Faye thanking guest speaker Chris following his presentation
Our guest speaker on 7 December was Rotarian Chris Edwards from the Rotary Club of Hall encouraging us to all to keep 23-24 March 2024 free to participate, spectate or volunteer for the big March Mingle Aussie Peace Walk.
Chris gave an overview of the evolution of this non-competitive walking event since its inception back in 1992 as the Canberra 2 Day Walk, then the Canberra Walking Festival and when Rotary got involved it became known as the Aussie Peace Walk.
He outlined 8 challenges facing the events future including the name Aussie Peace Walk which was perceived as being a placard waving protest march and that the Rotary branding meant many thought it was an event for Rotarians only. An analysis of attendees showed visitors came from all Australian states plus a number from Europe, Japan, NZ and the USA. Most of these were from the older demographic age range of dedicated walkers who preferred the much longer walks: 21 km, 24 km and the marathon walk of 42.2 km.
From 2024 walks will be rebranded as:
March Mingle – a new must-attend fun social event that aims to stimulate intercultural understanding, friendship and community – walk 7 km on the Saturday OR Sunday;
Mosey Mingle – walk 11 km on Saturday and 12 km on Sunda;
Multi Mingle – walk 21 km on Saturday and 24 km on Sunday’ and
Mega Mingle – walk the 42 km marathon on Saturday and 24 km on Sunday.
To introduce more Canberrans and younger people to group walking events such as this Chris has teamed with the ACT Communities at Work. It is hoped this may result in many thousands undertaking their first longer walk in the 5-7km Mini Mingle category on the Saturday or Sunday.
The entire Nara Peace Park, including car parks, has been booked for the occasion and all Canberra Rotary clubs have been asked to volunteer and assist as marshals, feed & drink station attendants and of course our own club to provide Rotary Peace Bell ringing for walkers passing by the pavilion.
Over the past few years a $76,000 contribution back to Rotary clubs and projects has resulted from hosting the event.
So put 23-24 March in your diary, lace up your joggers and get ready to walk, spectate or volunteer for the many roles needed to make this upcoming event a great success for Rotary.
Faye Powell
Report from Hay Memorial School on Club Scholarships for indigenous students
“Thanks again to the Club for continued support of four of our Indigenous students this year.
The school received some unexpected funding from the Department of Education this year, which has allowed the school to heavily subsidies excursions and the purchase of school uniform. All the scholarship recipients have money remaining which they will use in 2024.
HH has had a good Year 8. She has attended school over 95% of days and is well behaved. She participated in the school swimming carnival, athletics carnival and cross country. Her academic progress has been sound in all courses. She has a job in one of the local supermarkets, which she works after school, one day on the weekend and school holidays.
AH has finished Year 9 successfully and has made positive academic progress. He travels in from Gundaline Station each day, which is 66 km east of Hay, where he lives with his grandparents who are farm workers. He has attended over 90% of school days and wears his school uniform each day. He is a very cooperative and thoughtful student. He is always happy to help teachers and will volunteer to assist. He was very grateful to receive this scholarship. AH is a regular chess player at lunchtime and was a member of the school chess team that played in the interschool competition. In Year 9 students choose three electives to study, he chose agriculture, visual arts and industrial technology – timber.
SJ has completed Year 11 this year. He has attended over 95% of school days and wears his school uniform with pride each day. We deliver the HSC using the compressed curriculum, so students complete three courses in Year 11 and then another three in Year 12, to be eligible for the HSC and an ATAR. He studied English Standard, VET Hospitality and Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation, this year and achieved sound results. SJ is on an ATAR pathway. He has been considering joining the Royal Australin Navy for the last few years and now wants to study physiotherapy or another allied health course. He is investigating if he can join the RAN and study physiotherapy or another allied health course. He represented the school at the Zone athletics carnival and played basketball in the school team in the interschool competition. He nominated to be on the school leadership team and was successful in becoming one of the two vice captains for 2024. He is a student who displays the school values of respect, responsible and achieve each day. He is an active member of the Hay Youth Task force and has two part-time jobs in town working at a café and the bakers.
IW is a conscientious and mature student who completed Year 11 this year. She is a positive role model to other students in her application to her studies and wears her complete school uniform each day. She has studied Biology, PDHPE and English Standard. Her attendance has been over 90% this year. She is a keen tennis player and was again a member of the school tennis team for the interschool competition this year. She wants to study accountancy when she finishes school. Her family is very involved with the Nari Nari Tribal Council, and she participates in indigenous activities they organise.”
From the Principal of Hay Memorial School
Meanwhile, in Japan…
