President Bill Bott took the chair for his second term as President of the Rotary Club of Corowa. The District Governor was Neta Kirby and our AG was Paul Miegel from the Rotary Club of Corowa.

The Club enjoyed the company of 37 members at the start of the year.

The 2023-24 Board:

President – Bill Bott

Vice President – Stephen Apps

Secretary – Deborah Rowe

Treasurer – Sally Batten

President Elect – Rosemary Ferguson

Community Service – Rosemary Ferguson

Federation Festival - Gary Poidevin

The Rotary Foundation - Helen Duncan

Membership - Neil Davis

Public Relations - Meredith Miegel

Youth Services - Stacey Price

(Helen Duncan - Absent)

2024-05-15 End Polio Now

Guest speakers at our meeting this week were Phil & Joyce Ogden. They stopped in Corowa on their tandem bike ride from Adelaide to Sydney, which they are doing to raise funds for “END POLIO NOW”. 

Joyce and Phil are Senior Citizen Rotarians from the Rotary Club of South Launceston, Tasmania. Leaving Adelaide on 3rd April, they will travel approximately 3,000 km through SA, VIC and NSW before finishing in Penrith on 29th May. During the ride they will visit over 30 Rotary Clubs with the goal of raising funds for the END POLIO NOW campaign and to raise awareness amongst communities they visit along the way of the continuing threat of polio.

To donate to their Raise for Rotary Campaign, visit raise.rotary.org/joyce+phil/challenge

2024-05-08 News from RYE Nova Karikari

Nova has been enjoying a Euro Tour with other exchange students.

2024-02-07 Corowa Free Press

Why the 'Tim Fischer Oration'

By Robert Muir

The name of Tim Fischer AC needs very little explanation to many people as it has been heard widely throughout our area for almost 50 years.

Some people have asked why the keynote address of the annual Federation Dinner is called the 'Tim Fischer Oration’. At the ninth Tim Fischer AC Oration on January 26, 2024 Master of Ceremonies Paul Miegel took the opportunity to explain the reasoning behind the choice, and paid tribute to the man whose name adorns the event. Tim generously allowed the use of his name to be associated with this Federation Dinner since its inception in 2016.He was born in Lockhart and after attending Xavier College in Melbourne was conscripted into the Australian Army and served in the Vietnam War. On his return, he took up farming at Boree Creek and became an active member of the Country/National Party. He served the New South Wales Parliament from 1971 to 1984, representing Corowa in the seat of Murray for the last four of those years.

In 1984 he was elected to the Australian Federal Parliament and again represented Corowa, this time as the member for Farrer, until his retirement in 2001. During his political career he was the Minister for Trade, led the National Party and was the Deputy Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999. "His advocacy for his electorate is evidenced by the refurbishment of the Oddfellows Hall that was a critical venue in the 1893 'People's Conference' here in Corowa," Mr Miegel explained. "His name is also on the approach bridge to the Federation bridge due to his influence in obtaining funding for a project that sees Corowa as one of the very few towns that have two river crossings.

"Since retiring from Parliament in 2001 Tim held several positions including: Chair of Tourism Australia 2004-2007; National Chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service; Chair of the Crawford Fund on International Agricultural Research; Chair of the Australian Winemakers Foundation; National Patron of Frontier Services.

"In 2005 Tim Fischer was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia and was also awarded several foreign honours and decorations over the years. ln 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd nominated Tim as the first resident Australian Ambassador to the Holy See where he spent three years, returning to Australia in 2012.

"From political leader to diplomat, to farmer, consultant, company director, author, broadcaster and multiple patron, with a love of trains, military history and Akubra hats, Tim was a man of the highest integrity, compassion and dedication with a phenomenal memory as well as being an engaging speaker'. The MC said Tim is affectionately remembered as 'Two-minute Tim' because of his ability to engage with people for short periods of time yet still remember details, including names, from previous brief conversations. "It was an amazing skill' Mr Miegel said. "It is reputed that he would attend every Iocal function in his electorate that he was invited to - parliament permitting - such as arriving at debutante balls knowing the names of all those making their debuts'.

