Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President John Peacham 0431 618 359
Next week we have the AGM and club consultations
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina
Guest Speakers: ROMAC - Paul Duke with Charlie and Rachel Nelson
Guests: Rob's assistants Joanne and Noel
Attendance: 25 members 2 guests
Welcome
President John invoked 'Service Above Self' in his welcome. Successful BBQs were held at Detmold and Bunnings in the Christmas - New Year period.....thank you to the volunteers. Jerry Casburn is experiencing a difficult recovery at the RAH.
Paul Duke - ROMAC
Paul lamented a bad day at the office......dropped the Thrift Shop key in the bin.......failed to activate his credit card......and last but not least, had received a phone call to inform him that our 2 ROMAC guests Rachel and Charlie Nelson were unable to attend due to sea sickness on a Port River Cruise today.
ROMAC - Rotary Oceanic Medical Association for Children - brings children under 18 to Australia for treatment which is unavailable in their islands. Paul described some of the difficulties experienced in this quest with 3 patients with serious jaw issues out of PNG:
Vascolynne received successful surgery when treated as a 15yo but did not maintain her exercises and is now too old to have another ROMAC operation
Archie Paul was scheduled to come to Australia but has disappeared into the Highlands
Nelson Francis has a massive lower jaw issue but on arrival in Australia it was found to be inoperable
There have been 4 ROMAC operations scheduled into the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital since Covid.
Stanic Stanton from the Solomon Islands had a large cyst on his back which was successfully removed.
Castro Dausulic a 14 yo from the Solomons had a large tumour at the back of his nose, which was causing significant weight loss, successfully removed.
Charlie Nelson from Vanuatu has been here since September and suffers from cerebral palsy and a deformed left foot. He has had 3 operations to straighten his foot. He will now be able to walk far better with a small prosthesis.
Edwin, the latest arrival from the Solomons is also having a large nose tumour removed in a 7 hour operation and will be here for 3 months.
Paul advised that Unley is well represented on the ROMAC local committee with himself, Rhonda, Brendan and Bronwyn Kenny. He praised Ronald McDonald House for the care they provide to the visiting children and parents.
Presidential announcements
A big BBQ weekend is coming up with the Mitre 10 on Saturday, Australia Day for Unley City Council on Sunday and Bunnings on Monday. We need plenty of help - a note will be sent out to nail enough volunteers.
The Variety Club has 2 one-day visits for kids with disabilities to the zoo each year - April and September. They would now wish to expand this to 2 days each time. John has liaised with our co-sausage crematers namely RC Campbelltown and its has been agreed that more clubs need to be involved.
Our AGM and club consultations are next week. Potential vacancies to fill include Secretary, Treasurer and International Service Director. John needs a temporary Chair for Community Service in the absence of Jerry
Our Thrift Shop lease runs out in June. It was resolved, by show of hands, that Secretary Greg approach our landlady re lease renewal.
Invoices covering 6 month membership fees were despatched today. Some members have failed to pay their subs and need to do so. Those who fail to pay after reminders have been issued will be in default and this could lead to membership suspension. John is reviewing the charges being debited against the membership account to ensure it is not being overloaded.
Spots
Vivienne Wood advised that book manager Madeleine and electricals tester Trevor McGuirk will no longer be helping at the Thrift Shop due to other pursuits. We will therefore no longer accept electricals. A note of thanks is to be sent. Judy Barton will be in charge of the books. Ken volunteered to fill in for Jason at the shop on Saturday afternoon.
Rhonda Hoare exhorted members to support the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Auxiliary which is holding a fundraising film event at 5.30pm on Sunday 16 February - film is Mad about the Boy with Bridget Jones, cost $30.
Finale
Graham scooped the raffle pool [with questions being raised, due to him issuing the tickets] but generously gave the chocolates to Kate
The meeting closed in a timely fashion.......but the finalising joke didn't cut the mustard.
Rotary International News
Our favorite posts of 2024
Posted on
Emanuelle and Sabrina Barreto are both very active with Rotary Youth Exchange. Their May blog post is one of our favorite of the year.
By Arnie Grahl, blog editor
One of the best things about managing and editing our blog is that I get to read so many great stories from Rotary members. Truly committed to the motto of Service Above Self, these dedicated volunteers put in countless hours to make their communities – and the world – better places. One downside is that so many posts fade into obscurity as other stories come in all year long.
In the spirit of closing out 2024, and to give a little more love to some of these fantastic stories, I asked my colleagues to select their favorite posts of the year. Coincidentally, most of these also got the most views. Here is the resulting compilation of our five favorite blog posts:
Rockin’ Rotaract in Bangladesh
Saddam Hossain Roni organized a huge charity concert in Dhaka City with members of the Rotaract Club of Dhaka Orchid. It introduced Rotaract to 12,000 enthusiastic fans of Bangladeshi rock. (While technically first posted in November 2023, it received most of its views this year.)
Like mother, like daughter
Sabrina Barreto has been immersed in Rotary Youth Exchange since she was a child. Her mother, Emanuelle, began hosting exchange students when Sabrina was a year old. It was only natural for Sabrina to take part in her own short- and long-term exchanges when she reached her teens. Both mother and daughter are still involved in the program and are truly Youth Exchange superstars.
More than skin deep
This story of hope, healing, and unity takes the concept of “life-changing” to the next level. Rajeev Bhalla shares a simple idea that the Rotary Club of Ranipur, Uttar Pradesh, India, developed to help people with burn scars. Changing Faces to Change Lives goes beyond medical procedures to provide emotional healing, counseling, and support.
3 magical steps to grow membership
The Rotary Club of Seoul-Hansoo, Korea, grew from 100 members to 433 in January of this year. How did they do it? Rotary Foundation Trustee Chun-Wook Hyun shared their secrets in this post from February.
A new talent and a new mission
George Lewis combines a newfound talent with his desire to do good in the world. After retiring as a stockbroker, he enrolled in an adult education oil painting class and got hooked. After teaching himself to paint with only a palette knife – no brushes – he’s created 800 pet portraits to raise money for cleft-lip surgeries.
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix - Next one is Friday 7 February 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 28 January 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Event: Club AGM + consultations
Welcoming team: Judy Barton & Graham Beckett
Tuesday 4 February 2025 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina
Guest Speaker: TBA
Welcoming team: Patsy Beckett & Valerie Bonython
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 25 January 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Ken Haines (Jason Booth) & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5:
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood@ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 8.30am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next scheduled is however Saturday 25 January 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Paul lamented a bad day at the office......dropped the Thrift Shop key in the bin.......failed to activate his credit card......and last but not least, had received a phone call to inform him that our 2 ROMAC guests Rachel and Charlie Nelson were unable to attend due to sea sickness on a Port River Cruise today.
