No stranger to the lectern, David Hulme chaired this meeting. " To be fair, trepidation filling in for dairy farmer President David, when I come to do the farm watch report" Due to the late change last week of meeting agenda. Jane Belton did our Club protocol in presenting last week's guest speaker, our own Graham Motion with an appreciation certificate and Rotary pen ; so to write his memoirs. Farm Watch: Mating preparation, Artificial Breeding (AB) starting shortly, Milking herd will start  few days before heifers. Soil temp 15c ,grass growth 58 kgs/ha/day, 3mls rain last week, cows pumping at 2.25kgs/day, Planted 16ha Chicory for summer use. NZ  production 3% up, EU down 8%. Global Dairy Trade indicative prices has been trending downwards , so has our NZ$ especially against the strengthening US$. Could do with a bit of rain. " Why is President David G. like a scarecrow? Out Standing in his field" wait there's one more." What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef !!"   Then David Hulme  acknowledged the Matamata Agricultural & Pastoral Association Rotary Matamata car parking and gate ticketing team. "For a great job accomplished last Saturday". Plus President David G. asks for members opinion, thoughts and comments, as to hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. from the United Kingdom: 2019.

Rotarian David Parker introduced Nilah to the meeting.  Nilah is another person that got exposed to personal development opportunity at a young age with Rotary. A RYLA participant, and commented that experience somewhat broadened her horizons. So from being a school bus driver in Tirau 2006, to operating heavy machinery in Goldmines, Iron Ore Mines, construction of roading and ore processing sites and a stint at a coal mine in Queensland. Most of her work places were Western Australia including some exotic off shore islands ,such as Cockatoo that had some really upmarket swish by comparison employee accommodation and facilities!!!  Now works one week a month in Queensland, and commutes from here. Skilled to operate heavy quarry and mining machinery such as Moxi --40t, 785--145t, 793---230t and electric 930E ---240t similar to that shown in above picture. Travel direction on sites is in one direction, not all flat. A possible cure for constipation if one at gross weight down a slope, gets away on the driver and a bend is coming up. Nilah thankfully only had one or two experiences of that, also having a puncture blowout was a unique event. Construction support work was great, as you could see results of the work you did. Some awesome sized quarrying site, and sunrises and sunsets so beautiful to observe. Camp life quite good, well managed for a good working environment for mixed gender occupants. some angst, as Kiwi's great work ethic ethic. Most mining sites have significant new Zealand workers, and on some site Irish are in the majority. Found bigger the company, better the accommodation, bearing in mind you normally do a 12hr shift , but in reality can be up to 16 hours including travel to and from work site.  Local wildlife such lizards and snakes seen often. Highlighted the 'working family' , her work colleagues. Safety is paramount and is collectively an on going reinforced mind set, and are SAR trained. ANZAC Day is not forgotten, so too the Pike Mine incident. Part of the mining fraternity brotherhood. Yes, health and safety is a huge thing in the mining industry Nilah works in. Explained the "Take 5" concept , a checklist that takes in the operational integrity of the machinery to be operated and awareness of the working environment. As a New Zealander,  the idiosyncrasy of limited health care as compared to Australians privileges of a more comprehensive freely available health support in while in NZ . Essential to have working person health insurance, which is FULLY tax deductible in Australia. Kevin Sing thanked Nilah for her presentation, which the machinery she operates is a bit bigger than his Fergie 28 tractor in his farming days.

 

                                       

CLUB DUTY	16th OCTOBER	23rd OCTOBER
CLUB HOST	BRYCE SCOTT	LYN DOBBE
RECEPTION	KRISHNANSAMI NARAYANASAMI	OWEN FARMILO
RECEPTION	GRENVILLE STOCKER	LACHIE DUNCAN
BAR STEWARD	DAVID WHEADON	MERV KING
BAR STEWARD	BRIAN HUNTER	JOHN FERNYHOUGH
SPEAKER INTRO	GARRY MOORE	DAVID HULME
SPEAKER THANKS	PETER THISSEN	HENRY CLOTHIER
TOP TABLE	GARRY MOORE	DAVID HULME
TOP TABLE	TBA	TBA
PARTING THOUGHT	SHERYL ERTEL	MIKE STEINER
KITCHEN	LEONIE TISCH	LEO KINGSTON
KITCHEN	HARRY DAVIESON	ROBBIE PEARSON