Tim passed away in 2019, aged 73 years-of-age. "The Rotary Club of Corowa pays its respect to a true gentleman, and recognizes his contributions to this country, this state and this community. May this event continue the memory of Tim Fischer AC," Mr Miegel concluded.

2024-02-07 Free Press

Edge-of-life Gordon Poidevin OAM story

By Robert Muir

Pictured left: Master of Ceremonies Paul Miegel, Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, President of The Rotary Club of Corowa Bill Bott AM, and Gary Poidevin alongside an image of the Australian soldier which includes Gordon Poidevin's trousers and battle jacket.

The remarkable and unbelievable edge-of-life story of World War II survivor and highly acclaimed Corowa identity, the late Gordon Poidevin OAM, was the subject of Federation Dinner's Tim Fischer AC Oration of 2024 on Australia Day.

Master of Ceremonies Paul Miegel welcomed people to the Corowa Civic Bowls Club for what was the ninth consecutive annual dinner which included Federal Member for Farrer, Deputy Liberal National Party Leader Sussan Ley.

A prisoner of war (POW) for 41 months of 60 months' service, which included a successful escape only to be recaptured a few days later, Mr Poidevin made it home to Corowa. An enormous local community contribution ensued.

Gordon's story was conveyed by son Gary Poidevin OAM. Known to many as Mr Poidevin, Gordon, his close friends as Tubby and his Army friends as Pud, Mr Poidevin was born in Corowa on March 30, 1917, at the Corowa Hospital. As a small child, he spent a lot of time swimming in the river down Billy Crags Lane (known today as Lone Pine Avenue) and as a teenager down at the 'Brown Log' the area of river behind the girl guides cabin. This was a popular swimming spot in Corowa in the early 1940s where a light was installed in the big gum tree and the shire council ran power to it so people could enjoy a cool swim at night,

"Dad was educated at St Mary's in Corowa. He left school at the age of 14 because his father, who was a drover, suffered a bad accident, was unable to work and they needed his income to support their family'' Gary said. "He spent a lot of his young adulthood working on farms around the district and also with Sandy Connelly from Wahgunyah on the construction of roads. There were no Ioaders in those days, it was all by pick and shovel. "In his early 20s Dad was known to be a very good swimmer and a person with great physical strength. It was said that he won many a bet by picking up a bag of wheat with his teeth!

"On June 20, 1940, he enlisted in Wangaratta, joining the 2/24th Battalion 9th Division 2nd AIF at the age of 23. His Army training started at Wangaratta, then Bonegilla and Puckapunyal, and sailed from Perth in WA on the November 16, 1940, travelling via Columbo and up through the Suez Canal where they disembarked at El Kantara in Egypt. He quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. "From there, they travelled by train to a camp in Dimra in Palestine and went through rigorous training in desert warfare, then a little R and R before entering the action.

In late April 1941 they advanced into the Desert below Tripoli. Here the real action started. They encountered the Africa Corp Panzer Division of Field Marshall Rommel. "The Panzers were too strong for the Allies, and they were forced to retreat until they were near Tobruk. Here, part of the 2 / 24 dug in and were ready to have another go at the Germans. "They fought for three days under attack both from the air and surrounded by tanks until finally they had been blown to 'kingdom come!’ The survivors of the attack were taken prisoners on May 1, 1941.

"Dad's eye had been cut badly during the battle and as a POW he was stitched up by the Germans at a first aide post. "The POWs captured by the Germans were trucked back to Benghazi to 'The Starvation Death Camp' and made to work from sun up till dark, seven days a week and any other time that a ship needed unloading. "They worked at the wharf, a petrol dump, a store shed and a Field Post. Most of the work was heavy lifting. "The camp had appalling conditions, no toilets and all POWS suffered with dysentery, body lice and scabies; they also suffered from desert sores, which turned into ulcers with some even eating into the bones of some prisoners. "Dad said the Benghazi camp was a hell camp, a slave camp slowly starving them to death. The treatment of the POWs was inhumane, the bashings and torture horrendous.

