Rotary Club of Gloucester

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 2^nd 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 12^th 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 29^th High School Science Day BBQ

* April 16th 2017 Duck Races BBQ

* April 23^rd April Wedding Brunch  for Nina Marland

* 6^th May 2017 Motorcycle Expo Catering

* Love Bites Seminar May 4^th 2017 BBQ for students

* Neighbourhood Centre Open Day BBQ 13^th May 2017

* Clearing Sale BBQs at Rotary Hill and Pierces

* Myra Field Day Catering

2^nd 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.

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On Tuesday 20th June, the Rotary Club celebrated the 2016-2017 ‘Unsung Hero’ Community Service Award. Four nominations were submitted. The judges had a very difficult time in selecting the winner of this award as all 4 nominees have made a significant contribution to the community. The winner of this year’s ‘Unsung Hero’ Award goes to Kerry Sansom. Kerry has chosen the Westpac Helicopter as her charity of choice.

 

Kerry Sansom was nominated by her daughter, Sally Andrews.

Kerry Sansom has lived in the Gloucester district her entire life. Over those years she has been a member of several volunteer organisations. Kerry currently is an active volunteer in the Rural Fire Service, St Paul’s Anglicare Church, Legacy and the Gloucester Art Gallery. A member since 1978, Kerry has held several positions within the Rural Fire Service. As a member of the Gangat Brigade as well as the Catering Brigade, she has volunteered many hours preparing high quality meals to firefighters out on the fire front. Kerry has always been involved with the St Pauls Anglicare Church. Her various roles have rotated throughout the years including a member of the parish council, church pick-ups, op shop volunteer, treasurer of Friends of St Pauls, 15 catering for various events, church warden, mainly music helper and ‘Chit Chat’ organiser. Once a month, Kerry volunteers at the Gloucester Art Gallery. She enjoys a coffee from June’s Place as she greets the locals and travellers that call in to view the exhibitions on display. As a Legatee for approximately 15 years, Kerry visits several legacy widow to see who they are getting on and helps in any way she can.

 

Leslie Potter is nominated by Peter Hazell (Gloucester PROBUS Club)

  

Les Potter is a household name in Gloucester. He is well read, well respected, and brings with him mammoth storehouse of information on almost anything! Just ask him any question of interest, in the varied fields of geography, history, business, financial, politics, religion, even cars, planes and all things with engines, he will be able to reach into his mind’s computer, and retrieve many gigabytes of information.

In his 44 years in Gloucester, Les has been associated with Gloucester High School, the Anglican Church and its Men’s Club, the Lions Club and its Youth Exchange Programme, Masonic Lodge, Aero Club, Junior Rugby League, and Gloucester Probus Club.

Les arrived in Gloucester in 1973 as the High School’s Social Science Master and spent the next 18 years in that role. His special and personal association with students brought out the best in them, and to this day many of these students come back to seek him out and discuss issues of interest. During his high school time he established the first student driver training scheme in Gloucester with General Motors Holden and Grahames Garage support and voluntary teacher drivers.

He spent 20 years in Gloucester Lions Clubs in all senior roles including president, secretary and treasurer. He has hosted six overseas students on Lions Youth Exchange, including three Japanese, two New Zealanders and one Canadian.

Les has a deep faith, and has a 44 years association with Gloucester Anglican Church, has been its treasurer, and for many years was president of the Anglican Church Men’s Dinner Group.

He has a 60 year membership of the Masonic Lodge.

Les has had an unrestricted pilot’s license, and had been a president and treasurer of Gloucester Aero Club over a 20 years period.

He is a respected foundation member and a continuing member of Gloucester Probes Club over the past 18 years.

Michael Bowman is nominated by Diana Rosenbaum (Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group)

 Since opening his business Bucketts Building Services, Michael Bowman has at his own expenses, filled a fridge with cold drinks and when customers and trade persons ask to purchase a drink, he asks them to put a donation in a tin on his counter to support our group. The Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group supporting all women with cancer. He also has a small vegetable garden and asks for a donation for the produce, again donating the money to the group. His next project is to purchase some firewood and donate the profits to our group.

Michael Bowman is a worthy recipient of this aware as he has generously donated thousands of dollars to the Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group to enable us, with the generosity of the Service Clubs and other groups, to continue to support women suffering from cancer and their families both financially and emotionally.

