Bulletin 10 RCoBS (Sep 02, 2020)

Club Activities

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Bulletin Week 10 2020-2021

Roster

Week	9-Sep	16-Sep	23-Sep	30-Sep
Speaker	Julian Mather The second best job in the world	Una Hobday Food Plant solutions	Jessica Wheeler RYLA Update	TBA
Chair	Maurice Woodburn	Stan Hendy	Barb Mitchell	Rob Rosaia

President Report 2 Sept

Last week I talked about following up an invitation from the Rotary Club of Canterbury to distribute food parcels that Club had developed to send to the Philippines, but had been unable to ship. So, given Covid and a need in ethnic communities, were making them available at no cost to other Rotary clubs in District 9800.

Their program is called FORaMEAL and look like this.

Each pack contains a mixture of mainly rice, lentils and oats with a vitamin and mineral sachel to provide balance. It suggests to add some vegetable or meat or fish to the meal. Each pack is said to provide sufficient for a family meal for five.

We had delivered 4 boxes each containing 30+ packs and delivered them on to BCHS, Foodshare and our Afghan contact, Zahir.

Liz and I decided we should understand what we were “selling” so kept one parcel to try. The combination as prepared by the instructions on the pack makes up a soup or with a little less water a porridge. We added some spices and chicken and the next day with the left over some paprika and a can of salmon. A bit different to what we are used to but the one with salmon we thought was pretty good.

Late breaking news. The Foodshare manager reported that when offered to their groups (Multi cultural Association etc) that they declined the opportunity, preferring the usual fare. Not sure what to make of that. Tried but have not heard back from BCHS as yet.

The Roadmap presented by the Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews on Sunday seems to have little change in the Melbourne Metro area for a few more weeks at least, and the detail about Regional Victoria was a bit light on but maybe we might get a bit more freedom sooner. We will be wearing masks for a while yet.

It has been suggested we could take advantage of a facility in Zoom called “breakout rooms”. So this coming Wednesday when you log in, do it a bit earlier, anytime from 7 am onwards and you be directed to a smaller group of members in a breakout room. Then at 7.30 we will all be amalgamated back into one group and the formal meeting will start. Gives you a chance to talk in a smaller group where it is easier “to have a say”

I plan to have some working groups meet in the next couple of weeks to discuss various activities that will get the club back to work including,

Changeover event Ted, Toni, Adrian, Maurice, Barb
Knitting project progression Geoff, Ray, Patti, Carol, Ted
Markets Robbie, Julia, Kev, Bruce, Evelyn
Strathfieldsaye Community shed initiative Graeme, Peter, Maurice,

Couple of bits of disappointing news was our application for an International Foundation Grant has been knocked back as considered ineligible because it was not a new project. My fault, I didn’t read all the fine print. We were hoping to get a contribution to sending the Knitting containers to Timor Leste. Had to agree after 15 years its not new.

We will organize a Club forum soon so if you have a topic you would like discussed let myself or one of the Directors know and we can put it on the agenda.

Joke of the week:

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?"
The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story is: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Quote of the Week:

“Taking a break can lead to breakthroughs.” ~ Russell Eric Dobda

Compliments of Allie

Notices

Guest Speaker

The Guest Speaker for the meeting was Finn Vedelsby, Chair of the Bendigo Tourism Board. Finn last attended a RCoBS meeting when he was ten. On that occasion he was seated next to John Cannon who took care of him during proceedings. Finn appreciates the legacy he has inherited from previous board members. The Tourism Board has developed very productive working partnerships with the Council and the Victorian Tourism Business Council. This enables the small businesses of Bendigo especially accommodation and hospitality to have input into the planning of the many events scheduled for Bendigo each year.

Finn outlined the challenges to the Tourism Industry which have resulted for the pandemic. It is estimated that Tourism worldwide has lost a trillion dollars which represents five times the Gross Domestic Product of New Zealand. The impact in Victoria has been even worse due to the bushfires which plagued the Industry in the period before the pandemic. It is estimated that small businesses are losing amounts from 30% to 100%. Sadly some will never recover. The second wave has been especially disheartening for many businesses who were managing to survive during and after the first shutdown.