As the war moved on so did the Germans with their POWs. "In late December 1941 the POWs were taken from Benghazi up into Italy where they arrived at Taranto. 'After travelling up through Italy, the next prison camp Dad was put into was Campo PG 57 near Gruppignano at the foot of the Northern Italian Alps, arriving on February 19, 1942. “This camp was run by the Italian Army. As the camp grew in size the conditions started to deteriorate.

"With the expansion of the camp and new huts being built closer to the perimeter fence the talk of an escape was thrown around and decided it was time to have a go. "Led by Sergeant Noel Ross, an engineer, the plan to dig a tunnel under the perimeter fence out into a field of Maize about a 100 metres commenced. "It involved nine men, and this grew to 19 wishing to be part of the escape. They had about another 10 men who were unable to escape due to injuries but were prepared to do whatever to assist with the plan. "The only tools they had was a pick Noel Ross had stolen from the Italians and a tin hat. Noel had worked out the engineering for right depth and direction and distance for the escape to happen. "After about three months of horrendous digging, and many hut searches by the guards to no avail, the time had come to see if the tunnel was ready for the escape."

Extracts from two books written by two of the men who escaped were read: ' Tomorrow we escape' by Tom Trumble and ‘'What was it like to be a POW' by Bill Williams. The extracts referred to Pud's initiative in breaking the surface, his leadership and ability to pave the way for the escape.

'AII 19 escaped but unfortunately the Italians sent a division of 12,000 soldiers after them, and because of the torrid rain and swollen rivers, all 19 were recaptured over the next four to five days’ Gary said. "Back in to Campo PG 57 and solitary confinement.

"The satisfaction for the 19 men was they had escaped from a camp that was declared unescapable by the Camp Commandant.

"The Germans returned and started to shift the POWs to other camps. The original camp PG57 Chapel was destroyed but it was rebuilt by the POWs and has a cross displayed inside with the names of the POWS who rebuilt the chapel." Gary, his niece Bernina, and her daughter Ayse visited this camp site in September 2023 and showed photographs accordingly. 

"Dad was shifted to a transit camp in "Spittal-Am-Drau" in Austria. Stalag 18A. Here he organized another tunnel, but this time was discovered by the Germans after a tip off by a British officer. Apparently, this camp was going ok and the POW officers did not want any attempts to escape or anybody to rock the boat. So, Dad decided to go along with camp rules at this stage. "They befriended the German guards with goods received in the Red Cross parcels – so much so that his final escape with seven others came when they were out on a work camp getting wood.

Finally escaped!!

"Six of them had asked could they go to the toilet in the woods and when they had not returned the guards told Dad and another prisoner to go and find them so that they could return to camp. None were to return. "The eight escaped into Yugoslavia, the conditions were snow everywhere' . They met up with a group of Tito's partisans and fought alongside them against the Germans’.

"After 84 days on the run trudging through the snow the group, along with the partisans, were able to work their way do down the Dalmatian coast (Croatia) and from here the partisans took them out to the island of Vis which was a strong hold for Tito and his Army.' "Once again while on our trip last September we were able to visit the island of Vis and see the remains of Tito's stronghold of the island and how he was able to control the Adriatic Sea from here.

"From Vis the partisans sent them by boat across to Italy where they were able to rejoin with the allies. From here Dad was shipped back to London for some R and R and then home to Australia, where he was discharged in Ballarat on 30th July 1945.

"I think Dad's community spirit came from his mother, as a little kid I can remember her doing things like raising funds for an ambulance in Corowa. 'As a kid growing up, I thought Dad was involved in everything in Corowa. Over the years Dad started or owned many different businesses and helped a lot of people find jobs. "Because of his time overseas, he was able to welcome and assist many migrants into our community. I know he assisted many migrants from the Bonegilla Camp to assimilate into country Australia.

