At the Sailing Club for our last Meeting, Charles proposed the Toast and Pauline recited the Invocation. Charles then welcomed our Guest Speaker, Gabi Terry, from the Dromana Primary School. He then handed the Meeting over to Pauline as Chair for the evening.

 

Pauline read out the apologies and then gave a brief introduction to Gabi. She manages the wellness program at Dromana Primary and is an ex-Rotary Exchange student.

 

Gabi explained that she was in Germany for 12 months on the exchange program and keeps in contact with many of the families she met over there.

 

 

Gabi worked in Flemington during Covid and then moved from Strathmore Primary School to Dromana.

 

She started in Dromana in an Education Support role even though she is a qualified teacher. She began the Calm Club for prep children so they could gradually integrate into school life. This has now evolved into The Sanctuary for any child who is overwhelmed in a school day.

 

 

Gabi pointed out that involving the neurodivergent in the school life makes for a rich tapestry of the school community.

 

Currently one of the pressing needs for the wellness program is for blackout tents which can help kids having particularly stressful times.

 

Unfortunately, at this point dinner was served and time pressures meant that a decent Q&A session wasn’t possible. Pauline thanked Gabi on behalf of the Members and presented one of our mementoes.

 

 

The Chair now called for the President’s Report. Charles announced that all future Meetings will be held at the Dromana Community Hall and that the Committees Meeting next week will be led by Pauline for the Promotions and Publicity Committee.

 

Now it was time for the Secretary’s Report.

 

Wayne ran through the Birthdays, Anniversaries and Memberships and then announced that he would be trying to issue the Board Minutes to Members instead of the cumbersome filings in Clubrunner. He also announced that because of the departure of Peter Greenaway, Charles would now take on the role of Social and Programs Co-ordinator. He also pointed out that this years subs will increase but they still won’t cover the Club’s costs.

 

The Chair called for Directors Reports.

 

Mark stated that the Balcombe Grammer Moke Interviews are being organised for 31^st July, from 8:15 until 2:00. He called for, and noted, volunteers. On the 22^nd August the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) will be on for years 10 and 11 students. Dromana Secondary College will be approached to see if they are interested. MUNA is regarded as a lot of fun. On the 16^th June there will be a function to recognise Col and Barb Byatt for their donations of Sky Hydrants.

 

Merv officially thanked Joseph for the invitation to the Wine Lovers night.

 

Greg thought it may be possible to obtain a contribution from Rotary Health towards the Dromana Primary wellness efforts.

 

Lotto was drawn, and won by Charles, and then there was the Fines session.

 

Charles thanked Gabi for her talk and all Members for attending. The Meeting was then closed at 8:05.

 

Planting day and sausage sizzle at the Hillview Community Reserve 191 Boundary Rd Dromana.

Saturday May 23rd, 2026, 8am till noon. All help appreciated.

 

 

 

The title was “Merv always wanted a grandchild”.