Vol: 36 No: 37

Theme: Literacy Month

Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster:  Richard Clay 25/3/18 – 7/4/18

GUESTS: Chris and Barbara Watson, Award recipients and their guests, as below, Family of Pearl Macmillan – Irene, Norma and Andrea Dunkin, Drew McPhail.

VISITING ROTARIAN: Nick Raicevic from Papua New Guinea Rotary Club

PRESIDENTS REPORT: Western District 9780 Fire Appeal, direct donations to John Calnin. He is also looking for help with the ‘Pets for the Disabled’ project, see John Calnin if you can help.

INDUCTION OF CHRIS WATSON: Classification retired farmer, dairying. Mentor Geoff Ford.    

President John with Chris & Barbara Watson 

CHAIR: Martin Geerings, Presentation of Vocational Awards:

SMALL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Terry Nation with Ivy & Tony Zhanu
The Groove Cafe 

WINNER: The Groove Café, Ivy and Tony Zhanu, presented with a cheque for $100. Ivy thanked Rotary as said how much they enjoyed running a business in Ocean Grove, where all their customers were known to them and many had become friends.

Nominated by: Terry Nation, presented with a cheque for $100. He commended the Café for employing and training local young people.

PRIDE OF WORKMANSHIP

WINNER: Christine Lomas, Customer Service Assistant, Coles, presented with cheque for $100. Christine thanked Rotary and said how much she appreciated her work.

Nominated by: Anne Geerings, presented with a cheque for $100. Anne said that she known Christene for 35 years. Christene went above her duties in her work. She started in 1980 at ‘Tucker Bag’. Anne said she would donate her cheque to a local charity.

Accompanying guests: Neale Lomas, and Alisha McLean.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Robin Munro with Neil & Muriel Derrick 

WINNER: Neil Derrick, Ocean Grove Uniting Church, value of prize $200, plus cheque for nominated charity for $300. Neil asked that the prizes be combined and be donated $250 to Riding for the Disabled and $250 to Surfing for the Disabled. Neil thanked Rotary for the honour and said he felt very humble. Volunteers keep the country running. He tried to follow the advice his father gave him when he first left home at age 15 “When you leave a place make sure it is a better place for your being there”. He thanked his wife Muriel.

 Nominated by: Robin Munro, presented with cheque for $100. Robin said that Neil does good work throughout the year and is one of the community’s “unsung heroes”.

Accompanying guests: Muriel Derrick.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Corey Grundy, Ocean Grove All Makes Automotive, presented with a cheque for $500, sponsored by The Ocean Grove Business Association. The cheque was presented by Ty Symons, OGBA, who said how important apprentices were to the future of business in the area. Corey thanked the business for putting him on as an apprentice and giving him a career start. He also thanked Rotary.

 Nominated by Sylvia and Laurie Flanagan: All Makes Automotive, presented with a cheque for $100. Sylvia said that Corey started with them in June 2017 and was progressing well. He was very amenable at work and accepted by all the staff. He was punctual and methodical and had a bright future.

Martin Geerings congratulated all the winners. He said they had received 3 nominees for the Apprentice Award, 10 for the Small Business Award, 5 for the Pride of Workmanship Award and 9 for the Volunteer Award, plus there had been several late entries. He thanked Tony Haines for preparing certificates for the winners and all the finalists. An article about the Awards would be put on our website and would also appear in the Ocean Grove Voice.

Martin Geerings & President John with the winners & nominators

REPORTS:

Alex McGee – Footy Competition. There were now 20 participants. It starts this week, so you need to have your entries in by Thursday (too late now by the time you read this!). He will be away for two weeks, but Geoff Chandler will be in charge in his absence.

Richard Clay – ANZAC dawn service breakfast is being organised. Please let him know if you can do it again this year.

President John Calnin thanked the Ocean Grove Business Association for partnering us in this event. He thanked Martin Geerings for all his work in organising the Event.

NEXT WEEK: The guest speaker is Gary Newton, Committee member for Polio Australia and Ambassador for Ride the Bellarine. He is a Polio survivor and will talk about the experiences of survivors and his recent trip to India witnessing the Polio Plus program at work.

Thank you, Ann Hodgkinson

Vol: 36 No: 36

Theme: Literacy Month.

Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster:

11/3/2018 - 24/3/2018 John Paton, 25/3/2018 - 7/4/2018 Dick Clay.

Report of Meeting: 13/3/2018. 

