Members addressing the club:

• Peter Taylor thanked our special helpers with the School Lunch program at the soccor club rooms for district schools - Eileen Hampshire Naomi Pye, Wendy Taylor. Approximately 4 Rotary members and 4 non-Rotary members. (Wendy Maddox unavailable tonight)  The program has finished for the year and will recommence on 28th February 2023. A great service which creates approx. 280 sandwiches each month supported by Woolworths and Bakers delight with bread donations and the BUPA bus taking deliveries to the out of Portland facilities.
• Peter Gracias spoke of the Portland Compas project at the eastern end of the breakwater for people watching ships come in and out. Collaborating with the Port of Portland, and assisted by our member Andrew Harts eye for innovation, we have been gifted a grant from Pacific Hydro for a grant of $10,000. The Port of Portland are very supportive of the project and there is a hope the project may be fully costed and completed in 2023.
• sayNO2familyviolence committee, our combined Rotary club of Portland and Portland Bay project. We welcomed special people to the meeting tonight to received  certificates of appreciation - on behalf of Kyeema - Julie Amor, on behalf of Seaview Realestate Gail Barrett and Wayne Barrett; Lee-Anne Nelson and Jon Pye who received certificates of appreciation for their participation as Shark Pitch presenters from the sayNO2familyviolence committee. This realised $28,618.00 for the Glenelg schools collaboration. Merle Menzel and members from the Portland Bay club were unavailable  this evening but are acknowledged as strong partners in the project.
• Owen Menzel on behalf of Ian gave an update for the two events  for Friday BBQ at Nelson and Saturday - the Emergency Services Expo - with good numbers available. Ring Owen if you are unavailable. The battery project - 17.5 tonne of batteries were collected and $10500.00  approx. made from the collection - it is a big process to have the batteries prepared correctly and wrapped as required. Thanks to Southy, John, Ian and Brian for their help. Owen also received notification this morning from Parks Victoria with 600 people estimated to attend the south west walk over the next 10 days, and spent the day lawn mowing on the track.
• Frank  Farnsworth - Melbourne Cup Calcutta and the donations from horses sold - $700 approximately. Blaze aid have set up camps in some areas requiring assistance over the next 6 months. Volunteers would be required to clear fences knocked over by the floods - one day here or there would be grreat. Acknowledging also - Scott as owner of the Bridgewater cafe supporting Beats Cycle of Hope from day dot. Thank you!
• Tammy Whitehead advised the Nuns beach Sea Spurge event and AGM with morning tea will take place this Saturday from 0930 - the last for the year.