What a wonderful turn out on such a warm evening last Monday – over 50 of us including Friends, Partners, Visiting Rotarians and Guests!
The atmosphere was buzzing with friendly banter, and of course the catering skills of David and Valerie West were greatly appreciated by all.
A huge Thank You to David and others for making the evening happen, from preparation and set up, serving food and especially for staying around to do the cleaning up afterwards (no-one’s favourite job!), and to the teams from the Men’s Shed and the Great Revival and Truro Op shops for sharing insights into the vital services they provide to our community from within “The Shed”.
Bill and I attended the Rotary Club of Barossa District meeting the previous Monday night and were given a very warm welcome. Thank you to our fellow Rotarians. I advised that we are sympathetic to and supportive of the decision to approach us for a possible merger, and I gave some information about our ongoing projects and programs.
I think there is a sense amongst members of both Barossa Valley and Barossa District clubs that a merger is a positive move forward for everyone, and I personally believe that together we will be stronger and be able to do more for our communities, global and local.
Coming events will be listed in the Bulletins – please read every issue for updated listings so you don’t miss out. Oh, and because the Bulletin Police under Commissioner Robert Brookes are regularly checking who’s been naughty and not read their Bulletin!
Rotary Community Groups (RCGs) – The News is Out!
We have been allocated to Rotary Community Group 9510-7. The clubs included in RGC 9510-7 are Barossa District, Barossa Valley, Blakiston-Nairne, Gawler, Gawler Light, Mobilong, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Onkaparinga, Stirling, Strathalbyn, and Tailem Bend.
The Riverland Rotary Clubs of Berri, Loxton, Renmark and Waikierie, with whom we currently share District 9510 Area 5, have been assigned to RCG 9510-6, with Broken Hill, Irymple, Mildura Deakin, Mildura-Merbein, Red Cliffs, Robinvale Vic- Euston NSW and Wentworth.
These Primary RCGs are based on commonalities such as geography, type of club (e.g. online club) or a shared language (e.g. French).
A club can only be part of one primary grouping.
Clubs can choose to be placed in a secondary grouping of an informal online network based on a shared interest, such as a topic, theme or project area.
A club can participate in more than one secondary group, and we have yet to be advised of our secondary grouping.
Looking into the Future …
We have some great activities and events coming up. Don’t miss out, put them into your diary NOW!
- Monday 4th March: Guests at our club meeting include three of the young people we are sponsoring to attend the National Youth Science Forum.
- Saturday 9th March: Gatekeeping duties at the Tanunda Show; if you haven’t already volunteered, please call or text Keith Millington on 0418 856 569.
- Sunday 10th March: DG Talkback, open to all Rotarians and a great way to connect with other clubs (find the link to the Zoom meeting on the District 9510 website www.rotary9510.org.)
- Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March: District Conference in Loxton – see you there!
- Monday 18th March: Michael McCabe, General Manager Family Domestic Violence Prevention Services, will be at our club meeting to tell us about the “Don’t Become That Man” service.
- Thursday 28th March: Maundy Thursday Breakfast; this will be a club meeting instead of Monday 1st April which is Easter Monday.
- Thursday 11th April: Fellowship (I know you love a good get-together!) with Barossa Kiwanis at their club meeting, all members are invited; please tell Sandie if you plan to join in.
Closer to the scheduled dates, more details of future activities and events will be given at meetings and included in this listing.
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A Vocational visit to the Rotary Shed
Monday 19th February 2024
Prepared by Keith Millington
We had a great night at the Ash St sheds last night. So great I forgot to take a photo. We were joined by the Barossa District Rotary Club members, The Great Revival Shop workers and the Truro Op Shop workers.
We had Burgers from the BBQ for dinner, then a conducted tour of the clothing bin sorting shed and a tour of the Men's Shed.
Huge amounts of donated clothes are processed by the Great Revival Shop and the Truro Op Shop each week. The clothes are checked and sorted into saleable items and those that are not. The rejects are packed into bags that are collected weekly and sent overseas to be distributed to needy folk in other countries. Nothing goes into landfill. The downside of sorting is that some donated clothes are in very poor condition, some stinking, and that makes the sorting job unpleasant. Please run the clothes through the wash before you donate them.
