Bulletin 7th July 2025 (Jul. 07, 2025)

The Rotary Club of Albury

Chartered 1927

July 7th 2025

GUESTS AND APOLOGIES

There were many guests present tonight for the Changeover dinner and for Valeria's final presentation.

These included all of Val's host families:

Mel, Rodger and Lawrence Anstis, David Hunter and Dieuwer Reynders, Mike and Shelly Fruend, Angus, Elsie and Claudia Redfern.

Val's school friends, Jasmine, Stevie and Zeke.

Rotex, Eva Kaye.

Bill and Sally Bachman

We also had some partners of members,

Lyn Elias, Marg Nagle, Shirley Crawford, Dave Gleeson.

Apologies were received from Karen & Murray, Helen, Winston, Ken, Ivo, Stephen O'Connell and Graeme Sayer.

Guest Speaker:

Valeria Santamaria Blanco

Tonight we heard from Val about her exchange in Albury. Val told us about her experiences with each of her host families and about all the adventures she has been on over the last 11 months including trips to Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Uluru, Kakadu, Litchfield NP, and Tasmania!

Val was full of appreciation and told us about the things she has learnt about herself and Australia.

The members of RC Albury are very happy to have met you Val, and hope that you return to Australia to visit again someday.

Farewell Speech

Val and Bill

Val's host families

Val and Alison

Outgoing President Michael

President Michael gave his outgoing report for 24-25 which can be found below.

We thank Michael for his dedication to the club and for a successful year and wish him well over the coming months with his surgery and health.

Outgoing President Michael

The Rotary Club of Albury

President's report for 2024-2025

I would like to thank the members of the Rotary Club of Albury for allowing me to be their President for this year.

I would like to hilight a few things that have occurred during the last year.

Membership

As we all know it is getting tougher to get new members to join Rotary.

This year we had 31 members(including one honorary).

Earlier in the year we lost a total of 4 members. For the next financial year we have 2 members relocating to our Club. We also have some new members to be invested in July. We finish the year at 27.

B.B.Q's

As you are all aware our Harvey Norman BBQ's ceased in 2024 and we took on a partnership with Bunnings.

We've had 2 Bunnings BBQ's and look forward for some more to come in the future.

Foundation Grants

This year 28 grants were supported from the Club's Foundation totalling $137,000.00. Over the year we have had guest speakers from many of the grant recipients including Carevan, Uniting Church Wodonga, Women's Centre for Domestic Violence, Foodshare, Tots 2 Teens and the V.R.A.

Country Hope

This year we raised the total of $21,500.00 from our Astor Friday night raffles.

I would like to thank all the Rotary Club members and Country Hope volunteers for their support during this year.

Say No to Domestic Violence Campaign

An update on the Rotary Campaign.

On the 16th September 2025 a public meeting will be held at the Cube Wodonga from 7pm. The guest speaker will be Phil Cleary, a very well known advocate for Domestic Violence. The following day a morning tea is being held with School leaders from the surrounding area at the Scots School Albury with Phil Cleary.

On Saturday the 30th August a BBQ Picnic is being in QE11 Square at Midday. BYO Picnic food. A BBQ is available to cook meat on.

Personal Highlights

This year I was able to attend the zones District Conference here in

Albury where our main guest speaker was Lauren Jackson.

After working the last 45 years on Anzac Day I was able to represent our Club and lay a wreath at the RSL Anzac day service at the SS&A Club.

I would like to wish our incoming President Peter Elias all the best for the coming year.

Michael Kliese

President (2024-2025)

Rotary Club of Albury

NSW 2640

thank you mercy connect!

A very big thank you to Rosie Busuttil and the team at Mercy Connect for hosting the changeover dinner. The meal was delicious and the venue wonderful, warm and welcoming.

Dedication to Rotary

The Mercy Connect team

Longstanding member, Pam Jewett

Raffle winners

Congratulations to Chris, Alison, Rosalie, Charlene and Michael K and guests Sally and Shirley

Board Meeting

Jul 21, 2025

Club Meeting

Jul 21, 2025

Astor Raffle
Astor Hotel
Jul 25, 2025 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Circus Quirkus

Jul 31, 2025

Astor Raffle
Astor Hotel
Aug 01, 2025 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Club Meeting

Aug 04, 2025

Astor Raffle
Astor Hotel
Aug 08, 2025 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

View entire list

Member Birthdays

Michael Colegrove

July 8

Alison Redfern

July 28

Peter Elias

July 29

Anniversaries

Melissa Anstis

Roger Anstis

July 1

Join Date

Melissa Anstis

July 3, 2024

1 year

Bob Walker

July 7, 2008

17 years

Peter Elias

July 29, 2019

6 years

Upcoming Rosters

Astor Raffle

July 18 - Brett Williams

July 25 - Helen Grills

Meeting Duties

July 21

Greeting Table: Melissa & Rosalie

Sergeant: Chris

Save the date

July 14 - Purple Chicken Coffee Catch Up

10:30am

July 31 - Circus Quirkus

Session Times 11am 4:30pm and 6:30pm

September - O&M Grand Final

Members to run the canteen. TBC

November - Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) 4 days.

Facilitators and volunteers required. TBC

December 1 - AGM

December 15 - Christmas Meeting

Jul 21, 2025

Annette Cork

Marymead Catholic Support

View entire list

Alison Redfern
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD

We were lucky enough to have a very special presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Bill Bachman. Bill was one of the very first Rotary Youth Exchange Students in 1968-69. He came from Pennsylvania to the RC Albury as a 15 year old boy. In 1973 he came back to Australia for a university exchange to the ANU in Canberra and has pretty much never left!

He has been generous enough to set up a fund for future students in the RYE program in Albury and was instrumental in helping Valeria to go on the NT safari with the rest of the group. The club awarded Bill with this award for his contribution to the future of Rotary. Congratulations Bill.