Welcome
President John opened the meeting, welcomed our guests and tuned up for our 90th birthday celebration (17 April). We will be at La Scala next week. There is sadness with the death of Pope Francis.
Committee Reports and Consultations
Community Service - Patsy Beckett
Patsy took over from Jerry when he became ill. Projects:
- $1000 had been spent on shelter bags for the homeless.
- Work has continued on Calperum - a budget of $10,000 had been allocated to make the houses habitable for tourists. There are a number of smaller jobs being completed.
- The Mitre 10 BBQ grosses between $355-500 each Saturday (twice a month) and provides a positive club local presence.
- Christmas puddings were provided for the homeless with the 'soup and sleep' program.
International Service - Graham Beckett
- Three proposals were under consideration for Nepal before the floods, which made all unviable. It has now been decided to finance construction of water collection and piping facilities to provide fresh water to a village, at the cost of $7000. Money donated by Unley Primary School will be also be applied.
- Vaccines in the PNG Highlands do not last with the humid conditions and lack of refrigeration. There is opportunity to provide a solar - battery system for storing them at the appropriate temperature.
- Our club has been financing mosquito nets which have helped reduce malaria in tropical Pacific islands. This is on hold until RAWCS approves the delivery of new nets.......reputedly of higher quality.
- The Solomon Islands' project is still being finalised.
Youth - Rhonda Hoare
- New Peace Pole provisions are planned for Urrbrae High, St Raphaels and Mitcham Primary. The feedback from the Unley Primary exercise when cranes were delivered to Hiroshima and placed in the memorial has been heart warming. Maybe we could instigate a Peace Poster competition among our schools. The Bali bombing memorial garden at Unley Oval may also be a suitable site.
- Last week we sponsored a student, Thin Hlaing from Myanmar, for the Rotary Youth Sailing Challenge and there is another applicant for September.
- We are awaiting advice of any students needing to be sponsored for Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) and Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)
- The next club Quiz Night will be at the Fullarton Park Community Centre on 30 August with numbers restricted to 180. Very successful last year, raising $6000 for youth programs. Get in early! The hunt is on for wine (wine wall) and raffle donations.
- Other youth programs supported include the Youth Orchestra, Operation Flinders and more recently Carclew Art Exhibition.
Rhonda thanked Virginia for tonight's decorations.
Vocational - John Peacham (on behalf of Chris Davis)
- SA Police Officer of the Year (POOTY) applications open on 30 May and close 11 July with the award ceremony at the Wayville Showgrounds on 5 September
- Teacher of the Year Award opens 16 June and closes on 12 September, with the presentation on 21 October
- Pride of Work will probably be shelved now that Unley Council is running its best business competition - there is scope for us to support.
Rhonda aims in her presidential year to focus on PEACE, RESPECT and COMMUNICATION. As a club we need to be far more respectful and communicative with young people and more culturally sensitive. President John endorsed this.Spots
Janet Stone announced that she and Briony Casburn will next Saturday help load a container at RARE (previously DIK) with hospital equipment from McLaren Vale and Repat Hospitals for Nepal.
Vivienne Wood informed that we had sold 50 bags of summer gear in readiness for the replacement with winter stock. John Peacham offered to take the morning shift previously filled by Jerry and Wendy on the first Saturday of the month. Vivienne made a plea for members to volunteer 1 day a month to the Thrift Shop as we need more help.
Rob Freak expressed profound gratitude for Paul's assistance in delivering and siting a fountain purchased at Mitre 10.
John Peacham advised of a mismatch in resources for Bunnings BBQ next Monday with 6 volunteering for the morning shift and only 2 for the afternoon....also an issue with the trailer as Graham Ey will be at Calperum. Resolved by David Short and Ross Burton doing the afternoon shift, and Paul picking up the trailer.
Finale
Club historian Bob Mills won the filthy lucre (he has been waiting a long time) and Paul the chockies
After the meeting closed, there was a grand entry of 90 year old flaming cakes......
From Jo Baxter
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The Major Brian Watters Youth Prevention Influencer (YPI) Award
- Major Watters is the former Chair of the Australian National Council on Drugs, President of Drug Free Australia and Vice President of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board. Major Watters saved countless lives of people who were addicted to drugs.
- What is offered by the Major Brian Watters YPI Scholarship in Oceania?
Drug Free Australia (DFA) is an NGO that is working in close cooperation with the Rotary Action Group for Addiction Prevention.
In partnership, DFA announced an award to be offered in honour of the work of Major Brian Watters AO, to young people between the ages of 17 and 25 who are interested in training to be Youth Prevention Influencers.
The scholarship includes:
- Financial assistance for YPI training, up to $500 as follows:
- the first $100 being awarded at commencement of training as a YPI;
- $100 awarded upon successful completion of the training; $300 awarded upon completion of practical policies and practice to help prevent addiction to nominated community groups/ individuals.
- Training – a 4-hour online session on the nature of addiction and current strategies being used to prevent and/or help people deal with their addiction.
- Mentoring to encourage the development the YPI’s own strategies for drug prevention in their communities.
- Assistance with travel to Vienna to be part of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) at the United Nations headquarters – held in mid-March each year, to join other like-minded young people who influence world governments in drug prevention.
- An expectation to report back to the Rotary Club who supported the candidate.
- What is the application process?
- Individuals between the ages of 16-29 can be nominated by Rotary Clubs, Educational Institutions.
- A registration of interest should be received by 30 May and include:
- Resume with at least 2 referees including those involved in a Rotary Club or other community body.
