Another great day at the Gerringong Markets

In spite of the heat, March markets went well. The 42 stalls created a buzz around the Town Hall and the Old School Park and we even had to go out and buy more sausages.

The markets are our major fundraiser and our Treasurer was proud to announce that since June 2023 we have donated in excess of $50,000 to a variety of causes from the local, such as our apprenticeship award and prize for the dux of Kiama high and local dementia programs to the international, such as Rotary programs to eliminate malaria and polio.

With Rotary, every dollar raised goes to the programs we support.

Thank you from the Ulysses Club Rheumatoid Ride

Cheryl Mahedy from the Ulysses Club popped in to one of our morning meetings to present us with a certificate of appreciation and thank us for our support of her participation in the club’s inaugural Ride for Rheumatoid, a 2400km motorbike ride from Melbourne to Armidale in March to raise funds for rheumatoid arthritis research. Cheryl, a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer herself, rode the segment from Marulan to Armidale.

Diana's talk a novel experience

Former journalist, now writer and local resident, Diana Plater came to talk to us about her career as a journalist in Sydney, Canberra and Nicaragua and how her experiences as a journalist have fed into her fiction writing.

Her first novel, Whale Rock, explores the trauma migrants bring with them from their previous lives overseas and its impact on their current relationships and her current project is a historical novel, The Cedar-Getter’s Granddaughter, set around the Kiama-Gerringong area in the early 19th century and the present day.

We can see the impact of the cedar getters around us today, and they are generally seen as villains, often described in the sources as drunks and bushrangers, but Diana fascinated us with her research into them and their families and their relationships with the indigenous and the colonial landowners. We are looking forward to reading the novel!

Diana Plater with Sandra McCarthy. Photo: Supplied

Apprentice award winner Peppa Fulton

At our March dinner meeting, we presented Peppa Fulton, first-year apprentice electrician, with her apprentice award.

Growing up as the daughter of a builder, she encountered all the trades but knew from an early age that she wanted to be an electrician.

She is buying tools and a computer for TAFE with her award.

Peppa Fulton’s presentation. Photo: Supplied

Alchemy South Coast Term 1 concert

Gerringong Rotary is proud to support Alchemy South Coast, a dementia friendly choir that welcomes dementia sufferers and their carers.

Under the baton of Jenny Ferguson, Alchemy gave us an hour of Australian classics, big band and jazz tunes and 1960s and 1970s hits in a packed Mayflower Village community hall, supported by musicians on bass, trumpet, keyboard and percussion.

The choristers enjoyment was plain to see and a good morning was had by all.

The Alchemy Concert at Mayflower. Photo: Supplied

By Stephanie Kemp

New members and friends always welcome - see www.gerringongrotary.com.au or email [email protected].