As our guest speaker,Co-Manager of Reconnect Communications, Ben Quick, outlined some details of the NBN rollout in the Albury-Wodonga district and anticipated targets. Reconnect has become a major contributor to the rollout of ADSL in regional NSW/VIC ensuring clients were aware of the service available while helping to connect ADSL service as quickly as possible. In more recent times, Reconnect has been bringing the Bigpond and Telstra wireless networks to regional NSW & VICTORIA.
President’s Message
| I am currently in Sydney with other Albury Hume members attending the Rotary International Convention … a superbly organised event, the opening ceremony a spectacular eye-opener with excellent speakers and entertainment. PM Tony Abbott and NSW Premier, Mike Baird, addressed the gathering. It is encouraging to see just how much Rotary is involved throughout the world in so many areas providing much needed support to the needy in home countries and abroad. I’m sure all members (including ‘yours-truly’) will be keen to share their thoughts and experiences with the club on their return and in doing so provide some valuable fresh Rotary knowledge. Other social aspects of fellowship available to Rotary members wordldwide include … a wine appreciation society and a beer appreciation society (of course) ! I have been ‘roped in’ to join the RI Cricketers International Fellowship, which has the title of “Behind-the-Stumps” … (I don’t think I am required to play) ! Entertainment at the various venues has included Human Nature, Marina Prior and the Ten Tenors. The RI Convention next year is to be held in Sao Paulo in Brazil . |
Presidents Message
| Well that was quite a week wasn’t it? I trust you all found it as enjoyable as I did. Thankyou all for making our Rotarian visitors from Thailand so welcome with their short stay with us. I feel certain that they meant all the compliments which they gave us from all the work our ‘Club hosts’ provided, the trip around NE Vic by Roger and Judy, plus all the arranging they did from the outset which really started when they originally went over to Thailand . Also a big thank you to Ron and Barbara Haberfield for providing the Club a wonderful venue for us to say ‘farewell’ to our guests whilst the ladies of Inner Wheel who called in toward the end to collect their partners, immediately got ‘stuck in’ to do some clearing up first ,so that us chaps could carry on doing the entertaining the guests. Thankyou all very much. Though final figures are almost completed I understand that we will be giving the RSPCA approximately $1000 from the Paws Walk BBQ a couple of weeks ago. So obviously the food on offer first met with the dogs approval for their minders to also share. |
Club Meeting 14 May 2014
Guest Speaker Kathie Heyman joined Albury Northside as Business Manager in February 2014 and was an enthusiastic guest speaker at the meeting supported by Carrick Gill-Vallance, who is well known to the club as a previous guest speaker. Her previous experience includes over 12 years with the chamber movement in the Hunter Region, owner/operator of a small franchise business, client/customer service, business management and consultancy. Kathie has experience in Strategy, Planning, Economic Development, Project Management, Marketing, Event Management and Grant Writing … just some of her skills ! At its February meeting Chamber members stated that one of their major challenges for 2014 was finding and retaining skilled staff. With an ageing population, new skill requirements and brain drain to the cities businesses in the Albury region are struggling to attract younger staff and keep staff overall. The Chamber has been working with NSW Business as part of its Advisory Council to start the conversation in regards to training, skill development, staff attraction and retention. In the March 2014 NSW Business Chamber Business Conditions Report its shows regional businesses are struggling. Northside Chamber has 400 individual members supported by 60 business members. Future goals are to grow the business member base, increase assistance and communication with all members, continue to embrace and expand digital IT technology, support home-based businesses and non-profit organisations. Kathie mentioned that Northside worked in conjunction with Albury Central and Wodonga Chamber of Commerce.
Club Meeting 7 May 2014
Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker was Barie Barolli, CBA Financial Planner Northern Victoria, accompanied by Albury based financial planner, Darrin Skinner and graduate financial planner, Rochelle Stockwell. Barie joined the Commonwealth Bank back in November 1985 and began her Financial Planning role in March 1997.She is passionate in providing people with the high quality, personalised strategic financial advisory services to help them learn more about their options in life, fund the lifestyle they desire for themselves and their families, become more confident and in control of their financial future, and build sustainable wealth to achieve their goals throughout life.Barie specialises in providing family friendly financial advice and services, from providing busy parents with peace of mind by protecting their families to guidanance with transition into retirement and aged care. Barie emphasised the need for planning in the age care market with reference to signifecant changes to occur from 1st July 2014. Unlike many other financial advisory practices, Commonwealth Financial Planning focuses on providing knowledge and carefully tailored strategies to suit a client’s circumstances throughout life.Barie suggested a three-way approach to understanding Aged Care planning …o Understand key decisions o Visit Facilities and identify with family member involved o Consult a Financial adviser early