Our Club was chartered on May 17th 1939 by the Rotary Club of Albury and we are the second oldest Club in Rotary District 9790.

We currently have 46 members and are actively working in promoting Polio Plus, which is aimed at eradicating polio world wide. We also support local community projects including school bursaries, adopt a highway clean-up program, exchange students and many more. In 2014 we took over organisation of the Federation Festival and started to reinvigorate the Federation monthly market and Federation (B&S) Ball. In 2016 we introduced Federation Dinner and Tim Fischer AM Oration to be held on the Friday of the Australia Day weekend and revived the Federation Parade. 

COROWA FREE PRESS Wednesday February 12, 2025

Ruby's leadership journey at RYLA camp

By Robert Muir

Ruby Crawford's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) experience has provided a digital detox fostering leadership, resilience and lasting connections.

Sponsored by Corowa Rotary, Ruby recently attended the unique youth leadership awards held at the picturesque Malmsbury Camp.

Ruby, who works as a Senior Team Leader for the Carers Aged and Disability Service at Upper Murray Family Care (UMFC) in Wodonga, shared her inspiring journey and the profound impact the camp had on her.

Ruby Crawford, daughter of Kerrie Crawford, a member of Corowa Rotary, has been with UMFC for six months. In her role, she leads a dedicated team supporting volunteers, carers

and children of all ages. UMFC provides essential care and resources to those in need, offering services ranging from disability support for young people to family camps and one-on-one support.

RYLA 2024 was a unique experience for Ruby and other participants. The camp's lack of phone reception and internet initially felt daunting but soon became one of its best features. This "digital detox" allowed participants to connect deeply, share stories and build lasting relationships without the distraction of technology.

The camp was filled with hands-on activities focused on leadership and management skills, including teamwork, communication and project management. Participants practised these skills daily through group challenges and activities.

A highlight of the camp was the guest speakers, including a First Nations woman who shared her powerful story of resilience and strength. Her talk on breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and surviving domestic violence left a lasting impression on everyone. Other speakers covered topics such as global leadership, financial literacy, storytelling, and mental resilience, each bringing unique perspectives and wisdom.

The diversity of participants made RYLA truly special. Ruby expressed her deep gratitude to Corowa Rotary for sponsoring her and making this opportunity possible. She described RYLA as "a journey of growth, self-discovery, and stepping outside my comfort zone”. The experience reminded her of the power of human connection in a technology-driven world. 

"Hopefully reading about Ruby's experience will have young people in our community realise this opportunity is available to them”,  Rotary past president and Paul Harris Fellow Meredith Miegel said.

For those interested in learning more about RYLA, visit the D9790 RYLA Website  or contact Corowa Rotary Club

COROWA FREE PRESS Wednesday February 12, 2025

Social Club Helps Volunteers

By Robert Muir

After disappointment, some Corowa based organisations are to benefit courtesy of donations from Corowa Social Club.

Corowa Girl Guides have been further supported in their efforts to replace the hot water system stolen in November with a $500 donation. Senior Guides Leader Maree Higgins, who expressed her astonishment at the callous theft and praised the community's subsequent heartwarming and unwavering support, said the latest support from Corowa Social Club was greatly appreciated.

Corowa Rotary Club's Stacey Price expressed Rotary's appreciation of the $500 donation which will be directed towards the Whitehead Street Wetlands project. Rotary's project has been subject to vandalism. 

Corowa Search and Rescue was grateful for the donation of $500 which will be put towards replenishing first aid stocks.
Corowa Social Club's President Geoff Cox and vice president Kevin Hartley presented the three cheques on Thursday evening February 6. The Social Club was established three years ago by Luke Emonson. The 62-member proud group enjoy supporting the local community'

PICTURED: The Rotary Club of Corowa's Stacey Price and Dave Milthorpe with Corowa Social Club's Geoff Cox and Kevin Hartley.

COROWA FREE PRESS       Wednesday February 5, 2025

From grief to growth: Judy's inspiring path

By Robert Muir

Before Tim Fischer AC lost his health battle, he and wife Judy Brewer AO discussed the future life without him.

"Tim knew that the most important thing you can have in life is purpose, a reason to get up every day and to keep working and engaging with the world," she said at the 2025 Federation Dinner - Rotary Club of Corowa's 10th Tim Fischer Oration - on Friday, January 24. "We were by then well ensconced back at my farm at Mudgegonga, a beautiful property nestled in the north east hills."

