Last week was our Service night which aligned with the World Suicide Prevention Day (Wednesday) and RUOK Day. It is for this reason that I'll still be walking for suicide prevention on Sunday 21st to continue the 'out of the shadows' awareness campaign.
From a RUOK perspective, Tanya and I attended a funeral on Thursday for the son of a lifelong friend. He was a young man and due to his illness, he chose to leave us. We all miss him and feel for his family, friends and his CFA family. Please help to raise awareness of mental illness, and ask, whenever you can; RUOK.
It was coincidental, and I must say, appropriate, that our guest speaker last week spoke about her experiences as a Triple000 emergency caller. Harry's presentation was lighthearted, informative and somewhat risqué as I never knew that showering could be so dangerous.
This week, being projects week, we're fortunate to have a hands on activity whereby we'll be packing 200 birthing kits for the Birthing Kits Australia Foundation. There will be no change to the meeting time, however its likely we'll be using two rooms; one to pack and one for dinner. More details will be provided on the night.
For those members who volunteered their time on Sunday 14th to assist with the Puffing Billy 'Running Festival' and shifts at the PBR Day out with Thomas events, our club thanks you for your community interaction.
Rotary Snippet - My Rotary
Your Rotary portal, called My Rotary, is a personalized, password-protected online platform on the Rotary International website where you can access resources, manage your profile, view Rotary Club Central, and track your personal giving history to The Rotary Foundation. To use it, you need to create a My Rotary account by registering on the Rotary International website, www.rotary.org, using the email address your club provided.
If any member needs more information or wants to set up their account, please reach out to myself or Toni-Anne.
In order to confirm numbers for meetings at the pub, please ensure that you communicate the following to PP PHF Lorna:
notify if NOT attending by 12 noon on the MONDAY before the meeting
and notify if bringing guests or visitor
notify at any time about future absences and holidays.
Thank You!
Rotary Meeting 9th September 2025
Welcome & Opening:
Meeting started with a Rotary Invocation and toast to Australia and Rotary International.
Apologies read out by Lorna Shaw
Guest Speaker - Harry St Clair - Triple 000
My name is Harry, and I'm here to share a bit about what life is like as a triple zero call taker.
I've been working at triple 000 as an ambulance call taker for almost six years, and in that time, I've taken just about every call you can imagine, and a few you probably can't.
Training for the job.
Ten weeks in total. Six weeks of classes, which include ten exams, which you have to score 90% on to get through to the next stage, and then you do four weeks of mentoring where you have someone to sit with you whilst you do the calls to help you get through them.
We don't do medical procedures.
There's a lot of the stuff comes on the screen.
The only thing we're paid to think about is what is their problem. Because people don't always make it clear. Because they'll call and say, they've got a sore leg or something, and you're like, what happened? And they're like, we fell down a flight of stairs. So then you knew that they had a fall.
At the moment, our biggest support goes to St Luke's, who have a food bank.
We've actually just paid for a box freezer from them. They're going to use that for their clients who come into the food bank on a Monday morning. And they're doing that because they're trying to change the structure of what happens.
Rather than people walking with shopping bags, grab a few things and leave, they're actually trying to engage with those people, get them to sit down and have a conversation and have a coffee and choose their meat and stuff like that if they're lucky enough to get meat. Because quite frankly last year, we were paying for some of that because they weren't getting anything from Second Bite and all of those places.
At Christmas time, we actually do most of our support for St Luke's. We give them hams; we give them chocolates.
But I'll tell you a little bit about that as we get a little bit closer. At the moment, we're about to offer them $600 worth of petrol vouchers. That's only 12 petrol vouchers.
People are finding that if they go to the shop, they use their money for petrol to get there and then they have nothing to buy the food with. So, if we give them a petrol voucher, at least they have a little something for that.
At the moment, Graham is actually looking at a project for rotary and when it gets to a certain point, he'll come and talk to us about it, and we'll take it to the board.
We are also looking at helping Selby Scouts to fund a new trailer for their canoes. We actually have to wait until they get to a certain point so that we can offer their money for the rest of it. And that's what we're waiting to find out about.... They said they'd have $2,500 in November.
PUFFING BILLY KIDS FUN RUN
Thank you to all for so kindly volunteering to assist with the PR stand at Lakeside to spread awareness of the Rotary Kids Fun Run with Puffing Billy.
Between the information Toni-Anne and Kris have received the below roster has been drafted. If for any reason your entry is wrong, please can you let Kris know.
Fundraiser for Kids Fun Run
Fellow Rotarians who were not at last week’s meeting.
On behalf of the KFR Committee we have been given a wonderful opportunity to raise funds at Darrell Lea's first ever warehouse sale, with a BBQ.
It is on Saturday the 20th of September, 8.30 to 2.00 - If you would like to be part this special special group of wonderful Rotarians, Can you please either get back to me, or contact Toni-Anne. Not only will you be helping the KFR, but you will be at the coal face to buy up - CHEAP, CHEAP lollies and chocolates for Christmas.
Thanks, in anticipation
Tina
The new Emerald Village Association Newsletter is out with an article,
Save the date - Conference 2026 is in Hobart!!! March 13th - 15th 2026. Nautical Theme
Other Items of Interest:
Emerald Museum
The Emerald Museum committee would like to Invite you and your fellow Rotary members to the launch of our book…. Emerald in Focus, A photographic history - 1858-1958.
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)
4 Way Test
Of the things we think say and do
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
CHOCLOTTO JACKPOT $281.00
Chocolate Winner
Kerith
Duty Roster
Duty Roster -16th September 2025
Chairperson
Griffin, Toni-Anne
Fellowship
Culell, Linda
Furnishings
Cummins, Kerith
Furnishings
Henderson, John
Speaker Minder
Duty Roster - 23rd September 2025
Chairperson
Clark, Emma
Furnishings
Brock, Peter
Furnishings
Griffin, Toni-Anne
Response
McLeod, Christine
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Linda Culell
September 1
Martin Buoncristiani
September 10
Shalini Penny
September 20
Tina McInerney
September 30
Spouse Birthdays
Linda Culell
September 1
Dan Moulday
September 3
Angela
September 10
Irene
September 10
Ev Hargreaves
September 17
Anniversaries
Ian Ash
Kristine Ash
September 5
Kristine Ash
Ian Ash
September 5
Gloria Hargreaves
Ev Hargreaves
September 6
Ian Wakefield
Jenny Wakefield
September 6
Join Date
Andrew McAllister
September 1, 2015
10 years
Kelly McAllister
September 1, 2015
10 years
Russ Nielsen
September 1, 1982
43 years
Ian Ash
September 20, 2008
17 years
Kristine Ash
September 20, 2008
17 years
Gloria Hargreaves
September 25, 2006
19 years
Ian Wakefield
September 25, 2007
18 years
Lyn Beckwith
September 28, 2011
14 years
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 outHERE