Guests: Andrea and Chris Tierney. President John Calnin read to Andrea the words of the Induction procedure into membership of the Club. Andrea was welcomed very warmly into the Club by the members. Her category is Education, she will join the Vocational Committee and Rod Birrell will be her mentor.

President:

- A small group will meet on Saturday morning to commence the role the Club might play in the management of those experiencing Family violence in our area.

- Some investigation will be done to follow up the provision of pets for disabled persons and how the club may be involved.

Announcements: Rod Greer spoke about a project that has originated outside the district involving both physical and monetary action. It is called ‘Slide into Sri Lanka and would operate mainly in the Northern areas of the country, an area much affected by the Tamil Tiger offensives. The army would be involved in the program as well. The Flemington and Belmont Rotary has provided unwanted / out of date playground equipment for a school for girls. The project has expanded with more clubs becoming interested. The plan is to reuse suitable unwanted equipment that is easily reassembled (there will be an easily understood work book supplied) in the chosen areas.

The equipment currently being considered is from the COGG.

The Clubs involved will select suitable playground equipment that is easily reassembled, and ensure that legal requirements are in place. Shipping will be through DIK. The project would involve some physical labour. It is hoped to involve and deal with the military and Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka. The Board has endorsed this program so further plans will be devised and implemented. Watch this space.

Fundraising:

-  ‘Ride the Bellarine’ is on Sunday, April 15^th. See John Paton if able to volunteer. Raffle tickets for the donated BBQ were issued to members.

 - Gary Newton will speak to members on Polio in Australia on 27/3/2018.He can be viewed on the Ride the Bellarine website.

Market: Many hands on deck will be needed for the Market on Easter Monday 2/3/2018.

Social:

- 17/4/2018 – Drive in Movie.

- 17/5/2018 – Car Rally.

Youth: The RYLA program will be held this year. RYPEN will not.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course. The course is to be held for two days over the weekend of 17^th & 18^th March. The course alerts people to the early signs of mental health problems in teenagers and young adults and what may be done to instigate treatment and support. There has not been overwhelming interest but the course will go ahead. There are 24 places available.

- The Graham Bath Community Development Award program is well underway for this year The Primary Schools have been contacted and visited. Parents are being involved. There are 50 students interested.

A student has expressed interest in participating in the 2019 Youth Exchange Program.

An interview will be arranged.

 The national Youth Science Program held annually in Canberra in January is generating interest. The Club will assist towards some of the costs of an attendee from the Bellarine.

Vocational: The successful nominees and winners for the four categories in the Service Award will be presented at the meeting on 20/3/2018. Members of the Club formed a selection panel.

Community: The meeting on the 13/3/18 was held at the Nature Reserve. The ‘Groove’ provided the meal that consisted of curries and rice, fruit salad and slice.

Discussion is ongoing with future plans for the Lookout Reserve and the Grubb Road pathway.

Footy Tipping: It’s on again so if you need to replenish the cellar and have some fun, see Alex Magee, part with $50 and you are in. Please register as requested.

On to Conference: The District Conference will be held in Mount Gambier this year from 6-8^th April. Information and Registration forms are available on the District website. The theme is ‘Making a Difference.’ The full registration cost is $210.00.

A coach and block accommodation can be arranged at $299.00. Contact Lynne Carlson.

Guest Speakers: Stewart a District Ranger, and Fiona, President of the Friends of the Nature Reserve. There is a close working relationship with Parks Victoria to manage the reserve with very limited funding from the Government. There are 9 parks/reserves in Victoria who have to divide the $12,000 allocated to this area. The Community through donation and fundraising activities supplies other funding. The land for the reserve was available in 1969 and 1973.

RI Drysdale built the building on the site in 1961

The vegetation is not all indigenous and the reserve has become a woodland area through well-meant mismanagement. The hope in the future is to manage the reserve better and to restore the original grassland conditions. With the development of the Oakdene estate it is realized that different infrastructure is needed. There is also a need to revise the use of the building and install a better power supply.

Fiona is keen to involve schools and the wider community in advertising the projects and educational resources available. The development of the ‘Protector’ mascot, a wallaby needs promotion also. Children from surrounding kindergartens come to the reserve everyday. It is planned to develop a welcoming aspect of the reserve and to encourage care and respect for the vital nature of ecology and its dependent wildlife that either lives or visits the area.

It is hoped that there can be some area in which the Club can become involved in the future.

APOLOGIES ARE NECESSARY IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND A MEETING. THOSE WHO DO NOT CONFORM WILL BE SENT A BILL, AS THE CLUB HAS TO PAY IF NO APOLOGY IS REGISTERED.

