Well, away we go again – the Australia Day community event for this year is coming up this week, and we hope and expect it to be another pleasant and fulfilling day for us and the community at large. Our sincere thanks go to Peter Rainey for his 15-year commitment as the chair of our organizing committee. Peter puts in an enormous amount of work each year to make the day as successful as it is, and we will always be grateful for his efforts in working with the COGB and many other groups and organizations to enable this flagship event for our club to happen every year.
We are very much aware of the huge efforts put in each year by several other members of our club in order to bring the event together, but we think Peter deserves special mention. In appreciation and recognition of his long-term commitment and hard work in relation to the Australia Day celebrations, our club was delighted to recognize Peter with a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2019.
Still on Australia Day – On Tuesday, there was a very positive article in the Bendigo Advertiser publicising the event; for those with long memories, the name of the Rotary club doing most of the hard yards each year (us!) was correct
this year!.……. Seriously, though, we have been led to believe there will be meaningful follow-up from the Advertiser after the event, as well as a desire to be kept informed of other events and initiatives we undertake throughout the year. This can only be a good thing, as we seek to encourage other people to consider joining either our club, or one of the other Rotary clubs in our area.
Club badges. As we know, our badges are not strictly in conformity with the latest Rotary branding requirements. Currently, this not a hanging offence, but we really need to come up with a different design, preferably in the short term. Four (4) alternative designs have been put forward by interested members. We need to make a decision soon as to which design is preferred by a working majority of members. Please contact Cathie Miller, in her position as Club Service director, with your preference, so that we can make a decision on the final design and get new badges
made. The suggested designs are able to be viewed on ClubRunner, or in an email Cathie sent to us all a couple of times in November / December last year.
Donations In Kind clothing. Thanks to a generous donor, thousands of quality, unmarked garments (T-shirts, polo shirts, caps, etc), have been given to DIK for Rotary clubs to distribute to organizations, community groups, clubs, etc, who would benefit from receiving them. Thanks go to John Cannon and Graeme Lynas, who have already distributed around 3,700 items in our community. Fortunately, it seems there is an opportunity to continue this good work for at least the next few months. We have a Club Forum coming up on Wednesday 14 February, and
on the day, or even prior, it would be good to receive suggestions from members as to who else could possibly benefit from this clothing. In the first instance, let’s keep it simple, and contact either John or Graeme if you have an idea of a suitable beneficiary/ies.
Lightning Reef vegie garden programme. On Wednesday, we had proof of the success of this new programme, when Colleen brought along a great selection of fruit and vegies that had been grown and just been harvested at the school. Our thanks go to Stew Annan and his team of assistants for getting the programme started and now operating successfully. In establishing the garden beds, then showing the kids how to plant, care for, and enjoy various fruit and vegetables, this life skills programme has the potential to have a long-term benefit for students and
staff of the school.
So, see you on Australia Day, in the spirit of community service and fellowship.
Co-Presidents Ray & Adrian.
