Guest Speaker - Neil Beer
Neil was a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Yea, PP and PFH, and is actively contributes to many local organisations, including CFA.
Along with cattle farming with his wife Jan since 1974, Neil has been involved in the motor car industry over the same peri-od. Neil reflected the current fuel crisis, and the evolution of Electric Vehicles. 1973 and 1976 saw fuel crisis, with rationing by odds and evens number plates, which also caused panic buying to down-size to smaller cars, just as now there is a rush to purchase electric vehicles. With Neil’s knowledge of the car industry, he suggested that swapping in this climate for an EV the cost of changeover is not substantiated.
During the 2025-26 period electric vehicles reflected 5% of vehicle sales in the Beer family business, but over the past 6 weeks, due to fuel crisis, the sale of electric/hybrid vehicles has jumped to 38%. China is producing most of the electric vehicles imported into Australia and distributing them quickly into dealerships,
There are still many issues to overcome such as charging points and increased tyre wear (due to vehicles being heavier because of the batteries), along with increased insurance
The uptake in heavy vehicles is restricted due to long charge times.
Vote of thanks—Gary Fitzgerald.
Neil was a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Yea, PP and PFH, and is actively contributes to many local organisations, including CFA.Along with cattle farming with his wife Jan since 1974, Neil has been involved in the motor car industry over the same peri-od. Neil reflected the current fuel crisis, and the evolution of Electric Vehicles. 1973 and 1976 saw fuel crisis, with rationing by odds and evens number plates, which also caused panic buying to down-size to smaller cars, just as now there is a rush to purchase electric vehicles. With Neil’s knowledge of the car industry, he suggested that swapping in this climate for an EV the cost of changeover is not substantiated.
During the 2025-26 period electric vehicles reflected 5% of vehicle sales in the Beer family business, but over the past 6 weeks, due to fuel crisis, the sale of electric/hybrid vehicles has jumped to 38%. China is producing most of the electric vehicles imported into Australia and distributing them quickly into dealerships,
There are still many issues to overcome such as charging points and increased tyre wear (due to vehicles being heavier because of the batteries), along with increased insurance
The uptake in heavy vehicles is restricted due to long charge times.
Vote of thanks—Gary Fitzgerald.
3 Minute Speaker—Ian Lynch
Ian gave us a quick trip down memory lane, reminding us of how quickly we have come to rely on the technology of mobile phones, and how quickly they have developed to force us to rely on newer, bigger, better, sophistically advanced technology—at our expense!
Mobile phone technology commenced in 1973, with the Motorola “brick” weighing over 2 kg and re-leased commercially in 1983 for $4,000 US. Introduced into Australis in 1987 in a slightly slimmed down version, it had a battery life of 30 minutes talk time and took 10 hours to charge and could only be used for phone calls and had no data storage capacity. Phone technology evolved with phones becoming smaller and lighter. In the 1990’s 2G was re-leased; Early 2000’s 3G technology included cameras, music, colour screens, email access; in 2007 Apple iPhone introduced the “smart phone” with internet capabilities and touchscreens; the 2020’s ushered in 5G, with fast internet and AI and integration of wearable
Ian gave us a quick trip down memory lane, reminding us of how quickly we have come to rely on the technology of mobile phones, and how quickly they have developed to force us to rely on newer, bigger, better, sophistically advanced technology—at our expense!
Mobile phone technology commenced in 1973, with the Motorola “brick” weighing over 2 kg and re-leased commercially in 1983 for $4,000 US. Introduced into Australis in 1987 in a slightly slimmed down version, it had a battery life of 30 minutes talk time and took 10 hours to charge and could only be used for phone calls and had no data storage capacity. Phone technology evolved with phones becoming smaller and lighter. In the 1990’s 2G was re-leased; Early 2000’s 3G technology included cameras, music, colour screens, email access; in 2007 Apple iPhone introduced the “smart phone” with internet capabilities and touchscreens; the 2020’s ushered in 5G, with fast internet and AI and integration of wearable
Penny Paxman
Rotary Club of Seymour will host a combined clubs meeting on 3 August 2026, which will include a visit from District Governor. More details to follow. 
Monday 18 May, Rotary Club of Yea will supply dinner for the Yarck Hub, supporting fire affected families. It is planned to use the BBQ, with members required to as-sist with serving and providing desserts.
Rotary Club of Seymour will host a combined clubs meeting on 3 August 2026, which will include a visit from District Governor. More details to follow. 
Monday 18 May, Rotary Club of Yea will supply dinner for the Yarck Hub, supporting fire affected families. It is planned to use the BBQ, with members required to as-sist with serving and providing desserts.
Glenn Milliken– Open Gardens
Our open gardens program started in 2012, with 12 local gardens opened. In 2017 this was reduced to 10, in 2021 a further reduction to 8 and in 2025 we had 6 gardens open. It is increasingly becoming harder to find owners in our small community to open their gardens, particularly with the drought factor effecting gardens, along with additional expenses for extra upkeep and plantings that the owners bear.
Board has made the decision to hold open gardens every second year, so we are aiming to have 8 gardens open in 2027.
It has also been decided to include 2 spring gardens to open on the weekend of the Garden Expo, with an additional cost of $10 to view both gardens.
Thanks to Deb and Loretta for a lovely pork roast dinner!