The Newsletter of Jerrabomberra Rotary RI District 9710

Volume 18 No. 31 Vocational Visit

ACT Sport Meeting 832

19 February 2015

1

Weekly Headlines

Happy Chinese New Year

February 19th marked the end of the year of the Chinese Year of the

Horse, and the start of the Chinese Year of the Goat. Or maybe the year

of the Ram or the Sheep. There is some confusion as to which is correct

due to the Chinese word for all three being

‘yang’. Experts suggest that you should not

be too ‘sheepish’ if you have chosen the

wrong one, it is really “much ado about mutton”. It seems all are

acceptable, but the somewhat ‘woolly’ debate, and ‘bleating’ as to which

one should reign will likely continue for some time.

Rotary turns 110

On 23 February 2015 Rotary International will be 110 years young.

To recognise this significant milestone Jerrabomberra Rotary’s usual sign

at the entrance to Jerrabomberra has taken on a new appearance with a

large Happy Birthday Banner.

ACT Sport has a new base

Jerrabomberra Rotary this week visited the new ACTSPORT Sports Hub at the University of Canberra in

Bruce for a firsthand look at the operations of this important partner to the Canberra Region’s sport and

recreation activities. See page 2 for more details.

Jerra Rotary support Queanbeyan Relay for Life

Members of Jerrabomberra Rotary enjoyed a weekend of walking in support of the Queanbeyan Relay for

Life and raising funds in support of the fight against cancer. See page 4 for more details.

Hannah moves house and hits the surf

Youth Exchange student Hannah has had another busy week with moving

house and attending a surf camp on the NSW Coast where she literally rode

the waves.

Read more in the ‘Where’s Hannah’ column at page 3.

I am back after three weeks

R&R in Queensland, and

would like to thank Chris for

doing a great job as the

stand-in-editor while I was

away. While I enjoy doing the

Jerraganda, it is even more

enjoyable to read it when

someone else has put it

together. Great job Chris.

This week we moved from

the Year of the Horse to the

Year of the Goat, Rotary

came to the end of its 109th

year, we visited the

ACTSPORT Hub, walked in the

Relay for Life, and Hannah

rode the waves. Quite a

week.

We also have a small article

on Rotary Peace Fellows, as

well as the usual Market

Report and ‘Little Known

Facts’, and a quick

competition for those who

are interested.

Enjoy the read.

2

Vocational Visit – ACT Sports

In lieu of a club meeting this week, members

travelled to the ACTSPORT Sports Hub at the

University of Canberra in Bruce for a firsthand look

at the operations of this important partner to the

Canberra Region’s sport and recreation activities.

The Vision of ACTSPORT is to be the recognised industry representative and valued partner for the Canberra Region’s sport and

active recreation industry. The organisation although small seeks to,

improve the quality of sport and active recreation for its members and the broader community,

provide its members with the tools they need to deliver quality services and products to the community,

provide advocacy and influence to government to better service the sport and active recreation community, and

build relationships with commercial partners to support and service the sport and active recreation community.

The evening at Building 29 of the UC Campus was hosted by the CEO of ACTSPORT Jon Wells, who provided an interesting insight

into the operations of the organisation and its role within the ACT. The ACTSPORT Sports Hub is an administrative and resource

centre for sport and active recreation in the ACT. As such it houses various ACT and National sporting organisations and provides

a number of auxiliary services for these organisations. The facility provides a professional environment in which sporting

organisations can not only run their day-to-day operations, but interact with industry colleagues on

a regular basis. The facilities are well suited to the role played by ACTSPORT as they are co-located

with the University’s sports research and gym area and with the Brumbies administration, coaching

and physio areas that include spa, showers and sleeping accommodation.

