Newsletter Report for 2020

Since President Eric presented his final report for 2020 in our previous Newsletter, it behooves me as Editor-in-Chief and Cub Reporter to wrap up the dissemination of club news in this final report for the calendar year. Many thanks to my predecessor Peter Judge for his excellent work in producing the news notes and setting such a high standard. May you all have happy and safe holidays.

Robert Laine - Editor

Our Fund-raising Dinner with Fred Smith

Fred Smith, diplomat, author and singer gave 116 guests a wonderful performance on his experiences in Afghanistan. Many copies of his CD's and the book The Dust of Uruzgan were sold. They can be ordered at https://fredsmith.com.au/

Flights to Moruya Beach, paintings of Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area by Helen Gauchat, bonsai tree and other items were auctioned while dessert was served concluding with some surprise entertainment.

The event raised more than $3000 for the Club's Indigenous program on the Mawonga Indigenous Protected Area in central NSW. We will work with Bush Heritage Australia to support training of Indigenous staff to erect fences to control wild goats that are damaging the property, and to protect mallee fowl.

Photos courtesy of Elly Torres, Rotary Peace Fellow

Hay War Memorial High School Scholarships

Community Service

You may recall that I raised the idea of looking into whether we could volunteer for OrangeSky.  This is the service that offers free showers and laundry facilities to homeless people. Some members wondered whether we could work as a group with a core of volunteers from the club.  I have spoken with OrangeSky and we cannot work with them on a group basis. The only way you can participate is to apply as an individual, undergo their induction training and volunteer on a fortnightly basis. To have meaningful conversations with people OrangeSky believe that you need to volunteer on a consistent and regular basis.I will leave this up to you.

Still looking for great local service ideas.  Keep them coming.

Sharon Green - Community Service Director

Membership

Pasta Making Class - 24th January 2021. Hopefully I have now emailed all women inviting them to our 2nd Rotary Women event.  If I have missed anyone please feel free to contact me directly. This inaugural and exciting event will be held at Sharon’s place.  The class will be ably conducted and controlled by our resident Italian expert, Andrea Conti. Class commences at 4 p.m. and concludes with dinner.  Further details regarding arrangements with be provided to attendees in due course.

Fish and Chips Meeting - 21 January 2021. For those of us who choose to remain in Canberra in January or indeed those now stranded in Canberra in January, please feel free to join us for an informal lunch meeting at Snapper on the Lake, behind the Yacht Club in Yarralumla. I will email everyone the week before to gauge numbers.

Other. It was great to see George Scott at last week’s dinner.  Hopefully we will see more of him next year. Also, good to see Russell Dew come along to the dinner.  Russell has attended a number of our functions now and I would encourage all members to reach out and introduce yourselves to him as he gets to know our members and the club.

Sharon Green - Membership Director

Coming Events

21 January 2021 - Fish and Chips Meeting at the Snapper, Yarralumla SC Yacht Club

24 January 2021 - Pasta Making Class at Sharon Green's residence

28 January 2021 - First Club Meeting of 2021 at the Commonwealth Club

26-28 March 2021 - Rotary Aussie Peace Walk

On the Lighter Side

A man went to see a psychiatrist who asked him how he could help. “It's about my wife who thinks she is a refrigerator”. “What's wrong with that” asked the doctor? The man replied “Well, not too much except that at night she sleeps with her mouth open and the light keeps me awake!”