After 15 years, restrictions around COVID-19 put the Hole in One in danger of joining other regular attractions of being absent from the list of Warrnambool summer activities.  After a difficult year for Victorians, many tourists and locals were looking forward to the fun of hitting golf balls with the possibility of winning a car always a lure.  We received a lot of encouragement to run the event from our business partners so we decided to persevere.  The Hole in One does provide the backbone of our fundraising efforts allowing us to support many humanitarian projects in our community.  Fortunately, we were able to present a successful application that included, for the first time, a COVID 19 Safe Plan.

Club members met with local Health Officer Guy Price who guided us through the preparation of a COVID plan.  Attention to cleanliness was an imperative and processes were put in place to routinely and regularly clean balls, clubs, table surfaces and any other infrastructure that the public would come into contact with.

 

Bunnings generously donated all our sanitation needs and Bade Ness Rural loaned us gates that guided people into and out of the event.  We developed a QR code and the public either signed in manually or swiped the code.  The tee off area could accommodate 80-85 people allowing the required social distancing.  It was fairly daunting for members running the event in the face of the possibility of a COVID outbreak here in the South West.

Since getting the green light from WCC to proceed, we were delighted with the support the event has received from locals and tourists alike.  Of course, this event is not feasible without the support of local businesses.  Our Club is humbled by the support that is given to us by our business partners new and old.  As a result, many locals benefit from the humanitarian projects (see later) we support.  We are proud to be given the privilege of putting the Hole in One on in partnership with all our businesses, in turn raising valuable dollars to improve and advance our lifestyle here in South West Victoria.

When preparing the budget for this event there were a lot of uncertainties around the event from just how long Warrnambool would remain COVID free to the impact of reduced caravan park tenancy.  It seemed unlikely that we’d get anywhere near the average of the last few years of approximately $45,000.  In fact, such was the level of pessimism that it was thought that revenue might fall by as much as 50%.

 
That would have been just enough to cover costs such as the car, television and radio advertising, grounds and maintenance expenses.  Clinton Baulch Motor Group, WIN Television and ACE Radio (3YBFM & COASTFM) all generously agreed to terms that would see us financially secure if the event was cancelled or disrupted.  Fortunately, 2020-2021 was a year where we had not foreseen any major expenses such as replacing infra-structure – that happened last year!

Revenue that flows through to the Project Account for distribution by our various Service Committees is made up of the dollars from golfers trying to win the car (and many, many who see it as a way of supporting Rotary in its work) plus business sponsorship plus donations.  This year we received two significant donations ($100 & $500) from folk who appreciated what we were doing.  Without a doubt our largest financial input is from businesses through their sponsorship of the event.  Make no mistake, this is what makes the HiO viable each year and why we are so grateful that business have stuck with us after themselves enduring a tough year.  In fact, we have increased the number of businesses who link their name to our Club and the HiO.  Several more have made contact asking to come on board next year.

So, despite the initial concerns, the processes that we put in place and the good work of all Victorians we were able to run through to Australia Day.  Golfers contributed just over $40,000 to the above mentioned revenue so we can say that the event was a success and we do have funds to continue the work we do in the community during 2021-22.

As you know, we run two competitions simultaneously – a Junior Competition for golfers under 12 and the main HiO event.

The Junior event is based on results throughout the month.  The golfers (children) with the best five nearest the pin results compete for a prize on Australia Day.  We were delighted to have a scooter donated by one of our keen senior golfers as the children’s prize.  That was courtesy of Matthew Ashton, proprietor of Ballarat Groundworks.  For the first time we had four holes in one – automatic qualifiers – and one shot to 90mm.  The winner of the scooter was Archie Heffernan (one of the four who had previously scored a hole in one).

