Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 781 Issue Date: 22 Apr, 2024

Guest Speaker Amanda Burgess introduced by the Rubbelious Bylund.

Amanda is originally from Alberta, Canada and has been involved with Rotary for a long time having been a RYLA student to Scotland in 1997/98. She became a teacher and visited Australia in 2009 and still hasn't left! In 2012 she married local man Michael Burgess.

Amanda teaches at Geraldton Grammar and in 2016 was part of the creation of the only Rotary Interact Club north of Perth.

Some of the Interact projects include: a sister school in Nepal; Geraldton Food Bank; Farmers Aid; headspace; Rotary Science & Engineering Challenge; Geraldton Grammar Parents and Friends; Relay for Life; Clean Up Australia Day; Greenbatch; Shelterbox Australia.

Greenbatch is particularly concerned with the lack of plastic recycling facilities in Western Australia (currently 0%) At Geraldton Grammar they are collecting plastics to take to Perth.

Shelterbox is focussed on disaster relief and is a purpose built box that carries a range of necessities. It is a program that our Rotary club has previously been involved with.

From a personal perspective Amanda is planning to complete the Larapinta Trek in the Northern Territory to help raise $3,000 for Shelterbox.

Questions (mainly related to plastic recycling) from Lew Hills, Ian Johnstone, Grant Woodhams, Kevin Watson, Kim Stokes, Ray Haynes, Bill Frazer.

Vote of thanks by Phil Martin.