Sparkle 44 #42 21 May 2024 (May 21, 2024)

Club Assembly Meeting - 14 May 2024

Chair's Introduction: Kelly McAllister

Did you know it is National Dance Like a Chicken Day? It is also National Pet Day - Kelly asked the group if anyone has interesting pets.

Behind the Badge - Kerith Cummins

I am the youngest of 4 children – 2 older sisters Lorraine, Jill and brother Russell
My Dad's name is Keith - and I suspect my parents were secretly hoping for another boy (although they deny this), so mum got creative and turned Keith into a girl’s name - Kerith
I grew up in Pascoe Vale (northern suburb) walked a mile and a half to school across Pascoe Vale Road, where there were 40 – 45 children in the class (end of the baby boom era)
My mother was a pianist and taught me piano when I started school – I learnt to read music at the same time I learnt to read English, so it is like a second language
I graduated from the University of Melbourne with 1^st class honours – solo pianist, though I prefer to accompany other instrumentalists, singers and choirs
I taught piano at St Kevin’s College, Mount Scopus for a number of years and also taught music classes at Yamaha schools
I have had some interesting performances over the years - the National Gallery of Victoria had an 18^th Century exhibition and I performed a series of lunchtime concerts with a group of singers. Discovered that the gallery had an 18^th Century Broadwood piano which it was impossible for me to fit her legs under. That led to very uncomfortable performances.
I played at weddings including one at the Alfred Nicholas gardens, which took place down near the lake. As the musicians started playing the bride’s entrance music 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, the ducks came out of the lake and began pecking at our feet!
I have accompanied hundreds of students for music exams from beginner level through to university standard and have worked with many choirs over the years, beginning with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir in my first year out of university
I began working with Excelsis Choir in 2018 – and performed in the Philippines in January this year, and gave a concert in East Melbourne on Saturday night
I married Greg (a policeman) in May 1982, we have 3 children: Paul, Sarah, and Stephanie
In 1990, I began a music admin role at Haileybury College, a job that provided stability (regular hours, a regular income, and school holidays), enabling a better work/life balance for the next 17 years
In 2010 I took on a role as Music Administrator at PLC from 2010 until I retired at start of 2023. – PLC is a very academic girls’ school and music plays a big part in the school life
During the pandemic we moved to Emerald – Gayle sold us house week before Xmas in 2020. Moved to Emerald in March 2021 – we were in lockdown and had the 1 in 100 yr storm and an earthquake!!! Life was rather miserable
I joined Rotary in 2022– caught COVID - but now, well an truly feel part of the community
Greg and I are both retired now, and like all retired people, WE ARE SO BUSY!!
We have 2 grandchildren – Hunter 6, and Olivia 2. And we mind Olivia one day each week (or more if she cannot attend childcare) and mind Hunter on curriculum days, or if can’t attend school
I still practice the piano regularly and attend choir rehearsals every Thursday night
I knit for a charity (KOGO - Knit One Give One) for those in need of beanies, scarfs etc
Greg and I like to travel and have had some wonderful trips to many parts of Europe, Russia, Turkey, USA, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Jordan and Egypt.

A Toast to the Elderly by PP PHF John Richie

Doug Morris

I was born in East Kew and grew up in Balwyn, attending Balwyn State School. I had two brothers, Bob and John. Tragically, one of my brothers passed away while working on a tractor on his farm. After finishing school, I joined my parents in running their grocery store. Our family later moved from our store in Maling Street, Canterbury, to Woori Yallock, where we worked on a dairy farm. I also worked on the farm alongside my family. My mother was a piano teacher, that's probably where I found my love for music. Due to my asthma as a child, I was no good at sports so I found a love in playing the drums as early as the age of 9.

It was at a dance where I met my wife, Elaine Nobelius, and we tied the knot in Emerald. We decided to delay starting a family initially, focusing on saving to build a home. I enrolled in Box Hill Tech to learn carpentry skills and eventually constructed our house in Avonsleigh. To supplement our income, I took on the role of a school bus driver while also working on the dairy farm.

After completing our home, we welcomed three children into our family. Additionally, I pursued my passion for music as a drummer in a band called the Silhouettes, performing at various events, including the Springvale town hall for two decades. During these events, Elaine would graciously serve cakes to the attendees.

Upon retiring, I ventured into renting out horse floats and trailers. Eventually, we transitioned to a retirement village in Pakenham to access additional support, although we dearly missed Emerald. Now, we're delighted to be back in Emerald at Emerald Glades, reconnecting with our community and reuniting with familiar faces among the residents and their families.

