Happenings at last week’s Meeting
Sergeant Merv called the Meeting to order, and President Mick welcomed our Guest Speaker from the Frankston Rotary Club, Past President Robin Stewart. Mick then called up Ross Whitehead and presented him with a pin commemorating his 100% attendance at our Club Meetings. The Club had let these types of commemorations lapse over the years of Covid but Mick is now set on resurrecting them. The Meeting gave Ross a rousing round of applause. (I do come up with some archaic phrases. Ed)
Mick now announced that our meeting on the 26th July would be held at the Southern Peninsular Community Information Centre. This will be the first of a series of meetings to be held off-site as part of the Club’s move to a greater involvement with other community organisations around the Peninsular, and especially Dromana.
President Mick now handed the Meeting over to be chaired by….. President Mick. (multi-tasking? Ed.) The apologies were read out and Mike Anderson was welcomed back. (there was a brief discussion about the technicalities of how Mike was to be re-instated as a Member. Ed.)
The Chair now welcomed our Guest, Robin Stewart, to talk about his Club’s involvement with Fort Grey and the Wild Deserts project being run as an exciting new partnership between the University of New South Wales Ecological Horizons and the Office of Environment and Heritage.
The project aims to bring back seven extinct mammals to the NSW corner country, using large, fenced enclosures and a range of innovative predator control and research techniques in Sturt National Park. Wild Desert will exclude feral predators and herbivores such as cats, foxes and rabbits before reintroducing mammals that were once widespread in NSW but have not been seen for over a century.
A team of sixteen Club members and their partners ventured up to the Fort Grey Homestead near Cameron Corner, which is in the far north west corner of NSW where NSW meets SA and QLD, to undertake some volunteer work.
The list of work included:
- Painting of the BBQ area
- Refurbishment of the Workers Quarters (Now known as the Rotary Room)
- Painting of the Dining Room
- Fabrication of two stands to hold the Fire Unit
- Installation of a new water tank
- Replanting of the Homestead Lawn
- Repainting of the ablutions block
- Repairing the Ante Room
- Repair to the Generator
- And many other minor task that needed attention
Robin spoke of the satisfaction felt by all the team and recommended a visit to the area whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Mike thanked Robin for his time and a very interesting talk and presented him with a memento.
Now it was time for the Secretary’s Report and Mark had a bit to cover:
- Again, after some lapses, the Club is keeping up attendance records;
- Nominations are now open for the Zone 8 Representative on the Rotary International Board;
- The last Board meeting highlights were:
- Membership Dues are reduced this year to $250;
- Membership Growth is aimed at a net increase of at least 5;
- The “Rule of 85” is being applied by/to Rick and Col;
- Tyrrell is confirmed as an Honorary Member;
- Community and Youth will be the subject of one meeting per month;
- The option of a “light” meal is not possible;
- Greg has sent out an e-mail with a questionnaire regarding the Peninsular Trail which all Members should fill in;
- Flowers are to be sent to Elaine, Carol Ross and Sue;
- A future topic for the Club is the adoption of Welcome to Country at each Meeting; and
- The Club received a thankyou notes from the Thursday Girls for our contribution.
Lotto was run and won by Ailsa who was subsequently fined during the Fines session. Rob was also fined for, essentially, doing too much. (“wearing 3 hats”).
Various Members now contributed updates.
Tony spoke about:
- Attempting to procure a grant from the Bendigo Bank for the upgrading of our Zoom equipment by September. The Bank may be more generous if it is pointed out that the equipment could be available for wider Community use’ and
- A feasibility study is to commence around the improvements which can be made to the Dromana Information Centre. It is envisioned as a site for both Rotary and the Community use. The study to be completed by the end of September.
Chris spoke on several Market-related topics:
- The Carols and the December Market will be separate events this year;
- The Xmas on July Market will feature Carols, the larger Market, Bands and roasted chestnuts; and
- Replacements are needed for Mark around the Market administration. It may be that the tasks are split into site admin’ and invoicing. Volunteers were canvassed.
After the general hubbub had risen and fallen, the Chair called the Meeting closed at 8:00.