Finn is confident that Bendigo Tourism can build on the excellent marketing which has seen overnight stays of national and international visitors increase by 10% in the period before the pandemic. There are a number of plans in place to rebuild tourism in Bendigo once restrictions are lifted. Promotion of Bendigo as a most liveable city and as a centre of gastronomy have been very effective. The Tourist Information Centre is often the first point of reference for visitors to Bendigo. A strong bank of volunteers help with queries and make available tickets to Bendigo events. The public regularly access the tourism website.

Finn noted that in many ways the predicament of RCoBS is reflected in the challenges of the Hospitality Industry. He commented how he can burn a sausage as well as anyone else and won't it be great to have people lining up again to be served at the barbecue by our members. Finn is another example of someone who generously gives of his time and skills for the greater good of Bendigo. We thank him for being our guest and for his presentation and wish him well with the plans for recovery after the pandemic.

Time to Write Your “Member Behind the Badge” profile

I don’t know about you, but I am missing the more personal side of meeting fellow Rotarians.

So, we are looking for people to write a little 250 word personal profile so we can publish one a week

in the Bulletin, to bring us all a bit closer again. Even if you’ve presented a Life history in the past there’ll

be new members who didn’t hear it, or things that have changed in your life. Below are some suggestions.

You don’t have to answer them all if you don’t want too. So while you’re reading this, jot down some notes and send them in to brucefraser8@bigpond.com

Tell us:

Where you were born, who your parents were and what work they did.
Where did you go to school and what subjects did you like best (and least).
What was your first job? (and your 2nd? 3rd? 4th?).
What events or who has had an influence on the type of person you are today.
Where did you meet the most important person/people in your life?
What’s your favourite holiday spot?
What are the passions that have stayed with you all your life?
Tell us the best joke you ever heard, or just look for one on YouTube. (attach a link)

Find an early picture of yourself and another more recent to include.

Sep 09, 2020

Julian Mather (Zoom)

The Second Best Job in the World

Sep 16, 2020

Una Hobday

Food Plant Solutions

Sep 23, 2020

Jessica Wheeler

RYLA Update

Oct 07, 2020

Mark Prince

Optometrist and Former AFL Umpire

Oct 14, 2020

Bronwyn Stephens

Care Packs-Alfred Mental Health Unit

Oct 28, 2020

Members of District 1020

Scottish Friendship Tour

Nov 04, 2020

Peter Grose

Author of "Ten Rogues".

View entire list

Notices

Guess who’s coming to Happy Hour

In these trying times of Covid lockdown/isolation we aren’t getting our normal socialisation fix either at our weekly Rotary meeting or at social functions.

To create a contribution to improving that situation we are going to hold a virtual happy hour on the Zoom platform.

By now you should have received an email from me calling for expressions of interest.

So how will this work you ask. Well for those members who remember the guess who is coming to dinner activities that we ran some years ago, this event is modelled along the same lines. Once members have expressed an interest in participating, they will be divided into small groups of about eight people (Rotarians & partners) and assigned a host Rotarian. The host will be responsible for emailing their group of participants with a date/time for a happy hour get together on Zoom. The Host will setup and run the Zoom meeting. The general idea is to hold the Happy Hour from 5pm to 6pm on a day that suits the host and participants. The time isn’t set in concrete and can be changed if the host decides. Of course, it is a BYO drinks & nibbles (if required) occasion.

Rotarians are asked to express their interest in participating by emailing Stan Hendy at hendys@netcon.net.au or ask a question on 0490 026 841.

Jokes

Club meetings

BENDIGO	BENDIGO SOUTH	BENDIGO STRATHDALE.	EAGLEHAWK	KANGAROO FLAT	INNER WHEEL BENDIGO
Tues 12.45 for 1 pm Bendigo Club	Thurs 6 for 6.30 pm Stirling Room, Foundry	Tues 6.00 for 6.30 pm Bendigo Club	Wed 6.15 for 6.30 pm Cal Gully Mechanics Institute	Monday 6 for 6.30 pm Rotary Gateway Park	2nd Monday 6 for 6.30pm each Month Uniting Church Foyer Neale St