Qualifying for the main Hole in One Shootout began on Boxing Day with an unusually large number of golfers trying their luck.  This was not what we’d predicted but it was a welcome boost to the HiO Committee and club members who had done the ground work to stage the event.  After a hectic first day of competition, Luke Pearson was the first to qualify for the final with a shot to 170mm of the hole.  We were pleased to see our old friends from Ballarat holidaying in Warrnambool again, and spending a fair amount of time at the HiO.  It paid dividends for last year’s winner Mark Squire as he had the best shot on both day 2 and 3 at 80 and 70mm from the hole.  It was turning into an intriguing competition as Jamie Dunn qualified with the best shot on both Day 4 and 5.  James Fyffe who has figured in the last few finals qualified next followed by Rhys Davies and Shepparton schoolteacher Josh Preston.  Eight days had gone and still no holes in one.  Our Treasurer Mark Taylor was licking his lips as the funds kept rolling in.  Only four more days to go and our first Stage would be reached and at least we could hold a modified Shootout.

Ballarat golfers continued to figure amongst the qualifiers and then Brett Willsher from the East Framlingham Golf Club scored the first hole in one.  When he scored his second hole in one two days later and Mark Squire and Ryan Bail followed up on January 6, it appeared our average of 18 holes in one would be challenged.  We had to wait three days before Adrian Murray from Colac hit our next hole in one.  Warrnambool Golf Club’s Rhys Raymond qualified for a second time and 13 year old William Sopstead hit to within 150mm to take his place in the field.  Event stalwart Brian O’Leary qualified on a day that had to be truncated due to weather and then on the 11th of January we had two more holes in one.  It seemed that you had to be inside 130mm to have a chance of qualifying.

January 15th was abandoned due to foul weather but it marked Stage 2 of the event.  We were now committed to a full Shootout regardless of any future COVID events.  The car would be won!

When play resumed on January 16th., we had three hole in one!  David Ellis scored two of them in quick succession and later in the day Andrew Meade, who qualified five times last year, rolled on into the hole.  Committee member Mike Toone seemed to be in ‘the cage’ a lot when hole in ones occurred – just by chance?  Brett Willsher continued to play some great shots and a second hole in one and a nearest the pin set him up for a good shot at the final.

In the last week, we saw four more holes in one, including one to previous winner, Stephen Timms of JAX tyres and another to Rhys Raymond.  Jimmy Vanderklay from Ballarat was the last golfer to secure a place in the final just pipping Matthew Ashton with a shot of 155mm.

The main Shootout event saw 29 golfers vying for the Kia Picanto.  Several of the players had more than one qualifying shot including last year’s winner Mark Squire (3), Rhys Raymond (3) and local bricklayer Brett Willsher (3) and a few had two.  

As always, it’s pretty nerve-wracking and it took a few attempts before a measure was required.  The first round saw local Rhys Raymond leading with Adrian Murray from Colac in second place and Shepparton school teacher Josh Preston in third.  It was building into an exciting finale.

The nerves settled in the second round and the measurers were put to more work than just collecting balls.  Rhys with two qualifying attempts held his lead until near the end when Adrian hit the winning shot to just over one metre from the hole to win the Clinton Baulch Motor Group Kia Picanto.  Rhys held on for second from fast finishing 13 year-old William Sopstead in third, Luke Preston fourth and Mark Squire in fifth.

Despite trying to keep the Shootout as low key as possible and not offering food, drink or entertainment other than the golfers, a sizeable crowd turned up.  Several of the golfers brought with them enthusiastic supporters.  Mike engaged the crowd turning up the noise and greatly adding to the tension as the event reached its climax.  William was our last hitter and he only missed winning by just over 300mm so there was drama to the last.

Throughout the month it could be sensed that there was a genuine appreciation of what our business folk and our Club were doing and ultimately did.  The vast majority followed our COVID procedures in respect for what we were doing.  Once again, our business partners were promoted as being proactive in providing community support.  Our Club was a good advertisement for what Rotary can do even in difficult times.  

