AS THE dust settled on National Volunteers Week 2018, Coonamble’s volunteer organisations had a chance to reflect on their achievements and where to direct their funds to achieve small changes in our community.
Saturday 2 June saw the 15th Annual Combined Coonamble Service Clubs Changeover Dinner at Coonamble Bowling Club.
The event was a who’s who of community service with more than 80 of the district’s most dedicated volunteers attending the dinner as either members or guests.
Mistress of Ceremonies was Quota’s Beverly Ryan, who set the tone for the good-humoured ribbing between the Rotary, Lions and Quota Club members while managing to navigate the official business of the night.
Special guests included Mayor Michael Webb, Lion’s Zone Chairperson Tony Van Lubeck and Rotary District Governor Bob Ryan who opened the Toast to Rotary, Lions and Quota by claiming his Coonamble connection.
Mr Ryan’s father was born in Coonamble in 1915, his grandfather was the builder responsible for the CBC Bank and Sons of the Soil Hotel (formerly Tattersalls) buildings, and his mother was once a member of Quota.
The Guest Speaker for the evening was Honorary Museum Curator Angie Little, whose nerves were no match for her passion for local history.
Mrs Little has been a dedicated volunteer at the Coonamble Museum Under the Bridge for 32 years.
She outlined the history of the Museum building from functioning Police Station in the days of the mounted police, to police residence before being condemned in 1967 before being purchased in 1970 by Coonamble Shire Council for the purposes of establishing a Museum at the urging of Councillor Bill Green.
“Jon Mooy came to visit last month,” Mrs Little said. “His forebears owned land from the riverbank to the Church of England Church and he donated the original deeds of every shop in Castlereagh Street at the time.”
The building’s resident spirits were also revealed by Mrs Little and the audience received an education in the detection of ghostly apparitions.
Mrs Little discussed the ongoing management and preservation of the Museum’s collection and creation of story-line displays which has taken her on some interesting trips while tracking down information on the district’s past.
She also mentioned her pride in overseeing her own social media site which boasts upwards of 7000 followers.
As a volunteer-run facility, the Museum has always had a close relationship with local service clubs and the raffle and fundraising fining session at this year’s Changeover Dinner will result in some much-needed shelving to display valued objects.
The service clubs presented awards including the prestigious Paul Harris medal to Rotarian Jackie Harris and a certificate of appreciation to Colin McMullen for assisting various groups. Quota awarded their members’ attendance with many members showing impressive commitment to their club.
Donations were presented from each of the Clubs to grateful representatives from Coonamble Community Radio, McKillop Rural Services, Coonamble High School, Coonamble Primary School, St Brigid’s School, Quambone Primary SChool, Coonamble Preschool, Royal Far West, Coonamble Education Foundation, Coonamble Hospital Auxiliary, Red Cross, Coonamble Children’s Services, Salvation Army and the Firefighters’ Climb for Motor Neurone Disease.
With the cheques duly distributed, the agenda turned to the changing of the guard in each of the clubs.
Outgoing President Keith Cain seemed very pleased to install Emily Ryan as Coonamble Rotary Club’s first female President (and perhaps the youngest) with Coonamble High School teacher Rhys Kable as Secretary and Mark Robertson as Treasurer.
Lion Ken Moody handed the mantle back to Wayne Phillips who retained the expertise of Tony Wiatkowski as Secretary and Shane Horan as Treasurer.
Quota announced Terri Jurgens as their new President with Kerryn Ryan as Secretary and Bev Ryan as Treasurer before the official cutting their 50th Anniversary Cake by still-serving charter member Jan Edwards.
Newest members Mark Vaughan (Lions) and Debbie Vaughan (Quota) were formally introduced to the crowd and both were subsequently fined for their troubles during the tail twisting session.
