CLUB BULLETIN 27th APRIL 2020 (Apr 25, 2020)

MEMBERS ISOLATED THOUGHTS

This week we catch up with Mark McNamara and Geoff Stewart and find out how they are coping with current restrictions.

MARK McNAMARA

Life for me had a interesting twist about 4 months ago, well before Corona virus brought the rest of the club into enforced isolation with me. My foot injury, from a Christmas afternoon ladder fall, has proven to be both significant and life changing. After bone graft surgery in early January to replace my shattered navicular bone with some repurposed heel bone, my metal plates and 12 screws were removed 3 weeks earlier than anticipated on the 30th March, as elective surgery was shutting down the next day. Although I have suffered nerve damage from the initial surgery, follow up x-rays have been positive and I have now commenced physio with Brenton at the Courthouse and started an exercise programme, for both my foot and generous girth, with a further review and x-rays due to occur with my surgeon a further 3 months down the track. The plan is that over the next 2 weeks I will transition out of my moon boot and off the crutches, but will still need some support, so our old walking stick will come in handy no doubt. Caroline, who also happens to be a Licensed Real Estate agent, is currently running our business which is focusing on our Property Management portfolio, so I am lucky there.

Throughout my real estate career I have rarely had extended holidays and have never had long service leave, having worked pretty much 6 days a week for the last 30 years. Being stuck at home can be trying, but as I slowly regain my mobility it also has its benefits, like listening to the many birds that also call our place home or just enjoying the quietness. With time on my side I have had success with a concerted effort to find and remove every bindie that popped up after the early and later rains with a moonboot, crutches and a metal bucket to kneel on, as I wandered this way and that. A quality 5 litre weed spray unit purchased from Jeff Buzza's shop, when hung over my neck, has also enabled me to get the garden and yard weeds back under control which makes me also feel better. A few weeks back I strapped a block buster to the foot throttle of the same rider mower that cleared the Rotary camp site of Paterson's Curse at Ulupna Island some years back, so I can do the lawns using my yet to be patented hand control. Our 6x4 trailer attaches on the back so I can also take Caroline's pruning's to our burn off heap down the back and say hello to David Geddes horse Sugar and Jeff Buzza's Chad while I'm there.

We have just had Brad Tweed (0400 602 153), the local painter & handyman around with his apprentice Charlie Hooker, to do my pre winter jobs up on the roof, who was very good, priced reasonably and a lot safer than my Christmas time experience, so keep that in mind for yourself.

To keep my mind active and my mood up I have a community minded personal Facebook page to engage with both current and former Numurkah people. There is a lot a love out there for this town and people often connect and reminisce about their time here, which is a feel good experience, particularly in a time of enforced isolation. I have always had an interest in our history and the people that make up our community and enjoy putting together stories, using photos and the written word, that hopefully people find interesting. If you would like to see any of these or view people's often interesting commentary, just send me a Friend request. Good luck to you all.

GEOFF STEWART

Geoff Stewart; my life with Dot in the time of the virus.

A big hello to members and friends of Rotary.

Well I don’t have an essential job, nor a job that I have to do from home.

In fact I do not have a job.

Me and Dot pretty much stay at home, with a trip to the shops once in a while.

Which has been interesting, the most common topic of conversation (at a proper distance)

has been, ‘How are you going for toilet paper?’

Fortunately, just before the virus struck, the supermarket had a really good deal on packs of eighteen and I bought two.

And we wanted flour which was unavailable but Dot’s brother yesterday bought us twelve and a half kilograms

so we are okay now. Sharing with our son and our neighbor.

Parcel deliveries have been a pain, I ordered some hobby stuff on March 27 from Ballarat, and when I checked last week

it was still in Melbourne. Will check again, it is still not delivered.

We miss contact with family. Four grandchildren live away but we usually see a lot of the other one,

and our two children and their wife and husband, and Dot’s brother and his wife. Meals together and such.

Dot has all the local ones to our place at Easter but the Easter fare was takeaway this year.

At least we saw them when they came to collect.

Occasionally they bring food to us (looking after the oldies) or we have something for them (essential service, takeaway food).

Or our daughter comes to our place and goes for a walk with Dot. Not standing too close.

Essential service, otherwise Dot would not get the exercise.

And I miss being able to see my brother who is really ill. I saw him a few weeks ago and do not expect to see him again.