"He was a founding member of the RSL Sub Branch and Corowa Lions Club, a Life Member of the Corowa Football Club and Corowa Rutherglen Search and Rescue squad; he and Mum were Life members of the Corowa Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club. "I have so many memories of things that he and Mum did for these organizations, like weekend wood drives for RSL and Legacy. Teaching people to swim and instructing lifesaving skills, He captained the rescue squad for many years and all sorts of working bees for the Lions Club where there is too many to list. My grandmother Nanna Poidy, Dad and Mum were all involved in the raising of funds for the Corowa swimming pool which opened in 1956.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope that you can see what I see - that Mum and Dad have worked their entire married life trying to make Corowa and the world a better place for us all to live in."

Ms Ley described Gary’s talk as "both heartfelt and informative'.  'As MC Paul Miegel said, his story is more The Great Escape than Hogan's Heroes. And what a story! Of courage, character, and commitment to one's mates’' she told The Free Press. "It reminded me of just how much we owe the post war generation, not just for the ones who gave their all but for the ones who came back and built this country. "Gary's record of service to the Corowa community makes him in every way his father's son.’

Representing Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke, Gordon was described as "a fair dinkum Aussie whose life was shaped by his experiences as a POW in the hell camp at Benghazi and latterly in northern Italy" by Cr Sally Hughes. "While it was fascinating to learn about Gordon Poidevin OAM's great escape, it was also very interesting to learn about his life after the war' she said. "He opened a TV shop in Corowa and generously assisted migrants from Bonegilla to get jobs and to become part of the community. He played an instrumental role in getting a pool for the town. "His efforts and contributions have served to shape the social fabric of our community. He would be very proud to know that his family continue in his footsteps to make Corowa a great place to live'.

MC Paul Miegel, a former Rotary President and currently Assistant District Governor of District 9790, thanked attendees for their presence. His wife Meredith Miegel happily advised me: "There are 104 attendees, the highest ever number. It's been well patronised by the local community.'

The Rotary Club of Corowa President Bill Bott AM thanked Gary for sharing the history of his parents and acknowledged his wife Chris and daughter Stacey for their support to Gary during his public life. It is a life that resulted in him being the youngest ever councillor to join Corowa Shire Council (26-years-of-age), have 32 years of continuous service, be the longest serving mayor (13 years) of the shire, receive an OAM in 2014 for outstanding service to the community - 20 years after his Dad received an OAM - and is still a great contributor to the community. It is the only father/son OAM situation in Corowa. Gordon passed away on June 1, 2005.

"The presentation this evening is not only special of the Poidevin family, it is certainly a special part of Corowa's history;' Mr Bott concluded.

Corowa Rotarian Gary Poidevin OAM shared stories about his father Gordon Poidevin OAM (pictured with wife Lorna) at the Rotary Federation Dinner and Tim Fischer Oration.

2023-11-24 - International Workers BBQ

Tonight Corowa Rotary hosted a BBQ for some of the international workers in our community. A great turn out and it was wonderful to meet you all!! We look forward to seeing you out and about in our community.

 2023-11-18 Catering for the Wahgunyah Tennis Club Grand Slam

On Saturday 18th November, the Rotary Club of Corowa had a very successful day providing a BBQ at the Wahgunyah Tennis Club Grand Slam Day.

Exchange student Annic was very privileged to be able to hold the Replica Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.

2023-09-27 Annette Schulz - My Story

I was born Annette Muriel Lambert on 17th December 1966 in Taree Manning District Hospital on the mid north coast NSW. I am the first child of John Lambert and Barbara. I have 2 younger brothers Paul and Chris.

We lived in a small town 10 min west of Taree called Wingham, surrounded by family members from both my father and mothers’ families. I was fortunate to have Great grand parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins constantly present in my early years of life.

My father’s parents lived out of town on a small dairy farm, so most weekends were spent on the farm when I was young. My mother’s parents ran a café in Taree, so visits to the shop were a treat. Living only 25mins from the beach at Old Bar, we would head to the beach after school most weeks in the summer.

Wingham is a pretty town with an unusual square park in the middle of the main street which was used to play cricket on the weekends. It also has an area of subtropical rain forest in the centre of town next to the primary school with the Manning River flowing past on the other side. There are thousands of flying foxes in the rain forest and spectacular trees.

We moved from the Manning River to the Murray River Corowa in January 1977 as my father was transferred to Corowa High School as a Geography / Social studies teacher.

