Stories

Casterton Celebrates the “Art of the Dog”, arguably Australia’s only art prize featuring the iconic Kelpie. 

Local donations and volunteers bring clean water to Timorese people

#3471 – Bulletin – 6/10/16 6 Rotarians attended the Hamilton North Art Show in Hamilton. A great night was had by all, as always. Prizes were won by Castertonians Julie Kent and Merv Hill – Congratulations!

Strategic Plans

MAGIC

Insurance for Sexual Abuse

Show gate update

EFTPOS machine

Hat Day

Tonight we had the pleasure of guest speaker Sharon McGrath, from the Casterton Kelpie Association, who is the recently appointed art coordinator of the Acquisitive Art Show. 

 

Sharon informed us:

 - All artwork is going to Sharon and not to Ann James.

 - Raffle prize been donated from Darryl's Glass. Will be at next weeks meeting.

 - Rotary is not doing any advertising, the Kelpie Association is responsible for this. A copy of the Rotary logo has been sent to Sharon for advertising purposes.

 - Unpacking will be done in the Landmark building where we have been allocated a locked room for this purpose.

 - Sharon has the previous winners. These will be displayed in the foyer on the opening night and moved to the stage area for the remained of the weekend. Sharon to meet with Roger re the display of items (on stairs)

 - As in previous years, Rabs will assist with set up of artworks

 - Sharon will organize EFTPOS (and back up if no eftpos) and the paperwork for all artworks.

 - Rotarians bought up the need for appropriate and standardized packaging of artworks for when they go to their new homes.

 

Darren has organized some printed roster sheets, that were placed on the table for member to register their intent of contribution/commitment for the weekend. These will be available on the table at all meetings between now and the week before the Kelpie Muster.

 

 

President Elect Roger Dalby and Secretary Sue Kilsby attended the District Assembly in Stawell on May 1st.

 

Roger reports that our District numbers have decreased to 1850 members over the last few years. Due to this, costs are being harder to meet and our weekly fee will increase to $8 (from $5) for the new year.

 

There are a number of items that Roger, the board and all members will need to complete for the club this year including a budget, a strategic plan (an example plan from Maryborough is available to look through), increase our focus on youth activities and look into an activity to help celebrate and fundraise for Foundation as it is 100yrs old this coming year.

 

Lorraine Wilson is available to answer any Rotary questions that we may have at any time.

 

Pauline Stewart contacted Sheryl-Lee to offer support on the use of the Club Runner system. This offer of help will be greatly accepted by Sheryl-Lee at a convenient time.

MAGIC plans are well under way.

 

Roger reminds all coordinators to contact their garden owners in the next week or so to begin planning what will be needed at each garden and to assist and guide them with a blurb about their garden. The owners will be invited to a meeting in early/mid June to let them know where we are up to with planning and offer them the chance to ask questions.

 

Due to the resignation of Sue Slorach, the position of food coordinator is vacant. If you think that this position is for you, please let Roger know ASAP.

 

Please ensure that you have contacted your garden owners prior to this date (hopefully you will bring with you a blurb from the owners so the pamphlet can begin to be assembled)

It is with great sadness that we received and tabled the resignation of our esteemed member Sue Slorach.

 

Sue has been a very valued member of the Casterton Rotary Club since 2012, contributing many hours coordinating and selling raffle books and contributing her vast catering knowledge and manpower to numerous Rotary events, ensuring everyone went home with full tummies and a smile on their face.

 

Sue will remain a Friend of Rotary and has offered to help us out with Meals on Wheels if needed.

 

President Darren accepted Sue's letter of resignation with great sorrow and on behalf of all Rotarians, he thanked Sue for all her invaluable contributions she has made to our club. We wish Sue all the best in her future adventures and spoiling those wonderful grandchildren.

 

Thanks Sue!

We have been allocated Meals on Wheels again from 30th May to 3rd June.

Roster is as follows:

 

 

Monday - ?

 

Tuesday - Wally Walsh

 

Wednesday - ?

 

Thursday - Sheryl-Lee Connolly

 

Friday - Peter Gorman

 

As you can see we are still 2 people short on Monday and Wednesday. Please let Sue K know asap if you can fill either of these times please.

A number of items came up for discussion at this weeks meeting, including the breathometers, Interplast raflle, Rotary Park, the Casterton Cup, bowel scan kits, RYSF, Glenelg Shire Grant and general business items.

 

 

 

Organisation of this fantastic day is well under way. Roger has distributed a list of all the gardens, coordinators (gardens, food, music and administration). Should you not have a copy of this, please contact Roger.

 

 

 

 

20th Anniversary - Casterton Kelpie Muster Grand Opening

 

Featuring the Rotary Club Of Casterton's Acquisitive Art Show

 

Thurdsay 9th June

 

Casterton Town Hall

 

6:30 to 9pm

 

Cost $10/person

 

Hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Initiative of the Rotary Club of Casterton

 

 

 

Reminder that the main focus of the meeting on Thursday 21st April will be the Art show for the Kelpie Festival/Muster on the Queens birthday weekend in June. We are hoping that Karen Stephens and Anne James will be there to assist with the discussions.