Yesterday was a special day out, we both went to the doctor for the flu injection.

And said hi to our daughter-in-law who works there.

We are looking forward to times returning to normal again, and to seeing you then.

Drought Relief Program (DRP) – April 2020 Update

St Arnaud, Wimmera/Numurkah, Dairy Farming Community

Text Box: Average Actual Var (+)
Jan -Apr Jan -Apr 20th mm
St Arnaud 101.7 142 40.3
Numurkah 130 165.5 35.5
Melbourne 202 358.8 156.8

After the devastating fire season, this year to date has seen good above average rainfall in both regions –

While we Melbournians feel our drought is over, the regional areas is a different situation.

It is important to note –

 Above average rainfall is required over a sustained period;

 The long term below average rainfall is expected to take 7 years to overcome;

 Benefits derived from the rainfall will not be converted to income until next Jan in St Arnaud;

 The financial plight of farmers will take many years to pay back the debt.

Finance Report DRP Fund The Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway raised $2,500 for the DRP. This sum was matched dollar-for-dollar by Balwyn Rotary to add $5k to the fund.

The DRP Fund balance is currently $54.8K.

St Arnaud vouchers

All St Arnaud printed vouchers were handed out to clients located up to 75km from town.

As at 20^thApril, 2020, redeemed St Arnaud vouchers amount to $32,450, or 81.1% of the print quantity. These vouchers expire at the end of April with the final redeemed value and the balance/write back value to be determined mid to late May.

Numurkah vouchers

This second location financial voucher program was launched in mid-January.

With $50,000 vouchers printed, $40,000 were delivered to the 4 local RFCs – as at 15^thApril, $8,200 had been distributed to the dairy farming community.

Community Events

Due to COVID-19 there are no current plans for community events. Our team secured a large quantity of ladies cosmetics/shampoos from L’Oreal which was destined for the Numurkah primary schools for Mother’s Day gift packs, however this too is currently on hold.

Community Testimonials

“I believe that the Rotary Vouchers have been one of the success stories in the St Arnaud area as many families have benefitted from using the vouchers which has taken the pressure off a little while still supporting their local community”

– Michael White, RFC Manager, St Arnaud.

New Numurkah recipients

“This is the first time I have filled my pantry in 12 months”.

“I have one less thing to worry about now”.

“I’ve now been eating regularly”.

“Thank you very much, meat is our most expensive grocery item so it was great to stock up at the butchers/.”

Many more responses expressing their gratitude.

Geoff Kneale Chairman Drought Relief Program

A new table has been installed at the swimming pool as part of the club's swimming pool project.

The Membership Committee of Jennifer Rodger, Gary Phillips and Lou Hamon have been considering promotion of membership. A coloured pamphlet was designed and printed and distributed to the public at the Art Show. The importance of social media has also been discussed and the club now has an Instagram account to get our news out to a different audience.

The committee held a Zoom Meeting where it thought it will have to turn its attention to retention of members and maintaining their interest during this lockdown period, to enable the club to rebound when restrictions are lifted.

Jennifer is considering the appointment of a Welfare Officer and committee to be available to mentor members in need.

President Lorraine has scheduled a Zoom Meeting for the board on Monday 27th and for a club meeting on Monday 4th.

President Elect Jennifer Roger has scheduled a Zoom Meeting of next year's board for 2nd May.

Jennifer has sent out invitations with the link to the meeting.

ZOOM BOARD MEETING MONDAY 27th APRIL

President Lorraine hosted a board meeting on Monday 27th with 8 participants.

Love Or Sister will receive $850 from ticket refunds donated.
$540 donated for purchase of 5 plane trees for landscaping at swimming pool.
$100 donated to support Scrub Cap Project. 150 caps have been donated from Numurkah,
Drought Relief Project cosmetics to be donated to schools for Mothers Day gifts.
Application Form for community grants drawn up by Julie.
D.G. Brian Peters to be invited to Club Zoom meeting next week.
Club Zoom meeting 7pm Monday 4th May to be a social meeting. Any member not conversant with Zoom and requiring help to advise please.

To finish, and hopefully bring a smile to your face.....

Church Ladies With Typewriters

They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for the church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services:
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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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The sermon this morning:'Jesus Walks on the Water.'The sermon tonight:'Searching for Jesus.'
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
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And this one just about sums them all up

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday:
'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'