Judy's great grandparents had pioneered that area in the 1870s. Their weatherboard home, where they raised 13 children, is still there and Judy is currently restoring it so that it can live on for a few more generations.

Judy's talk was magnificent and is covered in some detail in this edition of The Free Press. Master of Ceremonies David Potts introduced her to the well-attended milestone dinner, at Corowa Civic Bowls Club. "It's a real honour for everyone to have Mrs Judy Brewer AO speak here tonight” the Rotary past president, Paul Harris Fellow told the 116 attendees. "Judy was a supportive partner to Tim and has achieved so much in her own right.”

Her happy state is being surrounded by nature and talking to animals. Son Harrison's experience of autism led Judy to working in the disability area for 30 years, saying she “thought long and hard about how I could combine these passions together in this next phase of my life.”

"From out of the universe came an idea that did exactly that; Carefarming,” Judy said. "Carefarming or social farming is not a well understood concept in Australia where it seems to me that the urban rural divide gets larger each day. Generations ago, everyone had a farm experience through friends or relatives or holidays, but now this is rarely the case.”

“And this affects our understanding of what farmers do, how we look after our animals, protect the environment and grow healthy food. But more than this, we know that in what is a worldwide epidemic of mental health pressures, being in nature in one of the greatest healing powers.”

"Carefarming is not a new concept, it is simply combining agriculture with health. Two necessary parts of life that have existed alongside each other since the dawn of time but that in recent times have become very disconnected."

For the past five years Judy has purpose again. Her talk was about taking new directions in life, whatever age, and the joy of finding a different pathway to be passionate about. It has been the transformation of her family farm into an accessible and inclusive social enterprise, sharing the joy of farming, animals and being in nature with those who have not as easily had that opportunity.

The Federation Dinner was the first time Judy has been in Corowa since Tim died, in August 2019. "And the first time since that I have crossed the Tim Fischer bridge as I did tonight, remembering the happy day it was opened when we were there with two little boys, who are now 28 and 31," she said.

Corowa a very special place

Corowa was a very special place to Tim, Judy said, not least because in his political life. through many changes of boundaries and three changes of seats from Sturt to Murray to Farrer, he represented Corowa throughout those three decades.

Tim and Judy met through the National Party. "We became friends over time and married nine years later. Yes, it was what they now call a 'slow burn'” she said. "But something I have never shared before now is that the first time we actually met, we think, as it was not very momentous, but we definitely were both there, was at the Royal Hotel in Corowa when Tim was a guest speaker at a Young National Party meeting as he started his campaign to move from State to Federal politics in 1984.”

Many fond memories of Corowa were recalled by Judy, including the Federation Festival and the wonderful parade "with our dear friend Shirley Nolan OAM at the helm, being absolutely overwhelmed by the size, the colour, the pageantry and more importantly the participation of the community, young and old. You could not go away without being uplifted by the power of the people, and of the pride of doing what they do to make the world turn”.

"One of my most special memories of being here with Tim was in 1993 at the Centenary of the Corowa Conference, the gathering that revived the push to Australia becoming a Federation and set the course for the Constitutional Convention. What a weekend, hosting the then Prime Minister Paul Keating at a time when politics was truly incendiary”.

"Then that wonderful celebration in 2001, celebrating the Centenary of Federation and the restoration of the Oddfellows Hall, this time with the GG Sir William Deane watching that amazing parade go by and I note the wonderful mayor at the time, Gary Poidevin is here tonight and I remember his role in this and so many advancements here.”

It was no wonder why Tim loved Corowa according to Judy, knowing it was a "can do" town with a local leadership prepared to take on big events and continue the legacy that its title as the Birthplace of Federation allows it to - a "very rich history indeed.”

She could talk about Tim forever. "He is always in my head, I feel his presence and I talk to him as my day goes on”, Judy said. "We had a very happy partnership over 35 years of friendship and 27 years of marriage. I have never met anyone who worked so hard, who was so committed to making a difference and to doing his duty as a citizen”.

"Every day was important, every person he met was important to him, and during ten years of fighting four different cancers, he continued to write his books, actively engage in causes, mentor numerous young people, and ensuring that when he left this world, he would have no regrets for things he had not done or said. I knew him better than anyone, and I was and remain his biggest fan.”

However, life was not easy for the Fischer family. "Tim faced so many challenges in his life, including from his time at school, being called up at 19 for active service in Vietnam, being injured in the Battle of Coral, politics, a terrible car crash and so many health issues”.

