- Sergeant Patrick Roberts called the meeting to order a little earlier than usual as our President and one of our guest speakers needed to leave early to participate in another meeting elsewhere.

 - President Rose Pope welcomed members to our 37 th meeting of the Rotary year with gusto and pizzazz before handing control of the meeting back to our Sergeant.

 - Michael Crowley reflected on ‘The Environment’... Rotary’s theme for April. He recalled the time when ‘plastic was fantastic’; however, as a society we’ve become addicted to plastic and, unfortunately, we have since learned this once perceived cherished item does not breakdown and has become an environmental issues across the globe. Nevertheless, times are changing as we are beginning to eliminate unnecessary plastics and reusing & repurposing not dissimilar to our forebears, in a conscious effort to beat plastic pollution.

 

 - As Rotarians, the critical nature of polio vaccinations is well known to us and, in his international toast, John Erickson proposed a toast to the Rotary Club of Calcutta, India, and he also spoke of the recent measles outbreak in the United States.

 

 - Treasurer Noel Watt mentioned that there had been a slight up-tick in revenue from the Charles Hotel raffles last week and, despite a slow start at the Kembla Grange BBQ on Monday, the hoards arrived for a decent feed from around 12 noon helping the Club generate much needed funds.

 

 - Milan Stanojevic went on to thank all the BBQ volunteers from last Monday and gave a gentle reminder to those who put their respective hands up for the Bunnings Easter Fair BBQ on Thursday afternoon.

 

 - Ken Potter forewarned members that another Road Safety Education (RSE) Program (AKA RYDA - Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) has been scheduled for Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 August next.

 

President Rose then went on the introduce our guest speakers for the evening:
Ros Yeoman: 

Ros outlined a little background about her parents, siblings and immediate family as well as her educational direction over the years. Ros married Paul when she was 21 and they celebrate their 45 th Wedding Anniversary in May. They have three children, two grandchildren and three ‘grand puppies’.
Ros started her schooling at St Pius X Primary, Unanderra followed by secondary schooling at St. Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong. She then went on to complete an IT degree and
worked for Lysaghts for many years in the computing and finance areas.
Initially starting as a volunteer for Girl Guides NSW, Ros moved on to become the State Finance Officer for the organisation and later returned to UOW to the TS & L (Teaching Staff and Learning) within the Learning & Curriculum Unit.
Ros likes travel, good wine and dining with family/friends and has been ‘sporty’ throughout her life... she currently plays the game of pickleball.
Ros was introduced to the Club by Rose and regularly supported our Club as a ‘Friend’ of Rotary, but she is now a full member. Next Rotary year Ros will be our Club’s Treasurer and clearly her wealth of experience in finance and IT and will be an asset to the running of our Club.

 

Kate Thomas:

Kate’s self-introduction was pitched in a different manner.
Projected on the wall were two pages summarising Kate’s education and training, previous roles and, as she described, her “Adventure So Far...” What an interesting and diverse range of occupations and interests!
As registered nurse (RN) Kate assumed various roles from general nursing to emergency,
midwifery, physiotherapy, immuniser and aged care areas and a practice nurse with the Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service as well as completing a Master of Nursing; qualifications were obtained in remedial massage therapy prior to working as a sports massage therapist with NRL and other professional sportspeople; Kate then branched out into sales, business development, marketing business management and became involved in a comprehensive study of brake testing systems & went on to see improvements in vehicle safety regulation.
Amongst other talents, Kate has been a community volunteer, bus driver, real estate concierge and undertakes a volunteer role with SERVAS Australia as Peace Secretary.
There are numerous other roles Kate has assumed including becoming a self-employed
dressmaker & designer, hospice nursing, equestrian teaching/coaching, dairy herdsperson and
carpentry apprentice. Kate has also dabbled in triathlons, visited other Rotary clubs and
attended a Lionesses lunch in Nowra!
Wow... what an interesting life!
Displaying the two slides was only the start. Kate then encouraged members to ask her
questions and, for those that did, chocolates were offered as an incentive. This was a unique and inventive way in which to engage her audience.
Many questions were asked but it became clear that Kate hates injustice and, as Kate suggested, her career path may have had something to do with the fact her father was a policeman and her mother was a nurse.

We are indeed fortunate to have these two highly energised and qualified members form an
integral part of our Club’s membership and associated activities.

 

 - After thanking Ros and Kate, President Rose made a few additional announcements:

       - The International Rotary magazine is available for any member to read;
       - 17 May is the District Assembly;
       - 18 May Ride4Rotary will be on... Rose encouraged members/friends to join the ride                 and/or financially support the ‘Wobbly Wheelers’ team;
        - 30 April – As the fifth Wednesday of the month, this will be a social evening at the                   Steelers Club... more details will follow via email;
        - The Green Connect function last Saturday evening was a great event and Rose will                  speak about the organisations origins and plans in the near future;
        - Thanks to all those who participated in the Rotary Park clean up last Sunday morning              as well as the Bunnings Kembla Grange BBQ teams on Monday; and
        -  The outcome from this Friday’s Zoom Presidents’ meeting will be reported on next                 week. 

        -  The wine raffle winners were Rita Giampieri and Patrick Roberts and the                            remaining chocolates... won by Phil Peckman.

 - Prior to closing the meeting, Sergeant Patrick managed one of his jokes from “The                 Serious Joke Book’!