Calpac Capers 19th February 2026
Welcome: Chairman John opened the meeting by acknowledging the 84th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin in 1942. He welcomed all attendees, reminding members to put their phones on silent and lead the club in the four-way test.
Guests: The meeting welcomed guest speaker Janet Gilmore, as well as partners Wendy Hoskins and Jan Long. Exchange student Terka was also in attendance.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Terka expressed her gratitude for the Pandora charms she received for her 18th birthday. It was also noted that the local golf club is celebrating its 75th anniversary today.
International Toast: Geoff proposed a toast to the Rotary Club of Dover in Kent, UK. Formed in 1923, the Dover club is currently fundraising for defibrillators and working on global grants to provide toilets for schools in Nepal - in many schools there are none or few toilets in their schools; the boys se bushes and the girls try to use local houses! One school has 350 students and only 2 toilets and as result many of them miss school or stay home; another has 200 students and no toilets! They raise funds by holding a Duck Race in a local canal or using fund raising facilities such as "Just Giving" or "Go Fund Me". Geoff chose this club as he plans to visit Dover during a cruise this May.
Directors Reports
Bunnings Barbecue: Scheduled for this Sunday at 7:00 a.m.
You-Turn Project: A potential project to assist disadvantaged youth in Golden Beach with manual labor to clear a garden area.
- ROMAC Trivia Night: Efforts are underway to secure "bums on seats" for the event on March 5th. Recent sponsorships include $1,000 from Mitre 10, $500 from Century 21, and a $100 voucher from Thai Lotus restaurant.
- Christmas Trailer Raffle: Applications have been submitted for ticket-selling sites at local markets and supermarkets.
Cleanup Australia Day: The club will participate on March 8th, moving the focus to Racecourse Road after the council mowed over the rubbish at the previous site.
Members Reports
Terka: Shared that one of her artworks was selected for a competition and she is enjoying her school's aquatics program. She also received a theme badge for the current Rotary year.
Rotarian of the Month: Marion was named this month for her background work including making sweets, collecting containers for change and help with the RARE work party.
Malou (Philippines Update): A message was received confirming Ross arrived safely in Manila. He reported that all documents for the Barangay resolutions and partnerships with the Rotary Club of Cauayan have been signed.
School Gratitude: A moving message was read from Buyasan Integrated School, thanking the club for their support of the teacher studies project and the construction of a safe haven for educators.
Guest Speaker Janet from 123Read2Me
Janet, a qualified teacher aide and literacy tutor, shared details about her work with the all-volunteer charity 123Read2Me, which is dedicated to providing free books to disadvantaged children across Australia.
Her address highlighted several key aspects of the organization’s mission and her specific local impact:
The Literacy Challenge
Janet noted that according to a 2024 report, one-third of Australian children currently read below the level expected for their age. She emphasised that reading is crucial not just for academic success, but for developing mental health, empathy, and social skills. She observed through her other volunteer work with disengaged youth that literacy struggles often lead to a lack of confidence and limited life choices.
How the Charity Operates
- Targeting High-Need Schools: The program focuses on "low ICSEA" schools—those with student populations from lower socio-educational backgrounds.
- Ownership of Books: Unlike library programs, this charity gives two free books per student for them to keep and take home, which encourages reading outside of the classroom.
- Donations: The charity has donated over one million "gently loved" books in the last 10 years, sourced through community donation bins at places like Coles and Bunnings.
Local Impact and Logistics
Janet initiated the charity's literacy program to schools in the Brisbane Northern suburbs/Sunshine Coast after meeting the founders. Her operations on the Sunshine Coast involve significant personal effort:
- Distribution: In the last 10 months, she has delivered nearly 31,000 books to over 30 primary schools and kindergartens. Her deliveries span from Gympie to Bray Park.
- Personal Contribution: Janet and her husband use their own mechanical business workshop and forklift to process the books. While an interstate company trucks the books from Melbourne to Yatala for free, Janet and her husband personally fund the transport from Yatala to their Sunshine Coast workshop.
- Caloundra Status: She clarified that schools in Caloundra currently do not qualify for the program because their ICSEA values sit just above the eligibility threshold.
How to Help - Janet concluded by asking for help in spreading awareness and mentioned that they are particularly low on "baby books" and kindergarten-age books. She also noted that small monetary donations, such as $5 a month, can help the charity purchase new books when needed.
Riki Tiki: The session featured a Valentine's Day-themed quiz from Evelyn.
Sergeants Session: The Sergeant conducted a session of lighthearted fines, ribbing members for various mishaps.
Raffle Results: Winners included Mark, Win, Ken, Allen and Greig. Allen opted to donate his prize back to the club.
Next Meeting & Coming Events
Bunnings Barbecue: Sunday, February 22nd. from 7 am
Next Meeting: February 26th, featuring a talk by Will Waterford on recent club members surveys.
- ROMAC Trivia Night: March 5th.
- Cleanup Australia Day: March 8th at Racecourse Road.