Barbara Read nominated by Lorna Tomkinson

 Since arriving in Gloucester in 2003, Barbara has been one of the quiet workers. As husband John is legally blind, Barbara drives him to wherever he needs to be. So not only does she ensure his social and emotional wellbeing but puts into the community that she loves as well.

Before Barbara and John came to Gloucester, Barbara’s path was set as one of volunteering. She had been a Brownie Leader for 3 years, a Scout Leader for 10 years and a Venturer for five years with the 3rd Pennant Hills Scout Group. After arriving here, she threw herself into community life joining the Gangat Rural Fire Brigade, CWA and the Gloucester Garden Club.

She has held the Gangat secretary position since May 2004.

She was the Environment Officer for CWA for three years and was also responsible for collecting articles and making up “Mother & Baby” Packs for Papua New Guinea for about 5 years until State Office discontinued the project.

With the Garden Club she was secretary then assistant secretary for several days.

In 2004 Barbara was part of a Rotary RAWCS project in the Solomon Islands, volunteering and assisting people less fortunate that herself and putting something into a country where it was needed.

Also in 2004 Barbara joined Gloucester Patchwork Group where she has held the position of Secretary on and off during the last 13 years – she is still the current Secretary.

2005 saw Barbara join the Quota Club of Gloucester, always an active member she has been on the board for several periods during the past 12 years and is currently the Publicity Officer, a position she has held for the last 3 years.

The Gloucester Show always needs assistance in the kitchen and Barbara stepped up that task for many years on show day. Not only that, she has been and is a Steward for the Handicraft section of the show since 2009.

For three years from 2009, Barbara was Membership Registrar for the fledgling Gloucester District U3A, yet another voluntary position in a voluntary organisation that Barbara took on with enthusiasm; the organisation is now a strong and vibrant part of community life and activity.

Barbara has always loved her garden and her patchwork – she makes quilts for people who have been affected by loss of loved ones, or loss of possessions due to bush fires and floods. She also makes quilts for various Charities and hospitals as fund raising opportunities.

On a personal level, Barbara she made me a beautiful quilt out of the ties of my husband Garth. It was an emotional process to pass the ties over to Barbara that took 10 years. Every three or four years she would give a gently reminder that she could do it for me.

What she has produced is so special beyond words. Surely she is an unsung hero worthy of recognition.

(Email and pictures from Rotarian Keith Innes, Port Macquarie Rotary Club)

Steve Roberts is taking a team to Tanna toward the end of April to make repairs to Lousala school and is still looking for volunteers.

RAWCS TEAM VISIT TO TANNA ISLAND, VANUATU

This is a guide as to what needs to be considered by Team Leaders and Volunteers undertaking project work on behalf of Rotary, for the Ministry of Education on Tanna Island, Vanuatu

All volunteers require a Working With Children clearance.

TEAM LEADER

Apprentice Other groups have found that an apprentice can benefit a great deal from the learning and experience of joining a team on Tanna. Can your club raise the funds to recruit an apprentice locally?

As soon as you receive the email indicating that the team is registered add your team members and encourage them to complete their paperwork asap.

It is also important that each team member deposit the cost of the trip through the RAWCS website so that tickets can be finalised and accommodation paid for.  This will avoid the risk of non-access to cash, fluctuating exchange rates.

Contacts: The Team leader should contact the Rotary Club of Port Vila – President Roland Mortimer tel: +6787718983 roland@vanuatu.com.vu; portvila.rotary@gmail.com to advise the local club that the group expects to be on Tanna.

Other contacts: President Elect Naomi Sailas; Naomi.S@nbv.vu; and Member Chris Kerno (NFD).

The Rotary Club of Port Vila has good contacts at the local newspaper. The Club can be contacted with through Facebook.

Government agencies with whom we deal are Ministry of Education – office and schools on Tanna, and T-VETS (Local equivalent of TAFE) Director Joe Lautim.

 

TRANSPORT

• AIR: Air Vanuatu often change the scheduled departure times of inter-island flights.  Because there are some areas around Port Vila where the internet is not available, it is highly recommended that team leaders ring Air Vanuatu to check that the flight they have booked for has not been changed.  Their Port Vila telephone number is 23838.  They are only open during office hours and there is a long waiting time before a customer services officer responds which uses up a lot of “telephone credit”.
• Transport needs have to be considered re airport pickup/drop off/to and from project and while on site.
• VEHICLE: RAWCS has access to a vehicle, a Nissan Navara, located at White Grass Resort.  Because of poor road conditions and the fact that vehicles are left hand drive, it is recommended that volunteers who are not familiar with “island driving” engage a local to drive for them. Contact is Wayne at White Grass Resort admin@whitegrasstanna.com

