The Rotary Club of Numurkah serving pancakes to the community to create parkinsons disease awareness.

Jesse Michel, Executive Officer, Lacey Nicholson Chair and Treasurer Goulburn Murray Comunity Leadership Board.

JESSE a steward of the program, acting as Leadership Coach prior to becoming executive officer in 2023.

• Program established because of need in regional areas. Footprint stretched from Echuca to Yarrawonga and down to Wallan.
• Program run from March to October with in-person and online series of opportunities and discussion, bringing like-minded people interested in leadership together.
• Personally, actively involved in community as Group Leader 1st Kyabram Scout Group. Involvement in community developed friendships and relationships.
• In 2024 elected Deputy Mayor of Campaspie Shire. Showed how amazing the community can be by stepping up when needed

LACEY in 2022 wished to contribute, knowing growth does not happen if comfortable.

• Program challenges, shifting minds and a powerful experience.
• Leaders not about outcomes but people. Building on relationships, know how to connect and bring people with you.
• Stepping into the uncomfortable, building confidence creating a network of people.
• 30th Anniversary of program will be celebrated at a gala function

LACHLAN ANDREW.

A participant in his years program after attending the Moira Shire program encouraged to undertake the Failey Leadership program being bigger and better.

JANE BEARHAM.

Employer GMCU encouraged her to join the program. Started with preconceived ideas, which were soon thrown out of the window. Program challenges you to think outside of the box.

Day 3 D9790 RTC. 70km mystery ride , we were doing a Broadford loop but ended up doing a beautiful out and back ride to Pyelong. You can do that with a small group and great road crew. Ride done and dusted for another year. Thanks to generous sponsors $5,000 raised for Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholarship Program. Dave Freeman awarded the Margaret & Graham Brown RTC Trophy, Leon Boyd , The Tony Thomas Spirit of the Ride Award. And Linda Boyd was Award Sportswoman of the Year for D9790 Award. ps. We are awaiting return of trophies so used a few substitute items. Linda'a award was a Defib to start

Day 1 D9790 Ride to Conference. Lovely 70 km ride along old GV hwy towards on Seymour Avenel Rd , across to Tahbilk Winery for a magnificent tasting with Dave's son Brendan the wine master and back down to Seymour. Very few hills , amazing properties, great ride. Riders were hosted by the RC of Seymour, with the added support of DG Emma and District Secretary Rosemary

The Rotary Club of Numurkah’s 46^th Annual Art and Craft Exhibition has wrapped up for another year with visitors coming from across the region to celebrate talent and creativity. 

Cobram Anglican Grammar Students helped to create the perfect atmosphere on opening night with their musical talent. 

Numurkah Rotary President Chris Hardham welcomed all those in attendance to the official opening with President of CAN Hub Jacqueline Cuijpers. 

“To every artist who has entered this exhibition: thank you. Thankyou for putting your work out into the world. Thankyou for taking the courage to be seen. Thankyou for contribution to the cultural heartbeat of our community”, said Jacqueline. 

In closing, Jacqueline encouraged visitors to “not only admire what you see – but to consider the role each of us plays in sustaining creativity in our region. Consider buying a piece. Enoucrage an Artist. Come along to the Library Gallery opening. Come along to theatre shows, workshops, live music. Support the next exhibition. Have a conversation about what moves you. Because when art is visible and accessible, it doesn’t just nurture creativity in each of us 0 it shapes the story of who we are together”. 

Art Judge Joan Erikson announced the winners for the section, reflecting on the difficulty of picking award winners with such amazing exhibits. 

Best in Show was award to “A Swim on a Hot Day” by Nina Volk. Joan noted that this painting is a favourite Aussie pastime - “Nina has made excellent use of light and shade, warm and cool punctuated with pops of colour. The focus is on the family group – mum on the bank, dad and kids enjoying the cool water. In the foreground the rich tones of the colours in the water and the bank, along with interesting figures hold your focus. Going back, the tones cool down to give the painting depth”. 

