Welcome
The meeting opened with guest speaker Anthony Abbracciavento who is also blind playing us with two composition that he compiled on the grand piano in the main room
We than returned to the meeting room where President Rhonda opened the meeting and Valerie Ey introduced our guest speakers.
Guest Speaker: -
Jo Minniss is the Manager of the Statewide Support Service at the South Australian School and Services for Vision Impairment (SASSVI), where she leads a passionate team of 15 specialist teachers. Together, they support over 250 students with vision impairment across South Australia.
Her team travels across the state to ensure students have the tools, skills, and confidence they need to thrive at school and beyond.
Jo and her team are deeply committed to creating equitable learning opportunities for students with vision impairment. One of their key focus areas is access to music education, and they are currently working to expand the Braille Music Short Course—a program that opens the world of music to students who are blind or have low vision.
With your support, this valuable program can continue to grow—empowering young people with vision impairment to explore their talents, connect with others, and develop lifelong skills through music.
Antony Abbracciavento is a remarkable young man currently completing a double degree in Arts and Music at university, majoring in music composition and politics. He was recently named the South Australian 7NEWS Young Achiever Award winner in the Connecting Communities category.
After attending primary school at SASSVI, Antony completed his secondary education at Seaview High School, where he was supported by a highly skilled School Services Officer and a specialist teacher from the SASSVI Statewide Support Team.
Antony was a regular participant in the Braille Music Short Course, and this year, he joins the program as a member of the teaching staff.
As a result of the travel restrictions due to Covid when previously students had to travel interstate to attend courses. In 2020 the Braille short courses have been provided in South Australia to the benefit of students especially in Country areas.
Antony shared how the Braille Music Short Course has supported his learning journey and this was supported by videos showing examples of braille music resources in action. and recorded interview with several young country students outlining the value that they gained from attending the Braille music short courses.
Spots
Patsy Beckett provided us with good news that the Mitre 10 BBq's for the month had Had provided a Profit of $477 and that the Bunning's BBQ had sales of $1315.
Note: the writer of the bulletin has added that costs for the BBQ were $359 giving us a profit of $956.
Simon Beckett provided us with great news that both the trailers,shelving, fridge and all other Unley Rotary possessions are now installed in Robert's garage and we will not be needing the shed in Brighton.
Simon also advised that there were feed back forms available and would also be emailed as the Restaurant staff have asked the Club for feed back on how they have done over the past month.
Paul Duke ecstatically advised that there was a single sale at the Thrift shop of $191. Not sire if this is a record.
Marie Rothe advised need more people for the quiz night to fill tables. currently 142 attendees but hope to get to last years attendance of 200.
Vivienne Wood - advised that Hutt Street Centre have posted a story about the shelter bags on their Facebook page and that we should also have a look.
Note: the writer of the bulletin has shared this post to the Unley Rotary Facebook page for all to see.
Judy Oates From Edwardstown Rotary club advised that they had a new Project - Feed a Farmer that aimed assist farmers who are not only struggling to feed their stock, but themselves as well. Judy invited Unley Rotary to participate.
Finale
President Rhonda advised that a exchange student that club sponsored to Canada 50 years ago is returning to Canada for a reunion. She would be taking a miniature peace pole from Unley Rotary to celebrate the event.
President Rhonda President Rhonda also advised that she and Simon Beckett were working diligently on the musical garden for District 9510 and were meeting with the Adelaide Mayor. More info to come
President Rhonda advised that her sister Marylin had completed more scarfs for the homeless and passed a large bag of wool to Ross Smith so he could get started??
The Raffle was drawn. and mush to the boos in the audience Secretary Greg, AGAIN won the money and Valerie Ey won the chocolates.
President Rhonda closed the meeting on time.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Dubai selected as site for the 2027 Rotary International Convention
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has tentatively been selected to host the 2027 Rotary International Convention, 22 -26 May. This will be the first convention in the Middle East.
The Rotary International Board selected Dubai for its strong proposal, accessibility, ability to host a convention of this size, and the opportunity to grow Rotary in the region.
Dubai’s selection remains tentative until the 2027 Convention Committee convenes in the host city in November to verify that the conditions for confirmation have been met. The Board will issue final approval at its January 2026 meeting.
After the Texas floods, there’s an outpouring of compassion and care
Rotary members lend their support to flood victims
By Geoffrey Johnson
In the hours before sunrise on 4 July, more than 10 inches of rain fell on Kerr County, Texas, USA. By some estimates, it added up to 100 billion gallons of water, more than the daily flow of water over Niagara Falls. The torrential downpour caused the Guadalupe River to rise 36 feet, killing more than 130 people and damaging thousands of properties.
In the days that followed, as he stepped in to lend a hand in the recovery, Larry Agee met a survivor who was distraught and still in shock. “He’d lost everything,” Agee said. The man was fixated on one loss in particular: The tall flagpole in front of his home had been swept away and he desperately wanted it back.
gee has run into this sort of thing before. A member of the Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset in Florida, Agee is the executive director and co-founder of Disaster Aid USA. The organization, which started as a Rotary club project, today has more than 90,000 volunteers nationwide and has responded — with expertise and essential equipment — to more than 90 domestic disasters. Kerr County was Agee’s 63rd domestic deployment, so this survivor’s stress-filled lament was nothing new for him.
“We are meeting these people at the most stressful moment in their lives,” Agee said. “If they want to talk for 30 minutes, we stop and listen to their stories and show compassion. When I see that tension begin to ease from their face, I know my job is done. The hard work may be just beginning, but my job is done.”
As they do in all these situations, Agee and the other volunteers with Disaster Aid USA coordinated with local officials and Rotary’s district leaders, taking advantage of the Rotary network that’s already in place. But they weren’t the only Rotary members offering to help. The Rotary Foundation has already approved a nearly $25,000 disaster response grant for District 5840, which will help pay for crucial equipment for responders and clothing and other necessities for survivors. And Rotary members from across the country were expressing their willingness to help.
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 5 September 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Saturday 30 August is our SUPER QUIZ at Fullarton Park Community Centre
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: 6 September 2025
Early: Haydn Baillie & John Peacham | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 13 September 2025
Early: Greg Mcleod & Wendy Andrews | Late: Vera-Ann Stacy & Astrid Sorrell
Week 3: 16 August 2025
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Deb Forbes (Vera Holt) & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 23 August 2025
Early: John Kikkert (Stephen Baker) & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 30 August 2025
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 6 September 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 29 September 2025
The Tale End.....
It's About Time
The elderly congregation was perplexed when the preacher pulled out a pocket watch and threw it to the end of the room. It slammed into the wall and fell to the floor in pieces, but the watch kept ticking.
"What does this demonstration tell you about life?" The preacher challenged the congregation.
A man in the back slowly stood up, leaning on his cane. He stared down at the ticking clock.
"Well, preacher, I suspect this watch shows that time flies and stops for no one."
WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?
Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.
One day they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, “Now don’t get mad at me…..I know we’ve been friends for a long? time…..but I just can’t think of your name. I’ve thought and thought, but I can’t remember it. Please tell me what your name is.”
Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally, she said, “How soon do you need to know?”