A highlight of the visit was the guest speaker for the evening Pat McCabe (pictured right with Jon

Wells, CEO ACTPORT). Pat is a retired professional Australian rugby union player, who played for

the Brumbies in the Super Rugby, and Warringah in Sydney, and represented Australia at various

age grade levels before playing for Wallabies between 2010 and 2014. His professional rugby career

was unfortunately cut short by a series of serious neck injuries which eventually forced his

retirement in 2014 after playing 65 games with the Wallabies between 2010 and 2014.

Interestingly, Pat indicated during his talk that soccer was more his game when young, as his Mum thought it was safer, and his

aspirations were to be a professional surfer. Playing rugby was just part of school sport, but soon became the main sport and the

rest is history.

Since his retirement as a player, Pat continues with his involvement in sport through his role as Special Olympics ACT's Sport

Ambassador. SOACT operate from the ACTSPORT Sports Hub. Also recent news indicates that he has been selected to assist with

the Wallabies training squad, which will assemble on the Gold Coast in June, prior to competing against France in a three-game

Test series for the Trophée des Bicentenaires. Pat is also studying towards a commerce degree.

Further information on ACT Sports and the ACTSPORT Hub is available at http://actsport.com.au/ .

Proof we have three monkeys in our midst,

hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil.

Members viewing the ActewAGL

ACT Sports Hall of Fame

Jon giving a tour of the facility

(nice blouse Jan)

3

Where’s Hannah?

On Sunday 15 February Hannah moved in with the Roger’s as her third host parents for her

exchange year. Contrary to rumour there was no need for a large removal van to transport

Hannah’s possessions (which have been growing during the past 6 months). Everything was able

to be transported in the Wahlert’s car and in only one trip! Although Hannah, Glenn and Paul had

to make a few trips back and forth between the car and the house to unload everything.

As Hannah spent a week with Paul and Sue at the start of her

exchange, she quickly settled in and made herself at home for the

next few months. Of course a detailed handover discussion was

necessary between incoming parents, Paul and Sue, and outgoing parents, Glenn and Glenda, and

some wine and cheese assisted with this process, while Hannah unpacked and personalised her room.

Picture left is one of Hannah’s many prized possessions that have been acquired during her exchange.

This lovely bear (with no name) was made by Hannah and has been signed with messages from all her

fellow students and friends at Karabar High School. It has pride of place on the pillow next to Hannah.

Surf camp at Nowra

This week Hannah has been away on yet another Youth Exchange trip. This time on a

Surf Camp and a weekend hosted by the South Nowra Rotary Club. The trip has been

described by Hannah and other students “as the best yet”. During the 5 day

excursion, the students has surfing lessons from Pam Burridge – former World Surfing

Champion, soaked up the sun and beaches around Mollymook and Ulladulla, and

enjoyed the Nowra and Jervis Bay area hosted by local Rotarians, where they also

participated in some tree climbing action and water-skiing.

Pictured left are 11 of the students (including Hannah front centre) who travelled

from Yass and Canberra. Three other exchange students from within the District joined the group on the coast. And pictured

below are some of the early shots of the trip, where all the practice on the Gold Coast paid off and Hannah rode the waves !!

The Youth Exchange students get suited

up ready for their surfing lessons

After the first surfing session some rest and

recreation was needed. Hannah can be

seen face down in the foreground having a

well-earned rest and catching some sun.

Yeah, look at me - this is easy

Yes - I am now a surfing

expert – well almost

4

Queanbeyan Relay for Life - 2015

The past weekend saw several of our club members actively involved in the Cancer Council’s Queanbeyan Relay for Life. As with

past years club members donated their time and knowledge to help organise the event as part of the Management Committee,

and other members entered as walkers in the event to help raise funds for cancer research.

Of course a Relay for Life would not be the same without some rain. After a beautiful start to the event with a lovely morning

and afternoon, the heavens opened late afternoon to give everyone a good drenching. The track was actually closed for a short

period due to a safety threat posed by thunder and lightning. However not to be deterred the walkers were back on the track

after a short break and the rain disappeared and everyone enjoyed a lovely evening right through to the 10am finish on the

Sunday.

Pictured below are a few memories from the weekend.