Discussions will include, but not be limited to deciding on the title of the opening night (no longer a cocktail party), advertising, invitations, rosters and catering. Please be prepared to join in the dicussion.

Gathering at Lake McIntyre with the Millicent Rotarians, we were blessed with a glorious sun filled day for fun in the sand. The yummy smell of onions gently frying on the bbq had our tummies rumbling. These onions were accompanied by sizzling sausages, succulent steak and sensational salads to fill our bellies before a short guided tour of Lake McIntye. We then jumped in our cars and headed for South End, where we hit the beach, albeit for a short time. Venturing further around to the many camping grounds, we eventually left the beaten tracks, to follow the sand tracks back to Millicent. Beautiful views and great company made for a fantastic day for Sue S, Chris, Sue & Don, Greg and Judy and Sheryl-Lee. Many thanks were passed on to the Millicent Rotarians for the awesome day and we look forward to doing it all again next year.

A great night was had by all, enjoying good company, cold drinks, pizza and a few games of pool at Dallas Escotts'. The weather may not have been the nicest but this was counteracted by the wonderful gas patio heaters and the fun and competitiveness of the pool table.

There was some fierce competition on the pool table with the first game seeing Darren and Don defeat Sheryl-lee and Sue on the last ball.

The second game saw Sheryl-Lee and Sue defeated again, this time the game was not so close.

The pizzas then arrived and were devoured by the hungry hoards, needing to refuel for the next games of pool.

Game three saw a change in teams with Roger and Robbie being closely defeated by Darren and Sheryl-lee. At this time, a crowd of on lookers (the couch gallery of Sue S, Don Kilsby & Anne Dalby) joined the fun.

Game 4 saw the tables turn and Roger and Robbie defeated Darren and Sheryl-lee.

 

Many thanks to Dallas Escott for inviting us to her place and we hope that it will become a regular feature on our Rotary calendar.

Tonight we had the pleasure of Rory Speirs as our guest speaker. Rory attended the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra in January. From the moment that Rory got up to speak, you could see the passion that he has for science. Rory gave us a fantastic view into what he participated in at the conference and confirmed with us all that his passion for science, in particular veterinary science, is outstanding.

Rory's presentation included numerous photos, many including the mascot "Neville" the wombat, some fancy dress and some very interesting poses.

Whilst he was there having heaps of fun and learning a little bit along the way, Rory did not forget his mum and dad, and made a very thoughtful purchase for his mum...a plush toy. No harm in that you say. Well when you find out that the plush toy was a typhoid fever, you may question his motives! 

Casterton Rotary Club wishes Rory all the best for the future.

Bowel scan kits are ready to be picked up at the Casterton Chemist. Wally will follow up on this.

 

Rotary Rest Park needs some attention. If you have an hour or so to spare sometime soon, please use it to tame the wilderness that is our park.

 

MAGIC  - All but one musician have been booked, just awaiting one artist to confirm.

 

            - A 4th garden has been confirmed

 

            - Meeting date for co-ordinators to be confirmed shortly

 

Numbers have been confirmed for the combined dinner at Strathdownie on Tuesday 12th April. Meet at Strathdownie Hall at 6:30pm for a 7pm start. Cost $20/person.

Roger has received an email from Stephen Lamont regarding attendance at the District conference. Please confirm numbers at meeting 21st April. A copy of the email is as follows.

Numbers have been confirmed for the 4WD trip organised by the Millicent Rotary Club. Please meet at Lake McIntyre for a bbq lunch at 11am. BYO drinks and a chair.

Bowel scan kits are here. As Roger has plenty on his plate at the moment, it was put to those present for someone to take on the distribution and collection of this years kits. Wally and Darren will share this role. Thanks.

This year we have 150 kits, of which 75 will go to Casterton Pharmacy and the other 75 will be distributed to Merino Health Centre, Coleraine Pharmacy and Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre.

All paperwork has been supplied to Roger who will pass it on to Wally and Darren.

Darren attended the Probus meeting recently and Brent Reed from Merino was the guest speaker. Darren to organise Brent to come and give a similar presentation to us. A good time was had by all attendees. The club is going well and they are a happy group.

4x4 car trip to Millicent. Numbers of attendees and cars are needed ASAP. Please notify Darren.

A letter was received from Rotary House in Warrnambool. It was used 425 times in 2014/15 by lots of locals from Portland, Casterton, Mt Gambier and beyond. A number of Rotarians were unaware that there was a Rotary House in Warrnambool and plan to use it if needed on future occasions.

ICE - There is a gala dinner to be held in Warrnambool in the near future regarding what to do about the ICE use within our region. Darren is on the committee and will let us know of further development with this.

