI Conventions attended by J. Glassford. Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal and Bangkok.
TOO CUTE
Let’s play fetch the stick!
Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka
Governor of District 9700 Greg Brown
Coolamon Club President Paul Weston
Coolamon Club Secretary John Glassford
Coolamon 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
Rotarians For Fighting AIDS AUSTRALIA: 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.