President Stephen Blacketer got the year off to a cracking start, hosting our first speaker, Josh Spier, Community and Social Planning Officer with the Adelaide Hills Council.
President Stephen, Pauline Annear and Dick Wilson had met recently with Josh to introduce him to the Rotary Club of Stirling and to explore with him some local community projects which might align with Council's vision and corporate plan. He was very receptive to all of our proposals and accepted an invitation to address members at this meeting.
Although there were a number of proposed club initiatives of which Council could well be supportive, he chose to talk about a key area of focus for him in the coming months. He had developed for Council, an update to its 2020-24 Access and Inclusion Plan echoing the the State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019-2023: Inclusive SA.
The Adelaide Hills Council is committed to creating an inclusive community through relationship building and partnerships with community groups. A particular target is sports which have historically helped young people and others to meet and interact with a wide circle, outside immediate family and schoolmates. But are many ways in which sporting rules and games themselves can be created or adapted for those with disabilities (or those with different abilities!)
Certainly our ideas regarding a seniors exercise park and bus shelters could contribute to enhancing mobility and access. Of course, there is always a need for financial support by way of grants to individuals or groups to facilitate inclusion. Even very modest grants to allow participation in an activity can change a life.
Next Meeting
On Monday, 12 July, our guest will be Jeremy Arrascaeta, a Belgian born, Dutch educated traveler/chef/manager of the recently opened Angler fish shop and restaurant on Mt.Barker Road, Stirling.
Angler chefs Jeremy Arrascaeta and Sam Prance-Smith with a dry-aged samson fish.
How Jeremy came to be washed up on the shores of South Australia is a divertingly unlikely story. But had it not been for the bush fires of the 2019 – 20 summer season, it is probable that he would still be cooking at one of the Kangaroo Island restaurants or cafes that he found employment at after a serendipitous “ flip of a coin " to make Australia the destination for his first intercontinental trip from northern Europe.
Delving a little deeper, Jeremy admitted that Australia was his first choice because of his love of animals. And where other than Kangaroo Island would one be likely to come across the most number and diversity of Kangaroos than K.I.?
Come and listen to Jeremy relate how he and his girl friend washed up in a camp site in Ironbark that lead to his current position at Angler, his passion for fish, cooking and the imperative need to fish responsibly and sustainably.
Rotary International and District 9510 have also Welcomed new Leadership Teams!
Shekher Mehta
RI President 2021-22
Our new President hails from the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahangar, West Bengal.
Mehta, an accountant, is chair of the Skyline Group, a real estate development company he founded. He is also a Director of Operation Eyesight Universal (India), a Canada-based organization. Mehta pioneered a program that has also performed more than 1,500 life-changing heart surgeries through Operation Eyesight. He is also the architect of the TEACH Program, which promotes literacy in thousands of school throughout India.
His theme for the year is Serve to Change Lives (as above and on the pennant on the podium at meetings.) A great reminder of why we joined Rotary!
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Jeff and Jenny Neale
District 9510 Governor
Familiar faces to most of you, from having hosted them in Stirling on a couple of occasions this year, Jeff joined Rotary some 31 years ago. Actually, his association with Rotary predates that by many years as a child attending "Family Nights" with his parents, Reg (a Charter Member of the Campbelltown club) and Shirley.
Jeff joined the club himself in 1990 and served as President in 2007-08. He is Paul Harris Fellow with three sapphires.
Jeff is the Dealer Principal of Paradise Mazda, a family business started by Reg in 1956.
The District is in good hands!
An Update We Have All Been Waiting for!
Dr Jesse (nee Beinke) and Jason James announced the arrival of a baby Ella Kate James, born 25/6/2021; a sister to Kelsey. Jesse was a former Indigenous Health Scholarship winner. supported by the Stirling club.
Mother, Daughter (and Jason) doing well! Congratulations from all of us!
A L-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ong Way to Travel for Dinner!
Colin and Sally, we all know, will go to great lengths to enjoy the company of fellow Rotarians, but, seriously, from Adelaide to Darwin?!
Apparently, there is more to the story, so we'll let Colin explain (slightly edited from the email):
"Two weeks ago we flew to Darwin on a Saturday to spend a week there before taking the Ghan back to Adelaide Friday. However, due to a Covid outbreak in the Tanami Desert, on Sunday, the day after we arrived, we were locked down in the Adina hotel. The expected Ghan was cancelled of course, at the SA/NT border with passengers off loaded and bussed back to Adelaide. With no tar train in Darwin, our return Ghan trip to Adelaide was cancelled while we were still in quarantine.
The Covid police released us allowing us half day of freedom last Saturday but we were able to meet up Alan and Lynda who had been in Darwin in the week prior to us. We had a delightful sunset dinner together at the Darwin Yacht club before returning to Adelaide the next morning to start a new 14 day quarantine in Adelaide as Prohibited Travelers!
Please accept my apologies for the next two meetings!"
Yes, Colin. Apologies noted and we will also excuse you from the much anticipated "Slide Night" presentation of your travels.! We can see for ourselves, interior shots of the Adani hotel on its webpage! Click HERE to view the awful conditions Colin and Sally were subjected to while incarcerated! (Joking aside, it was not a fun experience, obviously)
A warm welcome home to Alan, Linda, Colin and Sally. We missed you!
No winners this week!
Many good suggestions about what this is (and some were getting close) but no cigar or bragging rights!
This is a simple needle stick from a vaccine injection or a blood test, as seen through an electron microscope!
Maybe, better luck with this one. What caused this injury?
Same again, no prize, but the first correct answer will get a virtual round of applause from all!
What are the chances this forklift operator will be named Employee of the Month?
