Global Grant Zoom Meeting with Dayspring School and Rotarians from Districts 9400 South Africa and 9790 Australia.
The meeting tonight was attended by more than 40 people including friends of Ruth Konig, Members of district 9790 , Rotarians from Rustenberg Kloof in South Africa and Bishop Bester and all were warmly welcomed by both President Carol and Chair David Anderson.
A minute’s silence was held in recognition of the passing of Francois Pinaar, RC of Rustenberg Kloof who was very involved in the Dayspring Childrens Village
Dayspring Childrens Village
Julie Lynch gave us some background into how the project started through Ruth a dedicated teacher, a Rotarian and also a humanitarian who was working with students from Sacred Heart Primary School in Yea who started fundraising for a school in South Africa. The students raised $1000, then approached Rotary to find a worthwhile project to which they could donate funds, Rotary matched the funds creating a total of $2000 . (Click for Julie's background talk)
Ruth, while participating in a Rotary Friendship Exchange to South Africa, met Cheryl Phillips who is now a member of the South African Parliament but had been a Rotary Exchange Student in Australia. They visited Dayspring and Ruth saw that this was a project that could use the funds.
Ruth went on to raise much more money and through the efforts of Rotary Foundation,
Rotary Yea and Rotary Rustenberg Kloof they raised $1,200,00 to fund a classroom block and toilet block.
Unfortunately, Ruth died just after the grant was approved so did not see work commence.
Many of those involved in processing the grant application, obtaining permits and getting to this point acknowledged Ruth and her passion for the project.
Kim Katuta wanted to pass on thanks from the staff and children to everyone involved so far.
She told us that the kids are from impoverished backgrounds and that the children Ruth had met had done very well in society becoming lawyers and doctors among other professions. She also reminded us that the projects provides those employed with upskilling, work, and food for their families.
Kim has promised more photos as the project progresses.
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| Construction work at Dayspring | |
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DISTRICT GOVENOR BRUCE ANDERSON'S VISIT
President Carol welcomed DG Bruce Anderson and partner Marilyn to the meeting.
DG Bruce had limited time due to another meeting to go to but emphasised that he was hoping to get to each club in the District in person but was starting with Zoom due to Covid 19.He talked about the District Conference scheduled for 18-21 March 2021 in Wangaratta and the opportunity to party post Covid. Subject to spacing requirements the Conference would welcome everybody’s involvement and if Covid is still causing problems there could be a limited number of attendees chosen by ballot and supplemented with Zoom coverage of conference proceedings.
DG Bruce asked us to diarise the District Conference and also the RI Convention in Taipei in June 2021
Marilyn spoke about a proposed partners program which has been stifled due to Covid so is on hold till the end of 2020 but proposed that we put together a District book with a couple of pages from each club. This would be a Rotary Centenary celebration
Another suggestion was that each club spruce up signs in towns to promote Rotary. There will be a release of coins and postage stamps in 2021 for the centenary.
DG Bruce and Marilyn then introduced Ozzie the Mozzie – District conference mascot and highlighter of the Malaria eradication project. He’s hoping that when clubs can get back to fundraising any leftover funds can be donated to this project which is aiming to create a Malaria free shield across the top of Australia.
Do we need to keep members engaged? Rotary Foundation suggests supporting the environment as a new area of focus. DG Bruce sees it as a way to promote Rotary, engage and recruit younger members and identify and complete local environmental projects. Phil Clancy is to set up a task force and funds should be available from July 2021.
On the subject of new members Rotary International President, Holger suggests focusing on their suitability for the club rather than on gaining numbers.
Last but not least was the End Polio project. DG Bruce said that Covid is preventing us to maintaining the vaccination program and that it will also take away funds, energy and awareness from the project. We will know the likely impact in 6-8 weeks.
Guest Speaker Craig Lloyd CEO Murrindindi Shire Council
• Last few days have been chaotic as shire shares borders with 4 shires in lockdown and Craig is fielding up to 100 calls a day answering queries, and Shire staff doing similar• Some confusion over holiday homes and was remarkably busy Weds as people rushed to homes or be out of Melbourne before the commencement of lockdown
• Craig spoke of Shire surveying people within the Shire in last few weeks and overall people are quite positive, which was a little surprising and he said Yea came out the happiest town in the Shire – (4 on a scale of 5) which people less happy in the parts of the Shire closer to Melbourne
• Since COVID-19, Shire has learnt lots. Their aim was to go paperless in 3 years and they have almost achieved it in 3 months!
