Well it's been at least eight weeks or so since we last published the Chronicles and it seems appropriate that we should come out of lockdown when the State is too. So we have a fair amount of ground to make up.....but first, I'm delighted to report the breaking news that our District Board is creating an annual award called "The Erwin" to commemorate the extraordinary contribution made to all things Rotary by our very own Club member, the late Past District Governor Erwin Biemel. The award will recognise one Rotarian each year for their service to Rotary and thereby reinforce the ideal of service and the importance which Rotary places on the personal involvement of each Club member. The winner will receive an engraved glass award plus recognition on a Digital Honour Board; and the District Board will donate $500 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) on the owning Club's behalf. 

Since lockdown began we have had three virtual meetings using ZOOM. That's been a new experience for most of us and it's been very gratifying to see how many members have joined in. Johanna too. She's pictured at right in soccer gear (shot by Anne Edgar) and we bet she's itching to get back on the pitch. At least she's back at school and very happy to be there. Sadly COVID 19 has caused all usual trips (like the NW Safari) to be cancelled, but some more local events are being planned. Johanna only has a month or so to go before she flies home and it's hard to imagine the Club without her. It's also hard to imagine the Club without an inbound or outbound exchange student in 2020/2021, but currently, because of COVID 19, that is possible.   

Youth activities have featured large at all three virtual meetings so I thought we would devote this edition to that and the next to other (just as important) matters. 

First I am happy to say that we have had a progress report the Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholar, Jedda Salmon, (pictured below) whom the Club sponsored. Jedda is undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing Scholarship at Murdoch University.

She expressed her heart felt appreciation for the Club's sponsorship and said that her second Semester was one of the most eye opening. It included finishing off one unit from her first year plus studying human biology and aboriginal health which she found very interesting and informative. She really enjoyed the classes and was often asked about hospitalisation for aboriginal people; how they react to pressure; other health outcomes and how to overcome and close the gap. Although we haven't seen her at the Club, Jedda did attend the ARH Christmas function and got to meet some amazing and inspirational men and women who made her even more excited about finishing her studies so that she can be both a role model and a successful person in the nursing field.

On 11 May our outbound exchange student, Emily Fisher (pictured at right) was our guest speaker. She Zoomed in from Belgium to update us on life under lockdown. The restrictions imposed have certainly impacted on Emily's exchange and have included:

• No going to work or school except for nurses/doctors, everything is being done online 
• Only grocery stores are open but only one person per family allowed in at a time with masks and gloves
• Outdoor activity such as bike rides, running, walking etc all encouraged, but participants must follow social distancing (1.5m apart) and can exercise with only one (1) other person who is not part of your family.
• Public transport limited to those going to work.
• No visiting friends or family that don’t live with you 
• No paying for groceries with cash 

But Emily has come to terms with these limitations and reported that a four phase plan allowing a gradual easing of restrictions commenced on 4 May 2020 always with the proviso that it could and would be changed if the situation demanded it. For all the details and some interesting statistic Emily provided Click here.

Our Club Director of Club Service, Greg Hamilton, proposed a toast to Emily's host, the Rotary Club  Le Roeulx Belgium. We've recorded Greg's toast in the right hand column followed by one from David Honeychurch to the Rotary Club Of Shanghai Fresh Start. 

For Glenn's Gems and Sergeant-At-Arms, Lethal Leigh Thorp's Laughs  Click here.