Emma Clark - Club Assembly 2nd Tuesday of the Month

A reminder about Club Assembly meetings. The idea is that members can raise any issues of concern - just add them to the agenda the week before Club Assembly. It's important that everyone supports each other.

Emma raised that we are still working working on the venue for our meetings. As our membership has grown, we can no longer fit into the small room, so it is important that people send in their apologies.

It is also important that everyone listens to the person at the front, and that we save questions to the end of the segment.

The purpose of different roles at meetings is so that we each have go at doing something different – it helps members grow. Organizing furnishings is also vital for the good running of the meeting. You can let us know if you are not comfortable to do certain roles and we'll re-jig the roster.

We are a big Rotary family – let's keep our friendly and supportive culture going!

Issues Raised by Members: John Henderson – The Market

John had the feeling we were not holding the market during the winter months, but this seems to have changed. John's concern is that there are 25 nights to cover shifts for the Train of Lights and we also have the Deb Ball and Changeover. People also go away and there are school holidays. There is a concern members will be overloaded.

Catherine’s Response …

Committee of 6 people put a proposal to go through the winter months to keep the momentum going on the back of the Lost Wood Market, which is drawing people into town on the second Saturday of the month
Board approved (3 abstentions) that the market continues through the winter months with the proviso that 15 stores financial commit, and that the market will be cancelled if the weather is bad
Last Saturday (11/5) we were expecting 20 stalls, but 8 didn’t turn up. We raised $700, and $1100 the month prior
Lost Woods has reached out about collaborating with the Rotary Market, and there is concerns about the loyal stall holders (it costs $95 a stall at LW and $150 for a food stall, plus they have a waiting list of 200 stalls).

It was raised that perhaps we should just hold a BBQ at the Lost Woods, because the current location of the market isn’t very good as it cannot be seen from the main road.

Committee Reports

Marketing and Membership Committee (PP PHF Ian Ash)

There is a new process for new membership – please look at this. There are also Mentor check lists for those supporting new members.

The current and incoming Boards looked at Strategic Planning for our club. The areas of focus include: Social Media, Marketing, & Training of Members. Kelly's Board will look at practical ways to implement these areas.

Primary School Speech Competition (PP PHF Gloria Hargreaves)

Gloria has contacted all the schools about the topics and they are all interested.

Deb Ball (PHF Lyn Beckwith)

Everything is running smoothly. A big thank you to all who have helped thus far. We held the 2^nd dance lesson this week - the participants are a great bunch of young adults. We have 27 Deb pairs and 270 paid guests with an estimated 335 people so far.

Youth Committee (PP PHF Marcus Adams)

We met with the Assistant Principal of Emerald Secondary College. A positive meeting. We discussed the survey that has been sent to the year 10-12 students about the Deb Ball (there is some agitation because the School don't run the ball). Ultimately, the survey results so far indicate that students: 'cant wait', 'have done it and found it was a great experience' and 'understand the historical meaning but are very positive about the evening'.

Community Committee (PP PHF DGN Emma Clark)

We received a nice thank you card from A Compassionate Friend from our $500 donation.

We also donated $1800 to Gembrook RSL so their club can have a defib machine on their premises.

The Stationary collection and Donations in Kind Program is still running. We will deliver the stationary items to Footscray, which will then be shipped overseas. A big thank you to Kalpesh for donating 16–18 boxes of new stationary.

Announcing that the Diversity Committee will hold their first meeting 5.30pm next week (21/5) at the pub before the meeting. Everyone welcome.

Club Assembly Meeting - 14 May 2024

Chair's Introduction: Kelly McAllister

Behind the Badge - Kerith Cummins

A Toast to the Elderly by PP PHF John Richie

Doug Morris

Emma Clark - Club Assembly 2nd Tuesday of the Month

Issues Raised by Members: John Henderson – The Market

Committee Reports

Marketing and Membership Committee (PP PHF Ian Ash)

Primary School Speech Competition (PP PHF Gloria Hargreaves)

Deb Ball (PHF Lyn Beckwith)

Youth Committee (PP PHF Marcus Adams)

Community Committee (PP PHF DGN Emma Clark)

Vision Statement

Mission Statement

CHOCLOTTO JACKPOT $27

Winner: John Shaw

Events

Emerald Village Community

Rotary Club of Emerald & District Committees