• Everyone is working remotely from home except for grounds staff and Library staff and it is going well
• For a very conservative Council, there have been big changes. All Council meetings are now live streamed
• Craig believes lockdown has assisted communication for example comparing a community meeting in a hall with a few dominating questions, to now being online, there is far more interaction with more people – a great outcome of being online – much more inclusive. Shire will use this meeting technique some of the time post COVID but acknowledged it is hard for those not online.
President Sue's last meeting.
An official changeover will be held when restrictions permit.
A message from President Sue
Firstly, a big thank you to all who filled in the questionnaire which I handed out when I became President and which asked which jobs you would like and be willing to do.I have felt very supported and I feel, have fulfilled all the aims I started my year with.
We’ve had many achievements, the Art Show, Open Gardens and Garden Expo are among them and I recall the District Governor’s visit at Homewood Hall as one of those nights where we had great fun.
There have been sad times, including the bushfires and we will be able to help those affected in the future.
Two new members joined us—Penny Paxman and Matt Spurgeon and I want to thank them both.
For the future, the Senior Independent Living Program looks exciting.
Our Annual Report is ready and will be mailed out to members tonight.
A special thank you to my Board who have supported me all the way and been willing to discuss ideas and implementation to help us achieve everything and finally, if you are asked to take on the role of President, take it with both hands and you’ll love it.
Incoming President, Carol Hogg
Carol started by saying we are doing the best we can with Covid19, and without planning too far ahead, she is working on July.
District Governor Bruce Anderson will be joining us for a Zoom meeting on July 16
We have a new Board and details will be in the bulletin.
Carol thanked Sue for the past year and everything she had done and especially for the camaraderie shown to her personally.
Annual Report
To read and/or download the 2019 - 20 Annual Report click the following link
Guest Speaker - Jed Hart Author
Chair for the meeting, Jim Osborne introduced Guest Speaker Jed Hart, a former member of the club and previous active member of the Strath Creek community. Jed conveyed warm greetings to all his and Sue’s friends and expressed his thanks for the invitation to speak.
Jed initially gave a summary of his career in the Navy, referencing pivotal activities in his past that are reflected in his current writings: as a midshipman in the Malaysia conflict before changing to aircrew in 1966, training at Pensacola Naval Air Station in the US and being posted to the RAN Helicopter Flight in Vietnam with the US Army’s 135th Assault Helicopter Company. Jed left the Navy in 1970 and flew and instructed on helicopters internationally. Latterly Jed worked in security and aviation with Shell and BHP. He and wife Sue then founded Hart Aviation which grew to operate in 60 countries.By 2017 when Jed had retired and left the world of business and commerce, he found his days lacked purpose. He was asked to edit a book outlining the Australian Navy training program at Pensacola in the US from 1966-68 and ended up being the co author. His life as an author then took off in a most compulsive manner!
In the second part of his address Jed focused on the first book in the Jake Hunt Trilogy, Without Warning’ which he wrote at age 70 (he had commenced fiction writing in his 30’s but put the writing on hold as he felt he had insufficient life experience).
The characters in his books ‘talk’ to him with little discipline and no sense of timing.
Jed then concluded by reading the prologue of ’Without Warning’.
‘For me, writing the book has been cathartic. A lot of the journey that Jake Hunt takes, my comrades in arms and I have travelled. Life is full of stories.’
Jed answered many questions from the members, explaining how he was able to get his action thriller books published with a smaller publisher - Feather Knight Books.
The publishing company are able, with 10 days notice to print another 1500 run.
Jed said sales are ahead of schedule despite the planned book launch of ‘Without Warning’ having to be cancelled due to COVID 19.
Jed also mentioned that marketing is not his forte so he relies on his highly skilled and knowledgeable publishers to promote the book.
A number of members have already purchased and read the book and were happy to recommend it. The book is available through Google Books and Goodreads.
An E copy of the book will be available shortly on Amazon and Kindle.
Julie thanked Jed for his fascinating address to the club and for sharing his passion for the craft of writing.
Guest Speaker: David Stockwell PhD. - The Bradfield Scheme.
Dr Stockwell used a series of slides in his presentation.The Bradfield Scheme (which was originally proposed back in the 1930’s) is a large scale infrastructure project of a 1,000km Gravitational Fed Surface Channel from the Upper Burdekin to the Darling. When completed the project would deliver 2000 GL (4 Sydney Harbours) into the Murray Darling system every year. David is convinced that in the light of new technology the scheme is now viable. Water would be harvested along the length of the channel as well as create new irrigation areas in Central Queensland.
David responded to a range of questions; from projected costs (less than $5 Billion), role of the MDB Authority, affect on the Great Artesian Basin, interest in the scheme, water loss in the channels, to the spread of introduced species such as the cane toad.
