The District Governor's report to the club featured a presentation by her partner Dennis Chellingworth on Lorraine’s project for a research grant into Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

Lorraine presented an introductory video by the president of Rotary International, Barry Raissin and his focus and wish that Rotary engages more fully with the youth in our society and the efforts with the formation of new Rotaract clubs around the world.

Lorraine advised Taree Rotarians of the Rotaract activity within the Rotary district. She also presented an overview on the drought relief efforts of the district. 

Dennis then gave a presentation of his efforts to raise funds for a PhD (doctor of philosophy) in MND.

The second part of the meeting, the ‘focus on youth’, was presented by Murray Difford, the Taree club’s past president and youth director.

Past youth ambassadors Mitchell Brown and Marylyn Sendah were presented with certificates of service. 

Murray introduced Ashly Selibio of Chatham High and Cayley Cribb of St Clare’s High as the Rotary Club of Taree’s new joint youth ambassadors and inducted them with a presentation of a certificate of appointment, a polo shirt and badges to wear during their duties.  

Ashly and Cayley then gave a presentation on their planned joint projects with a prepared powerpoint and speech.

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They had agreed to focus on three areas.

First is a local project entitled ‘My school, My friends’ that engaged in their own peer group and that would address self awareness issues. It is planned to develop a program and engage a suitable speaker to deliver the messages within the schools.

The next area of interest would be for them to engage with the external Manning Youth Action and Interact (Rotary) team which is an existing Taree community initiative with MidCoast Council and the YMCA.

The third part of their plan involved  a global focus on women's empowerment’ and here they plan to engage with 'The Little Blue Shed’, the Ugandan project started by Taree Rotary member Tanja Curcic.

Murray thanked the attending 'support teams’ comprising of parents and grandparents of the students.

The club’s National Youth Science Forum student, Miguel Guthridge of St Clare’s, who will be attending the forum in Canberra next year, was introduced. Miguel also received his nomination certificate plus shirt and badges.

The meeting then welcomed Curtis Jones who was a recent Rotary Youth Leadership Awards attendee and was sponsored by the Taree on Manning club. Curtis will speak to the club at a future date on his RYLA experience.

The 'Focus on Youth' segment concluded with acknowledging the club’s youth exchange student to Denmark, Baillee Pinnock, and Mitsuko Misawa, the Okayama Chuo Japanese sister club exchange student.

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