Vocational Service – October. Rotary was first started as a club based on vocations. This continues today. This month is a great time to celebrate, explore, understand the vocations of your club members, and to explore the possibilities of membership from other vocational groups in your community. Via this website, you can explore the exceptional programs offered under the Vocational Avenue of Service of this District.
Club Meeting 12 September 2018
Guest Speaker, Noel Jackling – The Montford Albury Flight Memorial: A tale of two losses but two recoveries: A story acted out over 84 years
Following the crash of the Uiver in Iraq in December 1934, Albury people raised £150 for a memorial to be given to the people of Holland by mayor Alfred Waugh. Waugh presented a bronze and marble statuette created by sculptor Paul Montford to the burgomeester of Amsterdam in Amsterdam on 15 August 1935. In September 1935. Montford sent a similar but not identical version in plaster to Albury, which remained in council chambers until 1976. The bronze and marble version could not be located in Amsterdam in 2014, and the plaster version in Albury had disappeared and was apparently irretrievable. Due to two sets of extraordinary circumstances, both of these significant sculptures have been recovered. After the meeting, you will be able to have a special viewing of the Montford plaster Uiver Flight Memorial at the Albury LibraryMuseum, across the road from the Albury Club. Because of much needed conservation, it is unlikely to be on public display for a long time. After retirement as a lawyer, Noel turned himself into an Uiver historian. His endeavours resulted in major additions to the Uiver collection at the Albury LibraryMuseum, which is now listed on the State heritage register. Earlier this year, Noel was invested by the Netherlands Ambassador as a Ridder (Knight) of the Order of Oranje-Nassau
President’s Message
At last week’s meeting, we bid farewell to Francesco Paradisio prior to his departure back to Italy. It has been great having him around and I particularly enjoyed listening to Francesco and Nicolo conversing in Italian. Francesco’s presentation was very interesting and his love for Aussie pies was obvious for all to see. Imagine eating 5 pies from breakfast to lunch! Francesco was full of praise for Kellie and clearly enjoyed his stay in her house. Once again, thank you to Kellie and all other club members who give up their time and homes to our wonderful exchange students. The exchange program is a great thing for the participating students and our local community. It helps us to build deeper engagement with other cultures and brings greater diversity to our regional community.
Club Meeting 22 August 2018
Guest Speaker, Carl Friedlieb is best known in Albury for his involvement with the Border Relay For Life which raises funds for Cancer Council NSW. During Carl’s involvement in the event over the past 9 years, 6 years of which he was Chairman, the event is now widely recognised as one most successful in Australia through both funds raised and participant numbers. The local organising Committee received local recognition of their efforts via the Committee being awarded Albury Community Group of the Year in 2017, The Federer Award in 2018 and the current Chair awarded Wodonga Volunteer of the Year again in 2018.In the last 3 years Border Relay For Life has raised an average of $400,000 a year but the Relay does a lot more than raise funds for the Cancer Council. It supports those that are battling Cancer and their carers, it remembers those that have lost their battle and it reminds us that there is always hope. Carl maintains a high interest in the event and encourages everyone to take part in this event which is truly a community event.
President’s Message
We had an interesting talk from Glenys from the Border Trust last week. Great to hear that good work that is going on in our local community. Even better to hear the clinging of coins as the donation tin was being passed around. Glenys sent us a note to say how much she enjoyed our meeting so I’ve invited her to come to a meeting as our guest. Hopefully she will take me up on this offer.
A quick update on Rotary Foundation giving (via subs and other giving). Last year as individuals of the Club we gave $3,571 to Foundation. Here we are now less than two months into the new year and we are up to $1,200 already. Well done to you all. Remember that 100% of what you donate to Foundation goes to charity with 50% coming back to our district. Hopefully some of that will be coming back to our own Paying it Forward project. In the last few years foundation has supported our Club with River of Stories and the Brown’s Lagoon Reflection area.
Talking Brown’s Lagoon, we were hoping to have the official opening of the Reflection Area next Sunday – being the day that we chartered and a fitting way to see out our 40th year but I’ve made the captain’s call (in the absence of our actual captain) that we are not prepared enough to do it in such a tight time frame so it will be postponed for now. It’s better to do it right rather than rushed.