At our last meeting held Tuesday 11th December our fellow member Rev. Mal Dunnett delivered a Christmas message titled

Wantok

English Noun
wantok (plural wantoks)

(Melanesia, Papua New Guinea) A close comrade; a person with whom one has a strong social bond, usually based on shared language.
Usage notes: May be used to casually address a friend: Hello wantok.
Noun wantok 1. a close friend, to whom one gives complete loyalty 2. any person with a shared set of Melanesian cultural values, usually based on speaking a closely related language.

Mal explained to us that in the Solomon Island Christmas is celebrated with the knowledge that although Jesus was born with nothing to poor parents, however he was rich as he had wontok. He was loved by his family and he had mercy, compassion and he cared for others. Wantok is belonging and being loved and valued within the family and extended friends. Mal suggested we use Christmas to celebrate our wantok.

Thank you Mal for your effort.

Mal also told us about his plans for another trip to the Solomon Islands in September 2019 with a team of 8 Indigenous members, 4 members of Anglicare, 4 teachers and 1 CPA. There is room for more participants. If your interested contact Mal.

Hi all,

This is my first post as President. Firstly, I must thank you all for your encouragement.  I am very proud to be part of this club and to be working with such fine people. It is a pleasure to be part of such a club in it’s formation years. To be a member of a club with members who have been such experienced Rotarians with other clubs in D9700 , who then  took the major step to become Charter Members of this E-Club is an absolute pleasure and their advise and encouragement is valuable to me. I have admired these members for many years, it is a privilege to work alongside you all.

I am a new Rotarian with many years as a partner of a Rotarian and I am still amazed that I now can be part of the District working alongside such dynamic people. To all our  members who a relatively new to the club, although you have many years experience in International Projects, it is  a pleasure to have met you and hear your stories, I know together we are going to have such an informative year and we will work hard to complete the next steps to ensure the growth of our club.

My major goal is to grow the club and ensure that we can work as a cohesive team with our projects,  and hopefully include some ideas to help you feel proud of your club to  give you confidence to engage with others in “your little corner of the world”, and hopefully have them join us.

The major ideal of this club is to continue to do community and international service, however, make the meeting schedule and club demands easier and less time consuming for members.  Our club is achieving this ideal and yet we have achieved so much in our service.

We need  to search out others in the community who would like to be Rotarians who don’t know about the our E- club and who would be suited to the less demands of the  club and encourage them to be a part of this new club format. We, the members,  fully understand, that time is precious and  I am a firm believer in the saying,” If you want something done, ask a busy person”.

I am aware that our members are all busy with  their own projects, work and family and yet together we achieve so much with relative ease. I believe this club format is perfect for today’s lifestyle.

Meeting fortnightly is easy and our club is not demanding,  and yet we are able to achieve successful outcomes, along with having such fun and our fellowship is so enjoyable.

For those who a reading this message and are interested or  curious about E-club’s, don’t hesitate to contact me, either by email or phone, I will be happy to answer you questions.

Everyone, members and non- members are welcome to join our meetings, the next one is on the 28th August, 7.30pm. If you would like to join us , contact me and I will send you the link.

Take care and stay well.

Marilyn

 

CHANGEOVER MEETING – Tuesday 17th July at 7.00pm EST

Meet Our DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2018‐19

JOHN GLASSFORD and SUSAN WINGATE‐PEARSE
Member of the Rotary Club of Coolamon
Mobile – 0498 190 880                 Email – jacksflat@gmail.com

John joined the Rotary Club of Coolamon on 29th September 2003. He has served for 12 years as a Director in various positions with President in 2008-2009. He also served on the D9700 RAWCS Committee as well as being a Board member of the first Rotarian Action Group, RFFA (Rotarians For Fighting AIDS).

In 2014 John founded the Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species, RAGES.
He was International Chair for 2013-2014.

John has attended 7 RI Conventions and every D9700 Conference since 2004. John has led 3 Rotary teams climbing the three highest mountains in Africa for the AIDS orphans of South Africa, Kenya and Uganda as well as supporting the School of St Jude’s in Tanzania.

John married Susan Wingate-Pearse 30 years ago. John has 3 children and 7 grandchildren from his first marriage. Susan has one son and two grandchildren.

Together they formed Huff ‘n’ Puff Constructions in 1997 and have now built over 200 straw bale buildings including several large wineries and commercial buildings in Australia.

They live in Ganmain where they operate their straw bale building business.

Hi All,

Just a reminder of  our NEXT MEETING  – Tuesday 26th June at 7.30 pm EST – Social meeting. An email will be sent on Monday 25th with the link to the meeting.

CHANGEOVER MEETING –  Tuesday 17th July at 7.00pm EST

Capture the Moment in Hamburg

In 2019, the Rotary International Convention will travel to Hamburg, Germany. Registration is now open! To get the best possible rate, register by this Wednesday, 27 June and you’ll pay just $350. With so much to see and do, the convention is an experience you won’t want to miss. Register and pay today, because this special price of US$350 is good only until 27 June.

Hi All,

Our meeting on Tuesday, 12th June was well attended and I would like to thank members for their contribution on the evening.

GUEST SPEAKER – BEV COONEY

Our guest speaker, PP Bev Cooney, from the Rotary Club of Bathurst gave a great presentation that I am sure inspired us all to commit more to our project work. Over more than a decade Bev has funded and worked to establish a school for the disabled in a remote location in Peru. In addition she has been instrumental in the building of Peru’s first Cancer Clinic and providing teams of Australian doctors and nurses travelling to train and assist the local Peruvian medical personnel. She continues this great work.

Bev has received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2015 in recognition of her work, as well as an award from Peruvian president Alan Garcia in 2008 for being a ‘Notable Carer’.

 

INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBER – TEBAO AWERIKA

It was also a privilege for me as President to induct Tebao Awerika from the Republic of Kiribati as a member of our Club. Members of E-Clubs can reside in any locality and we are thrilled that Tebao is our first international member.

Tebao Awerika is the Member of Parliament for Betio, from Ambo, Tarawa, Kiribati.

Kiribati (pronounced Kiribass) is a small developing island state located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises 33 atolls in three sub-groups namely the Gilbert Group, Line Group and the Phoenix Group. The atolls are scattered across the equator over five million square kilometres of water.