We were pleased with our response to Facebook coverage.  Tim Lowe, Lowes Automotive Repair and 4X4, was instrumental in getting us started with this social media communication tool.  This year we did more live streaming and tried to keep up to date with what was happening day by day.  We did get quite a good level of engagement as the event progressed and it is something we will continue to work on.  Mark Taylor streamed coverage of the entire Shootout for those who didn’t or couldn’t attend and wanted to see the competition unfold.

None of this is possible without our business partners as I’ve said above.  The generous sponsorship backing we receive makes the hours of planning and operation worthwhile.  A full list of our sponsors is included as an appendix below as is a summary of the projects those funds support.  BDH Constructions and RA Steel generously donate their time to move and erect infra-structure which is sadly now beyond our ability to manage ourselves – time marches on!.  COATES HIRE donate the storage infra-structure for all our grounds and competition equipment.  Neither is it possible to meet the supervision needs of the HiO without the support of club members and their partners, other Group 5 Rotarians and our friends.  248 four hours of rostered shifts is a huge ask of our Club but people willingly give their time thus ensuring the event’s success but that’s only the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  Meetings with sponsors past and potential, securing the permissions required to run the event, preparing the grounds, organising rosters, setting up and pulling down daily plus a myriad of other small but vital tasks that ensure the event runs smoothly take many, many hours.

I’ve deliberately not mentioned individual contributions but it would be remiss not to acknowledge the HiO Committee who bring fun and fellowship to the drudgery of the daily routine.  James Cowell, Gerard Hall, Peter Hasell, Ian Heard, John Jehu, Noel Kenna, Nicole Larter, Ralph Ludeman, Gary Ryan, Mark Taylor, Mike Toone a recipe for hard work, bad jokes, coffee time and getting the job done day after day.

Thanks to everyone for ensuring Club’s Hole in One provides the funds for us to do our good work and promote the image of Rotary in the broader community.  We look forward to the challenge of making the event better year by year.  Here’s hoping for a better 2021.  May you enjoy a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.

Peter

 

We encourage you to support our business partners if they offer products or services that you need.
WIN TELEVISION 

WILDE DENTIST

WHITE’S TRANSPORT
WARRNAMBOOL TELEPHONE COMPANY

WARRNAMBOOL SHADE AND BLINDS
WILLY’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

