CLUB BULLETIN 22nd JUNE 2020 (Jun 19, 2020)

GEOFF HOLMES

Another year had begun and we were well into planning a big year plus a trip overseas, when we went into lockdown. Up to that point we had already had 2 trips away. One to Mt Buller with fellow bike riders to tackle those hills or should I say mountains!!! Two days and hundreds of kilometres I survived (just) but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Special thanks to Kate’s sister in law, Caroline for allowing us to stay in her beautiful unit at Mt Buller. The next weekend we were off to Nagambie in our van to enjoy a weekend with 2 other couples. A beautiful weekend with lots of conversation (and non-alcoholic beverages) and long warm evenings!
A few Rotary events such as the Art Show and our 4 wheel Drive weekend were next on our calendar as well as setting up sound for the Waaia Tractor Pull and the next big bike ride with the Giraffes at Clare Classic in South Australia (unfortunately a no go). The Art Show was a goer and the Waaia Tractor Pull just made it before life became surreal and a scary wakeup call to experience what a ‘Pandemic’ is!! But…. how lucky were we to live in our amazing country. At first Faye and I didn’t fully comprehend the extent of what was occurring but due to the massive media overload we soon became aware that this was serious. Hearing, reading and seeing the reports of thousands dying per day, was quite daunting.
Staying at home and not being able to visit our family was difficult but having time to do some long overdue jobs was a real positive for us. My vegie garden is absolutely ‘blooming’ amazing with peas, beetroot, broccoli, cauli’s, cabbages, onions, broad beans and the healthiest looking carrots we have ever grown. Nothing beats home grown vegies and our broccoli has been testament to that. Faye has surfed many cooking shows and websites to cook some amazing meals while in isolation, A good reason to keep exercising!! It was amazing to realise how much we appreciated catching up with friends when we went to dinner at Phil and Fiona’s with Ivan and Jenny last Monday night.
Another big gardening job was to completely redesign our back yard garden which we are both really pleased with. Gardening with big tractor and a front end loader is my way of attack! Faye’s overdue job was to de-clutter and clean out cupboards full of 30+ years of ‘stuff’! From children’s school work, photos, teaching, every Numurkah Leader with any article related to our family, 30 years of Christmas cards, clothes……..the list goes on. It took her days and she filled a trailer, and then for the next week I would find her in the room with the cupboard door open, admiring how good it looked. Interestingly I have had a steady flow of work throughout the pandemic. As people became house bound and were watching television more and noticing issues that needed my “expertise” and skills. I hope I was an essential service to many during this time.
Where to next? I am very happy to be back bike riding with our group as I missed their friendship and enthusiasm. We will all have to learn to live with this virus and take extra precautions but Faye and I are looking forward to catching up with all our family more regularly and we are currently planning some trips in our van in the next few months. We will all have interesting memories of 2020.

ALLEN CANOBIE

Allen – Doing hard labour in home detention

It is hard to comprehend that Margaret and I are in the high risk category with this Virus. We decided to hibernate on the farm, and be extremely cautious with our contact visits. Our groceries are being delivered once a week and our chemist requirements once a month. Despite taking the above precautions and isolating in Numurkah and thinking I would be quite safe, I ended up, maybe only one person removed from a positive case of Covid-19. But that’s another story.

I feel sorry for the people who have lost their jobs, hopefully this is only temporary. I am so pleased that we live in Australia. Our leaders have done a magnificent job, with what now appears only Victoria struggling to get the Virus under control.

Fortunately the farm enables us to have room to move around, and there is always something productive to be done. So despite the economic gloom, and to keep occupied, I decided to be proactive and engage in some projects. This included maintenance and enhancement on the farm, employing contractors and spending money to help the Nation’s economy.

Our first project was to reroof the house, which became an even bigger job when a Tiler went through the plaster ceiling. But that’s another story.

We decided to re-fence part of a boundary fence - 800 metres with a neighbour - keeping our distance. But that’s another story. While the fencing contractor was present it was an opportune time to widen the gateways on the farm to make way for larger machinery. This meant changing strainers, stays, wires and electric fences etc. But that’s another story.

But the most interesting story is that Marg and I have spent a fair amount of time revegetating about 9 acres of land with native trees amongst about 20 quite aged grey box trees. Last autumn this area was direct drilled with native seeds for understory growth. We have also planted numerous tube stock and drumsticks for ground cover, which are flourishing with this year’s autumn rains, however the grass is now higher than some of the plantings.

Back in 2001 we fenced off another area to protect mature native trees and planted more Eucalyptus trees and native understory bushes. In this area we have spent time removing woody weeds and this resulted in four rather large bonfires. The regeneration of this area has been quite successful. We also fenced a huge significant grey box tree (Eucalyptus microcarpa) growing in the middle of a paddock, to protect it from cattle and cultivation around the root zone. This tree is thought to be more than three hundred years old. I have included a photo which will give you an idea of the size of the tree.

Those who are wondering about my creative painting flair - I am hoping that things will soon slow down so that I can engage with “My Artistic Side” and release some of that hidden talent????

We keep in touch with our family via zoom, emails and telephone calls. It is lovely to have eight grandchildren, all old enough to be able to converse with us.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I think I may have aged by at least three months, but I guess most of you have had the same experience.

My quote for the week - if you see someone without a smile – give them yours

Cheers Allen (Now where is the caravan?)

300 year old tree

2001 revegetated tree plantation

Tinja Nakki Farewell.

The Rotary Club of Numurkah held a farewell for exchange student Tinja Nakki at the home of Kylie & Wade Jackson. Tinja from Finland has spent the last 12 months with the Rotary Club as a Rotary Exchange Student.

Kate Hodge on behalf of the club spoke on the delight of having Tinja with us for the last 12 months and thanked the host families Renee, Bruce and Tenille for the first six months and Kylie Wade and Cody for the last six months.

Both families expressed the pleasure they had in welcoming Tinja into their homes and families.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions Tinja missed out on many events and experiences, but assured all she was returning home, not thinking of the experiences she missed, but the experiences she enjoyed.

Tinja's personality and charm delighted all she met, and was a wonderful ambassador of Finland and the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

The club wish Tinja all the best in her life's journey.

Kate Hodge addressing gathering

Tinja with host family Renee, Bruce & Tenille.

Tinja with host family Kylie, Wade and Cody.

To end with a Smile.

When I was a proof reader, I shared with my co-workers this example to illustrate how writing can skew based on gender: A professor wrote on the blackboard, “Woman without her man is nothing.” The students were then instructed to insert the proper punctuation. The men wrote, “Woman, without her man, is nothing.” The women wrote, “Woman! Without her, man is nothing.”