I went to Corowa Public School and was there for years 5 and 6, then attended Corowa High School, leaving after year 10.

1980 saw my parent’s divorce and my father transferred away. My mother chose to stay and went on to marry Angelo Presti from the Presti family who had the market garden in Edward Street Corowa.

I wasn’t very good at sport so only played netball for 1 year in the Saturday morning competition then retired at the age of 12. It was obvious it wasn’t my game! I did enjoy playing squash after school in the junior competition through my high school years and continued on playing at the local squash club that is still located in the RSL into my adult life, only retiring in my 40’s.

My Family

After leaving school I met Wayne Schulz, then after a couple of years we married on 4th November 1989 at Saint John’s Anglican Church Corowa and started our family. We went on to have 4 children - 3 boys and a daughter. They are Matthew 34, Leigh 31, Shannon 28 and Kristy 25.

Matthew lives in Coffs Harbour about 4 blocks away from my father, and has been there for the past 10 years. He is a qualified tiler, has completed an Electrician apprenticeship and has been working at the Grafton jail since COVID. He is currently deciding what he would like to do next as he is wanting to move back to this area.

Leigh is married to Emilie and they have 3 boys - Jaxon 7, Kylo 5 and Sonny 4mths old - and they live in Corowa. Leigh completed an Electrician apprenticeship with Rivalea, moved into programming at Rivalea, then for the past 2 years he has moved over to Uncle Toby’s,

working on projects and programming. Emilie is a qualified personal trainer and runs her own Gym ‘Emfitt’ from their garage, when she is not running after their 3 boys.

Shannon has a partner Bianca, and they have a baby daughter Bailee 6mths old. They also live in Corowa.  Shannon is a welder working at Rivalea and is currently completing a second apprenticeship as a fitter and turner. Bianca is a hairdresser and has her own business - BB boutique - specialising in doing hair for weddings and events in the area. She also works for Corowa Podiatry, supporting them with the admin side of the business.

Kristy our daughter has a partner Nick, and they enjoy living out on the farm where Nick is employed at Sanger. Kristy completed Year 12 then gained employment in the boning room at Rivalea, then moved to Corowa Furniture and Floors. After some time there, she decided

on a total career change and has been working for Talbot Shearing as a rouse in the sheds. She has now completed shearing school, is gaining her speed and skill as a shearer and loves the work in the shearing sheds.

My working life

When I left school I had a couple of different jobs - working at Gales Bakery, Corowa Electronics and the Video Shop. Then I moved onto Uncle Toby’s, where I started in plant 1 on the muesli bar line. The company expanded and built plant 2 and I became a leading hand on line 3. Over time I secured a position in the lab working in Quality Control in the plant. When I had Matthew the shift work became difficult, and I moved into a position in the finished goods warehouse where I was responsible for the Chep pallet account and inventory. The hours were much more family friendly.

I was working in the warehouse the day it caught fire. This was a very scary day - to watch your work place burn! After this we were moved to temporary offices and then when the new warehouse was built, we moved again. With this move my duties were expanded to include purchase orders for the trucking, invoicing, nationwide order entry, industrial orders and credits as well as Chep pallet account reconciliation. I worked in this position with other great people and enjoyed my job.

After having the 3 boys and then Wayne going into business with Stewarts to start the Schulz and Stewart Mechanical repairs, I resigned from Uncle Toby’s and took on the role of office admin for the workshop. We remained in the business for almost 12 years.

At this time, I went to TAFE and completed a MYOB course and all the subjects that cover book keeping of a Small Business Administration.

After leaving the business I decided it was my turn to study and enrolled at Wodonga TAFE, studying a Diploma of Remedial Massage. This was a challenge. To start with juggling family and study, I would often have a text book in the car to read at kid’s pick up and drop off or to read at half time of the footy - any stolen moment I could. This paid off as I finished my course in 2009 and received the Outstanding Achievement Award for our class.

