President Report Ashleigh Hickman
Firstly it is a privilege to be the President of a great Rotary Club and my job is made easier by the board that are all so willing and able to come up with the ideas and follow it all through.
My report for the year just gone is full of memories of great fund raising events, great Rotary meetings with guest speakers & fellowship.
I would like to give a huge thank you to the board for their support and willingness to step up to the plate when needed. Lindy Dupree my secretary it was her first time on the board so thank you. Treasurer Vicki, Grahame Stelzer organised some great speakers and we had fun. President Elect Sam took on the Youth portfolio when Geoff Slack moved to Port Macquarie and Valda Barron Vocation when Jim DeSilva resigned off the board to care for Susie.
Sadly we had to say good bye to our mate and friend Bill Radford who died of prostate cancer last October. Pat enjoys receiving the weekly bulletin.
John Read the Grants Man also came to board meetings to keep us and the club up to date with his grants and obtaining $5000 from Stratford Coal was a great assist to our exercise trail in the park for station no 4 to be used for disabled or rehabilitation purposes. This station is a work in progress but getting closer to laying the concrete and soft fall area.
Another project that continues is the RV Dump Site it has progressed to where it will be but no soil has been turned. Mid Coast Council are very helpful.
The toilet at Carsons Lookout on Thunderbolts Way needs updating and is on the radar for replacement. Unfortunately these 2 projects will continue into the next year.
New Zealand Matched exchange once again we supported and had 2 students go to NZ and then the NZ girls come to Gloucester. Also Jessica Moore and Molly …….NZ is in NZ at this time.
Valda Barron, Vicki Collett and I attend the High School each Tuesday to assist students with reading and comprehension.
We have supported the local schools by donating a book for ANZAC Day, having a fundraiser dinner.
As a community service suggested by RI President John Germ that the last week in March as world community service project we collected “Soles for Souls” This project involved the whole club and the Schools and the town. Hundreds of pairs of shoes were delivered to Imelda’s shoes [thank you Megan & Kalindy] Then we had a working bee on my veranda and packed the shoes for a trip to Newcastle and then onto Africa. It was a great way to relive old good shoes and help other people.
We had a visit from the District Governor Ian Jackson & Barbara it was a very happy evening and we are pleased to welcome them to our town.
Exchange student to France Mia Bowden returned from her year away after experiencing a wonderful time. Her French language skills are excellent.
Brian Beesley & Heather held a farewell party for Geoff & Lynn Slack who have moved to Port Macquarie.
This year celebrates the Rotary Foundation Centenary and our club supported the District 9650 project of clean water to schools and western toilets in India District 3090. There were no toilets for girls so they do not attend school once they reach 12 or 13. But now western toilets have been installed to many Schools.
It sounds like we are working all the time but we do have fun. Terry Carson opens his property “Moppy” so we can have a social picnic event. thanks Terry & Jillian.
Rotarian Li Meng Wong has delivered a weekly bulletin full of information about our events and guest speakers. The photos also tell a story. Thank you Li.
I will be taking on a District job as Interplast District Chair with Valda as my assistant.
I wish Sam & his board the very best for the following year and may we continue to be a vibrant Rotary club.
Youth Director Report PP Sam deWitte
Our exceptional long term exchange student Mia Bowden has returned from her twelve months in Tours France. Mia was very diligent in keeping our club and district informed of her great year, Through compressive stories in the Yepper Newsletter.
Our club also is very happy to have another student Ayleigh Tull apply for long term exchange.
Ayleigh has attended her interview in Walcha and was been accepted, Ayleigh will spend her year in Italy, her 2nd choice.
Jessica Moore from Gloucester and Mollie de Brok from New Zealand are half way through their matched New Zealand/Australian exchange program.
These two girls have been a great assest to the program. Both very willing with all sorts of rotary projects.
Yours in Rotary
Sam de Witte (filling in for Jim De Silva)
Community Service Director Report Paul Hedditch
The Rotary Club of Gloucester provides a great service to our local community by catering for functions as fundraisers and others as community service. All the funds raised at these events is donated back to the community of Gloucester. The year started with a successful BBQ at the Farmers Market in July last year. This was very well supported by members as were all our functions during the year. Other Community and Rotary functions catered for during the year include:
*July 23rd 2016 Chill Out
*August 12th 2016 saw us provide the BBQ for the Love Bites seminar at the High School
*December,January,April BBQ at Farmers’ Markets These are not big profit earners for the club but are a necessary part of our community activities.
* March 29th High School Science Day BBQ
* April 16th 2017 Duck Races BBQ
* April 23rd April Wedding Brunch for Nina Marland
* 6th May 2017 Motorcycle Expo Catering
* Love Bites Seminar May 4th 2017 BBQ for students
* Neighbourhood Centre Open Day BBQ 13th May 2017
* Clearing Sale BBQs at Rotary Hill and Pierces
* Myra Field Day Catering
2nd June for Local Land Services
Thanks to all members who were very generous with their time and energy to staff our community activities.
International Service Director Report PP Pete Markey.
During the last year Gloucester Rotary has been a passive supporter of Rotary International through project support and fundraising. While this may seem as though we have not been contributing to the efforts of Rotary on a global basis, without our contribution and many others like us, much of this could not have happened.
