Apologies for the evening:
Colin Bazeley, Tom Kelly, Leanne Clinch, Anthea John. Colin Bazeley, Steve Barilla, Patsy Johnson, Wayne Murphy,
Guests
Maurice O Connell -Guest Speaker; Peter Nettlebeck; Dave Griffiths Sherine Allouche.
Several members from Rotary Club of Gawler light also attended to hear the guest speaker
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This evenings Formalities:
Fines to: New Dawn
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Toast
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Grace
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Chair
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PP Ian Sanders
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PP Brian Burt
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Mark Forgie
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Prior to introducing the chair for the evening PP Barry Stewart introduced Major Dave Griffiths (Retired) to present a Remembrance Day ceremony. In his address, Dave acknowledged the sacrifice made by so many service people in so many wars and provided a brief history of the “Ode to the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon before Rotarians and guests participated in a minutes silence.
PP Barry then introduced the chair for the evening- Mark Forgie who welcomed members and special guests before asking Members who wished to have a Rotary Spot to come forward.
Almoner PP Mike Williams
- Ian Nys is currently in hospital, he is ok but has been doing too much and needs to slow down and take it easy. Please phone the hospital ahead but he would love visitors.
- Colin is home. Mike saw him on Wednesday he is still battered and bruised and will be a long slow process until he is 100%.
- Mike and Deb have registered for the walk against Domestic Violence. They will travel in by train and everyone is welcome to join them
Pres John
- Needs names for International Womens Day breakfast next year. Beth and Margaret have put their names in but if anyone else would like to attend please give your name to John ASAP.
- Christmas parade- also give your names to john if you would like to join him in the parade on the 2nd December
- Banner-We have tossed around the idea of a banner for a while. John would like to make the commitment to purchasing one ASAP so we can use it at the parade.
- PP Mark S is once again participating in the Hope Cup on the weekend and encourages everyone to donate to the cause and go and cheer them on at Sandy Creek on Sunday
After dinner Mark F welcomed Barry to present his sergeants session.
The wheel spin winners were Mike W, Deb W and Shawn.
Chair Mark then asked Pres John, Sherine Allouche and her sponsor Beth Hudman to come forward so John could induct Sharine into the club. Sherine has already impressed members with her enthusiasm, hard work and friendly smile during her many hours working at the Village Fair.
Mark F then introduced The Guest Speaker, Maurice O’Connell who is a close friend of Gawler Rotarian Mark Forgie. Maurice has spent the last two years as an aid worker in the Kherson region of war-torn Ukraine. He captivated those present with his photos, videos and graphic accounts of life in the middle of a full-scale war.
As a result of Maurice’s visit to Gawler last year, Rotary District 9510 established the Ukraine New Dawn project. New Dawn volunteers pack 100 emergency food packs per day and deliver them to people in Odesa. Other aid (toys, bedding, candles, drinking water, etc) is provided to 8,000 people living in villages in the Kherson area east of Odesa. These villages receive no support from any other aid organisations and have no running water or electricity.
Maurice showed a video of children laughing-they were being entertained by one of the volunteers who is a magician. They joy on their faces in the middle of the despair was wonderful. After the ‘performance’ the volunteers do mine awareness training with the assembled children and families.
Funds raised by Rotary’s project have been used to replace windows blown out of a large hospital and to build three modular medical centres to replace medical infrastructure destroyed by targeted Russian attacks.
Maurice concluded his presentation by saying that although he is volunteering he is just the face/ agent for South Australia. He also emphasised that every dollar raised goes straight into the project no money goes to admin etc.
Chair Mark F thanked Maurice for coming along and hopefully giving Rotarians a better understanding of what was happening.
He presented Maurice with his certificate of appreciation and indicating that a donation has been made to the project.
President John then thanked members of the Rotary Club of Gawler Light, member and guests for attending before closing meeting 3183 with the Four Way Test.
