Holly Naylor talks to us about "Holly's Nougat".

 Nougat is first described in a recipe from 10th century Baghdad but the nougat we know is a confection of boiled honey or sugar syrup mixed with beaten egg white to form a mousse to which are added nuts and preserved fruit.  Traditionally there's a tendency to eat the French variety from Montelimar  to the extent that the town name was often used as the name of the confection.

Italian Torrone and Spanish Turron are also forms of nougat and Turron is very much the result of the Moorish occupation of Southern Spain It appears in the late 14th century and is certainly my favourite because it uses almonds and has a higher concentration of the nuts than any other nougat.

The 19th century saw the addition of cocoa powder to the egg white to produce a darker nougat.

 It will be interesting to hear what Holly has to say

Last Week

It was our AGM.  There's not much to say about that other than it went off successfully without a hitch.

The most important happening was our Christmas Lunch on Saturday which unfortunately I was unable to attend.  The highlight of the lunch was the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Liz Brunjes for the very hard work that she has put into the club over the years and a Sapphire Pin to her husband Bill Brunjes for his, sometimes frustrating, successes with fund raising especially for his management of the annual golf day.

Personally I feel that both these awards are long over due and I am sure that many club members would agree with me.  Congratulations to you both.

Next Week

We are into the holiday so there will be an informal lunch and we will decide where to go on Wednesday as the Grand Slam Diner is no more.

Our next official meeting is on Wednesday 13th January so make sure you have a:

International - Canada, Thailand & Turkey

Maryjane Klunder was 17 and living in Thailand when she heard about the contest. In September 2024, the Rotary Club of Istanbul invited teens to submit an original essay about peace. The winner would receive US$3,000 and be flown to Turkey in February 2025 for the Presidential Peace Conference convened by Rotary President Stephanie Urchick that would help inaugurate the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Centre at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.

A resident of Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula — that stretch of land that separates Georgian Bay from the rest of Lake Huron — MJ (as Klunder prefers to be called) had only recently begun her stay in Thailand as a Rotary Youth Exchange student when she learned about the essay competition. She immediately asked a rather presumptuous question: Because she was travelling on a single-entry visa, if she travelled to Istanbul would she be able to return to Thailand to complete her exchange year? "Don’t worry," said her Bangkok hosts. "If you win, we’ll work it out."

The contest came at a perfect moment for Klunder because she suddenly had a lot of time on her hands, an uncommon situation for her. At home, in addition to her classes and assignments at Owen Sound District Secondary School, Klunder had a schedule filled with music, sports, and her job at a local coffee shop. "In Canada, I live a very busy life," she says. "I’m involved in basically everything, like clubs and volunteering. When people ask me to do things, I usually say yes."

Things were different in Thailand. Living at first with a host family that spoke no English, she devoted some of her time to learning Thai. School, however, was not particularly demanding. "I attended classes mostly to make friends and learn the language," Klunder says. "But when other students were in maths, for instance, I spent my time reading. When I heard about the contest, I thought, how could I not write an essay if I have all this free time."

Klunder began by writing down phrases and ideas about peace. As the deadline approached and she began to compose her essay, news reports about deadly torrential rains in Spain caught her attention. Angry that coverage focused on the politics of the tragedy, Klunder wished for some acknowledgement that events like floods don’t stop at or recognise national borders.

"I think to approach world peace is to think beyond those invisible lines drawn on a map and realise we are all human, and we all suffer," she wrote. "The fight for peace is fought together, not against each other." (See next page for Klunder’s essay.)

In the end, the Rotary Club of Istanbul received 470 submissions from 41 countries. As she was rehearsing a play with her classmates, Klunder learned via text that her essay had taken first place. "I started screaming and jumping up and down," she says. "I told my friend who was fluent in English because my brain was moving too fast to speak Thai. All my friends started cheering. It was an amazing moment."

Klunder was able to make the trip to Istanbul for the peace conference, and there she was reunited with her parents and two sisters, who traveled to Turkey to celebrate her success. ("They were not going to miss it," says Klunder.) She accepted the $3,000 prize provided by the Rotary Club of New York, where Otto Walter had been a member for many years. And she was invited to the President’s Ball — "the most spectacular event I’ve ever been to" — where she delivered an impromptu three-minute speech.

