G’day Rotarians of the Emerald and District Persuasion,
I hope you have all enjoyed a week filled with friendship and fun, at a social distancing level. The long weekend allowed some relaxation time with family at least…and perhaps a sneaky night or two away. ;)
Last meeting was another first for our club…an induction and re-induction via virtual, online means. The things we can do and the places we can go! We welcomed Don Borg back into the fold, all the way from Mornington. As we all know, Don has been a member of our club for a very long time, then moved away from the area but was bestowed with an honorary membership. It has been great to have Don pop up now and again, but now the asset of technology and online meetings as allowed Don to rejoin our club as a fully-fledged member with all the privileges of such. Congratulations and thank you Don!!
We also welcomed Peter Ravenscroft as a brand new, no-longer-a-visitor, member!!! Peter has been a friend of Tina & Ken’s for quite a while and has had numerous conversations about Rotary with them over a few years. The timing is finally right allowing Peter to become a member of our Club! Sponsored by Ken Miller, the presentation was made in person by Ken and I during the zoom meeting, allowing the rest of the meeting to clap and cheer at the appropriate times! Lol! Congratulations and Welcome, Peter!!
Our guest speaker, Michelle, provided a very meaningful and emotional presentation (although somewhat difficult to hear at times), regarding the grief process of losing a child. Her daughter Erin, was killed locally in a car accident. Michelle wrote a book called “Finding Erin,” which she found very cathartic for herself, but it has also proved to be helpful for others going through similar situations. I believe there will be a link in The Sparkle if you are interested in buying a copy.
The Interact Club of St Margarets and BGS have completed their first project; delivering letters and cards to residents of aged care facilities in Berwick. Some of the letters were emailed as one facility wasn’t accepting physical mail, whereas others were hand written and delivered to the office by one of the members. They were all gratefully received and enjoyed by the recipients. The Interact Club is starting on their next project, making 1000 origami cranes in different colours to recognise Gender Equality and bring awareness to the Interact Club within the school. This may also become a fundraising activity with people able to Name a Crane. It’s terrific to see the young people taking initiative and very interesting to hear their ideas.
There are only a few weeks left before Vicki and her Board take over the reins of the Club, so I’m hoping this week will be a bit of a fun, social meeting. Please drag out your brightest shirts from the back of the wardrobe, pop them on and bring a bit of colour to our meeting. I sincerely hope that as many members as possible can join this meeting…I’ve noticed numbers dropping off slightly, but if we can finish the year strongly, that’d be great! Keep it going into the new Rotary year so Vicki and co can enjoy the momentum we have built!
Finally, just a reminder about the upcoming Board Meeting on Thursday night, via zoom. The final joint board meeting for the incoming and outgoing boards. Please try to make it - watch your emails for the link.
Ok! A Conundrum or two to finish off…
Alone I am 24th, with a friend I am 20. Another friend and I am unclean. What am I?
A man was found dead in his study. He was slumped over his desk and a gun was in his hand. There was a cassette recorder on his desk. When the police entered the room and pressed the play button, they heard, “I can’t go on. I have nothing to live for.” Then there was the sound of a gunshot. How did the detective know immediately that the man had been murdered and it wasn’t suicide?
Have a brilliant and bright week!! C xxx
ZOOM MEETING 9 JUNE
Emerald Rotary is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Last Week's Meeting
Welcome Guests
Don Borg
Annie Fenby and
Peter Ravenscroft
Congratulations to Chris Adams for 36 yrs as a member of Rotary
Ros Weadman – one-year anniversary (a long way to go!!)
Michelle Elphinstone – Guest Speaker - Welcome
Honorary Members – to recognise distinguished membership. Welcome Don Borg as an Honorary Member!! No we haven’t got rid of him yet (only kidding Don we love you really).
We welcome Peter Ravenscroft to Rotary – Mentor Ken Miller. We are all looking forward to meeting Peter in person and celebrating his membership in person. Thank you Peter for bearing with the Zoom ceremony :)
Peter said thank you for the welcome and looking forward to working with us.
Peter and Roy come from the same town and not far from each other in the UK.
District Training Assembly
Was excellent, thank you from Vicki to all who attended – online provided options
There are also a lot of online learning courses on Rotary International website, take a look and you will be surprised at what you can learn
Training sessions are still on the District website so you can catch up and learn more.
Guest Speaker – Michelle Elphinstone
Thank you, Susie, for the introduction to Michelle
Some months ago, a lady came to the pharmacy and asked me to certify some documents.
While i was signing i read " death certificate" and saw that it was a 27-year-old person. I expressed my condolences to the lady, the mum of the girl Erin and she said" You might have heard about the car accident in Cockatoo..., that was our daughter, Erin."
I then remembered reading in the paper about the tragic accident, where a car rolled down a hill and it took 2 days to find the car and the young lady, trapped and dead in her car.
Two weeks ago she came in and asked to see me. She said" Susi, i have to show you something! I have published a book about my daughter and in America (where another of her daughter lived for a while) it is already a huge success!" "Finding Erin....a true story of loss and love "
I bought her book straight away and she wrote in the cover " To Susi, Love is Eternal - Michelle"
And she told me that she had founded a support group for grieving people ERIN (Emotional response in Need) - it is a support group for people who have lost somebody under tragic circumstances.
Without knowing , that Michelle had founded this group , I had left a note in her history , asking her if she would be willing to meet with the mum, who has lost partner and 13 year old boy last year in the car accident , where a tree fell on a car (at our public speaking night, one kid talked about this boy!). This mum felt very lost and i had tried to find support groups for her and i was very pleased to learn, that Michelle had made contact with her and they were helping each other.
I have nearly finished the book and it is amazing to read and gives support and help for all sort of grieving and overcoming hard situations.
Michelle had a difficult childhood
Spent time with sister and horses
1984 married Garry
Son Brad and 3 daughters including Erin, Susie and Jen
Erin loved horses like her mum
Erin was a receptionist at cosmetic clinic and part time model
10th May 2017 just before Mother’s Day Erin left home never to returnTrying t
Didn’t return home, spent 2 days looking for her
Friday morning – police found daughter
Car on Belgrave Gembrook road down an embankment
Book is a best seller, see the link below – a best seller in the USA.
Meet Erin, a wonderful, free-spirited daughter who was universally loved by all who knew her, a part-time model who rubbed shoulders with celebrities and sports stars, but a down to earth young woman who loved being home with her family, friends, homes, and animals.
We’re never meant to bury our children, yet we never know if our next goodbye is our last. Life can be cruel; it can be over in a heartbeat. Writing this book has been an enriching, love-filled journey that will bring comfort and help to others dealing with loss, pain, and suffering. While we’ve lost Erin, we’re truly blessed to have her to love for eternity. This is my story of loss, love, and connection. Writing has given me the strength and belief to share with others that are living with similar heartache.
Thank you, Michelle for your courage and sharing your story, it will be so helpful to so many. We would love to see Garry and Michelle at the meetings when we reconvene.
Hello from our Rotary Friends on the Isle of Bute, UK
Hi Russell
Good to hear from you. Best wishes from Frances and I in these strange times and greetings from the Rotary Club of Rothesay to Emerald Rotary Club.
Our club continues to meet by Zoom and we are involved in helping to meet local needs. As we are on the island with only essential suppliers and those with serious issues allowed to come and go we are ,so far ,relatively safe.
Our son and daughter keep us up to date with what is happening in Victoria. Seems pretty positive. Who knows when we can visit Australia again or when our family can visit us?
Regards
Andy and Frances
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Rotary Toast
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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.
