28th June 2024
Our guest speaker this week was Sharon Walsh, the manager of Volunteer Services with Bendigo Health. It was very sobering to listen to Sharon speak of the difficulties facing Bendigo Health in its attempts to recruit volunteers to assist and support patients, their families and friends, as they have a need to use our health system.
Volunteering generally is facing challenges, and we can only hope that Sharon is able to persevere and attract more members of our community to make life easier for Bendigo Health patients and their families.
Our directors reported on decisions taken at the previous nights’ board meeting. They outlined financial support decided upon for Polio Plus ($1,500), Donations In Kind ($3,500), Ovarian Cancer ($4,000) and Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholarship Program ($7,500). These were in addition to financial support through the year for many other charities and organizations, which will be published in our Annual Report.
In relation to our current board, several members are retiring at the end of this year. More will be said about them later, but at this stage, we would like to thank Cathie Miller (Club Service), Rob Rosaia (Community Service), John Harkin (Secretary), and Judy Miatke (Past President) for the magnificent work each of them has done over the past year. They are retiring this year to give others a go at steering our club. They have all been utterly focused on the duties of their respective portfolios, extraordinarily organized, dependable and reliable, and of enormous help to us. Thank you all very much for all you have done.
In sad news, the funeral of Bryan Griffiths, who was recently the serving President of Rochester Rotary Club, will take place this coming Wednesday, 3 rd July, at 1.30pm, at a graveside service at the Rochester cemetery. Following the service, refreshments will be served at the 4R’s (Rochester Racecourse Recreation Reserve).
Bryan’s partner, Angela Beutel, has asked that instead of flowers, a donation to Polio Plus in honour of Bryan, would be very much appreciated. The Polio Plus link is https://my.rotary.org/en/polioplus-fund (if you have a MyRotary account, just log in, or use the guest login link) if members would like to make a contribution to this great cause in Bryan’s memory.
Bryan was well connected with the wider Rochester community and with many clubs in our district. He was a driving force in Rotary to make the world a better place. Despite being personally affected by the flood he worked hard to help and coordinate flood relief. He also was working on replacing the ageing Rochester bus. Our heart goes out to the Rochester RC and the community its club members serve.
Rochester’s 60th Anniversary Celebration has been postponed until further notice.
In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at our last club meeting of this Rotary year and at our changeover on Sunday 7 July to welcome together with family and other Rotary friends the new board and to celebrate our achievements.
Co-presidents Ray Carrington and Adrian Schoo
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