President Ian Barton welcomed all to this meeting especially District Governor Brian Peters, visiting Rotarian Marg Heslin, inductees Trish Lester and Robyn Harwood and Rotarians’ spouses Jan Tinney, Jan Sterkenburg, Ro Cilia, Kath Taylor, Stasha Barton and other guests Ray Lester, Pam Lester and Lyn Harwood.
President Ian invited Marj Shand and Ed Rowlands, the sponsors of the prospective members, to introduce Trish Lester and Robin Harwood to all members for induction into the club.
He then proceeded with the formal induction and all members welcomed Trish and Robin in the usual manner.
Past District Governor Bernie Bott then introduced the guest speaker for the evening, DG Brian Peters.
Brian is a member of the Albury West RC. The club has always sent and received an exchange student every year for the last 49 years.
District 9790 is the home of youth exchange with Myrtleford being the original instigator of this activity.
Yarrawonga Mulwala are the second District in Australia to have such a group. There are 23 members who vary in age from 16-23.
The number of students being involved got as low as nine however this year the district is sending 18 and 12 short term.
They maintain contact with Rotary Youth Exchange in support of students going overseas.
It was decided that Rotex needed a program and they chose Youth Mental Health - Head/Space. 32% of all suicides are youth up to the age of 30.
Brian usually travels with a member of Rotex (former exchange students).
Brian had a 15-year-old who went to eight clubs with him over a two-day period.
His introduction to Rotary was via an invitation to a wine and food group where he enjoyed the fellowship.
Most of the group were Rotarians and he had never heard of Rotary. Within three months of joining he became secretary and got involved with the district grants programme.
It was here he got to see what every other club was doing in the District.
He has been a Rotarian for seven years. He was impressed with the eradication of smallpox first and then what rotary had done on a world basis with the polio plus programme.
From 350,000 people suffering from polio in the late 80’s to 88 victims in the last twelve months.
The drought appeal needs to be rerun as the drought continues.
DG Brian then presented Noel Tinney with a letter of recognition for his thirty years of Rotary Service.
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