Meeting Report 3199 April 8thth, 2024
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Formalities
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Chair
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Toast
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Grace
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Pres John Lyons
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PP Kim Potger
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Shawn Lock
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Pres John Opened meeting 3199 and welcomed members and special guests Major Darren and Nicole from the Gawler Salvation Army. ‘
Apologies Colin Bazeley, Deb Williams, Mike Williams, Kathy Heinrich, Leaane Clinch, Mark Forgie Nathan Pengilly
Beth Hudman
- Reminder to all who have not submitted their Police Check paperwork to Beth to please do so.
- Organisation for the 70th Anniversary is well underway and lots of auction and raffle prizes etc have been donated. Something for everyone with large and small ticket items. Would still like to see numbers increase though, booking has been very slow hopefully we experience a last minute rush.
PP Lance Hatcher
- Gave the club the sad update that Bob Ahola passed away this week. His funeral will be held at Taylor and Forgie’s Adelaide Rd chapel on Friday 19th April 2pm.
- Mark Forgie is absent due to a middle ear infection which is affecting his balance.
PP Brian Burt
- Club photo will be next week, please wear Rotary attire.
PE Anthony Barilla
- Update on Air Cadet’s for ANZAC Day- they require 2 marquees to be set up on the 24th and a BBQ -sausage sizzle. Will need volunteers to help.
Pres John
- Attended a meeting re the 2024 Christmas parade in Gawler. John is looking for more support from members this year as there was only himself with Deb and Mike Williams and Maddison. This year we have committed to providing a food tent and participating in the parade.
- John thanked members and directors for the information and invited everyone to enjoy some fellowship over dinner.
After Dinner John introduced PP Barry Stewart to present his sergeants session.
Wheel winners were Shareen, PP Lance and Shawn Lock.
PP Barry then presented is entertaining FB funnies and fines session. Pres John asked all fines to go to The Gawler Salvation Army.
Pres John introduced Major Darren and Nicole from the Gawler Salvation Army to give some information about a project they are hoping to fulfil.
Major Darren explained that throughout the year they cook and hand out meals to people in need. Three years ago, they decided to do a special Christmas lunch so everyone could have a beautiful cooked meal with their families. The first year they provided 350 meals, Last year that grew to 700 meals. The biggest expense is the freezer and refrigeration space, and they spend $5000 over a 6 week period to be able to do it.
Darren and Nicole talked over the issue and the dream is to have a Cool room built with Fridge and Freezer spaces so it can be used all year not just at Christmas.
Currently they provide over 150 meals per week. Meals are handed out at food parcels with the recipe that also includes a video of how to cook it so they are building skills- the major aim is to give families a hand up not a hand out. The Christmas meals are cooked from fresh produce and frozen before being handed out on 1 day of the year. This day the families also select the Christmas gifts for their children. Darren explained that the gifts are unwrapped so the parents have satisfaction knowing they have had real choice in what they give their children.
Nicole explained that not having enough freezer and refrigeration space means they often have to turn down donations of good quality food. For example, recently they were offered 100kg of sausages and 100kg of chicken but they couldn’t accept it because they had no storage. The same with fresh fruit and vegetables. Nicole said if they keep turning it down the people will stop offering it.
Major Darren said the need is getting greater in Gawler and they have brought a financial counsellor on board as well. They do have systems in place to make sure they are not taken advantage of such as a limit to how many meal packs people can access but they don’t turn them away -they must meet with Darren to see what the root of the problem is and he will arrange suitable counselling whether that is budgeting, gambling, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Darren and Nicole invited members to attend the facility to have a look or have a coffee in the coffee shop. It was decided that it would be an excellent idea and we will have a vocational visit because we have many members who have not seen it. PP Mark Smeaton offered to go and look at the kitchen area and measure up a suitable space for the Cool Room.
After thanking Darren and Nicole, Pres John closed meeting 3199 with the four way test.
Did you know?
A new regular Column compiled by
PP Brian Burt
The way it was in the 1950s and 1960s
In 1958 we extended the fellowship of Rotary to the Kapunda community. We had a host of other activities:
- purchasing an F class locomotive made in Gawler
- Producing a slide and tape programme of Gawler for distribution to overseas clubs
- providing Christmas gifts for residents of Nursing Homes, Christmas picnic,
- parties for the aged.
A town survey of Gawler's needs was conducted. Arising from this survey the need for a modern swimming pool was established. Due to Rotary's initiative a committee was formed comprising Rotary, Apex, Gawler Corporation, Old Swimming Pool Committee, Rural Youth, Sporting bodies, and a representative of the people. We hoped the result would be a swimming pool for Gawler.
The club structure was unchanged during this time, the main committee were International Vocational Community and Club Services till being responsible for their own funding.
We sold a lot of Christmas trees in this decade. In one year over one hundred Trees were delivered but it was difficult to find the right tree on some occasions.
In 1965 we held our 11th annual ball, raising £150-5-8 which allowed the club to donate £160 to the hospital building appeal which, with the government subsidy was worth £1640.
We made many club visits, enjoyed interclub bowls, organised mannequin parades and old folk's picnics, decorated Murray Street with Christmas trees, and donated broiler chickens to the recipients of Meals on Wheels.
