Monday 2nd February 2026
Tonight was a special night and one to thank Di and Gilbert for 29 1/2 years of cooking for our club on Monday nights and many many other special events such as our 5oth birthday party. President Mary Potts welcomed one guest Maureen Hulsman and 22 members. Another excellent turnout of our members.
Mary then started a report of the preceding Board meeting which Henk gave a full summary of the meeting:
- The raffle at the Coolamon Hotel raised $350 Mary thanked the volunteers who included Bondy, Darryl, Annie, Leslie, Garth and Mary!
- Rotary Youth Exchange D9705 is looking for volunteers to host both ways students to travel and stay in another country for 12 months. Lexi will be following up. It is one of our best projects and the CRC has hosted some wonderful students in the past. Yes, we are getting older, or are we?
- The MERV Van will be back in Coolamon and Ganmain after Easter. Details will follow.
- The Board is looking at supporting the RAWCS Bush Fire Appeal for the recent Victorian bushfires.
- There will be a club assembly on Monday 23rd. Items for discussion will be listed and remember this is the time you as members can bring up items that you want to discuss or sort out.
- It was put forward that members do need to obtain a catering certificate. This can be done online PETS and D9705 Directors Training will be held in Orange and Canberra. Or as we have done it before with a group inhouse course at the Sports Club. Details will follow.
- We will be self-catering on Monday 9th and 16th February with Mark Reardon and Henk Hulsman in charge (with volunteer help of course).
- The Board has been advised that the Coolamon Sports Cub rejected the idea of our honour board being electronic. So, we will go back to the idea of a large timber honour board to bring the current honour boards up to date. Details to follow.
We had our last dinner catered by Di and Gilbert followed by the evening raffle which 1st prize was won by Grahame and 2nd prize by Bondy.
Mary then called on Di and Gilbert and presented them with a wee gift in appreciation of their 29 1/2 years of cooking and serving us so many wonderful meals. Mary expressed the gratitude of all our members past and present and said that we will miss them a great deal. On behalf of the members our partners and our guests over the years we wish both Di and Gilbert a long and fulfilling retirement in Coolamon. A special vote of thanks was given by Henk to Di and Gilbert reminding us all that they helped so many of our young Coolamon residents get a way forward in life Di and Gilbert have employed so many of our youth who have gone on to bigger and better things in life. Di and Gilbert will be missed.
Mary then spoke about the upcoming Club Assembly in that the main reason is to discuss the proposed amendment to our club bylaws to incorporate Corporate Membership as another level of membership we can offer.
Mary also asked for help to support our new Chronicle Editor with articles of interest that he can used to publish. Contact Geoff McKenzie please.
Mary then thanked all the NYE volunteers on the night from the catering team to the raffle sellers and to the Coolamon Lions who provided the BBQ and did the cooking all in all a good team effort and very well worthwhile.
- The NYE raffle grossed $3,900 after prizes of $1,000.
- Bear said that the BBQ gave away 450 sausages and Mary advised us that the takings from the BBQ was $2,035.
Garth advised the meeting that there is a men’s breakfast for Christians at 7.00am on Valentines Day to be held at St. Michaels Coolamon and all men are very welcome.
Mary closed the meeting at 8.30 pm.
DIARY
N.B. You are always welcome to bring guests to most of our meetings, just advise Ian Jennings, 0428 492 157 if you want to bring a guest along when you respond to the weekly dinner roll call!
ROTARY NEWS & ITEMS OF INTEREST
1. ROTARY FALLS PREVENTION
Rotary just helped power a nationwide launch of the Falls Prevention Alliance Australia — a movement tackling one of the biggest health risks for older Australians.
Why it matters: Falls cost the national health service industry billions. The Alliance brings together community groups, health experts, and volunteers to raise awareness and prevent falls before they happen.
Where Rotary steps in:
Clubs across the country joined forces to support the launch with nine simultaneous events — showing how Rotary can unite communities and make national impact possible.
This is what Rotary does every day: bringing people together, solving real problems, and creating safer, healthier communities.
If you want to be part of meaningful change, Rotary is a great place to start.
2. AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH
We are excited to announce that we have selected seven Rural Medical Scholars for the year 2026. Each student will spend a year in regional placements, including Bega, Yorke Peninusla, Lismore, Gundegai and Port Lincoln across NSW, SA and ACT.
Congratulations to these students, who will immerse themselves in regional community medicine and culture throughout the year. For more information about Lauren, Oscar, Isaac, Phoebe, Piyumi, Jake and Isabella’s backgrounds and aspirations, please visit our website https://bit.ly/4jNEZGd.
Say Hello to our 2026 Rural Medical Scholars:
3. WALK FOR PEACE
As some of you may know I have posted about this amazing Walk for Peace by the venerable Monks in the USA.
Since the 26th. October a group of 22 (now 19) Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana in Fort Worth, Texas, are walking for peace from Fort Worth to Washington DC. This is a 2,300-mile walk toward Washington, D.C. with a goal of promoting unity and compassion.
As of writing this bulletin the monks have left Richmond, Virginia. They are expected in Washington DC on February 11th or the 12th. I will keep you posted.
As February is Rotary’s month of peace, this is so appropriate and this video highlights some work that Rotary clubs are doing to assist the Walk for Peace.
You can follow their walk and the progress on their Facebook page below:
FEBRUARY IS ROTARY’S PEACE MONTH
Image courtesy of Rotarian Debbie Vance from Canada.
ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026
Chartered March 3rd, 1971; Sponsoring Club Narrandera Rotary Club
- President: Mary Potts
- President-Elect 2025-2026: Leslie Weston
- Secretary: Paul Weston
- Treasurer: Vicki Langtry
- Rotary Foundation Director: Gary Truscott
- Membership Director: Brian Pattison
- Service Projects Director: Anne Rzeszkowski
- Youth Services Director: Lexi Furner
- Club Admin Director: Mark Reardon
- Public Relations & Image Director: Grahame Milles & Garth Perkin
- Sergeant @ Arms: Dick Jennings and Garth Perkin
- Immediate Past President and Vice-President: Adrian Lindner
NON board Positions
- Club Environment Representative: Adrian Lindner
- Bulletin Editors: Paul Weston and John Glassford
- Webmaster: John Glassford