Hi all, another lockdown week completed but the way ahead looks messy and uncertain for the next month. Our first chance to be involved in the Farmers Market for a while will be at the October Market and a chance for us to raise some needed funds. Please stay tuned for updates on how the Market will be organised and run. We will have at least 3 more zoom meetings I suspect before the possibility of gathering at Toorak. This will be dependent on how many can gather together in the dining room we meet in and the vaccination mandates that will be applied. Interesting times ahead!
This month is Mental Help Month so make sure you take care of yourself and also keep an eye on your friends, family and fellow Rotarians as the prolonged lock down takes it’s toll. Rotary has a major fund raiser this month called “Lift the Lid”. It is a bit difficult to do when we cannot meet together so we have decided to postpone the fund raising until February when a number of the Clubs in our cluster will support the Sorrento Club in their “Lift the Lid Walk” at Point Nepean. Rotary also have an online Forum you may like to attend on October 16. Secretary Pauline sent the details on how to register earlier in the week.
Thanks to Carolyn and Chris for the quick & easy wine sale Fund Raiser. I believe $140 was raised for our Project Account. Thank you to our new member Gary for his donation of a meal from Toorak caterers on Tuesdays to a needy local and the work he and Hardy did in the past week for the Community Committee.
There is a Board Meeting this coming Wednesday. If any member has an issue they would like addressed please email secretary Pauline.
Take care everybody and see you on Tuesday via Zoom.
We have a Club Yearly Calendar which Neil and Pauline are the authors and editors. The calendar outlines every meeting with whom is the Coordinator, Speaker, Sergeant etc. If you would like to add something please email Neil or Pauline.
Guest Speaker, Rosa Malignaggi, Rosa’s Kitchen, Sicily
Rosa gave her talk about her cooking tours of her homeland, Sicily. The talk gave us a picture of the food preparation and culture of Sicily. In Sicily, people eat all day. Rosa has been conducting these culinary tours for 10 years, pre Covid, and is aiming to resume them in 2023. The purpose of the tours is to create experiences of a personal journey through Sicily. The motto of the tours is ‘The food, the people, the journey’
The tour starts on the East coast, where the family of Rosa’s husband, Michael, live. In the village of Ferla, which has around 500 residents, the tour proceeds through the valley and orange grove. There is a lovely lunch with authentic Sicilian food, all very welcoming. Eat for the next 3 days. Wander the village and min with Michael’s relatives, experience every day life. Wander through the piazzas, have coffee, food from the region. Share a meal in the country house of Michael’s relatives.
Then to Ortigia, explore the picturesque alley ways, spectacular architecture, food store palace, with a beautiful selection of locally grown olives. There was a meal led by Rosa, with the emphasis on colours. The produce was a real banquet. To Catonia, with its outstanding fish market. Catonia is the 2nd largest fishing area in Sicily. It is a very ancient but enchanting Fish Market, with fishmongers shouting about their produce, a walk back in time. Then via the centre of the island, towards the West, which is where Rosa’s family live. Stay at a magnificent winery, Baglio de Pionetto Winery, Santo Christini Gela. The accommodation has a lovely swimming pool. The group has a research tour under a 300 year old oak tree, with wine and cheese tasting. This is mid tour, a lovely experience, and the ambience, food and wine provokes romance. There is a cooking class for the special local Sicilian gnocchi.
Then to Palermo, with the large food markets. Wander through at own pace. Cook with the Duchess Nicoletta. Food tours of the Palace.
On to Calatafini, which is the region where Rosa’s parents were born. Tour goes through the footsteps of Rosa’s family. Share a meal with Rosa’s relatives. Visit the Greek temple.
Scapello, with interesting rock formations coming out of the sea. No cars, just foot traffic. Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea. Optional activities include sailing on the Tyrrhenean Sea.
The tours were $7,200 per person before the shut down, $500 – 600 single supplement including all meals, accommodation and land transport. Tours have a maximum of 14.
Rosa is obviously passionate about Sicily and gave an exciting picture of the island and the food.
District Governor Bill Degnan and Judy, together with the Rotary Club of Traralgon Central, invite you and all your members to come and join us in beautiful Traralgon, where the D9820 Conference will be held on the weekend of February 25-27, 2022, in the new Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.
Registrations are now open, and we look forward to seeing many of you in the Valley for a Conference filled with inspiration, fun and fellowship.
This conference will focus on environmental sustainability and what part Rotary can play.
We also have Dr. Fiona Wood, AM FAHMS, as our keynote speaker. Professor Fiona Wood is one of Australia’s most innovative and respected surgeons and researchers. A highly skilled plastic and reconstructive Surgeon and world leading burns specialist, she has pioneered research and technology development in burns medicine. Professor Wood’s greatest contribution and enduring legacy is her work pioneering the innovative ‘spray-on skin’ technique, which greatly reduces permanent scarring in burns victims.
Friday activities will be a Golf tournament, a winery tour and self-drive drive tours of the beautiful Latrobe Valley.
Saturday night’s ‘Celebration 101’ will be a dinner dance at Morwell’s Kernot Hall, where we will be entertained by The Baker Boys. Dress code is ‘Cocktail’, so bring out your pretty party dresses and suits for a night of fun.
Further information about our speakers, tours and entertainment will be posted on the District Conference Facebook page and the District Website.
Thanks to all our sponsors, particularly our Platinum Sponsors, Maryvale Private Hospital and Latrobe Health Services, and Latrobe City Council, for their support and assistance.
We look forward to seeing you all in February 2022 DG Bill, Judy and the Conference Committee Click on this link for registrations: -
Some good news from the Foundation in that our District Grant for the improvements at the off leash dog park in Cobb Rd has been approved and the Student Scholarship grant is also likely to be approved. We are also seeking applicants for the revamped RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program to be held in January. We are looking for 18 – 30yo people with leadership ambitions in their vocations/community interest who can spend 5 days on this program.
It appears our community in Victoria is in for a rocky road ahead as we adjust to living with COVID and the restrictions it puts on us. At least the many of the sports lovers can get back to outdoor sports – even the golfers! Let’s hope the vaccination level gets to 90% as quickly as possible and stay safe everyone.
In China, the Peoples’ Republic of China has a program called 9 9 6 meaning ‘working 9 am to 9 pm 6 days per week’.
Beware ‘Peoples’ and The Democratic Republic of …… as a title of ANY Country.
Dare I say, the Asians seem to have a proclivity for slogans, maybe the slogan has a Life cycle.
In The REPUBLIC of Singapore one sees, from time to time ‘Speak more Mandarin an less dialects’.
So, two problems: It is grammatically incorrect [speak FEWER dialects] and it is only displayed in English.
I do now need to explain Tâng Píng [LYING FLAT] . The PEOPLE who do not wish to be 9 9 6 ….. 🤣 ‘lie flat’, that is, do nothing, opt out, go for coffee, watch FOXTEL…. The effect of LIE FLAT is spreading ho, ho, and is a really unthinkable action to the ‘People’; the equivalent of switching to rugby.
The picture of the cat with the bag on its head? Opting out of opting out? All too hard? A panic attack? A Peking Cat?
has a program called 
