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Our guest speaker on Tuesday was Lisa Simpson, Manager of Ronald McDonald House in Wagga. The main objective for the charity is to provide a home-away-from-home for seriously ill children and their families. There are 18 houses in Australia. Lisa is one of three paid employees with the rest of the staff volunteers. | ||
 There is also a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Wagga Base hospital. Family Rooms provide a warm and safe environment within the hospital where they can spend time away from bedside. There is a kitchenette , washing facilities and a play area for children. McDonalds funds the house to the tune of 20%. People are often surprised that, assuming McDonalds funds the majority of the costs of running the house. The three following funding sources makeup all of the support for the home.  | ||
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The Changeover went very smoothly.With the night EmCeed by PP John Gray, James Hamilton was called upon to say Grace, then the business started.
PP Paul Milde presented the Loyal Toast, Sec Phil read a long list of apologies, and John Gray proceeded to welcome all guests and visitors.
Came time for the Toast to Rotary International. One of our long standing members, PP David Byfield gave one of the best toasts to Rotary International the editor has heard. Subsequently it is reprinted here in full.
Toast to Rotary International
Distinguished guests, my fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
While some of us here tonight have been in Rotary for many years and others have only been with Rotary a short time, we are all on the same journey.
A journey that began over a hundred years ago when our founder, Paul Harris, had an idea.
And it wasn’t just any idea; it was one of those planet altering ideas. He didn’t know it at the time, but we, in hindsight, sure do.
From humble beginnings and a group of 4 friends in Chicago, to a world wide Service Organisation of some 1.2 million Rotarians in 33,255 clubs, and in 210 Countries, that idea has taken root and bloomed. Rotarians from across the world have combined to eradicate Polio and it has now been isolated to four pockets of the world. A super human effort since Rotary took control in 1985.
But what of the myriad of other programmes that Rotary runs every year?
Health programmes, water programmes, youth exchange, youth leadership, literacy, shelterbox, malaria, medical aid, scholarships, the list goes on and on. They are all worthy programmes that show what Rotary is about.
Service Clubs seem to have become less popular during the more affluent years, but Rotary is just as necessary today as it was when it was first introduced in 1905.
This coming year the new Rotary theme is “SERVE TO CHANGE LIVES”
And to me that means restoring dignity and offering a chance at a better life for those in need, without any strings and free of any political or religious overtones.
The journey of Rotary over the years has opened doors across international boundaries and lets Rotary in where other aid organisations have difficulty. The world trusts Rotary.
It has been a successful journey, a journey studded with highlights and surrounded by hard working Rotarians, and friends of Rotarians, all of whom are and have been donating time and energy for free. I am sure that it is a journey we are all proud of and one we want to see continue.
I am proud to be a part of Rotary International and to be an Australian and I ask you all to stand and join me in drinking a toast to Rotary International and Australia.
“To Rotary International and Australia.”
Representing the DG, Michael Moore,
was PDG John Glassford. He replied telling of his fondness for Wollundry Club and his appreciation for all the work it does in both the local and international community, and the role it plays in making sure that things are done in the correct manner at District level. He mentioned that changes were underway, a comment that PP David Pyke and quite a few others saw as encouraging. PDG John also mentioned the huge growth in Rotary in Africa, indicating that some districts had more than trebled their numbers over the past few years. He is searching for the missing feature in western countries and feels it may be the business side, although the urge to help others is as strong here as there.
was PDG John Glassford. He replied telling of his fondness for Wollundry Club and his appreciation for all the work it does in both the local and international community, and the role it plays in making sure that things are done in the correct manner at District level. He mentioned that changes were underway, a comment that PP David Pyke and quite a few others saw as encouraging. PDG John also mentioned the huge growth in Rotary in Africa, indicating that some districts had more than trebled their numbers over the past few years. He is searching for the missing feature in western countries and feels it may be the business side, although the urge to help others is as strong here as there. 
After President James Ross gave a great summary of his year, Pat Ingram came forward to announce the list of donations that the Club had been able to make.Hampered by Covid the Club was able to distribute just $32500, but these funds went to very worthy causes and the community is a better place for them.
PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE CHANGEOVER
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| Guest speaker David Golland with Neil Pinto and James Ross at the time of his induction into our club in October last year. |
The development of a Veterinary course at CSU was the topic of our guest speaker Dr. David Golland.
A driving factor in establishing a course at CSU was the desire to retain graduates in regional areas. This outcome has been achieved with 92% of graduates working in Rural and regional areas.