 

Meals on Wheels April 4-8th

 

Monday 4th - Sue Slorach

Tuesday 5th - Sue Slorach

Wednesday - Wally Walsh

Thursday - Sheryl-Lee Connolly

Friday - Sue Kilsby

The time has come for us to begin planning the Acquisitive Art Show at the Kelpie festival this year. Anne James and Karen Stephens will join us on Thursday 21st April for further discussion on this. Any items that you would like bought up at this meeting, please forward them to Darren to go on the agenda. All advertising for the art how is to go through the Kelpie Association. 

Breathometers - Des Malcolm to come and speak to us on a date to be confirmed.

Easels- Photos were taken with members from the Men's Shed with the easels they made for us with a grant from the Glenelg Shire. This completes the handover to us. Advertisments for sales of easels will be on display at the Art show.

Prue had a great article in the paper. It was great to see such a large amount of support form all Rotarians. Prue will be guest speaker at our meeting on 31st March.

6 Rotarians and a guest of a Rotarian, upon the invitation from the Lions Club of Casterton, attended a combined services dinner at Edgarley on Thursday 17th March.

 

A wonderful roast diner and scrumptious dessert were enjoyed by all that attended. Between courses, Andrew Speirs did a presentation on the grant that Edgarley Homes has applied for to upgrade their facilities. It was a very informative presentation with some interesting questions coming from the floor.

 

It is Casterton Rotary Clubs turn to return the favour next year.

 

p.s. Edgarley were successful in gaining their full grant from the government. Congratulations to everyone involved in the process. Eagerly awaiting the building to start!

 

 

 

Roger reminds us that there is a MAGIC sub committee metting, 5:30pm Thursday 10th March @ The Glenelg Inn, prior to our regular meeting.

 

Roger still following up gardens for MAGIC. Our grant application with the Glenelg Shire has bee submitted and is currently being assessed. Fingers crossed we are successful.

 

 

The Casterton Rotary Club members and partners are invited to a joint dinner with the Casterton Lions club. Names and payment to Secretary Sue K at this weeks meeting please.

Peter Gorman forwarded this invitation to be published.

Darren reported that he had spoken to DG Jane Cox and was told that it was up to individual clubs to organise relief for those suffering the effects from Cyclone Winston in Fiji.

To follow this, Kaye reported that Prue Dawson, daughter of former Rotarian Dick Escott, has organinsed for a shipment of goods to be freighted over to Fiji. They are in need of products such as feminine hygeine products, baby products including nappies and formula and water purification tablets. At this stage there is little use for money. Kaye suggested that if we wish to donate, she would be traveling to Ballarat on Sunday and would deliver any donated products to Prue.

It was suggested, by both the presidents present, that a collection could be taken tonight. This was agreed upon and a "whip around" was done. A fantastic total of $570 was collected.

Kaye contacted Prue and she was very excited to receive our donation. She has some known sources and will hit them up for bulk items such as water purification tablets, sanitary napkins, tooth brushes and paste, baby formula, nappies, torches and batteries and general medical and first aid items, using our donated money.

Kaye also contacted local resident Naraini Randall, who has family in Fiji. Naraini indicated that her family would be too far away for this aid to reach them and that they were more in need of rebuilding their home than immediate "health" needs. She thanked the Rotary club for their concern and for supporting Prue's project of support for Navioga Village and surrounding areas. 

Kaye and Prue are writing an article for the Casterton news, and it should be published this week so keep an eye out. 

 

***UPDATE*** We have donated a total of $1080 to Prue as of 8th March 2016!! Wonderful effort everyone!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the Hamilton North Rotary Club, who enjoyed our hospitality at a BBQ in Coleraine, to say thanks for lending us the screens that we use to display the artwork at the Aquisitive Art Show during the Kelpie Muster.

A lovely warm day turned into a bit of a chilly evening, with the wind becoming quite fresh, restricting the social aspect of the night. One working BBQ didn't help with the cooking, but Wally made the most of what he had, cooking up some lovely steak, burgers and sausages to accompany the variety of salads made by our members.

A huge thank you to all that attended and we look forward to more social nights like these in the coming weeks.

February 27th, 1986, was a very exciting day in Peter Gormans' life.......

It was on that day that he was inducted into the Casterton Rotary club!

This year marks 30 wonderful, fun filled years for Peter.

We congratulate him on this great achievement and wish him many more fantastic years with us!

The social fun continues next week....

We have a very busy couple of months ahead

It is with great sadness that we receive that resignation of Doug Coulter.

Kaye reported on the O'Brien plaques, the progress of the little flags and her search for material for the jackets.

Roger has been a busy man over the past couple of weeks, attending a grant writing day at the Casterton Football Club rooms, formulating grant applications and visiting potential gardens for MAGIC in October.

President Darren attended the Group 1 meeting on 7th February in Penola.

And off we go! The Rotary Club of Casterton has a web site in development, thanks to a grant from District 9780.

There is a change of venue and format for next week's meeting, but a chance to do some good as well!