The start A quick cuppa at the Survivors and Carers morning tea

Management Committee Chair, Ian,

making the right friends

Committee member, Carolyn,

had everything under control

Smooth Ops perform on stage

guarded by a few troopers

Sue enjoying a morning cuppa

Paul catching up on a good book The walkers – still looking good

after 24 hours

5

Rotary Peace Fellows

The February 2015 issue of the Rotarian Magazine carried a great article about Rotarian Peace Fellows and includes some of the

stories from graduates of Rotary peace Centres. Part of the article is reproduced for your convenience below. The full article can

be found at the following link http://therotarianmagazine.com/permanent-exiles/ or by simply googling the Rotarian Magazine

February 2015 edition.

Rotary Peace Fellows are helping refugees start over

Every 10 minutes, a baby is born without a state – without citizenship in any country. The crisis

in Syria and conflicts in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and many other nations are

producing new generations of refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers.

Increasingly, they are long-term exiles who are spending years, even decades, in makeshift

refugee cities with their families, unable to return home.

The number of people forced from their homes by war and conflict has surpassed 50 million for the first time since the end of

World War II, when the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was created.

Working to help this growing population of refugees – from those who are struggling in massive encampments in Africa and

Southeast Asia, to people who have resettled in Europe and North America – are some of the graduates of the Rotary Peace

Centers. (Nearly 900 Rotary Peace Fellows have graduated from the program since its inception in 2002.) These humanitarians

are providing basic food and shelter, job training, education, and other support so the refugees can rebuild their lives.

Each year, Rotary Peace Centers host up to 100 peace fellows in a three-month program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok,

or a master’s degree program at universities in Australia, England, Japan, Sweden, and the United States.

The Magazine article includes short stories from four alumni, who work for non-governmental organizations and not-for-profit

organisations that aid refugees. The first of these stories, is reproduced below. The remaining can be read online at the magazine

link given above.

Noëlle DePape: From Lebanon to Canada

Noëlle DePape, who spent much of her 20s working overseas, including at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, imagined becoming a globe-

trotting emissary of goodwill after finishing her Rotary Peace Fellowship in 2005 at the University of Queensland, Australia. “I was trying to figure

out how I could make the most impact as a peace-builder and as one who would fight for social justice,” DePape says.

Encouraged by Godfrey Mukalazi, a Rotary Peace Fellow from Uganda, she returned home to Winnipeg, Man., which has the largest urban

indigenous population in Canada. “Go back home, where your power base lies,” he said, “and start to build peace there.” The arrival of transplants

from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iraq, Somalia, and other countries – about 15,000 immigrants each year in Manitoba, 10 percent of whom are refugees

– created a combustible mix with an Aboriginal population facing struggles of its own.

DePape joined the staff of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, which operates a transitional housing complex and

provides services such as counselling and after-school programs for at-risk youth.

“Some of our refugee youth were getting involved in gang life because they didn’t feel a sense of belonging in Canada,” says DePape, 35. The

teenagers often had little education, so “they struggled in school with basic literacy in addition to refugee challenges,” she says. DePape notes that

young newcomers could be quick to absorb prejudices held by some white Canadians against the indigenous population.

“Youth in Aboriginal gangs and in newly formed African gangs were butting heads,” she says. “There were a few knife fights and gunfights. We

started to realize we needed to do preventive work and build relationships.” The Youth Peacebuilding Project, which DePape launched in 2008,

featured a weeklong summer gathering for teens from indigenous,

refugee, and suburban white communities. They swam and played

basketball, but they also learned about other cultures and religions,

observing Muslim prayers and a sweat lodge ceremony led by a

tribal elder. “We also had intense dialogues about issues of identity

and prejudice,” DePape says. Most important, the participants

formed new friendships, she says: Teens would realize, for example,

that “they both have single moms, they both hate chemistry – all

those things that go beyond race,” she says.