Two books about Tim have been written by Peter Rees: 'The Boy from Boree Creek' in 1999 and the ‘I Am Tim’ released last year. In writing the second book we realised how much Tim managed in his time after politics - which he was fortunate to have 20 years to do more”.

"From being Chair of Tourism Australia, Chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, The Fred Hollows Foundation and other charities, then three years as Australian Ambassador to the Holy See,  Australian emissary on many trade delegations and special services, as extreme as attending Colonel Gaddafi’s 40^th anniversary as leader of Libya on behalf of the Australian people and his special relationship with the Kingdom of Bhutan," Judy said.

"He was also Patron of something like 200 organisations during that period, I admit many involving historical rail in some way. And he also indulged in his love of travel, leading many train tours around the world - including in Africa and across Russia and China. So - to life after politics was full and I have to tell, the happiest time of his life.”,

The happy couple was so much more blessed than others because they knew their time together was coming to an end. "Tim was told at Christmas 2016 that the new cancer he had, a type of leukaemia, would eventually take his life. He was given six months to two years. Being Tim, he lived nearly three. He fought it all the way, but eventually came to an acceptance, never complaining right up to the last day,” Judy said.

Judy found there was nothing like Carefarming in Australia.

Tim's encouragement

"Tim encouraged me to learn more and so in 2019, I applied for and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to learn about how this works in other countries," she said. "It was mind-blowing. Overseas the care farm movement has continued to grow. There are thousands of farms in Europe, in the USA, in Canada that open their doors to people becoming co-farmers. In a world where stress, isolation and disconnection has led to a massive increase in mental health issues, there has never been a more important time to bring these two worlds together again. And it is not just people with disabilities. It is for everyone.”

"So, I have spent the past three years creating a place that people can visit and become a farmer or helper or observer for the day. It has wheelchair and aged care accessible sheds and facilities, and there are plans and dreams for all abilities pathways around the farm. We have started visits, and over the next few years I hope to slowly scale it up, until I can't."

Judy hopes that Tim would be happy with how Harrison, Dominic and she have lived the past five years without him. "Our boys are our greatest achievements; they both have hearts of gold like their father. And I have found purpose again, so we go into 2025, curious, confident and committed to new adventures," she said. Tim would be proud.

Loud applause was given to Judy’s address. Corowa Shire Council's l3-term record serving mayor Gary Poidevin OAM commented: "Judy's such a beautiful lady and her compliments about her time spent in Corowa were absolutely fantastic.”

Federation Council Mayor Cheryl Cook described the address as “very insightful, emotional and a beautiful testimony to Tim and Judy’s shared life.”

“Beautiful and powerful,” State Member for Albury Justin Clancy added. “Judy has a powerful story in her own right. The journey with Tim was deeply moving.”

PICTURED: At the milestone 10^th Anniversary of the Tim Fischer AC Oration, State Member for Albury Justin Clancy, Rotary Club of Corowa President Rosemary Ferguson, Guest speaker Judy Brewer AO, Federation Council Mayor Cheryl Cook and Master of Ceremonies Rotarian David Potts 

Corowa Free Press      Wednesday 5^th February 2025

Lowesdale's festival magic

By Robert Muir

The tireless Lowesdale P&C created magic for their students at Lowesdale Public School with their float 'We Believe in Magic'.

The float was not only judged the best school float in Corowa Federation Festival’s Street Parade on Australia Day 2025 but also clinched the best of the 22 floats in the parade.

Featuring hand-crafted magical mushrooms, bunnies jumping out of hats and butterflies intertwined with butterflies amongst enchanted woods of ivy, the float was admired and applauded by the many hundreds of spectators in Sanger Street.

Bubbles were emitted, with the float attended by teacher Mrs Courtney Kuschert and the students dressed as magical book characters including Willy Wonka, Hagrid and Harry Potter.

The float was a real hit with the community cheering as the float went by and receiving lollies handed-out by the P&C dressed as witches and butterflies.

Festival organisers, The Rotary Club of Corowa, awarded the school the top prize of 'Best Float' including $500 and the Best School float.

 

'A great day was had by all, and the school and P&C enjoyed showcasing their artistic abilities and community spirit,' Lowesdale P&C Treasurer Alisa McDonald said.

Pictured: Weaving their magic Lowesdale Public School’s excellent, dual award-winning Federation Festival float