Guest Speaker: Jessie Harman RI Director Nominee 2021-2023
Jessie delivered a highly motivating speech focusing on the future of Rotary with her passion for Rotary irrepressible. She outlined the unparalleled opportunities as well as significant challenges that face Rotary.Opportunities that exist through the use of technology that will increase Rotary’s reach into a broader community; as the world is on the cusp of eradicating Polio the spotlight will be on Rotary and thus will open up more opportunities; billions of $$$ are available in RI Foundation to fund significant projects; strategic partnerships with partners such as the UN, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF etc can be broadened and the internationality of Rotary provides a strong foundation to move into the future.
Jessie also highlighted the challenges facing Rotary, particularly membership which is declining and ageing. The modern busy life means that many prospective Rotarians prefer to dip in and out of service with millennials in particular tending to volunteer for specific causes.
Our challenge is to meet the needs of our members and our communities and to ensure Rotary stays relevant, innovative and engaging long into the future. It is important to build a spirit of optimism and courage, to try new things, to have a go and to take risks.
We are the stewards of our wonderful organization and we must ensure it is strong and thriving into the future as ‘The world needs Rotary now, just as it did in the past!’
Jessie responded to a number of questions around how to engage young people, the need to leverage strategic partnerships and how clubs must stay connected to their members during Covid 19.
Pres. Sue thanked Jessie for her most thought provoking address and her commitment to Rotary.
Club Assembly (via Zoom)
President Sue welcomed everyone to the first Zoom Club Assembly then asked Sergeant at Arms Rodney to call the meeting to order. Rodney invited all to join him in Grace and in toasting Queen and Country.
Reports from Board:
Change Over: Neither PE Carol or President Sue keen on doing the C/O via Zoom so will plan on the official duties being carried out with a small group in attendance with celebrations being delayed to August or when COVID 19 regulations permit.
Avenues of Service Reports
Community Service:
Biggest Morning Tea in the RSL Hall cancelled but members encouraged to hold their own small gatherings at home during the week of May 25th—31st to raise funds for the Cancer Council.
Guest Speaker: Meagan Callander Principal Middle Kinglake Primary School
Meagan provided a most informative and enlightening address. She explained that she is a ‘True Yea local’ having lived here all her life and is now in her 6th year as Principal of Middle Kinglake PS. MKPS has 64 students represented across the socio economic and demographic continuum.Planning for changes to the delivery of their curriculum imposed by the COVID 10 Pandemic came with little notice and there was uncertainty around when on site schooling would resume but Meagan felt her staff has done a magnificent job in catering for the students’ needs.
Staff prepare differentiated weekly hard copy work packs which are supplemented by online learning. Feedback between the families and the school is constant via phone calls, texts, video chats and during the Monday collection of the weekly packs. The Monday p/u is essential for student/family and staff wellbeing.
Adherence to Child Safety Regulations is critical – 2 staff members are always present when video chats are held with students and students must be dressed and not in their bedrooms!
Our Second Zoom Meeting
A message from President Sue :
Hello fellow Rotarians. Our second zoom meeting was a fun but slightly disorganized gathering. It was great to see so many familiar faces but it was a bit unstructured and this week we will have a zoom meeting that will run more like a regular meeting with a guest speaker.
We are all new to this way of meeting and I hope we can all resume our meetings in person in the not to distant future .... but in the meantime enjoy our Thursdays on the computer. See you soon.
Cheers Sue
April 30th Meeting Report
24 Rotarians joined the Zoom Fellowship meeting last Thu
rsday and it was good to have AG Elizabeth Mc Cormick and members Fitzy, Will and Terry along with Louis & Gary join us for the first time. A number of changing background screens kept members busy and Pres. Sue was the expert in multi tasking a number of devices. AG Elizabeth noted that she has been a participant in 6 Rotary Zooms as well as using remote learning in her daily work whilst supervising boarding students at The International School at Kilmore. Elizabeth reminded the meeting that Change Overs and Paul Harris Presentations can be still be achieved using digital platforms.
rsday and it was good to have AG Elizabeth Mc Cormick and members Fitzy, Will and Terry along with Louis & Gary join us for the first time. A number of changing background screens kept members busy and Pres. Sue was the expert in multi tasking a number of devices. AG Elizabeth noted that she has been a participant in 6 Rotary Zooms as well as using remote learning in her daily work whilst supervising boarding students at The International School at Kilmore. Elizabeth reminded the meeting that Change Overs and Paul Harris Presentations can be still be achieved using digital platforms.
