Last Week's Meeting
President Sangeeta’s Opening Remarks:
- Apologies were read out
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- Shalini – guests Jeff Latter and David Porter from Emerald Scouts
- Sangeeta’s mum and dad - a warm welcome to the Rotary Club and Victoria!
Induction of New Member Paula Jones
Welcome, Paula it's so good to have you on board!
Toast to the Elderly - PHF PP John Ritchie - Beryl Bartacek
I was born in Walthamstow, Essex, England. At the age of one, my family and I moved to Hornchurch. I grew up as the youngest among two older brothers, both of whom served in the war and fortunately returned safely.
After completing my 10th grade with high grades, I pursued a career in Agriculture, which had always been my passion. However, when the war veterans returned, they were offered opportunities that led me to transition from my agricultural work. Consequently, I relocated to London and found employment as a bookkeeper.
It wasn't long before I discovered my true calling, which eventually led me to attend teachers college and become an educator. In 1955, I ventured to Western Australia to start my teaching career and continued to explore and work throughout Australia. It was during a visit to the Sydney Zoo that I met my future husband, who hailed from Tasmania. We tied the knot in Tasmania and then moved raised our family in Oakleigh South from 1965.
As the years passed, we eventually retired and settled in Emerald. During this time, I had the privilege of working at the Nobelius Heritage Museum and took great pride in being part of the committee that established a library for Emerald.
Though I now face vision impairment, I remain resilient and determined. I have reconnected with some of my U3A friends here in Emerald Glades and am leading a fulfilled and positive life, savoring every moment of this new chapter.
Dave Porter and Jeff Latter - Emerald Scouts and presentation of $500 donation
Jeff was community volunteer of the year!
- The scouts are organising a 100 year celebration this year
- 1981 Rotary sponsored 2 youths to go to RYLA and Jeff was one of them!Welcome back Jeff
- In 1989 Rotary sponsored the scout hall
- 1998 Rotary assisted with the hall as part of the 75-year celebration
- The Rotary club is again supporting the scouts by sponsoring the centenary badge which goes on the back of their scarves
- Scouting was established in 1907 when Baden Powell started the movement
- 1908 Scouting for boys started in Victoria – in the early times there were 2 or 3 orgs then they merged later
- 1909 1st Malvern
- St Marks church started Emerald Scouts in 1923 the group reformed in 1930 under Rev. Porter and Major Ogilvy (who was associated with Clematis fire brigade)
- The troop lapsed in the 1940s
- 1948 St Marks created a new group and the scouts have been continuous since then
- Jeff and Dave are here to celebrate the centenary
- Jeff thanked the club for sponsoring the badge
- John Shaw presented a cheque from the club for $500
- 18th November is the celebration event-please come along and join in the celebrations
Behind the Badge - Rowan French
Rowan was Born 1961 and lived in Dandenong North and enjoyed playing football for St Michaels and playing the clarinet in grade 6.
Rowan went to Hailebury and it seemed, managed to missed meeting up with Marcus.
He undertook work experience with Email Limited started in sea containers. Work experience in the summer and was offered an apprenticeship where he was rotated between several divisions and learnt the hard way time and again until you had all the necessary components and build machine from start to finish and then it is tested. Rotated from one division to another and learnt so much.
In his 4th and final year his younger brother passed away in a car crash which was devastating for his parents and they have never really been the same since.
Rowan met his wife and got married and 1985 started own business specialising in heating and coolingand in 1986 they had their first child, Evan and at the same time became a driving instructor. In 1988 he bought a new home in Pakenham. But the marriage ended in 1991 and he brought up the children.
1994 got on feet again and restarted his business in air conditioning and breakdowns and is so grateful for the support of the family to assist with pick ups
In 2004 Rowan met Linda – they worked together and have been together ever since!
In 2005 he worked on one of the most expensive houses in the Caribbean. Rowan then worked for Airwell when he came back and moved to a Technical Support role and got off the tools. In 2006 Airwell closed it’s Australian business and he was then offered a role as Victorian Manager of Airconditioning at Sealy International for 18 months but this venture didn’t progress. Airwell subcontracted the rights and ownership of all their parts in Australia to Jeff Grose , who then started J.N.G Australia. Jeff offered both Linda and Rowan a management role , Rowan as Technical Support Manager, Linda as Spare Parts Coordinator and purchaser. He has been with JNG for 15 years now and is the largest air-conditioning spare parts distributor in the Southern Hemisphere. Rowan works with Technicians having difficulty in the field.