Our club has contributed to Interplast, Shelter Box, Romac, ARHRF, Polio Plus, Disaster Relief and other Rotary International programs. We have sent 1 student overseas for a long term exchange, and 1 for a short term exchange. In March we hosted Jenny da Rin who spoke about her role as the High Commissioner to Vanuatu.
Our club has taken a huge step by supporting Rotary International this year by contributing to the Centurian Program. This means every member contributes $100 (US) towards the great work of RI.
I will be continuing my role as International Service Director next year and look forward to organising events such as Interplast dinners or Foundation day celebrations. The support of club members and our Rotary friends is much appreciated and makes this role very rewarding.
Treasurers Report – Vicki Collett
During the year we have donated $2,975 to our local schools, $1440 to the School of St Jude in Tanzania, $300 to the Gloucester Sports Council, $3000 to the Rotary Benevolent Society, $232 to BWNG Hat Day, $613 to Gloucester Working Dogs, $150 to Gloucester Men’s Shed, $200 to Cystic Fibrosis, $750 to Australian Rotary Health and $1350 to Rotary District 9650 Indian Appeal.
The Donations organised by President Ashleigh at the end of her year total $31,000 and include $1000 to Gloucester Men’s Shed, $2000 to Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group, $2000 to Gloucester Prostate Cancer Support Group, $1000 to Buckett’s Radio, $200 to Gloucester Charities, $2000 to Brain Cancer Research, $2000 to Gloucester Westpac Helicopter Fund, $5000 Mid Coast Council towards the RV dump site project in the park. $5000 to Rotary Foundation, $2000 to Shelter Box, $3000 to Australian Rotary Health, Recognising 3 individuals that have excelled. $3000 to Interplast and $3000 to ROMAC.
This year the club has purchased a dedicated computer for the Treasurer to use for the accounts. During this year we have gradually transferred all of our money from the Commonwealth Bank to the Holiday Coast Credit Union because they give community grants, have better interest rates and allows us to pay some of our accounts by Direct Debit with ease and without using a fee based account
Secretary Report Lindy Dupree
It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with you this year, I have really enjoyed learning about Rotary and the amazing work done. In no small measure is the contribution that our small club of Gloucester is able to provide each year, it says a lot about the dedication of many of its members to see completion of projects at hand, and with your tireless work making sure all the boxes are ticked.
All the files, correspondence and agendas/minutes for our meetings are up to date, and the folder that I inherited from Don has been reorganised so that incoming Secretary Brian will be able to easily find his way around the folder.
He will have to attend to the renewal of the Gloucester Rotary Domain name which is due to expire on 15 July. I can provide all the passwords necessary for him to renew the domain. This is the only outstanding matter.
Once again Ash, thank you for asking me to be your secretary this year and for your patience during my learning period, it has been a great opportunity and I am happy to put my hand up again to work on the Committee should the occasion arise
Warm regards Lindy
Vocational Service Director Report Valda Barron
My term as Vocational Director commenced at the end of January, when Rotary resumed after the Christmas break.
In the last 5 months, Vocational has been involved in the very successful “Souls for Soles” whereby gently worn shoes were donated by the Community, to be sent to Africa. Hundreds of pairs were donated and sent to Adelaide to be then shipped to Africa. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great project.
Three Rotarians (Vicki Coombes, Ashleigh Hickman and myself) are now part of the “Reading team” at the high school.
Dick Smith donated $1 million to Australian Rotary clubs, and it was announced at our District Conference that Gloucester was the first club to be successful in our application for $3000.00.
John Read once again has conducted the “Unsung Hero Awards” recognising those in our community who do amazing work, which so far has gone without recognition.
Club Service Director Report PP Grahame Stelzeer
As our Rotary year, once again, draws to a close it’s a case of reporting on what’s happened and dreaming on what’s going to happen. We have had a scintillating year of happiness and sadness and of fun and frivolity!!!!!!!! We have farewelled a couple of our members to the big cloud in the sky but unfortunately have not welcomed any new ones.
We have welcomed many and varied guest speakers to our weekly meetings and way back in July we commenced with our Club Assembly and a whole lot of good ideas. We also had “Christmas in July” with Dungog Club at the Stroud Public School followed by the B & S Balls Show by Sam and Bees as a presentation of Bees Postie Bike ride from Broome to Perth.
This year was our turn to arrange the Combined Services Clubs Dinner and we held it at the RSL club with a baked dinner and Bingo. Nothing Chinese about that!
Our continued involvement with Special Events, School dinners, Tri Challenge, Melbourne Cup Trifecta, offsite meetings , barbecue catering for all and sundry etc etc keeps us busy. We also had a Special Award Dinner for our late member Don McLeod on the District Governor’s visit. Christmas was held at Faull’s Cellar Door and a very big thanks goes to John and Debbie. What a great night that was.
Terry and Jill Carson, once again, allowed us to have a great social day at “their special retreat” at Moppy and a big thanks also goes to them. Bush Poetry continues to draw crowds to the Saleyards and was successful; once again, along with the many fundraising projects we have throughout the year.
We have had a number of “Born in Gloucester” true locals speak to us about the good old days also visited Nowendoc and Krambach and Paul Hedditch organised his sister-in-law who is The Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu to visit us and of course be our Guest speaker on a very special evening. Jenny, as she is now known to Gloucester Rotarians spoke very well about her new job and had the looks and presentation to go with it.
To sum up, our President Ash led out in front and a very successful year overall was enjoyed by our members.