The project began in 2003 with a detailed report on the development of a Veterinary course. David referenced the influence of Professor Raidal. By the next year an interim curriculum had been devised and the first intake of students, 45 in all, began their studies. 30 of that first group of students went on to graduate in 2010.
The course is of five and a half years duration. Two and a half years is spent on pre-clinical work. The next two years is spent on clinical problem based learning and the final year of external clinical rotations, or placements, in three week lots, in various veterinary clinics.
The bar to enter the course is quite high. An ATAR of 90 is a prerequisite as are other attributes of understanding of animal issues, farming, etc., and good communication skills.
Each year about 400 people apply for the course, of that number the best 160 are interviewed with a final selection of 65. Interviews take place in front of a panel of lecturers who are looking for maturity, commitment and communication skills as well as the academic attributes required for such a testing course. Applicants receive a set of questions and have 30 minutes of reading time prior to the interview. Panel members have a grid for collating points. After all interviews applicants are reranked and the top 65 are offered places.
The aims of the course have been achieved and the course has been a great success in keeping 92% of graduates in Regional areas.
President James thanked David for his informative talk and members showed their appreciation with applause.
David Benn introduced our Guest Speaker today, and had collected a few anecdotes and personal details to set the scene.
Bronwyn Boyle has a business - Lachlan Boyle Consulting, dealing with communication and conflict resolution, today was her birthday and her Dad had died very recently. Despite these events, Bronwyn had soldiered on and was with us today.
First up, we learned that she had been a Rotary Exchange Student, spending a year at Wanaka, in New Zealand's South Island, and very close to Queenstown in 1988. She thanked Rotary for this opportunity, and it was evident that she would have been a logical selection for the exchange, and gained plenty from exposure to the Kiwis.
The talk started with a story about a woman who was not well dressed, in distress and crying, near the entrance to our Base hospital. Bronwyn consoled her, and arranged for social workers to attend.
The security guards were less sympathetic, they found it funny, but days later, the dishevelled woman credited Bronwyn with saving her life.
More stories followed, and it was clear that she was keen to engage in supporting those in emotional crises. She is the Secretary of Riverina Bluebell.
The talk was intense, but the theme emerged - Open up lines of communication, and keep them open. There were observations about gender differences, and recognition that men have fellowship, and that involves interest and care for each other, and trust for mates that allows difficult issues to be explored.
One interesting difference between Men and Women that Bronwyn has observed is that women share and bond with new friends continuously, in new situations as they go through life. Men, on the other hand, will form lasting friendships as young adults, around 18 to 22 years, and these will be "best mates' all of life. Distance and time gaps will not diminish the bond.
Bronwyn impressed with her knowledge of human traits, gender based variations to behaviour and her empathy with a group of males that had recently had to confront a challenge to their behaviour.
Wollundry Rotary year of 2019-2020, President David Pyke
My year was a little unusual as I spent the first month studying new Rotary Innovations in Ireland. I attended a different pub every night looking for a Rotary Club but was unable to coincide the pub visits with Rotary.
Upon my return, Neil Pinto and I were summoned to a meeting with the District Youth officer to reconsider our decision to have a German Youth exchange lady for the first half of 2020, the latter of half of 2019 being in Orange. At our first meeting we were not aware that the District had already made the decision that the Exchange student would not be coming to Wollundry. Through Neil Pinto’s brilliance, instead we got Sofi Seneme, and how lucky that turned out to be.
With the assistance of Katie O’Neill, John Smith ramped up the Saturday markets to the extent where the monthly profits were healthy, that state of play is continuing. This is a great Club event where we get 12 to 14 of our members working together with a smattering of other members joining those rostered for a coffee on the day. We should not underestimate the importance of the Saturday market for fellowship and, of course, making good money.
We had a visit from Lori Steiner, and husband Steve. Lori had been an exchange student at Wollundry in the 80,s and remembered many of the current members including J Gray, Burmo, Michael Knight etc.
My committee for that year was
IPP James Hamilton
Sec and PE James Ross
Treasurer Adrian Whiting
Committee Peter Crozier, Paul Milde, Colin Duff, Frank Fuller, John Hawkins, John Ferguson and Neil Pinto.
There was so much Rotary experience in that mob , one could not go wrong….however I did seem to get up the nose of the District Governor Elect on matters of District finance. We had a good relationship with our District Governor John McKenzie but the Club stance on reduction of District fees saw our Club being suspended from RI for a few months. It is quite extraordinary that a year or two later this matter has now been taken by other Clubs with some resolution likely in the future.
