Rotary Club of Gloucester

AGM Report

ATTENDEES PRESENT :

Ernie & Sharee Abeysekera, Valda Barron, Brian Beesley, Terry Carson, Vicki Collett, Jane Deen, Jim De Silva, Sam de Witte, Brian Dixon, Lindy Dupree, John Faull, Paul Hedditch, Grahame Holstein, Peter Markey, Karen Miles, John Read, Grahame Stelzer

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS AGM HELD 08 DECEMBER 2015 ARE ACCEPTED

(Moved Paul Hedditch, John Faull seconded – CARRIED)

 

 

2. Financial report – audited report for the financial year ending 30 June 2015 adopted

 

3. Constitution & By Laws 2016 be adopted as circulated and recommended by Rotarian Ray Martin on a previous evening – no changes required – Ray Martin to sign and sign off.

 

PRESIDENT ELECT SAM DE WITTE advised his new board members

President elect & VP: SAM DE WITTE                             Secretary: BRIAN DIXON

Treasurer: ERNIE ABEYSEKERA                                     Immediate Past Pres: ASHLEIGH HICKMAN

Club Service: GRAHAME STELZER                                 Youth: JIM DE SILVA

International: PETER MARKEY                                       Community: PAUL HEDDITCH

Club Bulletin: LI MENG WONG                                       Vocation: VALDA BARRON

Public Officer: RAY MARTIN

 

President Ashleigh covered lots of events including our successful BBQ events this past 6 months.

Sadly we lost Rotarian Bill Radford.

Don McLeod’s family was presented with a District Certificate of Service which was held on 15th November in conjunction with the DG’s visit.

Paul Hedditch reported on “Women in Dairy” function. It was a  great success with a donation of $200 given to Rotary Gloucester

Lots of discussion about Gloucester becoming a motor bike friendly town. Brian Beesley informed us that progress is being made especially since Wauchope has announced that it is a bike friendly town with Walcha to follow

Further discussions from the floor about suitable dump sites in Gloucester. New Dump Station suggestion caused much discussion leading to the result that Secretary Lindy Dupree and President Ashleigh Hickman will seek council advice. Possibly write letters to Mid Coast Council. Also Rotarian John Faull will seek out Motor Home Australia to see what they can do to assist in this venture.

A general discussion took place regarding the need of attention toilet at Carsons Lookout. Resolved that Secretary Lindy and President Ashleigh will approach the council to see who is the best person to contact and has there been any action since the visit to council in July 2016.

Unfortunately, the Grant application that John Read had applied for was not successful so now there are no grants pending. John has also submitted to the Australia Day Committee the Exercise Trail as a project in that category.

Peter Markey talked about the need for Rotary Gloucester to engage in some smaller projects with emphasis on our town and what we could do to encourage potential new members to participate. Brian Beesley is keen for the Board to consider some project partnerships that he would like to present to the board.

President Sharee Abeysekera Report:

Where has the year gone? It has been a pleasure and humbling experience being President of Gloucester Rotary. Thank you everyone for your part in the success of this year.

Working with Maurie Stack, our District Governor, Bruce Moy, ADG and the Presidents in our Cluster, has opened my eyes to the broader Rotary and what an incredible organisation we are part of.

I am excited to share the success of our major project this year – to complete Rotary’s commitment to the Exercise Trail in Gloucester Park. A project birthed by Ray Martin, with the first exercise station installed last year by Brian Beesley. With John Read’s expertise in Grant application, we installed the second station in August and the third station will be delivered before the end of this month and installed soon after. I had hoped to see it installed before the end of June, there are only 2 days left, no pressure.

We continued the support of our annual fund raising and community events and thank you to the organisers and everyone who supported them. Another successful ‘Bush Poetry in the Sale Yards‘ co-ordinated by Grahame Stelzer. ‘Opera in the Church‘, 2 nights of bringing culture to Gloucester, thank you to Brian and Sue Dixon for your dedication and organisation. With perfect weather and the support of many, a very successful ‘Motor Cycle Expo‘ was organised by Sam De Witte. Brian Beesley and Peter Markey arranged the ‘Easter Sunday Duck Races’. The ‘Golf Ambrose Day’ to support Operation Cleft under Valda’s watchful eye was again a success.

Thank you Brian Beesley for your mentoring and encouragement. Gloucester Rotarians thank you for the opportunity of being your President and for your and your Partners support.

The special people I would like to thank for making this year a rewarding time and flow efficiently are the 2015-2016 leadership team. I have enjoyed working with you and appreciate your dedication and input. Peter Market for keeping us entertained each week with an interesting Club program and as Sergeant of arms not missing an opportunity to creatively extract funds and supply 50 kilo of sweets from Gloucester Health Foods. Paul Hedditch bravely co-ordinated our community service for the first time, he enjoyed it so much he is coming back next year. Valda Barron has been passionate in her role as International Service and thank you for encouraging ideas. Our Grant’s Man, come Vocational Service, John Read. Thank you for many hours of research and completing Grant applications, the results are a credit. Same De Witte’s love of Youth is evident in his role encouraging our schools and students to participate in the youth programs. Vicki Collett accepted a hugh role as Treasurer for the first time, thank you for keeping everything balanced and continuing next year. Thank you to Ray Martin for supporting me and the Club these past few months as Secretary and assisting Vicki as Treasurer.

We sadly said goodbye to our dear friend, Don McLeod at the end of April this year. His knowledge of Rotary and support for me was invaluable. Don worked tirelessly, contributing many hours to community groups and business groups alike.

Others I would like to mention and thank: We have been kept up to date each week with the Bulletin, a big Thank you to Li Meng Wong. Li has also revived our Webpage and Facebook. Each week, Simone and Jenny from Ray Martin’s office have been taking phone calls and emails to advise the Restaurant our numbers, thank you for your time and patience with us. Thank you to the Bowling Club and Restaurant for feeding and looking after us each week. I’d like to thank my husband Ernie for his support and understanding this year. Thank you Ashleigh for being our incoming president. I wish you and your team all the best for the year ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(To read the reports from all the other Board Members, please go to the Bulletin Section – Bulletin Sharee)

Gloucester Rotary President’s Changeover Dinner

Gloucester Rotary Club held their Changeover on Tuesday 28th July. The theme for the event is Black & White with a splash of colour. Eighty people attended the event at the Gloucester Bowling Club , which was decked out in the black and white theme, including the guests! The guests were entertained with the beautiful voices of the Gloucester High School singers. They performed some of the pieces they will be singing on their European trip. It was a fantastic performance and these singers were obviously enjoying what they are doing.

Congratulations to Rotarian John Read for receiving a Paul Harris Award. A worthy recipient!

Thank you to the other clubs who traveled the distance to help make this a great night!

(Notes By Valda Barron, Pictures Provided by Valda & Peter Markey)

There was a great turnout on the “Meet The Candidate” night event held on Thursday 16th June at the Senior Citizens Centre.

It was a very informative night from 4 of our Candidates.  Dr David Gillespie(NP), Peter Alley(ALP), Julie Lyford(G) & Brad Christensen(I).

Gloucester appreciated Rotary hosting the night and praised the organisation.

Thank you Brian for keeping everyone to their time and moving through the question time as quickly as possible with the roving mic.

A big thank you to Heather Beesley for organising the supper and everyone who provided a plate (or two).

Thank you Ashleigh for suggesting we host the event.