Yearly Archives: 2022

RYLA Graduated

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Congratulations Madison R. on your RYLA Graduation tonight. It was a privilege sponsoring you. We look forward to hearing more about your experience, and future endeavours.
#RYLA9510

Guest Talk: Corvettes of the Royal Australian Navy

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Tonight we welcomed Navy LEUT. Ron Read (Ret.) speaking on the Corvettes of the Royal Australian Navy.

Ron is a retired Navy Lieutenant having served the RAN since 1964 aboard HMAS Sydney, HMAS Melbourne (twice) and later in the destroyer Escort, HMAS Torrens.  Now retired, Ron is a full-time History student & researcher, and key-note speaker.

He presented a story about some very remarkable navy ships called “Corvette’s”, which were ALL built in Australia and ALL served with distinction during WW2.

A “Corvette” was a small navy warship, they were 700 tons, capable of 16 knots and have a crew of 67 sailors and 5 officers . It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The modern types of ships below a corvette are costal patrol craft, missile boat and fast attack craft. Corvette’s were capable of patrol work, shore bombardment, survey duties, sink submarines, mine-sweeping, and short range troop transport. The Royal Australian Navy designed and built 60 Bathurst-class Corvettes in record time and expense (within budget), that became vital to defending our country and supporting the war effort. These were officially described as Australian minesweepers, and were named after Australian towns.

The result was a ship as Australian as a kangaroo – designed by Australians who had never designed warships before, built by Australians who had never built ships before and manned by Australians, most of whom had never been to sea before.

Interestingly, General Motors in 1953 was inspired to name one of their new sports car model “Corvette” after these ships-small, fast, and highly manoeuvrable!

We were fortunate to learn about this amazing part of Australian history and Ron’s personal experience with Corvette’s in his career of the Royal Australian Navy. It was fascinating historical account of these marvellous vessels and their crew, in service to our country. It’s important we remember!

 

2022/23 CHANGE-OVER

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2022/23 Board Members

Meet our New MGG Club President Alan Howard-Jones for 2022/23

 

President Alan Howard-Jones

I joined Rotary in February 2021 because of my heart-felt desire to serve our community.
A yearning to help others in some way.  The possibility of making a difference.  To expand my territory and to be fruitful; to fulfill my purpose within my family, workplace and community.

As I became involved, I realised that Rotary could offer so much more than I had first realised.  More than a weekly or fortnightly meeting as the late A.E. Clarkson described, and more than a Bunnings sausage sizzle.  As I began to explore the many pathways of Rotary through its online platforms, I discovered a wealth of information and resources.

I discovered a great framework with a network of people across our country—and the world, dedicated to causes that build relationships and improve lives.

I continue to be inspired by the very foundation of this organisation, to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

-Alan’s opening speech

The plan that President Alan has for his term as President of the Rotary Club of Modbury Golden Grove, is to foster and encourage participation in acts of service that will enrich lives and strengthen our commitment to our community. And to bring the Object of Rotary; it’s causes and areas of focus into our community- such as our sporting clubs, our community groups—to meet the people where they are, and to develop partnerships within these groups.

Alan accepting the new president role

 

Words from immediate Past President Dean Bartley

 

Past President Dean opening the meeting

Congratulations to Alan on being elected as president. As a club we have maintained our position through Covid-19 and now look forward to moving forward under a new president.

We have continued with our projects of supporting School Service Awards, Special Christmas party for Children, Christmas Hampers with the Salvation Army, Rotary John Tilley Award at Modbury High School.

A new project which we have become involved in is RORP, which in conjunction with the Mt Barker club, involves dismantling of council and school playgrounds and sending them overseas to 3rd world countries.

Look forward to the ongoing continuation of our club!

 

Rob Carthew’s Toast to Rotary International

 

Rob giving the Toast to Rotary

Rotary International exists to support Rotary Clubs. So, I see a Toast to Rotary International as a Toast that includes all the Clubs in the world and thus all of us, our friends and our supporters.

