Rotarians and Friends recently got together for a night of fun and trivia in the clubrooms of the Port Fairy Football Netball Club.  The theme of the night was Australian football and their knowledge of the game was tested with a number of quizzes. 

 

This year the Port Fairy Football Club celebrated its 150th anniversary.  Club President Ashley King spoke of the Club's history and the important role played by the Club in the life of the community of Port Fairy.

 

Rotarians and Friends get the funny side of footy

The Rotary Club of Port Fairy donated over $20,000 to local and international good causes during 2017/18.  These funds resulted from the Club's various fund raising activities during the year.

 

The 2017/18 year saw an emphasis on support for efforts to improve health outcomes. Major contributions included End Polio ($3,000), End Trachoma ($4,000) and Moyne Health Services ($5,000).  Several other local organisations also benefitted.  The Club thanks all the people and organisations who supported its fund raising activities and events during the year.

Lisa van Someren was an outgoing Rotary exchange student for 2017/18, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Port Fairy. Lisa recently returned to the Club and spoke to members about her experiences.

 

While in Canada Lisa was a guest of the Woodstock Rotary Club and stayed with three different host families.  Woodstock is a city of 40,000 people, located about 100 km from Toronto. However during her stay Lisa managed to travel far and wide in both Canada and the United States.

 

 

 

Lisa van Someren

 

 

The Rotary Club of Port Fairy has been a long-standing supporter of the Bandari project in Tanzania. Rotarian Jo Levy recently travelled to Tanzania with a group of Bandari supporters from Port Fairy and other areas to participate in the latest development efforts at Mto Wambu, the former village of Port Fairy resident Seif Sakate. 

 

Meanwhile a fund-raising night held at the home of President Bill Moore raised $615 to purchase teaching resources for the Bandari School. This year’s trip provided professional training for teachers and the people travelling carried 60kg of teaching resources.

 

Jo Levy reported from Tanzania on progress on the Bandari project.

 

Members of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy were deeply saddened at the passing of Past President and Paul Harris Fellow (Sapphire Pin) Colwyn Martin on 5 January 2018. 

 

Col was a club member for 27 years and was the Club's oldest member. Many Rotarians from Port Fairy and neighbouring clubs attended the farewell service at St Johns Church Port Fairy.  The Rotary Peace Choir sang at the service and Rotary Club and RSL members formed a guard of honour after the service. 

 

The prize in Port Fairy Rotary's 2017/18 painting raffle has been won by local man Anthony Clifford.  Anthony was thrilled to carry away the painting of the town's well-known landmark, the lighthouse.

 

The raffle is a major fund-raiser for the Club over the summer period.  President Bill Moore (shown handing the prize to the happy winner) thanked all who bought tickets and the Rotary volunteers who sold tickets.  

 

Many thanks also to prominent local artist Wilma Preston who painted and donated the prize.

 

 

 

 

 On 30 October Harry Bracegirdle was made a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his outstanding service to Rotary and the community.
 
Harry joined the Rotary Club of Port Fairy on 13 October 2008 and served as a Rotarian for 9 years.  During his time with the Club Harry undertook many important roles as a Club leader and member.

Harry with Club President Bill Moore

 

Jenny Ciavola was presented with the Rotary Pride of Workmanship Award at the Dinner meeting on 16 October 2017. The Pride of Workmanship Award recognises people who have provided outstanding service to the community through their working life. Hester Woodrup introduced Jenny and summarised Jenny's contribution to the Port Fairy community.  Jenny has worked at the Port Fairy Medical Clinic for over 30 years and has always maintained a polite and friendly manner while undertaking a job that is demanding and, on occasions, stressful. 

 

 

Jenny Ciavola with Hester Woodrup and President Bill Moore

 

In response Jenny expressed her appreciation and thanks for her selection for the award. She commented that over the years she had been fortunate to have opportunities to learn from other members of the Practice and in particular to always be non-judgemental.

Diane Walker, Rotary's newest member, is putting her craft skills to use by knitting beanies to raise money for local charities.  Diane is shown in the picture with some of her colourful creations.

 

At its Dinner Meeting held 17th July 2017, new Club President, Bill Moore, advised the members that he has asked Rotarians, Tony Bawden and David Digby to take on special roles within the Club. Both have indicated their willingness to serve in these roles.

Tony Bawden (left) has been assigned to look after the Club's Communications & PR with particular responsibility on liaison with local media (press, radio etc.) and will work with Jill Gleeson who has overarching responsibility for these portfolios and Harry Bracegirdle who, as Club webmaster, monitors details on ClubRunner.

 

In addition, because of the importance of the role, President Bill has asked Tony to also attend  future Board meetings.

 

David Digby (right), although one of the Club's newest members, has shown great willingness to get involved in volunteering projects and has agreed to oversee the Club's activities at Lighthouse Open Days as well as taking the lead role in managing the Tree Planting initiative which is a Rotary International targeted program in 2017/18.

Prominent Port Fairy Rotarian and former Club President, John Clue, was recently appointed to the role of Assistant District Governor 2017/18 for the Rotary District 9780 (Group 5).

 

Since joining the Rotary Club of Port Fairy in February 2012 John has been an enthusiastic member of the Club bringing his special skills, gleaned through many years of running his own business and more recently in Banking Administration with the Commonwealth Bank, to the benefit of Rotary.

 

John was president of the Club during 2014/15 and has more recently taken on the role of Youth Officer steering the Club through a period when it hosted, for the first time, an out-going Rotary Exchange student who is currently spending 12 months in Canada.  John's enthusiasm and dedication to this role has meant that the student was well prepared for the time spent overseas.

 

From his year as President he spent time with other presidents from District 9780's Group 5 clubs and it is a natural extension that he now takes on the role of Assistant DG for this group over the next 12 months. 

 

The Rotary Club of Port Fairy is proud to have one of its members serving at this higher level and wish John every best wish for a successful year of leadership.

On Monday 1 May 2017, Tracey Gray was our Guest Speaker and spoke on her visit to Antarctica in December 2016.  The visit was lifelong ambition and Tracey joined a scientific expedition of 78 women scientists chosen worldwide, exploring this unique region.  The group travelled from Argentina in South America for a 20 day long study tour led by Greg Mortimer. Tracey showed amazing photographs of her journey including the incredible landscape featuring icebergs, sheet ice, rugged coastlines amazing birdlife and marine mammals including various species of whales and seals. As a part of the study tour, they observed the breeding characteristics of penguins.  Tracey also emphasized the changes that the vast continent is experiencing as a result of climate change.