The 67 families who live in the organization’s apartments – it will

add another 60 units this year – are “incredible success stories,” she

says. “They go on to buy homes, find stable jobs, go to university.

They are so resilient and hopeful. It’s inspiring.”

6

This week’s report comes from - Paul Roger

The Markets are a great way to spend the occasional Saturday morning. Yes it is hard to get out of bed at 5.30am, but on a lovely morning like

it was on Saturday it was worth it. The weather was beautiful, and everyone was in a happy mood with no incidents. Just one big positive ‘vibe’.

This Saturday was much the same as any other Saturday with a steady stream of patrons from 7am (and quite a few from 6.30am) through to 11.30am. The Blueberries were all sold out by 8am, much to the disappointment of many shoppers who did not get up early enough. David performed the role of the ‘alternative’ ATM (automatic teller man) and responded to a constant stream of questions from patrons – where’s the ATM?, have you moved the ATM?, didn’t you use to have cash machines?, Is there an ATM here?. Blueberry questions were also frequent between about 8am and 8.30am, but then died off as most people seem to know that if you do not get in early they are sold out.

Car park duties for Paul and Sue were fun with dog minding duties included. The first hour saw Bernard spend some time with Paul on the gate, and during the second hour Pancho assisted Sue. Many patrons asked if we were beefing up security with the guard dogs and several kids stopped to discuss the cuteness of the dogs and their names.

Left - Bernard, a Chihuahua/Foxy cross, having a coffee break and dreaming of being a German Shepherd on security guard duty when he grows up.

Right – Pancho, ancestry unclear, was more interested in soaking up the sun and posing for passing patrons.

No lost kids or parents this week. A small purse was handed in and remained unclaimed, a stall holder cut his finger and required first aid in the way of two plasters, and one white Toyota Ute left his lights on and quickly turned them off after an announcement (he came to say thanks). Apart from that the front office was pretty quiet.

Weekly takings continued to be low and this looks like a trend that will continue.

There are no markets next week (28 February) due to the Canberra show. If you are on market roster for 7 March please note everything is in the container (nothing left in the office this week).

21 February 2015

Paul, Sue R, and David S

Tables $80

Bags $38

Water $34

Books $60

Donations $54

Total $266

* Details as provided by the Market Master (Jan 2015 Roster)

Market Roster

Date Members

21 February Paul and Sue R, and David S

28 February No Markets – Canberra Show

7 March Mary-Rose, Liz Mulvaney, and Terry

14 March Colin, Cathy, and Chris

7

Little Known Facts

This week’s little known facts are from Terry Spencer

Date of Birth? 26 December 1948

Birth Place? Canberra

A Rotarian for? 16.x years

Favourite colour? Blue

Favourite place? The bush

Favourite sport? Tiddlywinks

Favourite author? Franz Kafka

Favourite film? Tank Girl or Kill Bill (I and II)

Favourite actor? Al Pacino

Favourite food? Double choc ice cream

Favourite car? Fast

Inspired by? Those who are better than me

Dislikes? LOLAs in the context of car drivers

A place I would like to visit? Montague Island

Do you have a Pet? Yes

Two things on your ‘bucket list’? Replacing the pivot bearings on my Boxer mini-loader A faster car

Naming Competition

On the Australia Day long weekend there were quite a few parties and BBQ’s around the

Jerrabomberra Suburb. At one particular event that followed the Jerrabomberra Rotary

Community Breakfast event a new ‘Super Hero’ was spotted. Always on the lookout for news

worthy pictures, and with a subject that was more than happy to pose for a photo, one of the

Jerraganda roaming photographers was able to capture this picture.

The question now - is what is this ‘super hero’ called?

The reader who submits the most original name for this Super Hero will receive a quality prize.

Closing date for entries is Wednesday 25 February (midnight).

Rumour has it that once named the ‘super hero’ may be available for a guest appearance at

next year’s community breakfast.