On completing my course, the first year I would help out in the training rooms at Corowa and Wahgunyah football clubs - not in the role as trainer but treating injuries on training nights. I opened a massage room at home, taking bookings around family life and keeping me very busy. During Covid I stopped working and I now only work Fridays at Corowa Border Natural therapies. As shoulder and hand issues have taken their toll, I am winding down to retirement from massage. I will be looking out for my next challenge, so we will see what comes next!

Volunteering

Having a family means you always end up volunteering. I was always seeming to run a taxi service for mine and other kids who needed a ride to and from their current activity.

Outside of school, my kids were involved in Little Athletics, Indoor cricket, Auskick, junior Cricket at Balldale, Junior Football at Buraja, Corowa and Wahgunyah, Corowa Scouts, Dancing and Netball. When the boys were involved in Scouts, it was over a period of 8yrs. I was on the committee for 5 of those years, holding various positions - Secretary, Treasurer and committee member. I found the Scouting association to be a very professional organisation, supplying training for the committee to maintain their knowledge on running the group efficiently and professionally.

After the boys finished attending Scouts, they concentrated on Football. When they played at Wahgunyah, I volunteered doing many small jobs just helping out around the club. After a few years I stepped onto the committee as Assistant Treasurer then the following year as Treasurer for 2 years, then back to assistant Treasurer for another 2, then committee member still supporting Treasurer and assistant Treasurer. This was a very challenging time but rewarding to support the club to run well for the children playing football and netball.

My husband Wayne has been a member of Corowa Fire Brigade (now known as Fire Rescue NSW)

for the past 38 years and is currently the Deputy Captain. Over the years I have played a supporting role to Wayne and the Brigade - in the early years answering the phone when fire calls came in and setting off the pagers and phones. This was before the central call centres they have now.

Hobbies

As a family we have always enjoyed the life of living on the Murray River, spending many holidays camping, fishing and water skiing. These days - now our kids have all left home - we have a caravan and try to get away as often as we can and our kids still join us as often as they can.

I enjoy lots of different craft projects - scrapbooking, cooking, crocheting, sewing and reading when I find time.

I also enjoy using and making DIY natural products for the home with essential oils and incorporating the essential oils into the massage I do. This is something I will continue as a hobby.

My greatest achievement has been raising our children and I am proud that they are a tight knit bunch that always look out for one and other.

So life now is about me being a fulltime Nan, Mum, wife and maybe with a little work on the side.

I would like to thank all for accepting me into Rotary and I look forward to being an active member for our community.

Annette Schulz

2023-09-23 Charity Bowls Day

On Sunday the Rotary Club of Corowa competed in the Murray River Police & Community Charity

Bowls Day which was held in Howlong.

The event raised a little over $5000 for the local cancer centre in Albury.

Annic was our team’s skip and let’s just say without her bowling expertise we may have not been able to get a score on our card.

Meanwhile Bill made friends with local Sergeant hoping it might help with keeping on the right side of the law.

COROWA FREE PRESS 23-08-2023

Rotary welcomes Swiss exchange student

By Adrienne Hartnett

The weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Corowa saw 16-year-old Annic Arnold, an enthusiastic Rotary exchange student from Cham, Switzerland share her story last Wednesday evening.

Annic's arrival in Corowa in mid-July has brought a fresh international perspective to the community as she embarks on a year-long stay in the town.

President Bill Bott AM extended a warm welcome to Annic and introduced her as she presented about herself and her country.

With a captivating smile, Annic shared her background, her interests, and her dreams for the future. The club members were delighted to learn about her hobbies, which span a diverse range including soccer, skiing, snowboarding, golf, and her affinity for building intricate Lego creations.

One of Annic's dreams is to become a doctor, reflecting her aspirations for a future where she can make a positive impact on people’s lives. She passionately expressed her excitement about spending time in Corowa and cherished the opportunity to be a part of the Australian culture and way of life.

Annic's presentation didn't just focus on her personal journey; she also took the audience on a virtual tour of her homeland, Switzerland. She shared insights into Switzerland's geography, climate, and rich history, giving the attendees a glimpse into her country's fascinating heritage.