- A minimum 500-word statement/essay/video entitled – ‘Why and How we could stay Drug Free’
- Email application to admin@drugfree.org.au
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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
57 years of Rotary Youth Exchange
By Ivan Vianna, Rotary Club of Belo Horizonte-Pampulha, Brazil — 16 April 2025
Three generations of Rotary Youth Exchange students from left, Ivan Vianna, his granddaughter Isabella, and his son Gustavo.
It took 22 years after my exchange year to join Rotary as a member. The main reason was that nobody invited me. From my first day as a Rotarian, I became a member of the Youth Exchange District Committee. In 1991, my district had fewer than 15 outbound students. That drove me to find new partnerships by participating in
Rotary International Conventions, Youth Exchange preconventions, regional meetings in North America and Europe, and a trip to Russia.
As time went by, I participated in several national and international organizations, including some outside Rotary related to my engineering field, which helped grow my network. Being active and serving in several organizations as a member of the board, director, or president, enabled me to spread the news about Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program as well as Rotary itself.
A close friend became president of Brazil, and later governor of my state. I was there to assist and do my best to serve my country during his terms. It was beyond any expectations I ever had.
Our District 4760 Program expanded to nearly 100 outbound students, both long and short term, before the program was suspended due to the pandemic. When it returned, our numbers had shrunk by about a third. A few years ago, I stepped down as district committee member, accepting the title of Chair Emeritus (more a label of distinction than a role with daily responsibilities). But I remain ready to step in whenever needed.
I did step in to help my district reestablish partnerships we used to have, and to contact our previous Youth Exchange Officers who became friends through the years. A fringe benefit/reward for anyone who serves as a YEO: you make friends all over the world. I did so, and it’s always a good time to renew those friendships, whether related to exchange partnerships or not.
My granddaughter Isabella is being hosted in Owego, New York, only 50 miles away from Montrose, Pennsylvania, where her father Gustavo and I were also hosted. Three generations of Rotary Youth Exchange students have been hosted in that small area within a 57-year span. Has the world become smaller, or is this coincidence?
I have tried to keep in contact with outbound students from my club, and am a proud sponsor of 18 Rotarians in my Rotary club.
Last February, I joined a safari in Tanzania, led by my dear old friend Tom, himself a Youth Exchange Officer in the state of New York, whom I first met during the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993. When the safari was over, we met a girl in Tanzanian who had been a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Owego two years ago. What a surprise when I told her my granddaughter is currently being hosted in Owego at the same high school. I was able to share how Isabella kept hearing stories about the student from Tanzanian who everyone loved. Isn’t Rotary magical?
So, if you know someone you think would make a good Rotary member, don’t delay. Bring them to a club meeting and begin the process of making a life-long friend.
Ivan Vianna is Rotary Youth Exchange Chairman Emeritus of District 4760 and a member of the Rotary Club of Belo Horizonte-Pampulha, Brazil.
In 2025, we proudly celebrate 50 years of Rotary Youth Exchange as an official program of Rotary International! This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of countless volunteers who ensure each exchange experience is a success. We are always eager to showcase the commitment of these volunteers and program alumni. Do you have a success story related to Rotary Youth Exchange that deserves to be highlighted? If so, please reach out to us at
youthexchange@rotary.org and share your story!
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 2 May 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 29 April 2025 6 for 6.30pm La Scala Restaurant, 169 Unley Rd (Opposite Unley Shopping Centre)
Guest Speaker: Dr George Manos Dentistry in Nepal
Welcoming team: Dennis Liddle & David Middleton
Tuesday 6 May 2025 (Time TBA) Maid of Aukland Hotel, 926 South Rd, Edwardstown
Event: The super quiz with RC Edwardstown
Welcoming team: Dennis Liddle & David Middleton
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
Week 1: 3 May 2025
Early: Haydn Baillie & John Peacham | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 10 May 2025
Early: Greg Mcleod & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 3: 17 May 2025
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 26 April 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: 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 Saturday 3 May 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month, the next being Monday 28 April 2025
The Tale End.....
Rotarians are to avoid politics......this is not about politics, its about lemons
LEMON PICKERS NEEDED IN FLORIDA - ONLY US CITIZENS OR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS NEED APPLY
“Lemon Pickers Needed” read the ad in the newspaper
Ms. Sally Mulligan of Coral Springs , Florida, read it and decided to apply for one of the jobs that most Americans are not willing to do.
She submitted her application for a job in a Florida lemon grove, but seemed far too qualified for the job.
She has a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree from Michigan State University.
For a number of years, she had worked as a social worker and also as a school teacher.
The foreman studied her application, frowned and said, "I see that you are well educated and have an impressive resume.
However, I have to ask you, have you had any actual experience in picking lemons?”
"Well, as a matter of fact, I have," she said.
"I've been divorced three times, owned two Chryslers and voted for Trump
She started work yesterday.
And this is from Donald's cardiologist
A mechanic was working on removing a cylinder head from a Harley motorcycle engine when he noticed a well-known cardiologist waiting in his shop.
The cardiologist was there for a consultation with the service manager about his bike, but the mechanic, spotting him, called out, 'Hey, Doc, wanna take a look at this?'
Surprised, the cardiologist walked over to the mechanic's work area.
The mechanic stood up, wiped his hands on a rag, and asked, 'So, Doc, check this out: I open up the engine, take out the valves, fix them if they're damaged, and put everything back together. When I'm done, it runs just like new. So tell me, why do I make $39,675 a year, while you rake in $1,695,759, even though we're basically doing the same thing?'
The cardiologist paused, smiled, leaned in, and whispered, 'Try doing it with the engine running.'
