Unfortunately President Brian was again called away to look after Bev, who managed a return to Bendigo last week but is still having a very difficult recovery from back surgery.

We also made do without Szofi this week, who is on a trip to Phillip Island.

Our speaker today was Angie Bysouth, Vice-Principal at Bendigo Special Development School. BSDS was supported by the club last year, and this year is a beneficiary of Swap Meet proceeds.

The school moved into its current building in 2006, and has grown since then from 89 to 127 students so has outgrown what is still a new facility. Its students are children ages 5 – 18 with IQs below 50 from an area reaching as far as Wedderburn and Kyneton. Many students have behavioural problems as well as learning problems. Necessarily the school has a very high staff to student ratio: one teacher and two support staff for six students. There are 90 staff overall, including 28 teachers.

One facility of the school is a “sensory room” filled with things that, for instance, can help children to better their ability to grab and hold and manipulate items with their hands. A new sensory garden, which the club has helped to fund, has three zones — grassland, bushland and ocean — that connect the sensory room to the hydrotherapy pool. The garden has both lots of steps and changes of level, but also

a path for wheelchairs, and it contains a variety of plants as well as things like water fountains (that the kids are meant to touch) and a wall of things to feel or which make sounds when interacted with.

At the conclusion of Angie’s presentation the chairman of the day, PP Wayne Smith, took the opportunity to present a cheque, on behalf of the club, for the Schools Sensory Garden project, to the value of $8,000 dollars. This was part of the disbursements from Wayne’s year as president and was very much appreciated by Angie, on behalf of the Bendigo Special Development School.

FossickerThe

WEEKLY REPORT

Weekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bendigo Inc. - Chartered 30th July 1925 - District 9800

Editor: Noel Hobley noelhobley@bigpond.com - Distribution: The Terrace theterrace@phs.org.auCorrespondence: PO Box 131, Bendigo, 3552

PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER PASTPRESIDENT Brian Figg Kaye Graves Wayne Smith Wayne Smith

BOARDMEMBERS:President Elect - Tom SeddonClub Service - Garry GunnellCommunity Service - Libby HughesInternational Service - Valerie Barker

Vocational Service - John KrakowiakNew Generations - Phil WestRotary Foundation - Hugh Wheeler

No. 42580 - Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - A002977L

The school will also be one of the beneficiaries from our efforts at the Swap Meet this year, so more to come.

Next week is of course our Christmas Party, this year being held at the Bendigo Club. 6.30 for 7pm and please RSVP to Ian Coates if you haven’t already. We will also be collecting presents for The Smith Family on the night, so if you can please bring an unwrapped children’s present to put under the tree on the night and Johnny K will take it from there.

While you’re out buying that present, please also consider buying a school exercise book or two for the collection Val Barker and Frank Lean are coordinating.

See you all next week, but if you cannot attend the Christmas Party then on behalf of President Brian I look forward to seeing you when we resume in the New Year, on Tuesday 8 January.

Happy holidays, Tom.

Other Rotary business

Announcements at this week’s meeting came from Val Barker updating us on the Education project:

Education and Literacy is one of the Rotary International six areas of focus.

This is a project that everyone can get involved in Rotarians, family and friends. The request is that when anyone finds a “special”, they buy a few items. “Find” is the challenge, as the stores won’t give advanced notice and some hide them hoping people will buy the dearer ones. If all else fails ask. Restricted quantities may be an issue with some retailers and special promotions, but when they understand it’s for Rotary and we give them away for free, good things happen. This project provides an easy way for others to help Rotary and to let them know about how we are helping young people in developing countries. The specials are generally on offer when Clubs are closed and people are on holidays, so please keep your eyes peeled. Early in January each year, stores offer promotional items at very attractive prices. Generally $1.00 will provide a year’s supply exercise books for four students.

This is an opportunity for our Club to make a real difference for little effort.

Often exercise books and pencils, the main requirement for all classrooms, are available for a few cents. We can ensure that they get to needy children via DIK.

Please get items to Val or Frank who will get them to DIK for despatch.

Libby Hughes announced a project to bring more community awareness of Rotary and the opportunities it presents. We need ideas, big or small, to show the

ROSTER DECEMBER 18 DECEMBER 23 DECEMBER 25Chairman Brian Figg Christmas Carols No MeetingSergeant at Arms I. CoatesCorporalsCashiers N. Hobley

P. ReadingRegalia B. PennaReceptionGraceFour Way Test

A Notice for Chairman - To assist the President and as a courtesy to guest speakers, when the president calls for visiting Rotarians and guests to be introduced, the Chairman for the day is asked, please, to stand and introduce the guest speaker by name with the comment that he/she will be more formally introduced later in the meeting.