LOGISTICS:

• Power requirements:  Vanuatu Power is 240v and power points are three pin plugs as used in Australia.
• RAWCS District 9650 will assess logistics requirements and order a list of materials to be shipped to Tanna.  Port Vila-based Vila Distribution Hardware, Wayne Lance (Manager) (Mob +6785552804, Tel +678 22069) (e-mail hardware@viladistribution.com site www.hardware@viladistribution.com) will facilitate the supply and movement of materials from Port Vila to Tanna.
• The Availability Of Technical Plans And Specifications – info as provided by respective ministries and/or architectural surveys conducted by Karen Burke.
• Ministry of Education personnel, i.e, principals, parents of the schools to be repaired will arrange for the material to be picked up at the wharf, delivered to and secured at the school(s).

 AVAILABLE LABOUR:

Depending on the composition of their team, Team Leaders should consider speaking to the Project Leader Steve Roberts 0475 516 090 about provision of TAFE-level tradesmen (T-VETS) to help with technical assistance at the schools whilst drawing on volunteer labour for security of materials and production of basic items, e.g., bricks, cement, foundations etc… Local labour, through T-VETS should be able to handle the repairs to/replacement of upper building structures.

• If needed the Project manager can also arrange for assistance of a local contractor, Tom Kaltoi, who manages INTK Construction (+678 7331695).

Below are some of the pictures which will reinforce the damage done to buildings over there.

On Wednesday 29th March, students from Dungog and Bulahdeh High School travelled to Gloucester High School to compete in the 2017 STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) program. Students from these 3 schools were divided into 2 Groups, Group A and Group B. The two groups were then subdivided into teams of 3 to 4 students. There were 4 challenges to complete in under 1.5 hours.

1. A Bionic Hand using Straws and strings to attach to a wrist mount provided.

2. A Minipult using sticks and rubber bands. Scores will be awarded for accuracy and longest distance.

3. A balloon powered Car using styrofoam trays, wheels, axles and other limited materials.

4. A Glider. Scores awarded for longest distance travelled.

 

Using their creativity skills, these students worked together as a team and had fun along the way.

A big thank you to Midcoast Science and Engineering Challenge, Newcastle University, Stratford Coal for providing the volunteers, support and funding for the students. A big thank you to John Walton, president of Dungog Rotary Club for organising this event and also to Gloucester and Dungog Rotarians for helping out with the supervision and for feeding the hungry students.

 

 

Letter Of Appreciation from Ms Victoria Saunders

 

To whom it may concern,

I’d like to thank you for all the support you have provided me through my studies and for my involved in the Pozieres trip in 2016. It was honestly an extraordinary experience. I hope you all received my thanks and saw the photos I asked my sponsor to pass through to you all. As it is the New Year I thought I’d reflect on the support those that have offered to me and show my gratitude.

 

 

 

In the beginning I held no reservations and knew this would be a tour I’d remember, I didn’t understand I would carry those emotions and lessons knowing I want to help others know. I want the next generation to understand it’s significance and I thank Legacy Australia for this journey.

 

 

I’d like to share with you all now a powerful diary entry from my trip and hope you all understand the learning, and emotions this journey allowed me to experience

‘To me, Bullecourt was where all the greats were – the most iconic battle due to the introduction of tanks and many other tactics that were being newly utilised at the time. I did read the ending to this battle, but they were just words on the paper. They couldn’t express the experience of truly being there. I was giddy, of sorts, to see this place where Jacka had been at his peak in the battle. I knew of his heroism, yet most historians will not highly praise his presence in this location enough. Upon arriving, the weather was cold. It was raining as seen in most cliché movies. The words soon become a reality when you see this battleground. It was another wave of emotions for me, I prided myself in knowing so much about this battle and how many soldiers had lost their lives and what was done strategically. I was in over my head, our tour guide, infused with the rain, forced me to make those words a reality. I couldn’t hold my emotions for long and I mourned for those I didn’t know, which I didn’t think could happen as the ground we stood on unfolded the story of great defeat.’

I have enclosed some photos of my trip, to help you all visualize where your support went. I saw so many things that I am eternally grateful for. Thank you all so much and I am sending you all my well wishes in the New Year. Once again so sorry for how late this is, for I thought it was all sent through with my other correspondents.

Kind Regards, Victoria Saunders