CRC Bulletin November 3rd. 2025

 

N.B. AGM Monday 10th November.

Time to consider volunteering to join PE Leslie Weston’s Board for 2026-2027.

COOLAMON ROTARY CLUB MEETING NOVEMBER 3rd.

President Mary welcomed 24 members and the following guests: Lorraine Hamilton, Susan Glassford, Michael Trinidad and Mark Dubois.  As well 17 Lions and partners joined us to hear Garth’s talk on the 5 Stans.

Mary opened the meeting with a couple of items:

• We will be selling NYE tickets at Foodworks and 5 other days to make it a very successful raffle culminating on  NYE.  A roster is going around for volunteers, more details will be available. We will be selling raffle tickets on Friday 14th November, Saturday 15th November, Friday 28th November, Friday 12th of December, Saturday 13th December all at Foodworks in Coolamon.
• Adrian reported on the successful result for Allie Delaney who has received our first CRC scholarship and will be studying criminology and on December 1st Allie will be our guest speaker.
• Reminder that next week is our AGM and Board meeting preceding the AGM.
• We received a letter of thanks from the Coolamon Fire and Engine muster.

After dinner Garth presented a slide show on his recent trip to the 5 Stans in Central Asia.

Some of the highlights of Garth’s presentation were:

Why did Garth go?  To learn about the old silk road was his main reason.  There was not just one silk road but many, this was created to help save the travellers and their goods from bandits.

Garth gave us a very good account of the history of this region and how from Alexander the great to Lenin other dictators over time ransacked, pillaged, raped and destroyed buildings.

One of the perpetrators, a grandson of Genghis Khan was responsible for the genocide of 17% of the world’s population during his reign of terror.  His name was Amir Temur and the people of Uzbekistan erected a statue in his memory.  There is also a museum dedicated to the times of the Timurid Dynasty:

The Amir Timur/Temur Museum website.

*Amir Timur/Temur (born 1336, Kesh, near Samarkand, Transoxania [now in Uzbekistan]—died February 19, 1405, Otrar, near Chimkent [now Shymkent, Kazakhstan]) was a Turkic conqueror, chiefly remembered for the barbarity of his conquests from India and Russia to the Mediterranean Sea and for the cultural achievements of his dynasty.

*Spelling is either Timur or Temur The Statue above has his name as Amil Temur:

 

Garth said that the religions in the population of the 5 Stans was made up in the vast majority, of around 80% Muslims, with a minority of the population made up of various other faiths including the Christian Russian Orthodox.  All of the 5 Stans had mountainous country side with up to 80% being desert BUT oil and gas are under the desert especially Turkmenistan which is gas rich.

In Turkmenistan all the buildings and vehicles MUST be white. No 4-wheel drive vehicles are allowed as the government there believe that white is the colour of  peace and purity.

Garth gave an excellent talk on his visit to the 5 Stans and there were many questions asked.

Here are some additional photos of Garth’s journey:

Garth’s talk was excellent and most interesting.  The editor has read some of the stories behind Amir Temur and it is fascinating.  Click on the links in the story above of Garth’s presentation and they will take you to the stories that I have partially read.  There is  a lot of information there and the museum looks stunning.

After Garth was finished he had some items to be auctioned and Dick being the auctioneer did a wonderful job and the funds raised from the various items from the 5 Stans visit would go to the Cambodian project of Marg.

All in all a great night of fun, fellowship and learning.  Thank you Garth and the raffles were won by Alex Thompson and a Lioness!

The meeting closed at 9.15pm.

 

OUT AND ABOUT

Coolamon Rotary Club BBQ trailer

Well done to Bear, Gary and Grahame for organising the this work Regal Signs in Coolamon, on our BBQ Trailer:

DIARY

All of the above photos were obtained from Facebook.  Credit to the owners.

 

ROTARY NEWS and ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

The Rotary Foundation is changing lives through various active projects across the  Globe. Join The Foundation Trustee Chair Holger Knaack and team in Nigeria from the 1st to the 7th of November 2025 and discover why The Rotary Foundation is rated best among all charities of the World for the 17th year running by the Charity Navigator.

 

2.  FAMOUS ROTARIANS

Walt Disney – the man who gave the world dreams

Walt Disney (1901-1966) is an American animator, filmmaker and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company. His name became a symbol of childhood, fantasy and joy. Disney has given the world Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and dozens of other beloved characters, as well as the world’s first theme park, Disneyland.

Few know that Walt Disney was an honorary Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Palm Springs, California. He was considered the embodiment of creativity and innovation that inspires society. Rotarians celebrated his ability to not only entertain but bring people together – which echoes Rotary’s mission.

In 1955, when Disneyland opened, Rotary Clubs of California became partners in organizing charitable events for children and youth. Disney has repeatedly provided support to Rotary’s initiatives to advance education and the arts.

Interesting: Disney received a record number of Oscars – 22 figurines and 59 nominations. And while giving him a special prize for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, he received one large and seven small figurines.

 

3.  The GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

 

NOVEMBER IS ROTARY’S FOUNDATION MONTH

 

Artwork by Rtn. Debbie Vance from Canada

 

 

ROTARY CLUB OF COOLAMON Inc. 2025-2026