Welcome to another Bulletin. Most importantly: we are not meeting at the Commonwealth Club this week. Rather, you’re all invited to travel interstate for an informal meeting to see how some help for the disadvantaged is delivered in Queanbeyan. More details, including directions to the venue, are below.
Please look at roster: I’ve made some changes due to some absences and the upcoming AGM.
Finally, there’s an optical illusion to confuse you.
Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting and elections will be held on Thursday, 16 November, during our regular meeting at the Commonwealth Club. Secretary Russell has sent out the agenda and last AGM minutes: please let him know if you haven’t received them.
Last week’s meeting
Acting President George Wilson thanking guest speaker Lori Gould
On Thursday, 19 October, Lori Gould updated us on her research into the Japanese Snipe. These birds breed in Japan during our winter, then fly to Australia in August-September, returning to Japan in February-March the following year. While much is known about their life while in the ACT (spent mostly at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands), more research is needed on their movement to and from Japan, including staging sites where they stop and rest of a time before resuming their migration. The need for additional research led to a PhD scholarship for Lori, who is aiming to use this to produce guidelines to ensure the protection of Japanese Snipes. The species has recently been upgraded to “vulnerable” status, which means greater protection for them.
Lori emphasised the importance of partnerships in her work, including with government agencies, landowners, community groups and academia. She has 150 people on her email list and around 50 active volunteers who help with catching and tagging Snipe, many who had been helping for years and were now skilled at their work. She thanked Rotary for its support in the past.
Stephen McMillan
Report of Zoom meeting on 12 October 2023
Piotr with a representative of the Employment Office of Warsaw
RC Warsaw Vice-President Pawel Grotowski
Rotarians from RC Warsaw transporting and distributing goods to Ukrainian refugees in Poland (March 2022)
On 12 October we heard from the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Warsaw, Piotr Kaczorowski, via Zoom.
Piotr was an initiator of an idea to help Ukrainian refugees who came to Poland after Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since the beginning of the war, the Rotary Club of Warsaw has helped over 1400 refugees, providing them with shelter, food, helping them find work, and organizing a camp for children from Ukraine, with a total expenditure of USD130,000 (AUD205,000).
In early 2022, our club responded very quickly to a request for help and from our fundraising we sent AUD20,000 to the Rotary Club of Warsaw (half from our Club and half from the Rotary Club of Hall).
Close to 4 million Ukrainians have now entered Poland seeking shelter. The Rotary Club of Warsaw has helped them in various ways, including:
arranging with the Employment Office of the city of Warsaw for refugees to receive medical examinations that are a requirement to work in grocery stores and other places, enabling them to seek employment, and
coordinating and helping distribute a huge amount of donations, including food, water, medicine, etc.) from Rotary Clubs in Germany, Sweden, France, and elsewhere.
In July this year Piotr invited our Club to contribute financially to an ambitious project to give 50 Ukrainian children and teachers a holiday at “Klub Sosnowy” (Pine Club), which is located 10 km from Warsaw. Thanks to members and guests at our successful Changeover Dinner in June, our Club raised $4,000 to support this project. This, and other donations (including $2500 from the Rotary Club of Hall) meant we sent $9500 (5,800 Euros) to the Rotary Club of Warsaw in late June – just over one-quarter of the 21,000 Euro budget for the camp.
Thanks to the generosity of the owner of Klub Sosnowy who sponsored additional participants, eventually 80 Ukrainian children and teachers took part, in two sessions:
the first group, teenagers ranging from 12 to 17, hailed from Zaporizhia and Kropyvnytskyi, started their camp on 23 July, and
the second group were younger in age, around 7-12 years old and hailed from the vicinity of Lviv and started their camp on 20 August.
Both groups received on site accommodation for 10 days, including meals, sports activities: swimming pool, ping-pong, and outdoor activities. They also had classes in modern society, introduction to the Latin alphabet, basic Polish, and English phrases. They went on tours of Warsaw: from the majestic Royal Castle to the bustling Market Square of the old town, every corner held a story. They marvelled at the exhibits in the Copernicus Science Centre, relaxed in the serene Saxon Garden, and delved into the history at the Frederic Chopin Museum and the National Museum.
For many, this trip was more than just a summer camp; it was a journey of hope, unity, and lasting memories.
Piotr concluded his address to our Zoom meeting by expressing his sincere thanks, for our long open communication, financial support and kind words of support. This gratitude extends to all Club members and donors to our fundraising.
Aleksander (Olek) Gancarz
Ukrainian Children at the first session at Klub Sosnowy
District 9705 Conference
Our Club was represented by five members at the District 9705 Conference, which ran from 20 to 22 October. The main sessions were at the Queanbeyan Bicentennial Centre, with seats that became uncomfortable if sat in for any length of time. That said, the sessions were interesting, showcasing a range of programs run by Rotarians across the district, and featuring notable speakers Craig Foster AM (who emphasised the responsibility of those with influence to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves) and Robert de Castella AO MBE (who spoke of the work he is involved into improve the lives of our first peoples). Following are three of the slides shown during the conference:
Mental health is a focus of current RI President Gordon McInally
Empowering girls is also a focus this Rotary year.
Some ideas from the Rotary Club of Coolamon
Next meeting
On Thursday, 26 October, we meet at the St Benedict’s Community Centre, corner of Anne and Brigalow Streets, Queanbeyan. The time is 5:30 for a 6 pm meal, finishing at 7 pm. Cost is $10 per person, which will be donated to St Benedict’s. BYO alcohol welcome.
This is an opportunity to hear about support with food and housing for disadvantaged people living across the border in Queanbeyan and surrounds. Here’s a map with the location and guidance on getting there:
Coming from Canberra, turn right at Donald Road (the second set of traffic lights after descending into Queanbeyan). Then turn left on Margaret Street (first left after the roundabout and speed humps) and right onto Brigalow Street. The carpark entry is on the right. St Benedicts Community Centre is on the nearest corner, with entry from Anne Street.
Duty Roster
Date
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November
Door
Informal meeting
Ross Brown
Zoom
Ross Brown
Open meeting; introduce President; and Toast to Rotary
Informal meeting
Keith Gray
Faye Powell
Monica Garrett
Thank speaker and write up for Bulletin
Informal meeting
Astrida Upitis
Russell Dew
AGM
If you are not able to perform your allocated duty, please arrange a replacement and advise Acting President George. Please advise Stephen of any planned absences to avoid being rostered on while away.
Dates for your diary
Saturday, 4 November: Candle Festival at Canberra Nara Peace Park. We will run our famous Taiyaki Stall and Beer Tavern. 3 - 10pm. Your help is needed. Roster to come.
Sunday, 12 November: Clean up at Canberra Nara Peace Park - light gardening and barbecue 9.00am- 12.00 noon. Volunteers needed.
Thursday, 23 November: Club Christmas Party, at Russell’s lovely home in Garran. Details to come.
Wednesday, 29 November: NTA Trivia night: interesting; for a good cause; great prizes; and FUN! To book: https://www.trybooking.com/CMFNI.