Members are reminded that if for any reason you are unable to fulfil the duty for which you are rostered it is your responsibility to arrange a replacement

public what Rotary is all about. The District has picked April 21st and has requested that each club will do something to raise awareness of Rotary .

We need something that the public can see or be told of . We need ideas!! Please give it some thought and we’ll start a sub committee in Jan to start the planning process.

If you have any ideas please talk to me or send an email before our meeting in the New Year (8th Jan). If its just a snippet, mention it, someone else may have the missing snippet!!

John Flood has updated the roster for the Carols night, see attached. Please check your allocation on the roster and advise John Flood of any problems - if you don’t change it then it will be considered correct and you’ll be expected there to fill your spot.

Wayne ‘The Chair’ Smith directed our attention to the annual district 9800 conference, organised for March 14 to 16, next year. Venue is Albury so close to home. See attached outline and click through to the website to register online.

Ian ‘The Bear’ Coates reminded us of the Christmas Party next Tuesday evening. Final numbers will be given to the club, for catering, on Friday (This Friday) so let Bear know what your doing. We have 76 confirmed after yesterday’s meeting so numbers are looking good for a great night. Tickets will be allocated by the cashiers for a free pre-dinner drink.

The Bendigo Club Manager, Adrian, has provided a couple of bottles of wine, gift wrapped and has organised for our honour boards to be back in place for the night.

Don’t forget a child’s present for the Smith Family.

Bear also asked that I don’t forget to mention the bowls night, coming up on January 22. Get your calendar oganised and let Noel Kilby or Daryl Watts know of your plans.

See you next week,

Editor Noel Hobley

WEBSITE: Click to visit District 9800 newsletters and videos

Anniversaries December 18 to January 7

BIRTHDAYS: John Cartwright Dec. 24, Sue Clarke Dec. 25, Warwick Johanson, Caspar Sens Dec. 28, Heike Coia Dec. 29, Jenny Shelton Dec. 31, Peter Dav-ies, Sandra Reardon Jan. 1, Ian Monotti Jan. 3, Jill Trevorah Jan 5.

ROTARY INDUCTIONS:

John Krakowiak, Bruce Perrin Dec. 19, Ian Monotti Dec. 22.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:

Ian and Jenny Shelton Dec. 31, Noel and Val Kilby Jan. 6.

COMING EVENTSCHRISTMAS PARTY

BendigoRotaryClubChristmasPartyDate-Tuesday18thDecember2012Venue-BendigoClubIncorporatedTime6.30for7.00Finger Food and a Free Drink on the Club’s new balconyMainCourse-TrioofRoastsDesert-PlumPuddingCost$28perhead.Come along and support President Brian and catch up with fellow Rotarians you might not have seen for some time.

COMMUNITY CAROLS

As many Rotarians as possible will be needed for this big event on Sunday 23rd December.

A roster is about to be prepared.

If you are NOT able to assist you please advise John Flood, Ron Rogers or Barry Penna as soon

as possible or e-mail John Flood on jaflood@impulse.net.au.

BOWLS NIGHT

The annual bowls night is scheduled for January 22, 2013 at the Bendigo East Bowling Club.

Rotarians and Partners

Coordinators are Noel Kilby or Daryl Watts.

Ian Coates, Fellowship

SECONDDRAFT‐Pleaseindicateifunavailable&discusschangeswithJohnFlood

CommunityCarols2012

DutyRoster–RosalindPark–Sunday23rdDecember2012

Coordinator–ColinNankervis.Ph.(B)54414000,(H)54435720.(M)0419371289.

ProgrammeDirectors–ValBroad&BevLeeson.

TransportofequipmentfromBendigoHire8.amB.Doherty(c),W.Smith,R.McDonald,T.Abbott,A.Robinson,

J.Cartwright,J.Flood,T.Dobeli,M.Hughes.

TransportofequipmentfromStrathfieldsaye.ToParkby8.30a.m.J.Gallagher(c)

Stage,Marquee,ChairsLightsetc.TobedeliveredbyBendigoPartyHire7am.

ChoirStalls,(FromGirtonCollege).J.Gallagher

CashCaravan–Collect&Return.‐W.Smith.