Rotarians learnt of the differences between Australia and Switzerland including the education

system. Corowa High School, where Annic is now a student, is quite different to her school back home which boasts of around 600 students. The biggest difference being the long hours from 7am to 5:30pm. Commuting to school involves a one-hour train ride each way, which Annic said makes her appreciate the laid-back pace of Corowa High School.

“I’m very excited to be in Australia and I am enjoying my time” she said. "I would like to thank my host family, Laurelle and Richard Van Leeuwen, and (Rotarians) Meredith Miegel, Bill Bott, and my mentor Kerrie Crawford."

As the Rotary Club of Corowa continues to foster connections within the local and global community, Annic's presence adds a touch of Swiss charm and international understanding to the heart of Corowa.

COROWA FREE PRESS 23-08-2023

Small schools shine in public speaking

Corowa South, Rand, and Mulwala schools recently came together for the inaugural Small School's Public Speaking Competition.

The competition was graced by distinguished adjudicators Mr. Graham Brown, former Principal of Corowa South and a respected Rotarian, and Justin Clancy MP, who lent their expertise to ensure a fair and impactful judgment.

Divided into two levels, the Stage 2 segment, consisting of Year 3 and 4 participants, captivated the audience with their 2-4-minute speeches on various thought-provoking topics.

Meanwhile, the Stage 3 competitors from Year 5 and 6 took the stage with 4-6-minute speeches on themes such as the greatest scientific invention, town improvement, the importance of health, and the significance of the environment.

Ivy Kreutzberger of Rand Primary School emerged victorious in the Stage 2 category, while Lexi McCall from Rand PS secured the runner-up position.

For Stage 3, Jayce True of Corowa South Primary School stood out with a compelling speech that clinched the top spot while Nevaeh Rosmulder of Mulwala Primary School secured the runner-up position.

Following the impressive speeches, students were treated to a delightful morning tea. This

moment was made even more special as both Mr. Brown and Mr. Clancy shared insights from their extensive experience in public speaking.

Corowa South Public School Principal Janet Conibear said all three schools are eager to build on this momentum and look forward to the competition becoming an annual tradition. "The morning was a great success and the staff and students are eager to participate again next year!" she said.

PICTURED: Corowa South, Rand, and Mulwala school students with Member for Albury Justin Clancy and former Principal of Corowa South and respected Rotarian Graham Brown.

COROWA FREE PRESS 16-08-2023

$500 cheque for Miki City Exchange

ln support of the Federation Sister City Program with Miki City, the Corowa Rotary have presented a cheque for $500 to support the framing of the official delegates and hosts' photo.

Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke thanked the Rotary Club and said it is very generous community contribution towards the long standing and valued Sister City Program.

"Each year an exchange takes place between the Federation Council and Miki City, where culture and customs are shared and lifelong friendships are made," he said.

In this 26th year of the Program, a Miki City delegation is scheduled to visit Federation Council from August 22 to August 27, 2023.

The funds will support an official framed photo of delegates together with their hosts and the Federation-Miki Sister City Committee. It will be presented to Miki City, celebrating the long-standing relationship and the 2023 visit to the Federation Council.

Members from the Federation-Miki City Committee worked together with Corowa Rotary, volunteering at community event BBQ's to raise funds.

Mayor Bourke said a lot of hard work takes place behind the scenes to maintain the relationship

and plan and coordinate the program. "The input from Council's volunteer Miki City Committee is a key and valued part of this” he said.

To support the impending Miki City delegation visit, a Memorabilia Display will be on show at the Corowa Art Space from Friday, August 11 until Sunday, September 3, 2023.

Featuring mementos and artefacts from students and community members who have participated in the Miki City and Federation Council Sister City Exchange Program. Items include gifts presented to Federation Council, artworks, photos, ceramics and examples of the agricultural, hardware and blacksmithing industries which flourish within Miki City. Entry to the Miki City Memorabilia Display is free. Open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

To find out more about the Miki City Exchange program and the upcoming visit, please visit the council website :

www.federationcouncil.nsw. gov. au

PICTURED: Corowa Rotary representative Gary Poidevin OAM presents Cr Aaron Nicholl's with a $500 cheque in the Council art space.