Posted by Sam McCurdy (Photos courtesy of Sandi Tarant):
The Club’s 2022 Footy Trivia night, which is traditionally held on the Wednesday before the Grand Final, was effectively chaired this year by Trevor Watson. Trevor acknowledged the support provided to him in organising the event by the previous organiser, Funno, who relished simply being a participant for a change.
Trevor is an ardent Richmond supporter, which was reflected in some of his penetrating footy questions and the Tiger’s regalia that he had on show.
The Trivia competition was split into four quarters, which were punctuated by innovative activities such as, a Footy Treasure hunt, a Matthew Richardson face mask photo and singing of team songs, with Diana Nutter giving a rousing rendition of the Collingwood song. Each activity potentially provided additional points for the team.
Each quarter had some general knowledge questions. It was amazing how many got the answers wrong. Examples were:
On what date did Queen Elizabeth II pass?
When does daylight saving begin?
On what date is the Victorian State election to be held?
Geoff Double celebrated his birthday by having sufficient family members attend the Trivia night to form two distinct teams. One of those teams, named the Dead Poet’s Society, eventually won the competition, and received a basket of goodies as a prize.
Louise Carter was judged by our caterer, Bob Carlyle, as the winner of the “Best dressed" supporter, by wearing a Liverpool soccer team jersey and a Melbourne AFL scarf. Her prize was a bottle of Champagne.
Even though the crowd was at times argumentative, it was well controlled by Trevor’s relaxed and friendly manner.
A very entertaining evening was had by all. Well done, Trevor.
It is a sensational moment when important projects get handed down to people with capable hands. President Gus has given up his leadership role in organising the bookings for our main fundraising project, Art Screen Hire and passed it on to Rotarian Trevor Watson. Trevor has wasted no time in getting things moving! You can find out more about the project here: https://rotaryberwick.org/page/art-screen-hire.
Art Screen Hire is an important part of our fundraising efforts and provides funds for many activities that improve the lives of others. It is also a highly social project that brings many members together in an organisational and creative environment. Being part of the crew is fun and a little bit physical. In the last financial year, the money raised from this project helped send a gifted student to the National Youth Science Forum and another potential young leader to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. The Club also supported the work of Disaster Aid Australia and Australian Rotary Health through substantial donations. The money raised makes a difference to many people across many communities.
The art screens themselves created similar fundraising stories for all the different groups that hired them. We know that our Art Screens are versatile and adapt well to any show. Our Rotarian Crew are on time, friendly, experienced and able to suggest a good layout for the space available for new renters.
Congratulations, Trevor and the team, on your recent installation!
Basic education and literacy is one of Rotary’s six Areas of Focus. Consider these facts:
If all women completed primary education, there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths.
A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, which would be equivalent to a 12% cut in world poverty.
Rotary clubs all over the world are taking action to enhance basic education and literacy in their communities. Every community has different needs and different opportunities for service. RI’s publication, “Basic Education and Literacy: Project Strategies,” helps clubs ask the right questions, identify real needs, and make the greatest possible impact with the time, energy, and resources you have at your disposal.
Add your story, event or Rotary experience to the Rotary Club of Berwick Bulletin!
The detection of poliovirus, and even cases of polio, in places where it hasn’t been found for years has demonstrated once again that eradicating a human disease isn’t easy, especially in the final stages.In recent months, an unvaccinated man in the United States was paralyzed. In the
In March, shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, refugees began arriving at a home in Wojciechów, a town about 20 miles from the city of Lublin in eastern Poland.
One of my favorite books,A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, muses on the creation of the universe and how a tiny speck of it we call Earth went from being a fiery ball with seas of molten rock to the lush green-and-blue home we know today. Bryson’s argument is that it is a miracle that we — our planet and our species — have survived. "We enjoy not only the privilege of existence," Bryson writes, "but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better."
We are fortunate to be able to read his words or any others. And we are fortunate to be part of an organization that is making our world a better place by helping those who can’t read them. There are an estimated 773 million illiterate adults — most of them women — who can’t read these words or write their own name. They are at a clear disadvantage in life, with limited opportunities to work. And this situation isn’t their fault.
Rotary has not forgotten them. In September, let’s celebrate Basic Education and Literacy Month by looking at the long-term impact Rotary and The Rotary Foundation are making and how we are finding ways to lend a hand in the effort.
Last year alone, The Rotary Foundation approved 104 global grants totaling $6.3 million for basic education and literacy projects, according to preliminary figures. This is on top of decades of work in our clubs and districts. As an Australian, I’m especially proud of the work of Dick Walker, a past district governor from Queensland, who used a Foundation matching grant to develop the concentrated language encounter method that has been adopted by educational leaders around the world.
At the community level, our clubs are well known for book drives that have changed the lives of so many children. But when we gather many clubs and districts together and work on large-scale Rotary Foundation projects, we have the potential to impact entire communities for generations.
The opportunities for Rotary to make a difference in literacy are boundless. Once basic reading and writing is achieved, it opens a path to other types of literacy, such as numerical literacy, digital literacy, and financial literacy.
Let’s not squander our opportunity to improve our corner of the universe. I encourage you to think big about literacy and education and change the world — this month and beyond.
Posted by Sam McCurdy for St John of God Hospital:
Join us on Wednesday 5th October for an entertaining evening viewing a special pre-release of the film "Ticket to Paradise' starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. The movie was made in Australia and will not be released for general viewing until Friday 21st October. Filming locations included the Whitsunday Islands, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, as well as Mt Tamborine and Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island.
The story involves a divorced couple that team up and travel to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.
This event is a fundraiser organised by Peake Real Estate and the St John of God Hospital. All the proceeds will go towards the new mental health service to be provided at the Langmore Centre in Berwick.
Ho! Ho! Ho! Please save the date! The Rotary Club of Berwick Christmas Party plans has been well received. The date and venue are confirmed.
We would be delighted if members, partners and friends could save the date to join us in celebrating the Festive Season together on Wednesday 7th December at Jason’s Restaurant in Upper Beaconsfield.
The cost is $85.00 per person, inclusive of canapes and a glass of bubbles or wine on arrival, followed by a delicious two-course meal. Drinks are to be purchased on a cash bar basis.
There will be a visit from the man in red of course!
Further details for RSVP and payment are to follow. We look forward to seeing you there!
Posted by Sam McCurdy (Photos courtesy of Sandi Tarant):
