Thank you to all who came along to last week’s meeting where Sabrina from D’Angelo’s Winery was our guest speaker. A very interesting history of the D’Angelo winery and how the environment can affect the grapes and therefore the end product. We were treated to tasting of three different types of wine, all of them rather drinkable! Sabrina very kindly has offered a donation to our Club for an upcoming fundraising event too.
This coming weekend sees us donning our finery (Rotary shirts, caps etc etc) and heading down the hill to Pakenham for our All American Car Show! As we know, the event has always been very well attended in Gembrook and we’re hoping to attract even more cars and people to this bigger venue. Please continue to tell your family and friends about it. See you there!!
Cocktails on the Catwalk is becoming another signature event for our club. It’s certainly a fun evening and one to look forward to. Please be on the lookout for items or vouchers that can be included in our lucky balloons, raffles etc for the night. These are a terrific top up to our fundraising and one that our patrons seem to really enjoy. Time to start stocking up!
District Conference… Yep, still time to register!!! Just saying….
Conundrum for the week…solutions welcomed….how to get the President to remember to write her spiel for Sparkle before being reminded by the Editor!? (sincerely sorry, Kris)
See y’all around like a Rotary Wheel!
Last Week's Meeting
A very big thank you to Shalini Penny for stepping in last week and taking notes of our meeting.
The Club Assembly meeting last night was a small affair with at least half the club as apologies! No guest speaker and finished early. Vicki was Chairperson.
Catherine welcomed all to the 1st meeting for the year and said we have a busy year ahead. Look at the dates in the Sparkle: She advised that for District 98210, 5 clubs of the Gippsland collective have banded together to collect funds for the Bushfire appeal. Donations are being taken.
Conference is 20th – 22nd March. Ian gave a quick run-down. Friday night will be a meal at the Star Hotel at 7pm. Cost $30 followed by a Ghost Tourat 8.45pm. Cost $15. Accommodation costs are believed to be $150-$160 per room but still tbc. Saturday afternoon a Riverboat Tour is included in the Registration fee. Gayle has a committee working on the fancy-dress costumes. The event’s theme is Mascaraed and Gayle is looking at combining this with Rotary connecting the World.
All American Car Display & Mancave, Sunday 16th February at Toomuc Reserve, Packenham. Russ Neilson provided a report on behalf of Richard and the committee. Estimate 1000 cars to be displayed and 3000 attendees. Members to attend from 7am. 4 car parking sites available. Event clashes with Football club’s market however still time to resolve issues. More information to come.
40th Anniversary of the club is on 28th March and will be celebrated on Sunday 3rd May at the Yarra Ranges Winery. Details to come.
Lorna reminded all that we should continue to collect used postage stamps and foreign coins which are passed onto UNICEF via District. Also continue to collect plastic bottle tops.
John Shaw advised that he is again taking part in the District Bike Ride, which will take place the week ahead of Conference and the route is via the painted silos and over 550kms. He will be looking for sponsorship with funds going to Australian Rotary Health.
Completion of a great project
You may remember the club donated $2,500 to the Gembrook Pre-School to upgrade their kitchen. Some members attended the cheque presentation last year.
We have had notification from Melissa Williams that the project has been completed and what a difference!! She has sent her sincere thanks to the club and has indicated to PP PHF Russ Nielsen that an invitation to the celebration of the new kitchen will be wending its way to us.
Community Notices
Events
We are regularly asked to share information on other Rotary Club or community group events. Rather than list all of them in Sparkle, please check out them out HERE
CONFERENCE
IF YOU ARE COMING DON'T FORGET TO BOOK ON LINE
District Conference is looming and will be held in Echuca/Moama 21 - 22 March. Tickets can be purchased NOW at www.9810rotaryconference.org.au Please contact PP Ian Ash if you need details about accommodation and planning in general.
PLEASE LET IAN KNOW IF YOU HAVE TOLD HIM YOU ARE ATTENDING!!
Emerald Village Community
Emerald Village Community update can be found HERE.
For good food, good fellowship and the opportunity for service through Rotary we give thanks
Rotary Toast
To Australia and the people of Australia (toast) To Rotary International (toast)
Advance Australia Fair
Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.
