Quick Links
Welcome to our Club!
3 Minuter Sue Carpenter Sue has been a MSC councillor for six years and spoke of a recent intensive strategic MSC meeting held with executive and councillors to review the legacy of the current Council, what has been achieved and what’s left to achieve. Sue’s particular portfolio and interest focus on growth and development. Council is facing funding challenges, particularly as a consequence of the Jan. 2026 fires. The Shire experienced 48% of the total bushfire impact, but to date has only received 10.6% of council directed recovery funding. The Shire will continue to advocate for recovery funding arrangements; partnerships with crucial services and health partners. Sue stressed that any decisions will be made after extensive community consultation.
Club Assembly Business:.
Community: Darryl King & Sam Wright A number of BBQ’s coming up – Goulburn Valley Suicide Awareness Walk (Sept 13th), Cruise night (November 14th) and Bunnings Seymour (Nov. 22nd). Planning and organisation in hand.
Youth: Kristie Luckman Kyla and Cate (Alex) represented Yea Rotary at the recent Rypen weekend and will present to the Club shortly. Candidates for RYLA currently being canvassed.
Membership: Penny Paxman Targetted function will be held in October. Members asked to nominate potential attendees.
Foundation: Tippy Anderson Glenside event was very successful with $900 raised for Foundation. Next Foundation event will be held on Sunday 8th November alongside the Glenside pool with a Thai themed menu and duck racing.
Public Image: Glenda Woods In response to a District public image initiative a 3m x 3m branded marquee has been ordered. $500 of total costs to be contributed by District Marketing for the Garden Expo and Spring Gardens continues with articles in the local papers and flyers distributed. Glenda took a deep dive into the social media pages of the Club, sharing some of the statistics.
Club Admin: Glenn Milliken Glenn commented on the engaging presentation from Rod Bain, last week. Glenn has organised a varied and full program of speakers for the next few months. The 5th Thursday in October (29th) will be a tasting visit to the Yea Cidery.
Caterers: Yea PS The team of Principal Craig Irvine, parents and students
were thanked for a beautifully prepared and presented meal.
were thanked for a beautifully prepared and presented meal.
Criag reported that the meal was prepared at school by the students,
using produce from the school garden.
Return to normal weekly meetings.
Guest Speaker Rod Bain Rod
Rod is the co-owner of Knight’s Choice, the outsider who won the Melbourne Cup in 2024. Rod co-owns the horse with his son Cameron; with the gelding trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon and ridden by jockey Robbie Dolan. Rod was a wonderful raconteur fully engaging his audience with the ‘fairy tale’ story of the purchase of Knight’s Choice for $85,000 on the urgings of his son Cameron who wanted his father to enjoy some ‘down time’. The horse gradually improved to run over a mile, initially being placed at a number of events in Queensland.
After a win in the Group 3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast his potential was recognised by a group of Chinese investors who offered Cameron $1 million for the horse. This offer was declined and the investors upped the offer to $2.3 million which was also declined. Cameron deduced that the horse ‘must be pretty good’! And so, it turned out to be!
The horse had struggled on wet tracks but flew home on a hot and hard track in the 2024 Melbourne Cup. With 700 metres to go, only three other horses were behind Knight’s Choice, but with a blistering burst of speed the horse took all before him and Rod knew at the 200 metre post the race was won! It was all a bit of a blur after that with the celebrations lasting long into the evening.
Knight’s Choice paid $72 on the Tote and was awarded Stayer of the Year in 2024.
The horse has been nominated for the 2026 Melbourne Cup after missing last year’s Spring carnival due to a bout of strangles.
There were many questions and Rod encouraged everyone to take the chance to hold the cup– and even drink from it, if they wished. Most Rotarians took up this unique opportunity!
Chairman Sam thanked Rod for a ‘really good Australian story’ and for ensuring the Cup was accessible to everyone he has met along his life’s journey.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
3 Minuter Gary Fitzgerald.
Gary recounted a different time in the world when in 1969 he took six months leave from his employment as an insurance broker and travelled the world. He visited eastern European nations and the USSR before the collapse of communism. He vividly remembered flying into a divided Germany and Berlin, staying for four days. Between his hotel and the airplane steps at the time of his departure, he encountered 22 passport checks and was only allowed on the plane after paying the Russian security staff. A different time indeed!
Thank you to our caterers, Sacred Heart PS parents
and students for a delicious meal.
