Kate Reghazani & Andrea Holmes  discussed their new business of Rush food & travel.

Andrea advised that they hope to open soon, perhaps within the next 3 weeks.  They are both local girls who grew up in Katunga, love netball, football clubs, Hawks & being involved on local committees. Andrea was educated locally & moved to Melbourne for a career in finance until she returned to start a family. She went into business with her Husband & brother in law by buying the Telegraph 2005 where Kate started working for them. Andrea & her Husband juggled family & business & subsequently purchased the local Newsagency in 2009. Following the closing of The Common Thread, Andrea & Kate came together to brain storm to consider a business niche for Numurkah. They hope to create a relaxed atmosphere, where customers can enjoy a great coffee, purchase a gift & plan a holiday.

Kate’s aspect of Rush has been there for sometime. Kate first worked at Regent Café & then Dairy Delights where food was taken to another level. She then became second cook at the Telegraph & then worked the bar. She then travelled to America as a summer camp counsellor in Tuxedo in North Carolina where she worked for the next 5 summers & subsequently became an assistant Director. In 2010 she travelled around the world to the United Kingdom, Europa & South America. In 2014 Kate joined Escape Centre in Shepparton where she attained a Cert III in travel. She quickly became a Team Leader but was keen to travel again to America to work in the summer camps.

Now opportunity has arisen for them to commence their new business for travel advice. Opening a business has taken longer than they expected, but they look forward to commencing soon & provide a business that will be open 7 days a week.

Sergeant Tim Gleeson from Numurkah Police Station talked to the club about the Head to Head Walk from Gippsland and Mildura to Wangaratta to raise money and awareness of  Mental Health Issues amongst retired police members. They are hoping to raise $500,000. PP John Watson announced that the Board had approved a donation of $250 to the project and Jeff Buzza was presenting the cheque to Sergeant Gleeson the next day.

Paul Arnel, Principal St Joseph's Primary School and President of Numurkah Football Netball Club was guest speaker.

President of Numurkah Football Netball Club for six years with wife Jodie and five children involved in the club.

The club has 500 members and participants fielding 18 teams, providing opportunity for families to engage at a level of their choice

Football teams AusKick, Under 10, Under 12, 4th, 3rds, Reserve and Seniors.

Family orientated, perception of a boys club and grog shop wrong as club serves the community. With 11 netball teams and 7 football teams the club is female dominated. days of boys club has changed.

Club has a turnover of $300,000 to $400,000 with club striving to improve facilities with spin off a benefit to community. Plans to build a new netball facility, install new lighting and a car park.

Relationship good with community is good with club providing monetary and physical support to families in need.

Murray League looking to move into two divisions.

Culture and environment of club is to serve the community.

Gerrard Daniel founded Nu Genes in 1989 with two partners, with the aim to respond to peoples needs offering herd testing, artificial insemination, de-horning, milk testing DNA testing.

Now has 51 employees and 40 vehicles and branches in Gippsland in Maffra and Western District in Terang.

In 1974 Australia had 7,926 dairy farms, in 1986 14,986, 2000 7,926 and today 6,000.

Need to change with the times with the introduction of huge corporate dairy farms, and employ staff willing to travel. Servicing farms from Forbes to S.A. and all over Victoria.

Has made mistakes along the way, if you think everything is going to go your way - you are dreaming.

Meet challenges by responding in a realistic way.

Past not so bad, future exciting.

Russell and Bruce Harris spoke to the club about the Numurkah Fishing Club's proposal for the construction of a jetty in the lake for fishing.

Seeking support from Rotary for the project.

Plans have been drawn up by the Shire with need to dredge part of the lake and to bring in a pylon driver. The jetty will be constructed of Murray pine and be an all ability jetty designed for wheel chair access.

Approaching all service clubs and community groups for support, as jetty for everyone, not just the fishing club. 11,000 fingerlings released into lake so is well stocked, just needs access.

Neville is passionate about indigenous involvement in community.

Goulburn Murray Catchment Authority charter to include aboriginal participation.

Model of inclusion of aboriginal people in society with economics bringing about a common ground, not benevolence, but inclusion for social change.

Murray River corridor an opportunity to be inclusive and diversify as other Catchment Management Authorities form a tri-state alliance collaborating to do it better in managing resources and allowing people to develop to their best potential, not relying just on welfare.

