Students from Port Fairy Consolidated School were visitors to a recent dinner meeting of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy.  The student presented speeches that they had previously presented at the Warrnambool Eisteddfod. 

 

Principal Kath Tanner introduced the students who each delivered speeches on current social issues. This event is a highlight of the Rotary year and the presentations by the students are greatly appreciated by Club members.  

Guest speaker at the 16 July meeting of Port Fairy was Sergeant Mick Wolfe of the Port Fairy Police.

 

Police are often called on to resolve stand-off situations which may involve mental illness, depression or criminal intent. Sometimes these situations can include hostages, on other occasions only one person is involved.

 

 

Sergeant Wolfe with Rotarian Hester Woodrup

 

Sergeant Wolfe related his long experience as a police negotiator, particularly for hostage and siege situations.  Police negotiators are highly trained in the most effective techniques for defusing stand-off situations.  Sergeant Wolfe described the importance of patience, careful listening and honesty on the part of the negotiator. 

At the Changeover Dinner held on 25 June 2018 in Port Fairy's Victoria Hotel, the new Club President, Sue Robertson, was inducted by Assistant District Governor, John Clue.

 

In her address to the Club and the many distinguished guests, Sue challenged the Club members to find new ways to do things and to reinvigorate ourselves and our Club.  This would involve sharing tasks and building on our presence in the community.

 

The new Club Executive for 2018/19 was also inducted.

 

President Sue Robertson

Port Fairy Rotary held its Changeover Dinner on 25 June 2018 at which the incoming club executive led by 2018/19 President Sue Robertson was inducted.

 

Outgoing President Bill Moore delivered his report on the Club's achievements during 2017/18.  Bill identified a number of highlights for the year including the inaugural golf day, the Shaw River Buffalo Cheese tours, the international exchange student program and the introduction of more Club social events.

 

2017/18 President Bill Moore

Barb Eldridge was inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy on 4 June 2018.  Barb is well known to Club members, having been a regular guest at the weekly dinner meetings.

 

Barb is no stranger to Rotary. Prior to transferring to Port Fairy Rotary, she was a member of the Rotary Club of Mortlake for 20 years.

 

 

New member Barb Eldridge with husband Ken and President Bill Moore.

 

President Bill Moore welcomed Barb to Port Fairy Rotary, noting her record as a volunteer with the Club that often involved recruiting other members of the Eldridge family to contribute to the volunteer effort.

The Friends of Port Fairy Rotary have proved that you can help the community and enjoy yourself at the same time.

 

Established in 2016, the Friends group has grown to 20 members and is now an important part of the Rotary's service in the local area. The Friends contribute to a broad range of Club activities and enjoy participation in the Club's social events.

 

Rotarian Margaret Whitehead is the co-ordinator of the Friends group and is responsible for membership and liaison between the Club and the group.

 

 

The Rotary Club of Port Fairy's inaugural golf day was held at the Port Fairy golf course on 20 April.  The day was judged a successful event by both players and volunteers who reported that the format for the day worked very well and all had a good time.

 

President Bill Moore announced that the event raised $3500 which has been allocated to Rotary’s ‘End Trachoma by 2020’ program.

 

There was great support from sponsors and we thank them for their assistance. Many thanks also to all who volunteered, especially Rotarians Adrian Crosier and Peter Smith, and Friend of Rotary Harry Bracegirdle.  The catering teams and Brett Murray on the drinks cart did a sterling job.

 

Players from the Grovedale Waurn Ponds Rotary Club had a successful trip down the highway to participate in the event.

 

 

Rotarians and Friends had lots of fun recently when they tried their hands at an evening of lawn bowls at the Port Fairy Bowls Club.  Guided by experienced bowlers Rotarian Brett Murray and his father Jim, enthusiastic players battled for the honour of 'nearest the jack'. 

 

While the 'bias' of the bowls proved a challenge for some, several Rotarians showed a hidden talent for the game including Jo Levy, John Clue and Peter Smith.

 

The fun continued after dinner in the Clubhouse with a trivia quiz. 

 

Many thanks to Margaret Whitehead and her crew who put the evening together.

 

Over the month of January, the Rotary Club of Port Fairy arranged tours to the Shaw River Buffalo Cheese farm at Yambuk. Proceeds from the tours went towards the End Polio project.

 

The Club conducted five visits to the Shaw River Buffalo Cheese farm for a total of more than 80 people. Over $1000 was raised for the End Polio project.

 

The Club gives special thanks to the Haldane family for their generous hospitality and assistance with the tours. Thanks also to Rotarians Sue Robertson and David Digby who helped with the design and distribution of the publicity materials.

On 16 January Rotary Exchange students from District 9780 visited Port Fairy as part of the their mini-safari around the Western District.

They were hosted by members of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy and while in town they checked out some of the town's famous attractions and joined Club members for a luncheon at Rotary Park.

 

Rotary Exchange Students visit Port Fairy

 

 

 

The guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Port Fairy's dinner meeting of 16 October was Ferdinand Gausseur.  Ferdinand is a member of the Rotary Club of Vienna and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Hope Island.

 

Ferdinand and Mrs Gausseur with President Bill Moore

 

Ferdinand described the operation of his farm near Vienna in Austria and explained how concerns about subsidies and other European Union policies had prompted a search for farming opportunities in other countries.  This eventually led to visits to Australia and finally to the purchase of a property near MacArthur.  The 800 acre farm is now a successful enterprise based on sheep and cattle raising.

 

 

Richard Hodgens, the Moyne Shire Council's Environmental Officer gave a very informative presentation to members of the Rotary Club at its Dinner meeting held 14th August.

 

The Club has worked pro-actively with Richard over a number of years in regard to weed control, tree planting and maintenance and the cleanup of litter and other rubbish along Skenes Road between the town and the Golf Club.

Richard, who has been in his role with the Council for just over 8 years provided members with a view of where the Council's environmental management budget is allocated with the major task involving weed control, roadside flora maintenance, oversight of special reserves, beach access points and efficiency improvement programs in regard to lighting such as the LED lighting exchange program, other reduction programs for Council utilities and fostering carbon offset programs against the Council's fleet of 69 vehicles.  Some special budgeted programs include the Avenues of Honour, Peterborough's Coastal Erosion monitoring and the Port Fairy East Beach sea wall upgrade.

 

Richard, who is part of the Sustainability, Environment and Waste section of the Moyne Shire Council also fosters activities on National Tree Day and other weed control projects especially in and around Port Fairy's waterfronts, Battery Hill Reserve and Griffith Island.  He also has oversight of pest animal control (foxes, rabbits etc.) 

 

He outlined some of the 2017 projects which involved Charles Mills Reserve, revegetation of Battery Hill Reserve and new garden beads on Railway Place.

 

Rotarian, Hester Woodrup, thanked Richard for his informative presentation and presented him with a small gift in recognition.

At its Changeover Dinner held 3rd July 2017 in Port Fairy's Victoria Hotel, the new Club President, Bill Moore, was inducted by Assistant District Governor, John Clue.

 

Bill takes over the reins of the Club after a successful year under the guidance of out-going President, Adrian Crosier, who was roundly praised for his efforts over the last 12 months in engaging the Club in numerous community and international projects.