President James was back from "being absent", and opened the meeting with Rotary Grace and the toast. Guests and Visiting Rotarian, DG John Glassford were welcomed, and members back from travels were acknowledged.

Laurie Blowes has returned from his odyssey in the Northern and North Western regions of our island, and confided that during his 16 232km of driving, he had no requirement to operate the windscreen wipers on his vehicle.

 

Exchange Student Irene was called out to the front, bringing a tupperware container of goodies that her mother had sent out to her. She shared them with all at the meeting, and they turned out to be a type of shortbread biscuits with slivers of fruit inside.

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the meeting, David Byfield reported that four members of Wollundry - David Pyke, Rick Priest, Phil McIntosh and himself had attended the awards ceremony for the Riverina, of the Volunteer of the Year. Wollundry Rotary were presented with a certificate acknowledging that we were nominated in the category.

 

 

 

Our guest at Todays meeting - Lisa Thomas was in Wagga Wagga for a training session with the organisation Business Network International. Lisa spoke on the goals of that group, the challenges that it shares with Rotary, and told us that both her parents were Paul Harris Award holders, and had worked for Rotary in the Solomon Islands.,

 

 

 

David Post was inducted as a new member for Wollundry Rotary at our meeting today. He had been introduced and sponsored by David Been. 

 

David and David met through their shared association in Riverina Bluebell, and Rural Outreach counselling, areas that are currently in dire need due to ongoing drought and its social impact.

 

The committees that David will serve on are to be the Drought Relief Cmtee, and the Saturday market Cmtee - after we established that the Sunday Market Cmtee has little need of his expertise. In his remarks, David (Post) thanked his sponsor, acknowledged his family, and told us that he was also a member of the Ulysses Club - he will have more mates than he knew.

 

A record was then set - quickest back to the podium after induction - as the topic sprang back to Drought relief.

 

 

 

DG John Glassford was asked to brief the club members on recent developments in Rotary involvement with drought relief. John told us that the Channel 9 appeal had reached $9.3 million, and that our District (with D 9710??) had been allocated $250 000, subject to successful application. 

DG John is reluctant to proceed with an application unless there is a clear path to distribute the money in an effective and fair manner. He asked for input from our members, and fielded the feedback. Ideas from the meeting entered on existing conduits for assistance, especially the CWA and Rural counselling groups. There was also much discussion about timing - The crisis will hit later in our area with different rainfall patterns and crop seasons.

 

Rotary has a reputation for high efficiency in disaster relief, and no doubt this has played a part in being asked to help. If we pass the money to another group (CWA) who may also receive an allocation from this appeal, are we saying that it is all too hard?

 

President James commented on current assistance from State and Federal Government, including 20 new farmgate counsellors, an information session "Overcoming Adversity and Managing Mental Health" to be held at the WWCC meeting room on Friday 7th Sept. 9.00am to Midday.

 

David Benn  was quick to tell us that we had special expertise in our club now, with David Post's involvement in Rural Outreach Counselling. A mere ten minutes after induction, David was hauled out to offer his experience on the attitudes and emotions of drought relief recipients.

Respect for the dignity of families was the focus. Food hampers distributed from Sydney had caused embarrassment within a community, but travel to drought areas, spending money within the community - helping businesses and debt relief were valuable and appreciated.

 

David Post made the point that Suicide rates were enormous, and that worse was to come - the hot and dry summer ahead will create additional crisis for people on the land and the support community trying to help. The feedback he is getting is that few farmers will plant crops this year - Weather forecasts are not good.

 

Another subject that came up related to weed infestations caused by moving hay to drought areas, introducing new weeds. This is a dilemma, but in the short term, the hay is very welcome.

 

Frank Fuller had little time for a Sergeant Session, but he understands one basic truth - that the fines are a commentary on human frailties. 

A DG in an All Blacks shirt, A returning Club President that needs retraining like cops after lunch, Seven Davids in the club, a nut and a washer so far - wheres the bolt.

All over very quickly.

 

Coolamon Rotary are very supportive, and man many of the checkpoints on the longer rides for Gears and Beers. They have indicated that there will be some "heavy" agricultural equipment alongside the road to show visiting cyclists from the "smoke" how things are done in the bush. 

This 150 tonne grain mother bin is made in Coolamon, and may feature along the route of the rides that go that far.