TrestleTables(8).(8.00amViewHillFellowship)I.Shelton,G.Reilly.

PlacementofScissorLifts,StageDecoration,Marqueeerection,etc.8.30amSun23rd.

G.Gunnell(c),J.Gallagher,B.Doherty,C.Nankervis,B.Penna,D.Buttolph,J.Flood,H.Wheeler,K.Gilchrist,G.Reilly,

M.Hughes,T.Seddon,G.Spence,N.Burdon,P.Reading,N.Bannan,N.Kirby.R.Rogers,T.Dobeli,N.Whitfield,

K.Walder,I.Shelton.

AlsotoassistwithdismantlingetcattheconclusionofCarols.

SundayEvening

CashCaravan6.30pm.J.Svanosio(c),E.Trevorah,,I.Coates,M.Coates.

Runners&StageSafety5.30pm.R.Rogers,G.Reilly,P.Reading,T.Dobeli

MerchandiseTable6.00pm.D.Buttolph(c),J.Krakowiak,RDavies,L.Windsor,T.Abbott,A.Robinson,Z.Szabo,

V.Barker.

CarparkSupervisor5.30p.mH.Wheeler,B.McMahon.

DonationCollection,Candle&Programmedistribution,6Sites–(trestleTablesprovided).

Site1.(ViewStEntrance)6.00p.m.G.Gunnell(c),J.Bruce,K.Richmond,B.Perrin,W.Smith,D.Ionescu.

Site2.(WilliamsonEntrance)6p.m.G.Clarke(c),J.Cartwright,M.Hughes,N.Kilby,K.Graves,G.Bickley.

Site3.(BullStEntrance)6p.m.B.Doherty(c),L.Hughes,T.Seddon,K.Gilchrist,P.West,K.Walder.

Site4(Fernery–CreekSide)6.00p.m.R.McDonald(c),D.Coia,A.Hampton,N.Hobley,N.Burdon.

Site5(PathJunctionnearArtGallery)6p.m.B.Figg(c),N.Bannon,R.Vanstan,A.Jones,G.McLeod.

Site6(PathbetweenCampHill&HighSchool)6p.m.B.Ackerman(c),C.Martin,J.Flood,G.Spence,F.Lean.

Santa’sHelpers.B.Penna(c),G.Reilly,N.Bannon,N.Whitfield,B.Figg,B.Doherty,P.Reading,D.Watts,M.Hughes,

andallotheravailableRotarianstoreporttoBarryPennaattheViewStentranceat9pm.

InnerWheelBBQ.B.Penna,D.Watts,L.Murphy&K.Reade(Bgo.Sandhurst).

AttheconclusionofCarolsallRotarianstoassistwithdismantlingetc.

Rotary - It’s Amazing!The Rotary District 9800 Conference will held in Albury in 2013

MARCH 14 TO 16 AT THE ALBURY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

It will be enthralling, exciting and great fun, but you’ll have to be quick.

• Take advantage of the lowest Early Bird Registration fee in 7 years - it can’t be extended.

• Conference places and accommodation are strictly limited. • Beautiful Albury is an easy drive or a leisurely train ride. • You have a wide choice of accommodation. • Golf or bridge anyone? Play at a magnificent country club. • Visit wineries and local attractions on an optional bus tour. • Relax and socialise at a Welcome BBQ with drinks and jazz in an idyllic river

setting. • Get involved in the fabulous ‘Rotary’s Got Talent’ show. • Attend workshops on social media and technology, and membership. • Enter theSt Patrick’s Day Cluster Kayak Challenge. • Catch up with this year’s Youth Exchange, GSE, Ambassadorial Scholars and the

Rotary bike riders. • Enjoy Saturday’s ‘country casual’ Dinner Dance with the Blackburn High School

Senior Stage Band and special guest entertainers.

Hear and see an outstanding program of speakers and entertainers

• The supreme professional, Tony Charlton AM, will be the MC. • Thrill to another Conference first: satellite interviews with stunning international

guests from the UK and the US. • See star finalists from ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. • Find out: • The inside story of the Mars and moon landings • What makes a

specialist in hyperbaric medicine dive on a submarine in the Dardanelles and the Bikini Atoll • What the granddaughter of Australia’s greatest cricketer is doing on the stage at Covent Garden • How you manage 16 outback stations from the Kimberley to south-east Australia, larger than many European countries • How Victoria’s industrial might can be reborn • How you get from Adelaide to the top of Mt Everest.

LINK TO THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE HERE