The Men's Shed is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings for people interested in using workshop equipment that the average home handyman would not own. The men take on lots of different tasks, some are personal projects, some are commission jobs, some are repair or renovation work for customers, and some are making items for sale. The machines in the shed are mostly woodworking machines, but some metalwork is also done.
While at present the people at the shed are all male, they are not averse to having females join to learn how to use the tools and produce projects of their choice.
We finished the night with a sticky date pudding and ice cream for dessert which is becoming a staple for David and Val West catering.
The overall result was considered a fantastic night, and we will do it again next year.
The Men's Shed, the Great Revival Shop, the Truro Op-shop and the Rotary Clubs would be happy to talk to anyone interested in any of these community projects.
A very big thank you to Rotarian David West and wife Val. The meal
was better than you'd get anywhere.
It all began in 1905 when Paul Percy Harris saw
opportunity for service and fellowship.
Rotary is 119 years old today the 23rd
February 2024
Rotary Down Under (RDU)
The February edition of the above magazine is full of interesting articles. One of the best ways to follow the world of Rotary is to have this magazine in front of you and take on board the exciting activities of various clubs.
Stephanie A. Urchick
Rotary International President 1924-25
In this RDU you can read a brief on the incoming President's theme of 'The Magic of Rotary' where she says, "I truly believe that if Rotary districts and clubs use the Action Plan, we can thrive. It's a future where there are many more Rotary members involved in service and fellowship. I have no doubt that the world of Rotary is changing. If you look at our worldwide numbers there is something like 150,000 people who come into Rotary every year, but there are 160,000 who leave. What that says to me is that some people are not finding value in their club experience. They're not really leaving Rotary; they're leaving a Rotary Club. We need to get clubs to examine what's happening."
It is amazing that in a very short time the world of Rotary will experience the leadership of a second female President. When Stephanie was asked, 'Should we even be making that distinction anymore?' she replied, "From my perspective no, it's about being the best leader for the time." Her articles in this RDU are well worth a read along with many others such as 'Peace Pole Project' and 'March Against Malaria to finish the fight.'
Nuriootpa High School Wellbeing Team Initiatives
Breakfast Club and ‘Fresh Fruit Bowl’
Nuriootpa High School Breakfast Club has been in full swing in 2024, providing students the opportunity of a healthy and nutritious breakfast option and a place of positive connection.
A Wellbeing Program initiative kindly sponsored by The Rotary Club of Barossa Valley, Breakfast Club Wednesday morning ‘Toad in a Hole’ serves over 100 ‘Toads’ to students. It promotes good health and wellbeing, nutritional eating habits and encouraging positive student engagement and connection. One ‘Toad’ per student ensures there’s enough to go around.
Friday morning Breakfast Club facilitated by Young Life Barossa Area Coordinator Sophie Wilksch and Nuriootpa High School Pastoral Care Worker Vicki Rochow includes muffins, toasties, muesli bars and fresh fruit. On a special occasion students may find themselves being treated to pancakes with all the trimmings.
The Wellbeing Team are proud to announce Breakfast Club is growing in 2024!
Trent Heneker, Youth Worker, Charlotte and Krystal
preparing breakfast for students.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Rotary Club of Barossa Valley,
In addition to Breakfast Club, the ‘Fresh Fruit Bowl’ Wellbeing initiative kindly sponsored by The Great Revival Shop of Tanunda is also on offer to students. This initiative enables access to free fruit in three locations around the school encouraging good health and wellbeing, improving student engagement in focused learning. A multitude of positive outcomes.
Nuriootpa High School extends its thanks to the Barossa Community for supporting Breakfast Club and the ‘Fresh Fruit Bowl’ initiatives. In particular The Rotary Club of Barossa Valley, The Great Revival Shop of Tanunda, Kind Hearted Kitchen, Kiwanis Barossa and Kick Start for Kids.
Attendance Report February 19th 2024
