Meeting declared open @ 6.30pm

President – Lorraine Greenwood – welcome Guests - Tinja Nakki (Finish Exchange Student), Renee Banko, Bruce & Tenielle Kneebone (host families).

Chairperson – Julie Andrew. Community Director – Looking for ideas for Community service ideas. Some other clubs invite the Local Police, SES & Ambulance to attend meetings to give regular updates. Other ideas are having a free coffee with a cop once/month, Spotlight stores give out free material for projects for Rotary Clubs. The Solar Farm are giving community grants - $15,000 is available to cover various projects, applications close end of Aug 19. Duncan McPherson & Chris Matthews are keen to support the club to raise some money locally with a fabulous venue – maybe able to co-ordinate something with Sam Johnson Love Your Sister Campaign.

Personally she is currently working full time, life very tough on the farm for the last couple of years, but this year is looking good. Lucas nominated for another apprenticeship award working as a Chef, Alex completed 4^th year apprenticeship training in agriculture. Charlotte in Year 8 & settling into high school well.

Julie provided a powerpoint presentation on the history of the Umoja Orphanage in Kenya which is a RAWC project. Julie first went as a volunteer in 2015 with Kate Hodge. Cathy Booth was holidaying in Kenya when she developed the idea of building an orphanage. Julie attended again in 2017 with Steve Mills & Kate Mills to do various jobs including erecting 15 acres of barbed wire around the boundary. It is Cathy’s intention that the project will eventually be self sufficient. They assisted with running a health clinic & assisting at a feeding station which is run by a Hindu family which feeds up to 5000 children weekly. These children often walk up to 15-20km to get the food, when they attended there was only enough food for 4000. Each child received a hot meal & received a bag to take home which contained a bottle of soft drink, banana, big bun & some maise flour & some lollies for the week. Corruption was ripe in Kenya, it is not easy doing business & the Government wants a cut out of all aid work that comes into Kenya. Another tour with volunteers is going over this September. The second house is nearly finished with 12 children currently in the first house. Cathy’s biggest vision is that it is a children’s home until they can go back to their own families if possible, or learn skills rather than being an orphanage. The Government Children’s Department determine which children are placed at the home. An Australian mining company is mining titanium near by & they have made the furniture for the home & have helped with the permaculture courses. The Manager, Patrick, was previously a safari driver & in safari season they hire out their trucks etc for $100 to raise additional funds. All the children are sponsored, cost is $100/month $1200/year.

Another container is nearly ready to be shipped over which is hopefully expected to leave in mid August which holds numerous goods including a tractor, clothing etc.

 

Secretary’s report – Kay Moodie – application form received from Numurkah Agricultural Society for a trade site at this year’s Show on 23/10; Certificate of Currency for insurance; thank you from Dementia Australia for donation.

 

 

Linda Boyd – Youth – if anyone is interested in hosting some International Students when they finish their studies, to let her know. The idea is that they get an opportunity to see parts of Australia over 2 to 3 days.

 

Steve Mills – Solider Settlement Project. Cindy Decker is organising a digital map. The Lions Club are hosting a high tea this Sunday & they have declared that all proceeds are going to the Soldier Settlement.  Hoping members will support the afternoon by attending, bringing a plate, decorating a table & paying $10.

 

June Hewson – Apologies – Phil Ashton, Geoff Austin, Allen Canobie requesting a leave of absence until October, Phil Seager, Ivan Routley. June is happy to complete make up’s for members, but let her know what the make up was, when it was & what it was for. Suggestion for all members to read the recent edition of Rotary Downunder article about our new International President, Mark Daniel Maloney for an inspirational story.

 

Kate Hodge – Stuart had a cycle accident last week. Kate rode over a branch & Stuart went on a funny angle & the branch went through his wheel, he has ended up with a damaged bike, helmet, & ended up being taken to a Plastic Surgeon in Melbourne for stitching up before returning to Numurkah Hospital & he is now home recovering.

 

Judy Newman – card for Ernest Jones for his 80^th birthday.

 

Heads & Tails – winner Renee Banko.

 

Lorraine Greenwood – Jeff Austin doing a 600 km bike ride raising money for Flying Doctor Service.

Katrina Donaldson & Marie Austin to attend Part 1 RLI this Sunday in Euroa. August 19, Tinja to tell us all about herself & her home. She will be Katrina’s assistant as welcoming officer.

Meeting closed: 8.00pm.