Hi everyone

 

There has been a lot happening this week with the Market last Saturday and the Easter raffle running alongside at Woolworths and again on the Sunday. Visitors to the township were down at the weekend – possibly due other local markets and events. Nevertheless, Stall holders seemed happy enough with business and the raffle made a profit of $1570.50, which is brilliant work by everyone – thank you.

 

Tuesday’s meeting was a full one, unfortunately Ben Owen, Captain SES had to pull out at the last minute however we had plenty of other things happening. Past DG Alma Reynolds attended and presented PP Vicki Van Den Bergen with the 2020/2021 Club Citation – well deserved and obtained during a very difficult year with COVID challenges.  We had 2 Inductions – Hita Mistry and Colin Brown.  Hita will be mentored by Marcus Adams and go into the Fundraising team lead by Kris Ash and Colin who has been a PHF Rotarian since 1977 in Dingley and President before he joined Emerald Rotary in January 2005 and leaving in 2016 will go into Community lead by Emma Clark.

 

Thank you to Tina who not only replaced Andrew McAllister as Chairperson seemed to cover off the time period allocated to Ben – you did a great job. And also managed to find time to talk to a visitor Chris McLeod who attended our March market. Hopefully Chris enjoyed herself and would like to attend a future meeting.

 

The Toast to the Elderly provided by John Ritchie was to Hilda Gregson who is 102 years old – the picture circulated gives us all hope that we age as well as she has.

 

The latest update on Kerry Champness is that he is back home, been advised that he can undergo Chemo and this will commence next Wednesday at Box Hill.  It is expected to take 4-5 months with short 2-3 day stays in hospital.  Both thyroids and goitre were removed so now he has to build himself up.  He thanks everyone for their calls and well wishes.

 

Left field we had Ian Ash attending Tuesday’s meeting one minute and then being driven to Emergency the next, having nipped out to the car for something and stepping down further than expected and consequently breaking his ankle. Ian is now in plaster for the coming weeks and we send our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

Emerald Rotary is managing to get press coverage most weeks in the Star News.  This week we are mentioned in an article under the heading “A bigger Chestnut festival in 2022” on page 13. Elsewhere in the paper Ferntree Gully Rotary is mentioned, so we are all getting in on the act! 

 

Thursday, I passed on the prizes from the Easter Raffle to the recipients at Barry Plant’s office and a couple of hours later met up with the Community team and the Star News who attended the Glades Care Home to record the Easter gifts being presented to the residents. The pupils at Emerald Primary School had decorated Easter bags, which the Community group filled with Easter eggs and delivered to the home along with yours truly and Onslow.  We all wore bunny ears.

 

The next 2 items on our calendar are the Anzac Day Parade on 25^th April. Members who would like to walk should be in the township around 10am with the March commencing at 10.30amarriving at Anzac Place for the 11am morning service. The following day we have the Burnt Chop at Roy & Ali’s home.

 

See you next Tuesday.   

 

Yours in Rotary,  Shalini Penny, President