Runner-up was awarded to “Nature’s Embrace” by Annette Mayman. “Annette has created a decorative acrylic painting which also has depth. She has used a variety of textures, along with pops of colour and boldly rendered line work in this contemporary piece”.

Best Watercolour was awarded to “Morning Sink” by Dina Matel. “The blue, mauve, grey and amber hues in this painting work really well together to create a harmonious image. The cat is centre stage, beautifully rendered and unknowing – and uncaring – about being the start of the show”. 

Best Pastel was awarded to “Double Dapples” by Jeanette Graham. “This is the most exquisite rendition of a pair of dapple-grey horses. They are set on the softest of back grounds which has some interest, but doesn’t attempt to overshadow the heroes of the piece”. 

Best Mixed Media was awarded to “In the Spotlight” by Glenda Cornell. “What first caught my eye were the stunning colours of this mixed media piece. But look more closely and all the subtle intricacies of texturing and layering emerges”. 

Best Oil was awarded to “Bend at Miepoll” by Ross Paterson. “I imagine sitting on the bank of this waterway in Ross Paterson’s oil painting. It is a brave blue in the water that reflects the obviously blue sky above. The broad-brush strokes show confidence in one’s artistry”.

Best Acrylic was awarded to ‘Gnarly’ by Col Brown. “There is a clever use of tone in this monochromatic acrylic piece of work. Col Brown has portrayed this tree as having been a survivor but now no more. The cragginess and the scrawny regrowth give an idea of it’s history”. 

The CAN Hub Inc Encouragement Award went to ‘Murray Arvo’ by John Taylor. “Fantastic use of colour, engaging opposites on the colour wheel. Really great shadowing and depth. Loved the reflections and luminosity of the river”. 

The Kevin Davis Regional Artist Encouragement Award went to ‘Sunflowers’ by John Stevens. “I enjoyed the references to Vincent Van Gogh, taking iconic elements of his work, but re-inventing them to John’s own composition. The colours are very complimentary to each other, with the added pop of the gorgeous vase”. 

Photographic Judge, Leigh Teitz announced the winners in the section with the following comments. 

‘Farm Hand’ by Chris Filshie was awarded both the Framed Photographic Award and the Theme Photo – Portrait Character. “I think the author has really captured the character of his subject beautifully. The natural lighting here is lovely coming in from the left and creating shadow, depth and texture to the image, while also highlighting the beard and facial features. The lighting, age of the subject and the post with the hand on the chin conveys a mood and contemplation of wisdom. A deserving winner”. 

Runner up Photographic Award went to ‘Flinders Island’ by Dennis Rickard. “The bright orange rocks provide a visual wow factor that instantly grabs our attention and draws us into the scene. The image portrays isolation, ruggedness and natural beauty, fitting for the location. It is a pretty simple composition that appeals to me with the lovely side -lit coastal grasses that frame the main subject and the cloudy sky providing a moody backdrop. Well done Dennis”.

The Digital Art Photographic Award went to “Born Wild” by Tanya Minotti. “Creative, original and thought provoking. Compositionally, it’s very strong with the three subjects (implied triangle) and the circular nest that really holds our attention. We are invited to explore the meaning or intent of the artist while the image evokes an element of surprise and curiosity which is what makes it interesting and a worthy winner”. 

Craft Judge, Claire Reid announced the winners of the craft section, noting that it is a section that uses varying techniques and materials. 

The award for Other Textiles, Fibres and Quilts was awarded to ‘Beach Buddies’ by Belinda Liggins. “A whimsical quilt that made me giggle. The use of fabrics to portray the various tones of sand was well chosen”. Highly commended in this section to Sarah Fagan for her quilt ‘Madeline, Clementine and the Hounds’. 

Other Craft was awarded to Jennifer Sherrif for her Woolen Beanie – Orange Fair Isle. Highly Commended in this section was awarded to Fiona Carruthers.

