Our Youth Exchange Students and School Bursaries
Youth Exchange: Long Term Reece Hargreaves.
Reece is the club’s sponsored exchange student in 2020 and will be hosted by the RC of Turku in SW Finland. He is the 2nd son of Jill and Peter of Limestone and has 4 siblings. Reece delivered his presentation in Finnish accompanied by powerpoint slides which provided information on his family, home, interests and school. He has made contact with his first host family and is very excited about his exchange experience.
Short term Exchange: Lulu Moon
Lulu will be spending 6 weeks in Cologne Germany in Dec/January. She is very much looking forward to a cold 
Christmas, enhancing her language skills, meeting new people and becoming more independent.
Christmas, enhancing her language skills, meeting new people and becoming more independent.Johnny and Grace Hamilton are also participating in the Short term Exchange program and will be hosted in Germany and Italy respectively. Johnny and Grace were unable to attend the meeting but they will visit the club on their return.
Louis (France), Reece (Finland), Lulu (Germany) & Pres. Sue
Guest Speaker: Michael Trembath
Michael firstly thanked the clu
b for the opportunity to speak to the members-he and Elizabeth were asked by Russell Hogg to share their journey in Italian wine importation and distribution.
b for the opportunity to speak to the members-he and Elizabeth were asked by Russell Hogg to share their journey in Italian wine importation and distribution.Michael studied science at Melbourne Uni and eventually secured a job in wine marketing– due to his impeccable hand writing necessary for invoices and accounts! At 24 years of age he was asked to represent the company at a conference in Florence and in all stayed in Italy for 2 and a half years developing his skills in the business. He bought into the business and moved to Milan exporting wines to 22 English speaking countries. In 1994 Trembath & Taylor was establis
hed and now has 82 Italian wineries on their books with 450 wines available. Michael described the Italian wine industry as ‘dynamic’ with 48,000 wineries listed (Cf 2,700 in Australia). Many of these are family owned with no cellar door.
hed and now has 82 Italian wineries on their books with 450 wines available. Michael described the Italian wine industry as ‘dynamic’ with 48,000 wineries listed (Cf 2,700 in Australia). Many of these are family owned with no cellar door.Michael and Elizabeth have also branched out into cultural tours of Italy, offering highly specialised and personal tours of wine producing areas in Tuscany and Piedmont.
After a number of questions, particularly around storage and transport of the wine to Australia, Michael and Elizabeth (also a chocolate maker) were thanked by Russell Hogg.
Guest Speaker: Sam Cusumano Senior Lecturer in Sports Law at Deakin Uni.
Sam gave a most interesting and informative address about his pathway from private law practice to lecturing in Sports Law at Deakin combining his teaching with voluntary participation of a number of AFL Appeals Boards and Tribunals. Sam emphasised that Sports Tribunals are ‘Domestic or private’ bodies and operate in an inquisitorial manner rather than an adversarial one. Courts won’t interfere or get involved in a Sports tribunal unless the tribunal exceeds its powers or wrongly interprets its powers. Natural justice must prevail and the Tribunal must afford fairness to the players.Sam referred to a number of case studies and the recent trade period in the AFL describing how contractual matters may play out when a player wishes to move clubs whilst still a contracted player.
Sam concluded his presentation by revealing that despite being a ‘Mad Pies’ supporter he can’t watch them play (even on the TV) as he tends to put the ‘mozz ‘ them!
Sam answered a range of questions from the members and was then thanked by Gary Fitzgerald.
Club Assembly
President Sue welcomed 
everyone to Club Assembly with a special welcome to daughter Jess and grandson Logan.
everyone to Club Assembly with a special welcome to daughter Jess and grandson Logan.Sue’s announcements: Thank you to Bobby for a great night last week $810 raised for Polio Plus. The coin toss also raised $126 for Lift the Lid research
BBQ raised another $260 – thank you to members and Yea HS students .
Secretary: David Anderson
· Kathy Mills (RC of Seymour) seeking donations of second hand musical instruments for students in drought affected areas. Donations accepted by Bobby D or Terry.
· Phil Clancy D9790 Resolutions Chair seeking notification from clubs in regard to any proposed amendments to the District By Laws. Proposals must be received by 30/11/19.
The fifth Thursday - A social evening.