Education, health and economics parity so the aboriginal people can look after themselves and not depend on other and be empowered to help others.

Doing it the same way for so long, with nothing changed.

Neville enlisting private sector involvement to bring about business disciplines.

Ross Abberfield Goulburn Murray Valley Regional Fruit fly Coordinator stated fruit fly was a massive issue in the Goulburn Valley being a threat to horticulture where 50% of Australian apples, 70% of pears and 100% of canning pears are grown.

Community involvement through Councils, growers and community groups have responded well.

Ross spoke on his experiences as a member of the Rotary Vocational Training Team visiting Canada and touring farms and processing and research facilities.

East Coast of USA and Canada was an historical area with generational roots with large scale horticulture. Visited the Great Lakes, and Amish farms, and exchange team members who visited Australia last year.

Cornell University research into fruit fly, new styles of horticulture developing new varieties.

Diversified farms with big acreage leading the way in robotics, packing sheds automated with new generation equipment.

Trip enabled partnerships and relationships to be developed with industry representatives with view for exchange of information and tours, building a network across three nations.

D.G. Malcolm reported he has met with Board and was impressed how the club was working for the community.

"Be The Inspiration"

Who, What, Where and Why?

Who - Inspire non-Rotarians, inspire community. Most importantly inspire yourself to influence others.

What - Rotary Values: Service, Diversity, Integrity, Fellowship.

How - Show others we love what we do, service above self.

Keep Rotary Meetings fun.

Show by example Rotary is the service club to join.

Jill Kerr spoke on her chosen Partner's Program for the year.

"Rural Aid" Financial and emotional support to the rural community to assist mental health.

• Raise awareness.
• Inform the public.
• Map and estimate of our local koala population.
• Seek support, co-operation and financial assistance from government agencies
• Develop a network of carers.
• Form partnerships with veterinarians and researchers.
• Build examination and treatment rooms

Phil Ashton a garden designer spoke on his gardens.

Phil commenced by saying gardening is a disease, and he can not help himself.

Phil showed phots from his first garden a 1 acre block in South Gippsland.

Starting with a blank canvas to create a large garden, photos showing progress. Use of herbaceous borders as wind breaks (and because he from England), cut into rooms. Woodland garden under planted with bulbs.

Phil suggested in garden design look for views and long perspectives, repeat planting in odd numbers, using next door as a borrowed landscape.

In 2011 made a fresh start on a 1/4 acre block in Mirboo North.

Phil suggested if you do not have a green thumb grow succulents.

Three things to remember:

1. Put some autumn colour into garden.

2. Plant perfume or aromatic plants.

3 Plant for wild-life.

When buying natives, buy in tubes.

2018 starting all over again in Numurkah.

Phil concluded with Greek Proverb:

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in"

Neville Atkinson Indigenous Facilitator with the Catchment Management Authority spoke to the club about Aboriginal framework in the Goulburn Valley.

Rumbalara Co-op established in 1959 as a site for housing Aboriginal people. Policy of the Government of the time to relocate Aboriginal people, not just Yorta Yorta people.

1968 Sir Douglas Nicholls (uncle) led social and economic inclusion, driving away from welfare and benevolence.

Rumbalara now provides community services, looking after the needs of Aboriginal people.

Yorta Yorta Nation driving quality of inclusion and respect to first nation people.

Need to start practising responsibility with expectation for people to manage own affairs and have better relationships with wider community.

Personally works with CMA as Indigenous Facilitator and in spare time pursues economic development with private and business sector for Aboriginal people.

Jen Parer from Rotary Club of Holbrook spoke to the club on "RAM" Rotarians Against Malaria.

Malaria is still endemic in 91 countries.

Chronic malaria causes poverty and poor education.

Estimates there are over 210 million cases annually with 445,000 deaths reported last year (65% of all deaths are children under five).

Anopheles mosquito bites infect people and spread malaria rapidly through communities.

How to interrupt cycle:

1. Person focused control - preventive therapies.

2. Vector (mosquito) control - healthy villages, bed nets, spraying.

3. Development such as better housing and water.

RAM Programs:

• Chasing Malaria in PNG - testing, treating, prevention.
• Bed Net Distribution - insecticide treated bed nets.
• Healthy Villages - equip villages with tools.
• Support vaccine development.
• Support a PhD student.

 Malaria Awareness Day 30th April