8

The Last Page

Program

Meetings Social & Special Events Date Description Date Description (Contact)

19 February 2015 Vocational Visit – ACT Sports 21-22 February Queanbeyan Relay for Life

26 February Mystery Night 23 February Rotary International’s Birthday

5 March Business Meeting 12 March Kokoda Careers Night BBQ

12 March Guest speaker – Pegasus Developing Abilities 27 March School Assembly Rotary Awards (Peter)

19 March TBA 29 March Southcare Open Day (Jan)

26 March Mystery Night 18-19 April District Assembly (Glenn)

2 April Business Night / Juniors on Watch talk 25 April ANAZAC Day (Jan)

7 April Guest Speaker Eden Monaro Cancer Group 1-10 May International Music Festival (Bruce)

2-3 May MS Mega Swim (Pres Paul)

* Compiled from information provided by the Program Mistress (Club Calendar Feb 2015)

OUR HISTORY

In 1998 the Rotary Clubs of Queanbeyan and Queanbeyan West Rotary decided to sponsor a new Rotary Club based in Jerrabomberra. Bill Lilley, John Snedden and Peter Jarvis from Queanbeyan West took on the joint roll of mentoring the development of the new club. (Peter Jarvis went on to become our Charter President).

Advertising for potential members began in March 1998. After a successful campaign, the Club was chartered on 18 November 1998 with 26 members.

Initial meetings were held at the Jerrabomberra General Store—the venue was very good until we grew in numbers. We then moved to the Jerrabomberra Community Centre for a few years, and we now meet at the Jerrabomberra Public School Staff Room, on Thursdays (6.15 for 6.30 pm).

(Charter) President Peter Jarvis ran competitions to select a name for our Club Newsletter and a design for the Club banner. There were some good and some not so good suggestions. Pam Spencer suggested the winning bulletin name ‘Jerraganda’ and David Stevens was the successful designer of our club banner. The design incorporated a goose and the windmill associated with the original entrance to the estate adjacent to the Community Centre. Both the Jerraganda and the Club logo have evolved to keep pace with modern times.

We have always been, and continue to be, a vibrant and fun loving club providing valued community service, both locally and internationally. Our motto is,

“Doing Good and Having Fun”

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT - 2014-2015

President Paul Robey

President Elect Mez Mulvaney

Vice President Paul Roger

Secretary Glenn Wahlert

Treasurer Jon Wells

Club Service Director Mez Mulvaney

Community Service Director Jan Pettigrew

International and Foundation Director Robert Chilman

Youth and Vocational Service Director Peter Jarvis

CURRENT CLUB MEMBERS

David Bailey, PHF. PP Mez Mulvaney, OAM, PHF, PE

Robert Chilman Anton Pemmer, PHF, PP

Cathy Hobbs Paul Robey, President

Carolyn Hackett Jan Pettigrew, PHF, PP

Colin Hobbs, PHF, PP Paul Roger PHF, PP

Chris Hunter, OAM, PHF, PP Sue Roger

Peter Jarvis, PHF, PP Pam Spencer, PHF, PP

Sue Jarvis, PHF Terry Spencer, PHF, PP

Bev McKay David Stevens, PHF, PP

Lynne McPherson Glenda Wahlert, PP

Kerry McPherson Glenn Wahlert

Bruce Miller Jon Wells

Liz Mulvaney, PHF Ian Wholohan

HONORARY MEMBERS SUPPORTERS

Alex Alexander Vera Alexander

Anne Davis Vickie Still

CLUB DETAILS

Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra Incorporated

PO Box 8, Jerrabomberra NSW, 2619

www.jerrarotary.org.au

Email: secretary@jerrabomberra.rotarnet.com.au

Meets Thursday 6.15 for 6.30 – 8.30pm Jerrabomberra Public School (Staff Room)

Attendance & Apologies

LIZ Mulvaney by 12 Noon Tuesday T: 0448754274 E: liz.mulvaney13@gmail.com

Newsletter Contributions

Paul Roger T: 0418 786945 E: paul.roger@instralis.com