Best Craft Entry was awarded to Ann Fagan for her Quilt ‘Crafted Flower Tree’. “Bright, luscious reds, pinks and blue that Ann Fagan is known for is clearly evident. Gold additions added a touch of glamour to the flowers”. 

Woodwork, Metalwork and Pottery was Awarded to ‘Billie the Budgie’ by Kate Wilcock. “Detail is controlled and the pop of blossom sets and balances the piece really well”. Highly commended to Lyn Hodge with her Wirey Heart. 

GUEST SPEAKER - Mark & Kate Walpole

• Mark grew up locally and played football
• The family has now been on the new site for 3 years
• 1st milking 400 cows and now built up to 3,350 cows
• Currently milking 3 times per day
• Milking start times 03:00 am, 11:00 am and 07:00 pm
• Each milking takes approx 6 hours
• 1,000 cows/barn x 3 barns
• The original plan was for 4 barns but have realised that a bigger dairy would be needed
• The dairy runs for 21 hours per day
• 80 stand rotary dairy plant
• The cows are dried off and then transported to the old farm to calve down
• Hospital cows are also milked at the old site
• Calves are also reared at the original property
• The Walpole's have 6 children, of which 4 work across the family farms with their partners
• They currently employ 48 staff
• There are 6 staff on the milking crews
• Plus 2 x staff feeding cows and 2 x staff cleaning each day
• The cows are currently doing 36L/day on average
• Corn silage and corn grain make up a bulk dieatry ration
• 480 Ha corn is planted for silage
• Aim for 2T/cow/year
• 25,000 dry tonne silage per year
• Fonterra milk company picks up the milk 3 x times per day = 120,000L/day
• Calving all year round, which means cows are joined every day
• Aim for 305-day lactation
• Farm is computerised with cows having electronic collars or eartags to monitor health
• Staff are mostly international on sponsored visas

• Purchased Retallick's traditional news agency in 2008.
• Previously owner of Telegraph Hotel.
• Newsagents serve community, need to show resilience to changing landscape and stay true to origins.
• Retail changing with digital press, and on-line shopping habits.
• News agent important role in community, it is a meeting place in small communities, with a point for chat and connection to the community.
• Started with four delivery drivers at 3am and at 6am shop opened 7 days with over 1,000 newspapers sold.
• Only news agent in district that still delivers.
• With challenging times need to make good decisions without losing tradition.
• “Newsexpress” Group provides support with suggested layouts, ideas and strengthens the business behind the scenes.
• Today still reflect the tradition but offering a broad range of gifts.
• Created an on-line store, “One Baby Website” offering new brands and products.
• On-line sales now 20% of business and growing.
• Looking back learnt lessons that standing still is not an option, business must evolve, learn from others and listen to customers.

• Strengthening future whilst still serving community.

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CHRISTMAS BREAKUP PARTY - Russell & Pam Smith's

The Rotary Club of Numurkah gatheredfor its annual Christmas Party in the welcoming surrounds of Russell and PamSmith’s artistic property. The evening was filled with warmth, laughter, andfellowship, marking a joyful close to the year.

• The event was thoughtfully organised by Linda Boyd, whose efforts ensured a seamless and festive celebration.
• A lively Secret Santa exchange brought smiles and surprises, adding a playful spirit to the evening.
• Guests were treated to musical performances by Glen Doyle and Ann Maree, whose singing created a wonderful atmosphere and added to the festive cheer.

The combination of a beautifulsetting, thoughtful organisation, and heartfelt entertainment made the eveninga memorable occasion. Although the temperature was as cold as ice theybeautifully prepared food was the icing on the cake. The Rotary Club extendsits gratitude to Russell and Pam Smith for hosting, Linda Boyd for herdedication, and Glen Doyle and Ann Maree for sharing their talents.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEARto all Rotarians and their families!

See you all next year!