President’s Report – 17 Dec 2009
Our Emerging Athlete, Kane Grimster gave us a fascinating insight into the life of an elite athlete. As an exciting middle distance prospect for the future, Kane Grimster is a talent both on and off the track. Kane is a very confident young man in Year 11 at Peninsula School, who spends his time when not training many hours a day, mentoring other young athletes. Kane was U17 national cross- country champion in 2008, before continuing on to win the International Schools Federation World Cross Country Championships in the Czech Republic. Kick starting his track campaign, Kane won silver (800m) and bronze (1500m) at the Australia Youth Olympic Festival and placed fourth in the 1500m in the open ranks at the Victorian Track & Field Championships. At the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Bressanone, Italy, he placed 7th to the world’s best U18 athletes – needless to say they were all from Africa. Watch out for Kane at the next Olympics!
Saturday, 5th December saw the loading of 2 containers – one for Tanzania, packed full of wheelchairs, school uniforms and other bits and pieces; the other full of hospital beds and furniture for a nursing home in Sri Lanka. Gwen Jones sends her thanks to the 17 Rotarians from Langwarrin, Frankston North and FLI plus friends/partners who turned up to help Steve and Andrew Walsh make a bit of room at Andersons Depot in Langwarrin. Steve Cernotta might get a new nickname of Spiderman after his climbing efforts. If you had seen him stacking chairs one on top of the other to the top of a 40-foot container at Hallam. It was enough to give you a heart attack just watching! The photo below is the final lot for the 20-foot container! Check the photo gallery for more photos!
The final item needs a big push!
Sunday 13th December was the Christmas Party at Past District Governor Janet’s place. What a great day and a great turnout by members. Thank you and thank you again, Janet for opening up your home for a fabulous day. Grant Ellers won the beautiful gift pack of wine donated by Judy Johnston – many thanks to Judy. PDG Janet also won a bottle of wine. Who else but the BBQ King, Steve Cernotta, could win a miniature BBQ! Many thanks to Penny Sayer for donating this prize. Our Friends of Rotary are very handy people to know! Keeping it in the family, Lilliana Cernotta also won a prize and Emily won her first raffle prize in two years! The funniest bit was Ella and Charlotte Bowman drawing the door prize making their father, Brad the winner of a lovely box of chocolates! Well done girls! Anyway, it was a fabulous day, the weather was perfect and the food was delicious too! Thank you everyone for your contributions to a very successful day.
This week’s meeting is the last for the year 2009. We meet next for a very casual Vocational Meeting at 11.00 am on January 7th at The Tyabb Antiques Packing Shed with a guided tour from the amazingly knowledgeable Ian Armstrong, followed by lunch at the same venue. Editors Note: The venue is Tyabb Aerodrome, not the Antique Barn.
On Monday 18th January, the Rotary Club of Langwarrin have once again organised a visit to the Sand Sculptures at Frankston. More information will be available in the new year.
There are lots of exciting things about to happen in 2010 with our “No Schoolies” program getting off the ground with the possibility of sending 20 students to Tanzania and 10 to Cambodia. More details as they come to hand!
I do hope that you will all be in attendance for our last meeting this Thursday to see our Youth Exchange Student, Maddy Stroot making her presentation prior to spending a year in Germany. She is very excited about this wonderful opportunity and will be very disappointed if she doesn’t have an audience.
We might also be inducting a new member! Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. See you ALL on Thursday!
President Judy