Outside of work Rowan’s interests are renovations and he loves working around home – he especially loves working with timber. He and Linda enjoy caravanning when they can get away.
Rowan is so thankful to be part of Rotary and said “you people are wonderful. It’s a great eye-opener and a great thing to be part of.”
Committee Reports and Announcements
Youth Report – PP PHF Marcus Adams
- Ian and Kris Ash attended interviews for National Youth Forum
- ESC Vegetable Garden opening with all stakeholders (it is a great project)
- PP PHF Catherine Elfick has done good relationship with Berwick Interact
- We are sponsoring the youth Emerald Arts Society again this year – good to carry on the relationship
- Roster for the breakfast club – please let Marcus know if you can help out
Market – PP PHF Catherine Elfick
- Held Sat. 9 September
- Weather put 8-10 stalls off but had 13 show up and everyone was happy apart from lack of shoppers
- Sat. October 14 is the next market – Halloween theme
- $700+ takings this month
- 10 stalls signed up for October which is good
Running Festival – John Henderson
- Thank you from Nigel who was organising the Running Festival
- The water station and the marshalls in the park
- It was a successful day so thank you for all the help
- Reflections of day – Ian Ash
- Big thank you to everyone from the club
- Finished race without oxygen
- Running too fast for Kris to take a photo
- Lady with camera overtook him 3 times
- Elder gents in 80’s only saw their heals
- Overtaken by a speed walker
The Water Station Team
Cheering PP PHF Ian Ash on!!! He did it ... 13m up hill :)
Meanwhile .. back at the water station life was not being taken seriously.
Membership Marketing & PR – PP PHF Ian Ash
- Process for membership drafted and is with the board and getting feedback
- One person interested in membership still from the Hub Event
- Greg Adams working on survey
- PR
- Social media - lots have being posted please check them out and share!
- Halloween Poster KFRWPB poster and Book Poster
- Shalini Page 14 Ranges
- KFR emails to schools – Shalini
- Press release with information from Monash
- QR code use has been increased in an effort to aid easy access to registration sites
Congratulations to PP PHF Shalini Penny for getting an article about the Hills Hub Community Group Expo that helped raise awareness of the club and brought in some wonderful new members!
.. and there is more!! The Vegie Garden story at Emerald Secondary College was in the local paper - well done again Shalini - you are on a roll!!!
Fundraising – Kelly McAllister
- Halloween Disco 28 October - we will bump in 5pm and it will run to 10pm so we can clear up after the event – proceeds to go towards Wheelchairs for Kids
- 21 October – Bunnings BBQ – roster will be circulated
- Xmas Raffle Bonanza Stockings filled with goodies – raffle tickets at Woollies and the Pharmacy.Anything to contribute??Regifting
International – PP PHF Tina McInerney
- Donated $1550 to end polio in the first 10 so the donation will be levered with other investments
- Tenderfoot donation will go out this month.In Kenya – established 2001 and was a program of club member Ray Adams.Sponsorship of a child for the year $295 per child.We are supporting 3 children this year (we have been sponsoring 6).John Shaw has been to Tenderfoot and all funds are very well spent
- If anyone is interested in helping out – put in each to have one more sponsorship
- RYLA – Tina part of RYLA Committee – Rotary Youth Leadership Award – Tina will be seeing who would like to come along and see what is all about
KFRWPB – PP PHF John Shaw – 26 November and make sure you are available!!
- 75 sleeps
- 74 registered
- Kids have raised $800 so far
- Total cash so for $2768 from tickets and fundraising
- $22,500 sponsorship so far
- Thank you to John Henderson for all the work!
Environment – Allan Douglas
- Lots of snakes at Emerald Lake Park now, so be careful
- Plenty of members providing recycling
- Event Emerald Lake and Gembrook – more details coming soon
Strategy Report – PP PHF Ian Ash
- Sets a direction for the club
- We punch above our weight so had 7 key priorities and areas of focus
- The club has continually improved abilities to meet the objectives
- Idea to publicise good speakers to the community will be taken up and the first one will be author visiting in a few week's time
Sergeant John
Great fine session again this week – we all left that bit poorer
Pres. Sangeeta Closing Remarks
- Thank you to the scout masters for coming along
- Thank you Rowan for Behind the Badge
- Thank you to mum and dad too
Don't Forget- if you are not coming to the Tuesday night meeting,
please let Lorna know by noon on Monday.