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary members have used passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects to better our world.

Our motto has always been: Service Above Self.

Our guiding principles have been the foundation of our values: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership.

As an International community we have achieved great things. An example often cited is the End Polio Campaign. A program that started by one Rotary  club to eradicate Polio in an aboriginal community in Queensland.  With the support of Rotary International we now see only a handful of cases in the world today.

So please stand and join with me to Toast to Rotary International, and to think of all that the Toast means.

 

Past District Governor Jeff Neale- Special Guest Speaker

 

The response to the the toast to RI is important as it presents an opportunity to remind ourselves about this

Special Guest Speaker: Past District Governor Jeff Neale

organisation, we are part of:

 

  • Rotary was started by a man with a vision, Paul Harris, and he formed the Rotary club of Chicago on 23rd of February 1905.
  • He met with 3 other gentlemen, a Mining Engineer, a Coal Dealer and a Merchant Tailor
  • His plan was to create a club so that professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
  • Over-time, Rotary extended to humanitarian service.
  • Rotary over the years has expanded to most corners of the world including Australia just over 100 years ago.

Our Vision Statement: Together, we see a word where people unite and take action to create lasting change- across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Jeff went on to talk about membership and there is over 1.2 million members worldwide, with currently 25,421 members in Australia in 1,038 clubs! To remember our Rotary Motto “Service above Self”.

He reflected on his past service and how we are “Community Builders”. He and his wife Jenny had the privilege of traveling around our district- visiting both Rotary and Rotaract clubs and got 1st hand experience the work these clubs are not only doing on the international scene, but more particularly in our local communities. He shared some amazing highlights with us and also expressed how impressed by the work being done by this club in the local community:

  • School Service Awards
  • Christmas Hampers
  • Clean Up Australia
  • RAWCS
  • Polio Plus
  • NYSF
  • RYLA
  • Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds

Rotary is an amazing organisation , with amazing clubs and even more amazing members.

I am proud to be a Rotarian, and I trust that you all are too.

PDG Jeff Neale

RAFFLE

Changeover Raffle- Thank you to all our donations!

We held a small Raffle during the Change-over dinner and thanks to our wonderful donors like OPSM- North Adelaide, we manage to raise $243 towards club projects!!! Congratulations to our three winners.

THANK YOU to all our Club Members, fellow Rotarians and Families for attending and supporting RC Modbury Golden Grove.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to all our other Special Guests: AG Rick Hencke, Senator David Fawcett, Olivia Savvas MP, and our club’s newest Honorary Club Member- Rhiannon Pearce MP, State Member for King.

If you like to see more photos from the Change-over- please follow LINK.

 

 

 

New Local Youth Author: Nomiki Thomas

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13-year-old student Nomiki Thomas published a fictional children’s book called “Goodbye” for her Year 7 personal project last year.

President Alan & Nomiki Thomas

Tonight, at our club meeting (#1732), Nomiki presented her journey of writing the book and becoming a published author by the age of 13! An amazing achievement for someone so young and we happily support such passion.

As part of the Year 7 curriculum at her old school in 2021, students were required to complete a Personal Project. Nomiki decided that for her Personal Project she wanted to write and publish a book and donate part proceeds from the sale of her book to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Since the publication of her children’s book “Goodbye”, Nomiki has been invited to speak at numerous clubs, invited to speak at Prospect Council’s Children’s Writing Completion presentation ceremony, and won the 2022 Walkerville Council Young Volunteer Award for her sense of social responsibility and her regular involvement in a vast range of fundraising activities and leadership attributes.

“Goodbye” is about Anne – a public school student, who is told her father has died when it is not actually the case. Anne’s adventure begins when she finds a letter addressed to her.

“Goodbye” is written for children aged 8-12 years old, and available for sale at Dymocks Bookstore Adelaide, and Dillon’s Bookstore Norwood.

Well done Nomiki. We look forward to your next publication!