Vocational Service Night 26 November

Coolamon Rotary Awards Night 26th November 2007.

Part of the large crowd.

Vocational Services Director Ray Foley with the two recipients of the Rotary Pride in Workmanship Award.

On the left of Ray is Sharon Reardon and on Ray's right is Karen Leary.

Sharon Reardon has been a school teacher since 1985. At present she is Principal
of Matong Public School and will be Principal of Temora Public School from the New Year.

Karen Leary has worked at Commins Hendriks since 1982. In accepting her award she commented that when she began working it was for the very organised Jim Thompson but she has now inherited Bill. Her colleagues understood her perfectly.


The plaque awarded to Sharon Reardon.


Ray presenting the Rotary Small Business Award to Lee Inch for her wonderful restaurant/coffee shop in a tin shed, called "Ajanta" in Coolamon. Lee has converted what can only be described as a tin shed into a veritable “Aladdin’s Cave” of great food, coffee and surprises.


The guest speaker for the night was Gary Brown fromWagga Wagga who spoke on the employment of Chinese nationals in Wagga to help ease the skills shortage in Australia. Gary commented on the incredible shortage of skilled
workers in Australia at the moment and of the use of 457 Work Visas to bring staff from overseas for periods of from 3 months to 4 years. He commented on the numbers of apprentices who qualify and then leave their jobs to travel. He remains impressed with the commitment of the Chinese workers who have come to the district. They seem to be settling in and becoming part of the local scene.

If you want to learn more about Rotary's Vocational Service Projects go to the following web site please:

Vocational Service in Brazil

All in all a great night in Coolamon.