WARRNAMBOOL GREEN WASTE
WARRNAMBOOL BOWLS CLUB

WARRNAMBOOL BARBEQUES GALORE
WARRNAMBOOL LOCKSMITHS 

WARRNAMBOOL GREYHOUND RACING CLUB AND WANNON ROOMS
WARRNAMBOOL FOOTBALL AND NETBALL CLUB

WARRNAMBOOL EYECARE
WARRNAMBOOL CARAVAN REPAIRS

WARRNAMBOOL GYPROCK        
JASON BILSON’S TRENDSET KITCHENS AND JOINERY

WARRNAMBOOL GOLF CLUB
TINT 4U WINDOW TINTING 

SOUTH WEST TAFE
SOUTH WEST POWDER COATING

SOUTHERN SHEARING
SOUTHERN HYDRAULICS AND RUBBER

SOUTH WEST SHEDS
SILVAN RIDGE

SID BAUDINETTE WINDSCREENS
ROBERTS ONE REAL ESTATE

RICHARDSON MARINE

RL BLAKE PTY LTD
R A STEEL

PROGRAMMED FACILTY MANAGEMENT
PORT FAIRY GOLF CLUB

PHILIP RUSSELL MOTORCYCLES AND STIHL
PACIFIC MATERIALS AND HANDLING

NORTHPOINT LIQUOR
NATIONAL TILES/SOLOMON’S CARPETS

MIDFIELD MEATS & MEATBARN
MCLAREN SHEETMETAL FABRICATIONS

MARKWELL & SWAN MASONS
LYNDOCH LIVING

LOWE’S AUTO REPAIRS AND 4X4
LOGOSAHEAD/AMAZON ONLINE

LANE TRANSPORT
KNOCK ON WOOD WARRNAMBOOL

JAYCO MOUNT GAMBIER
JAX TYREs

I CAN NETWORK

HIP POCKET WORKWEAR
GREENE’S BRICKS AND WINDOWS

GREENCON 

FULTON HOGAN
FRESHA FRUIT JUICES

FOREST AND GARDEN TEE SERVICES

DWYER LEGAL
DOWNUNDER UGG BOOTS

DIRECT CHEMIST OUTLET NORTHPOINT
DES COOPER PANEL WORKS

DEEP BLUE SUITES AND SPA
CUTTING EDGE PAINTING CONTRACTORS

COATES HIRE

SWINTON’S CHOICES FLOORING
CLINTON BAULCH MOTOR GROUP  

BROWN’S DEPOT BAKERY    

BREAKWATER INSURANCE BROKERS
BP ONE STOP SHOP AND CAR WASH        

BDH CONSTRUCTIONS        

BATTERY WORLD
BAILLIES WARRNAMBOOL SELF STORAGE    

BADE NESS RURAL    

B MURRIHY DEMOLITIONS
AVALON NURSERY  

 APOSTLE WHEY CHEESE        

ANYTIME FITNESS        

ACTIF CONCRETORS
ANCHOR POINT RETIREMENT VILLAGE      

 3YB FM AND COAST FM

And also:  FLYING HORSE BAR AND BISTRO            TOWN AND COUNTRY PIZZA AND PASTA
CDS WELDING        CITY MEMORIAL BOWLS CLUB,        CRITECH,        SUBWAY,
JEREMY PORTER,    LEAHYS ELECTRICAL,        MATERIA BROTHERS,        PACKAGING PRO,
TRU BLU DOG WASH.

 

(Exerpts from the Club Assembly Report last year)

1. Warrnambool West Primary School Breakfasts. Every Thursday two Rotarians, from a roster of
nine, have been rostered to serve breakfast for students who arrive at school hungry. This
has proved to be a much needed and appreciated effort.
2. Literacy Program at South West Healthcare. This year over 700 new-born babies have received a
baby book in an attractive library bag. The library bags are individually sewn by willing
volunteers, including some from the Woolsthorpe CWA
3. PROBUS.
4. Dr John Birrell Award – recognition night postponed due to COVIC 19
but awardees chosen and payment made to Mortlake SES
5. Bowelscan.

New and One-off Projects
* St Vincent de Paul Annual Appeal: Helping families in need at Christmas time
* Warrnambool and District Community Hospice: Kits for volunteers to take into homes
* Warrnambool Community Garden: Weekly maintenance and improvements
* Warrnambool Breastfeeding Centre: Providing free services to families
* Merri Singers: Provide new sheet music

 

On-going Projects
* Preserve Planet Earth: Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group
* Lifeline Warrnambool: Crisis support and suicide prevention
*ANZAC day: Lay a wreath at the Memorial Service
*Christmas Cheer: Rotarians were joined by the Merri Singers to sing Christmas carols,
while Santa distributed lollies to the residents at three nursing homes
*Food Share: distributes food hampers to needy families
*Riding for Disabled Warrnambool: To assist with ongoing running costs
*Warrnambool Soup Kitchen: Provides soup once a week at St Joseph’s Parish Hall
*St Vincent de Paul: Shop
*Warrnambool East Primary School Nurturing Room: to provide a caring environment and a
healthy breakfast for young students
Brewarrina CWA for drought relief
ICAN
Leadership Great South Coast for Veterans’ retreat