GUEST SPEAKER – Zanni Walstein Upper Goulburn Landcare Network
Zanni works with Upper Goulburn Landcare Network and spoke about the environmental program Murrindindi Kids Teaching Kids which commenced in 2013. The children from eight local schools investigate their chosen topics and in Spring, they gather in the Yea Wetlands to teach another school what they’ve learned. The students are involved in tests and activities and a whole program of events for the day which involves games and speakers. Zanni displayed photos of past events and books made of each event. This year’s event is 1st September at Yea Wetlands, Rotarians are welcome 10am to 2pm. Rotary lends marquees and other equipment. They could use more volunteers particularly with photography and helpers on the day. UGLN financially supports the program along with Bunnings, Foodworks and other businesses. Tony Jacobs gave the vote of thanks. President Ann: Thanked David and Tippy for hosting our first Foundation Event at their home. Attended the RC of Kinglake Ranges C/O night which was a packed event DG Visit to Seymour and the rezoning of our District which results in a new alignment affecting most of the State. Our club was asked to vote YES for this. Polio Baton was handed to RC Seymour and then to Yea which resulted in our Polio Awareness Day on 9/8 raising $360 (later increased to $410) . A huge thank you to Ken Maxfield who drove the baton to Alexandra in his beautiful vintage Jaguar (along with Big Ted) Hosting Philipine (Louis’ sister) for the weekend. Received an approach from K9 Assist to auspice a grant for a program to train dogs for Emergency Evacuation Procedures. Gary Fitzgerald to work with them Donation from Yea Bookshop of $2000 for bushfire recovery. Date for Seniors Christmas Dinner has been set for 4th December Date for Art Show will be 21/1/27 to 26/1/27. Visit by Peter Sindrey of RC Lakes Entrance and tour of our area with Darryl.
LOUIS THEVENET
Can you believe it is 6 years since Louis visited us in 2019/2020? He came to us from Samuir in the Loire Valley, France with a population of 30,000, mainly focused on wine, tourism and horses. Louis spoke of his year in Yea: Yea HS sometimes), making pizza, cow feeding and farm work with Gary Cocks. His friends had an average age of 65 and he spent more time with cows than humans. He was aged 15 at the commencement of his exchange in 2019.
2020-22 Attended Agricultural High School 22 ISTOM – Agricultural Development and Engineering especially in Africa and Asia
23 Zambia (Africa) learning about local farming on an Agricultural Internship.
24 25 Sri Lanka – Agricultural Internship - developing an understanding of passage from Field to Management while working with a spice company.
Currently – FOODBIOTIC – Saffron production – quality, certifications, sourcing, market He has one more year to complete the Degree of Engineering in Agronomy. Louis has written a book about the journey of Saffron from harvest to table, to be published in October.
Youth Exchange gave Louis more proficient English, which he required for his Diploma studies and also a better direction in his choice of career. It forced him to listen and adapt, giving him perspective and he found what he truly wanted to do while in Yea. Louis thanked those who hosted him while he was in Yea and all the Rotarians.
‘Rotary Youth Exchange truly changed my life’.
There were lots of questions. Chairman Sam thanked Louis for sharing his fabulous experiences
Thank you to our caterers, the Yea & District Adult Riding Club for a beautiful meal
DG’s Cluster meeting Seymour 3rd August 2026 Seymour
Pres. Bill Dwyer welcomed all: DG Paul Miegel and Meredith, PDG David Anderson and Tippy, Club mentor Penny Paxman and previous mentor Sharon Fox and representatives from visiting clubs; Alexandra, Yea, Southern Mitchell, Kinglake Ranges, plus host club Seymour.DG Paul in his address focused on membership and public image initiatives whereby individual clubs are encouraged to be intentional about increasing membership and raising public awareness. The District has offered financial support for new initiatives.
DG Paul also encouraged registrations to the following upcoming events: Muscat’s on the Winery (5th Sept.) with proceeds to Foundation, Rotary South Pacific Conference (30th Oct -1st Nov), and the ‘Good Medicine’ District Conference in Corowa (Mar 19th -21st)
DG Paul concluded by emphasizing us all to ’Have fun, Create Lasting Impact and ’Tell the Story’.
Meredith Miegel provided details of her DG partner’s project EMERGE Women’s and Children’s Support Network. Back on Track is Emerge’s early intervention therapeutic program for children aged 5-12 who have experienced family violence.
PHF Recognition: Seymour Rotarian PP Ruth Byers spoke of Seymour Rotarians Mark Dosser and David Palmer’s Rotary service.
Mark has provided many years of service since he joined the club in 2011, particularly the time and commitment he has given to the monthly market, experiencing both satisfaction and many challenges.
David joined Seymour Rotary in 2010 and was also acknowledged for his many years of reliable service, both to the Seymour Club and the local community Mark was recognised with a double sapphire PHF and David a PHF.
Club Presentations A representative from each Club then briefly outlined the diverse range of their current activities and projects Major projects and initiatives focussed on; raising awareness of domestic violence, ongoing support to the Longwood bushfire victims, health initiatives, youth and environmental programs, fund raising etc.
The impact of each Club’s diverse community service is truly inspirational.
After the drawing of the raffle (sadly no Yea winners), DG Paul handed over the End Polio Baton to Yea President Ann. The Baton will be featured at the End Polio Now family day in Yea on August 9th. The meeting closed at 9pm.
ROTARY FOUNDATION SNAPSHOT DID YOU KNOW? When a Club or individual donates to The Rotary Foundation, they choose which fund it goes to. The four main funds are the With almost US$134 million contributed to the Annual Fund in 2025-26 worldwide, grants, applied for and administered by Clubs, fund our humanitarian global grants and local community projects.
Service Above Self
Yea, VIC 3717
Australia