I grew up in Monomeith, West Gippsland, on a farm (now known as Monomeith Stud Farm) where we had racehorses on agistment as well as a couple of dairy cows, pigs and occasionally sheep (destined for our meals).  The cows were milked twice a day and the milk was separated into cream, for making butter and whey for the pigs.  Until I started primary school in Koo Wee Rup I did not have any contact with other children.

 

It was from an early age that my interest in railways developed.  My father was a reluctant farmer, he wanted to be a journalist writing about the railways but his father had other ideas.  Dad was still able to fit in his railway interests with the farm and from the early 1950's he belonged to the Railway Historical Society and travelled widely on trains and wrote about the performance of steam engines and travel.  My first trip on a "Special" train was in 1956 on the Melbourne Inner and Outer Circle lines.

 

It was some 10 years later that I met John, and his railway interests, on another special train trip and the railway world is still following our lives and travels.  We married in 1970 when John was in the Army.  There followed three children and lots of moving houses around Australia and the world.

 

In 1985 when we were back in Melbourne I started working (for the first time) with the Defence Force Credit Union at Watsonia Barracks where I spent 11 years, mostly as Branch Supervisor.  In the meantime John retired from the Army and became the paid Manager Civil Engineering at Puffing Billy (a job he had been doing as a volunteer for many years).  This lead to a move to Clematis.  After a few months staring out the back windows at the countryside and a railway, I commenced some more work, this time at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University selling merchandise at “Postman Pat” shows and I ended there as Finance Officer for the Academy of Performing Arts with my retirement in 2014.

Reports

• Treasurers Report – paid dues to day and paid Club Runner today.Interest earned – not much.Membership fees end of this month – Monday.
  • Balances – Acct 1 $7,000 (minus Club Runner money -$557US) –
  • Acct 2 $22,109.03
  • Fees – 17 people need to pay, some have paid half
• Community Service – Vouchers should be out no later than Monday.Plans are to distribute $1000 this week, prepared to distribute $1000 per week until we run out of money.Trying to do as much as possible electronically.Woolies and IGA not part of the voucher system but purchasing $50 gift vouchers from them and put our stickers on their cards.Not using butcher and vegetable shops.MOU from St Lukes and St Marks to ensure process is adhered to.
• Virtual Breakfast with Guy Sebastian in progress – Wine and Cheese tasting evening – Round it Up for COVID
• International - End Polio - $1500 got grossed up to nearly $11k - $700 left over so donated to Hotels Joining Hands – spent $700 on that project.Backloading activity to later in the yeaer to see how fundraising is going.Pete Hadwen – Sky hydrant $1000 from RC Emerald but need $5000 in total.Very generous people in club – collectively $900 to Hotels Joining Hands.
• Rotaract Mentoring Program – Managing a Team in Uncertain Times this coming Saturday. Good feedback on the value of these.Ian part of the program.Non Rotaracters can join the meetings on a Saturday.
• Membership – Survey has been completed - response excellent.Data analysis by Kris, thank you.Business cards and brochures to be distributed.$2000 budget – approval of $1,200 for acrylic displays and street signs.Street signs may need to work through with Marketing Committee to take responsibility and spend the $$.Russ N made point that retention is also a critical issue – something not working right as members do resign very quickly.Exit interview may be useful.Going back over older members may be a good idea and some may be waiting to be asked.Interview newer members who have been in the club for a year or so to feedback on integration and understanding of Rotary.
• PR and Marketing – COVID restricted - thinking into Marketing & PR strategy for the club.Foundational work – culture pillars of Vision, Mission and Strategy will form basis of Marketing program. Looking forward to those statements being finalized so marketing can leverage from this.Overarching view of events, campaigns and initiatives would be good for Marketing and PR.Supporting Pop-Up event initiative and signage issue.Signage not easy with Councils.
• Vocational – not much to do at the moment.McCleod Murphy may be virtual.Pride of Workmanship – in the wings awaiting COVID outcome.
• Youth – not much happening at the moment.Rung a couple of the schools to understand the needs for youth.Making plans for when COVID makes it a little easier and the children go back to school.
• Service – working through items.
• Deb Ball – 28 March (2020) 12 June (2021) 2020 only 10 left that haven’t requested money back and may not be viable.

A Flash Back in the Emerald Village Pharmacy Newsletter PP  PHF PDG Ray Adams with the Olympic Torch.