Community Service
BBQ for Indigenous Day
BBQ for Brophy House

International Support
What we achieved this year
* Interplast
Interplast Australia is a non-profit organisation, which provides voluntary medical teams to undertake a program of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in neighbour developing countries where this aspect of modern surgical practice is not available to those in need or where the local resources are inadequate to meet local needs or where Interplast Australia has been asked to assist with local medical and nursing education.
We have supported Interplast now for over the 12 years.
* ROMAC– Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children
ROMAC, an initiative of Australian Rotarians, plans this year were for children from over 20 countries to have treatment facilitated by ROMAC, we have traditionally supported this initiative.
* RAM– Rotarians Against Malaria
In Australia, Malaria Awareness Day is observed on 30 April each year, in conjunction with World Malaria Day on 25 April. Malaria is relatively easy and inexpensively preventable and treatable – our contribution this year was released in time for the Malaria Awareness Day.
* ShelterBox Australia
ShelterBox is a global Rotary humanitarian program that provides shelter, comfort and dignity to people affected by natural and other disasters. We donated $1,000 for the purchase of one ShelterBox early in 2019-2020. Further, as earlier proposed, we had planned to examine the needs of our region later in the Rotary year if funds remained in our contingency. The Cyclone that hit Vanuatu this year exacerbated their fight against COVID 19. We recommended to the Board that a further two ShelterBoxes be purchased from the budgeted Emergency Relief Contingency.
* Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia has a major impact in eradicating avoidable blindness around the world, this year the International Committee made a donation.
* RAWCS–Rotary Australia World Community Service
In Australia, Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS) is the arm of Rotary International that assists Rotary Clubs to develop and manage international projects as part of their community service. This year we made a small donation.
Budgeted Projects not completed and proposed for hold over
Two of our budgeted projects were suspended mainly due to the Coronavirus. We recommend that the funds allocated be retained and passed on to the International Committee for 2020-2021.
* East Timor Water, Letefoho School, Heart Projects
Over the last twelve years the Club has been involved in the support of an ongoing project in East Timor. This started with the support of the efforts initiated by Dr Noel Bayley and has involved hands on projects driven by Andy Graham ably supported by many from our Club and the Water East Timor Committee.

Youth and Vocational Support
Vocational
* Apprentice Awards - TAFE
Such a big year of very worthwhile apprentices nominated by their teachers.
It was very pleasing for Warrnambool Rotary East to receive this year’s TAFE Community Collaboration Award at their 2019 Graduation & Awards ceremony.

Youth
* Backpacks 4 Vic Kids
Branched into the Southwest area in 2018 extending as far as Portland. 265 Xmas packs for out of home children for Xmas.
* Clontarf
Another great year of Empowerment to Indigenous to achieve their best potential at School. Great to see the encouragement they are supported to give to community organizations like Foodshare, other schools, etc. Congratulations to their team of Leaders.
* Eisteddfod Memorial Trophy recognising Joy Irvine
This is on hold because of COVID and the Lighthouse Theatre being closed. Hoping can still be addressed as soon as possible.
* East Warrnambool Neighbourhood Community Centre
* Hands on Learning
Introduced into schools for vulnerable youth to support practical skills and engagement to contribute and re-engage their purpose.
* P-Plater Monthly good driving incentive
Great supportive vibe was initiated between Leading Traffic Officer for district (Chris Asenjo) and Mike Toone. Unfortunately COVID meant their focus had to go to other areas. This will be followed up to initiate as soon as possible.
* National Youth Science Forum
Tori Parsons (daughter of a hole in one sponsor) had a very rewarding experience attending this course. Unable to present to club.
* School Awards - 21 schools
Some positive feedback from schools and individual recipients has been received. Awards are appreciated.
* Standing Tall
Strong mentoring program growing in presence in more schools every year.
* Warrnambool Special Developmental School Appeal
What a credit to be able to support in any way the difference moving into their new school (already full to capacity) has meant for these kids and their staff.
* West Warrnambool School Nurture/Breakfast Club
Thanks to every member on this team. The school is recovering under some new leadership, but Rotary East can be very proud of the rapport and support they gave to these needy kids through some very trying times.
* West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House
Opened in 2019 to support another community side of Warrnambool that needed a base. Extends through West Warrnambool to Dennington. It was a credit to see them receive a Rotary Achievement Award at the Peace Concert
* Youth Community Support Award
Was allocated to the Wave School this year to enable a photo memory for each participant when they were able to gain a lot of community assistance to enable them to hold their own deb ball night.