Rotary Club of Gawler Light: Meeting #1501 - Minutes 21st July 2026

Minutes of Rotary Club of Gawler Light Inc

Meeting Number: 1501

Date: 21 July 2026

1      Meeting Duties

Cashier	David Weatherley
Chair	Sue Glasson
Vote of Thanks	Joan Tingey
Thought for the Week	Joan Tingey
Rotary Information	Dick Milner

2      Guests

PDG Paul Thomas AM, Joel

3      Chairperson & President Opening Remarks

Deanne welcomed members a guests

4      Rotary Information – Dick

Rotary is the oldest, largest and (most effective ) service club in the world. Be proud of being a Rotary members.

5      Guest Speaker –  Paul Thomas YEP Chair

Paul said that talking to our club is a bit like preaching to the converted due to our club’s long term commitment to the program. Post COVID we were the only club to host a student, which was Laurens from Germany. Laurens made a positive impression across our District. Our most recent experience with Taron was not quite so positive! We also supported Bella for her exchange to France last year. Bella is now completing year 12 this year.

This year we have had two students go out and three into our District. Ester – Sweden, Cheri – Japan, both in Mildura, + one more from Brazil. The two outbounds were Denmark and intended to Sweden. All students destined for Sweden did no receive visas, so that student has not been able to go. It is thought that an influx of refugees from Ukraine has overwhelmed they immigration system. Recently this student was also offered a position in Denmark and left a few weeks ago and will spend a year from now returning next June to complete the second half of year 11. She has already been to Rome & so this has been a great start to her exchange!

Last year including Bella there were four students sent out. One came home early, but the others had successful exchanges.

We are starting to get second and even third generation students applying because their parents or grand-parents were exchange students.

Recently a student from Denmark who should have been going to New Zealand needs an alternative exchange as the club in NZ can’t get host families.

Getting host families is an issue across the board in Australia and New Zealand. The usual response is that everyone is too old. But older people make great host families as they provide stability. Paul had this experience when he went to Japan because the older people have more time to spend with the student.

Rotary are competing with education department programs which pay for host families, so this option of getting host families from the schools. At the recent RICON there was discussion about paying host families, but the response was not to do this as we value our status as a volunteer organisation. There is room to reimburse expenses if required.

Our government is becoming stricter on the reciprocity requirement of the exchange – a student coming in must be matched by a commitment to host an outbound. We have nine applications for students to go out next year, all would be great ambassadors, but we are unlikely to be able to support nine inbound students.

Other challenges are current issues with travelling due to the conflict in the Middle East. We adhere to DFAT advice on travelling. We are sending students 15-17 years old. They can turn 18 while they are away, but not before they leave. The Europeans want to send students who are 18, which is a problem for enforcing the rules applicable to YEP.

It is almost 50 years since Paul was an exchange student and he is visiting Japan next year for the anniversary. One of our applications this year her mother and grandmother were both exchange students.

YEP is one of Rotary’s oldest youth programs and still provides benefit to delivering Rotary’s vision.

Q&A

• In the past inbound students have an expectation that their parents host an exchange student, do we do this? Whilst this is not required here it is asked and encouraged at the interview, and most agree. They need to meet all the youth protection requirements.

• Thoughts of sharing a student between clubs? We have done this previously & we can certainly do this going forward. Particularly focus on sharing a student within a Rotary Community Group. NYP is working with Port Pirie to maybe this in the coming year. Paul mentioned it is a good way of bringing clubs closer together.

• Deanne has spoken to Gawler club, and they can’t assist this year, but possibly next year.

• Steve mentioned that one of our previous students Julian had 6 months with Whyalla and 6 months with us.

• If we are to take Johann from Denmark Paul needs an answer soon whether we can take him or not.

Joan thanked Paul for coming and presented him a thank you certificate. She also related her positive and one YEP horror story which involved with the police!

6      Director & other Reports

Nathaniel – upcoming football gates. For this weekend & 8 August we need a few more people to complete the rosters – please check in the bulletin and put your name down.

David – please indicate to David whether you are coming to the bowling night on 11 August. We will need someone to collect BBQ, food etc. There will be a fee of $5 to help cover costs. David needs final numbers by 4 August. There will be a bar where you can purchase books.

Thanks everyone who helped with the Naidoc BBQ. We dispensed all 600 sausages and drinks.

We have been contacted with a request for furniture for a family that has relocated from Ceduna. Referred to RARE, but if you can assist with anything let M-l know and she can provide the information to Kate.

7      Members moments

Nathaniel reported on his challenging weekend with who guessed…CARS!

Roger thanked everyone who arranged the 30^th celebration, it was excellent & thanks for the recognition of the PHF.

Deanne reported that Winter’s report has finally arrived and her lungs just need more time to mature – good news. She is going to hospital again for a week stay for more antibiotics to ensure there is no underlying infection. She is progressing with other areas of her development. Deanne already has a meeting with the school for Benjamin. He is supposed to start in January, but he is not ready, so looking to delay for 6 months.

Bron is finally getting her new surgery, 1 year since the incident!  She received an invitation to basketball again, but declined! Re changeover, it was a great night, there is wine leftover!  The wine can’t be sold, but will be distributed to members if they express interest and purchase apples.

The online auction raised $6,500. Thanks to everyone for donations and bidding and especially Susan for co-ordinating it. Funds will support New Hope Cambodia house building and the other half potentially to the Malawi project. M-l will supply more scones on request! Susan’s rocky road is being enjoyed by Deanne.

Please continue to collect items for Ronald McDonald House and bring them in for Deanne to deliver.

Steve & Julie, Matthew & Jane attended the 70^th celebration. Our Shelterbags project was recognised by them. They have supplied over 100 to support homeless in their community.

Steve thanked Darryl for his help when he had his fall in Victory Square. Although he noted that he declined to administer mouth to mouth!

8      Sargeant Martin Monument

Two tails took heaps out in Round 1. Two tails left Denise and Joan….Joan took home the wine with a head in the final round.

Deanne and Bron were fined for over catering at changeover. The attendees were fined for not drinking enough.

Everyone who had yellow on their tops and whose car has lane assist or auto parking had to pay a fine.

9      President’s Remarks

Please support the rosters! Thanks to all guests for coming

10    Meeting closed

7.57pm

11    Thought for the week (Joan)

No matter what we gather in our lives we leave empty handed, what matters is the thoughts and love we leave behind.