The gears and beers was a fantastic success in October 2019. Under the guidance of Phil McIntosh and a very capable team, the event made over $150K resulting in a total distribution in that year of $144,536, the largest single distribution to Tumbarumba Rotary of $15000 for the bushfire appeal. The gears and beers also distributed $21000 to other Rotary and Service Clubs for their assistance in the event.
The Christmas party was another great success at the home of Adrian and Rachel Whiting
All was travelling well until March 16, 2020 when the Government shut down most of Australia to deal with Covid 19. That meant cancelling the Food & Wine Festival, only two weeks before the event, and our Tuesday meetings became Zooms. They went well and we managed to have our first face to face meeting as the Changeover in June.
A year full of variables for me as President of this great Club.
Sofi gave an account of her year in Wagga Wagga including a power point presentation . She said that in January 2020 on her arrival she felt embarrassed not speaking very good English however, that has changed dramatically and her command of English is excellent. (It is interesting to note that many Wollundrians are very hard to understand at times, especially in the latter parts of events of a social nature)Sofi spent her first period of time with Monique and John Shepard, a time when she first enrolled in Wagga High School. After the Shephard family, she spent an extended period with Monica and Peter Jessop, followed by her final Host family David and Helen Mundy. Sofi experienced a different style of schooling including the essential uniform policy not experienced in Sao Paulo.
Although the Covid 19 struck the world scene not long after Sofi arrived and the interstate Safari and District conferences were cancelled, there were plenty of trips around the country she enjoyed. When we were forced into lockdown in March Wollundry Rotary registered with Zoom and had all our meetings through to the end of June as virtual meetings on Zoom. Sofi joined us from the Wagga High School library on each meeting day and gave us an update on what was happening in her routine. Unfortunately, as was with most of us, there was not much happening outside the school environment.
Sofi did manage to travel to the South Coast and try her hand a surf board riding and achieved that with ease.
Sofi did find the experience of heading off to school on a frosty morning and huge shock. A minus one in Wagga was a far cry from the temperate climate of Sao Paulo. During the Pandemic ABC National news interviewed Sofi about her Rotary Exchange experience and how she was coping with the drama's surrounding that time. As is her confident self, it came over so well.In the latter part of her stay the lockdown eased and Sofi was able to experience more travel and went to Thredbo and walked to the Kosciusko summit, she climbed The Rock which described as being "pretty easy". She walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, strolled around the Opera House and thoroughly enjoyed the Sydney venture. Sofi travelled to Melbourne and met fellow Brazilian Exchange Student Marcella, bringing Marcella back to Wagga via a short camping trip where she described the camping as having "no dunnies", a good Aussie experience.
One of the highlights of her schooling at wagga High was attending the year 10 formal.
Sofi thanked all her Host families and the Wollundry Rotarians who made her trip so enjoyable.
George Weston, representing the District Governor, presented Sofi a certificate recognising her time on Rotary Exchange in Australia. James Ross followed thanking Sofi for sharing her time with us and gave Sofi a gift as a token of the love and affection we have for Sofi from Wollundry Rotary to remember the Club. James also said we would love to see again in Australia in the future.
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We were fortunate to once again have Dr Grant Bell, the Anglican minister from St John's in Wagga, address our meeting with a Christmas message. Grant was advised by James Hamilton that it should be short and "not too religious" . Grant acceded to that request and delivered an outstanding speech about the similarities between the work of the Church and that of Rotary. Having been a Rotarian at Glen Innes in an early posting, Grant said that he researched the history of Rotary and had a substantial knowledge of Paul Harris. The message was for each of us to work out what the spirit of Christmas meant. It meant different things to different people but, as Jesus said " it is more blessed to give than receive" The great difficulty for Grant was to work out what we give to friends and family who seem to have everything. If this is confusing then you can buy Dad another shirt as you did last year or Mum similar perfume or maybe adopt pragmatic approach buying something for your self, like a lawn mower for your wife, however, Grant's wife did tell him last week that she wanted a Ryobi leaf blower. That sat pretty well with Grant. Grant enjoyed the fellowship of Rotary but was determined to adopt the philosophy of Rotary as it married in with his Christian belief. He was impressed with the history of Paul Harris who was man of substantial faith. He delivered the very important message from Paul Harris who said " we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that, through his poverty, you might become rich. We need to provide for others and many other core values of giving. | |