President Sue welcomed everyone—members, partners and the family of Rotary, with over 50 in attendance for Bobby’s $7 meal challenge with proceeds going to Foundation. John Sinclair unfortunately suffered a mishap when guiding a semi trailer to a ramp on the farm. He was too slow to remove his hand and as a result his thumb was crushed. John was operated on at St Vincent’s Private and is now recovering with his thumb and hand heavily bandaged and his arm in a sling. John has been ordered to rest for the next month!
Chef Bobby
Guest Speaker: PDG & D9790 Foundation Chair Richard Luke
Richard commenced with a quick summary of the current polio situation—16 wild polio cases recorded in Pakistan and 72 in
Afghanistan. Rotary’s goal is to raise $50 million this year which will be matched with $100 million by Bill and Melinda Gates. Richard stated that Rotarians can raise the desired $50 million and through a number of scenarios he challenged us to consider how to publicise the End Polio program, how to convince non Rotarians to contribute financially and explain why it is a problem that needs eradicating.Richard provided an example of a polio patient in Australia experiencing post polio syndrome and resultant difficulties accessing support via the NDIS — suggesting this may be an opportunity for clubs to assist polio sufferers in our own communities.
After a number of questions Richard and Lorna were thanked by Foundation Chair David Anderson. David emphasized that Rotary International ‘Will never give up’ its Global Polio Eradication initiative. Over the past 30 years, the incidence of polio has been reduced by 99.9% and we will end polio forever only if we remain steadfast and vigilant.
Guest Speaker: Sonja Herges Sedona Estate Winery
Sonja thanked Terry Hubbard and the club for the invitation to speak about the genesis and growth of their winery in Murrindindi.. Sonja grew up in the Mosel area of Germany from a wine making family (most agricultural practices had a small winery) and she and Paul became ‘accidental’ wine makers. When returning from the US in 1995, Paul, a trained pilot, was unable to secure regular employment and Sonja suffered terrible homesickness. After a few years working at well known Yarra Valley wineries Paul found his true calling as a wine maker and a decision was taken to ‘get their hands dirty and put their roots down’. After a long search they settled on a 52 acre property in Murrindindi. The aspect and climate enabled their vision to flourish and they now produce fine cool-climate wines that are regionally distinctive.The cellar door was opened in 2012 and Sonja works very hard to promote and market their product –ensuring that when people see the Sedona Estate signs they associate that with a distinctive product. Sonja also played 2 videos that beautifully showcased their property. They are always inspired to make better wines and more reserve style wines—with a great chef and staff they continually strive to showcase the local produce which complements their outstanding wines.
After a number of questions, Sonja was thanked by Val for her presentation and acknowledged for the support that she and Paul provide in the local community (eg Garden Expo).
Guest Speaker: Bruce Elliott
Bruce gave a very personal account of his battle to overcome an addiction to painkillers as a result of a painful knee some years ago and is to be commended for his willingness to talk so openly of his battle to be rid of his body’s dependence on drugs.
Bruce started by stating that he has been married for 37 years, has 3 kids and 5.8 grandchildren.
Bruce said he had back issues from years of playing sport but his real problems started when he had a sore knee 4 years ago. After seeing a doctor, he was put on Endone and other drugs and when pain didn't go away, the dosage was increased, His knee wasn't considered to be bad enough to warrant surgery.. He was referred to two surgeons who both said wait. In January 2019, Bruce finally had his knee surgery but realised he was in trouble when 6 weeks after surgery, he was having trouble coming off the drugs. He tried, but what followed (in Bruce’s words) "were the worst three months of my life". Lethargy, mood swings, anxiety attacks, pain and stress and still dependant on drugs. Finally, Bruce was referred to a specialist and he went to Bali for three weeks of treatment with total strangers. It worked. The program involved getting the body right in the first week; building self esteem in the second week and in the third week, being provided with the tools to cope when back in one’s own environment.. Bruce said that the three weeks were very challenging but he took everything on board and did everything he was presented with in an effort to be drug free.
He announced that since the 31st March 2019, he has remained drug free—an outstanding achievement and a testament to Bruce’s will power and the support of his family and friends.
Well done Bruce and thanks for sharing such a personal story. Bruce said he still has trouble sleeping, but is so grateful for the support given to him by his family, friends and work mates. He said that addiction is a disease and to go through it with out the support of a network would be almost impossible.
Congratulations Bruce on your success in overcoming your addiction and for being so open! Bruce said more need to talk openly about it and he is happy to start the conversation. After some very interesting questions and reveals, Bruce was thanked by Rotarian Paul Kellett.