Thank you:  A George.

Vol: 36 No: 35

Theme: Literacy Month.

Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster:

11/3/2018 - 24/3/2018 John Paton. 25/3/2018 - 7/8/2018 Dick Clay.

Report of Meeting: 6/3/2018.  Club Assembly.

Guests: Chris Watson prospective new member.

President:

Announcements: Rod Greer spoke about a project, which has originated outside the district involving both physical and monetary action. It is called ‘Slide into Sri Lanka and would operate mainly operate in the Northern areas of the country, an area much affected by the Tamil Tiger offensives. The army would be involved in the program as well.  It is similar to DIK and will aim to develop a school for girls in a home building. The Flemington and Belmont Rotary Clubs in combination with a club in Colombo has provided unwanted / out of date playground equipment for this school. It is the only equipment in an area the size of Melbourne. The project has expanded with more clubs becoming interested. The plan is to reuse suitable unwanted equipment, which is easily reassembled (there will be an easily understood work book supplied) in the chosen areas.

The equipment currently being considered is from the COGG. RI Highton and Torquay are also interested. The Clubs will select suitable equipment that is easily reassembled, and ensure that legal requirements are in place. Shipping will be through DIK. The project would involve some physical labour. It is hoped to involve and deal with the military and Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka. See Rod if interested.

Administration: APOLOGIES ARE NECESSARY IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND A MEETING. THOSE WHO DO NOT CONFORM WILL BE SENT A BILL, AS THE CLUB HAS TO PAY IF NO APOLOGY IS REGISTERED.

Fundraising:

-  ‘Ride the Bellarine is on Sunday, April 15^th. See John Paton if able to volunteer. Raffle tickets for the donated BBQ were issued to members.

Market: $3200 has been banked from the last effort. The gold coin collection for the View Club netted $1132. $970 from site fees, $72 from the corn toss and $600 from the BBQ. The raffle raised over $100.

Health: Noel Emselle has had his Carpel Tunnel Syndrome attended to, so hopefully his symptoms will be relieved.

Social:

- 17/4/2018 – Drive in Movie.

- 17/5/2018  - Car Rally.

Club Assembly Reports:

Youth: The RYLA program will be held this year. RYPEN will not.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course. The course is to be held for two days over the weekend of 17^th & 18^th March. The course alerts people to the early signs of mental health problems in teenagers and young adults and what may be done to instigate treatment and support. There has not been overwhelming interest but the course will go ahead. There are 24 places available.

- The Graham Bath Community Development Award program is well underway for this year The Primary Schools have been contacted and visited. Parents are being involved. There are 50 students interested.

A student has expressed interest in participating in the 2019 Youth Exchange

Program. An interview will be arranged.

 The national Youth Exchange Program held annually in Canberra in January is generating interest. The Club will assist towards some of the costs.

Vocational: There are several nominations for each category in the Service Awards. The areas being recognized are Apprentice of the Year, (5 nominated), Small Business of the year, (9 nominated), Volunteer of the year (17 nominated), and the Pride in Workmanship Award (5 nominated). These will be presented at the meeting on 20/3/2018. Members of the Club formed a selection panel.

Community: A DIK Collection on Monday 5^th March was successful.

The meeting on the 13/3/18 will be held at the Nature Reserve. The ‘Groove’ will provide the meal but BYO drinks; cutlery and seating etc. will be needed. Bring Mosquito repellant and a torch might be handy, as we will be exploring in the dusk! Cost is $15.00 per head. It is hoped that further involvement will be forthcoming.

 It is still hoped that the water feature will be installed in the Life Saving/Dunes area when the building works are completed.

Discussion is ongoing with future plans for the Lookout Reserve and the Grubb Road pathway.

International: Support for the Solemaid School will be ongoing as will support for Shelter Boxes. Most of the discussion centered on the proposed project in Sri Lanka.

Footy Tipping: It’s on again so if you need to replenish the cellar and have some funs see Alex Magee, part with $50 and you are in. Please register as requested.

On to Conference: The District Conference will be held in Mount Gambier this year from 6-8^th April. Information and Registration forms are available on the District website. The theme is ‘Making a Difference.’ The full registration cost is $210.00.

A coach and block accommodation can be arranged at $299.00. Contact Lynne Carlson.

Rod Bush showed a short video on how our club ‘makes a difference’ at the last meeting. This video is in response to a request from the District to be shown at the conference in April. Members felt that the work done by Rod was very good and offered suggestions for further consideration. A further revision has been sent to members for comment.

Thank you: 

A George