"I am proud of myself for getting up there and doing that," says Klunder, who before the ball had never considered herself a public speaker. "Having done that, in fact my whole Rotary Youth Exchange experience, filled me with an immense amount of confidence. It was me proving to myself that I can do anything. Not exactly, but after that speech. I feel like I’m someone who can tackle whatever is thrown at them."

Back in Canada, where she’s finishing her last year of high school, Klunder is contemplating where to attend college and the course of studies — such as environmental studies, political science, or community planning — she might pursue. "The opportunities that have sprouted from this have been immense," she says. Whatever the future holds, MJ Klunder is up for the challenge.

This Week - Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon Annual General Meeting

 There's not much you can say about an AGM.  I will send through the Agenda and Reports with the link tomorrow.

Last Week

Scouts at Ponte Centre

Delight Musa Sithole gave an interesting talk about the NGO  Dlala Nje based at the Ponte Centre.  They sponsor a number of youth projects including a Scout Group and raise money by promoting tours, mainly by overseas tourists, to Hillbrow and other inner city areas.  Interestingly enough they have recently expanded to to Cape Town.

Next Week 

We need something sweet for our last official meeting of the year.  I met Holly Naylor at Winex and I am fascinated to hear what made her start a nougat business.

International - Australia/Uganda

Australian Rotary clubs in Districts 9705 (ACT and NSW) and 9423 (WA), assisted by a club in Washington DC, have helped turn one Ugandan student’s dream into reality, funding 10 new bathroom cubicles at Kimaanya Secondary School to restore dignity, improve hygiene and empower more than 750 girls to learn with confidence.

For too long, mornings at BS Kimaanya Secondary School in Masaka, Uganda, began with frustration and fatigue. Hundreds of girls queued for hours at the school’s crumbling bathroom facilities, some forced to bathe in the open, their privacy and dignity stripped away. What should have been a simple daily routine became a source of exhaustion before the first lesson even began.

Thanks to the vision of Rotary Peace Fellow Emily Nabakooza and the generosity of 16 Rotary clubs across Australia and the US, this story has been rewritten. Through Project Abigail – named after a courageous student whose video plea touched hearts across the world – 10 brand-new, modern bathroom cubicles now stand at Kimaanya Secondary School, transforming the lives of more than 750 female boarding students.

“This Rotary-funded facility is more than just bathrooms,” said Emily, founder of Assisi Centre for Social Justice and Peace. “It is a space that restores confidence, promotes dignity and empowers girls to start their day ready to learn.”

A student’s dream realised

In 2023, 16-year-old Nandawula Abigail recorded a short video showing the desperate state of the school’s sanitation facilities. She spoke candidly about the daily struggle for privacy and hygiene, asking for Rotary’s help. Her message was shared at the Rotary District 9705 conference, and the response was extraordinary.

“The dilapidated state of existing bathrooms was a constant source of frustration for us,” Abigail said. “We were constantly scrambling for the limited available washing space.

This year, I will be sitting my national exams, which means I am here for my final year of high school. I am so proud to be leaving such a legacy behind. This is a life-changing intervention for all the girls that will be attending BSK in the next 20 years.”

With her national A-Level exams on the horizon, Abigail’s pride is palpable.

“We whole-heartedly thank our donors in Rotary for their determination and commitment to make this project a reality and for breaking the barriers in girls’ education through WASH initiatives in Uganda.”

Collective action, global impact

Project Abigail is part of Assisi Centre for Social Justice and Peace’s wider WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programming, which has delivered 17 Rotary-funded interventions in just five years, including water projects, menstrual hygiene facilities, latrines and shower blocks.

Rotary’s support for the Kimaanya project came from far and wide. In Australia, the Rotary clubs of Canberra, Belconnen, Hall, Murrumbidgee, Canberra Sunrise, West Wyalong, Boorowa, Goulburn, Moruya, Milton-Ulladulla, E-Brindabella, Northam, Preston, Berry and the Rotaract Club of Canberra all rallied to the cause. In the US, the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent in Maryland contributed significantly. Together, through Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAOAF Project 31-2021-22 – Assisi Centre for Social Justice – Uganda), they raised more than AU$17,000 to ensure the facility could be completed to the highest standard.

For Desmond Woods, of the Rotary Club of Canberra, ACT, the project represents the best of Rotary in action.

“The WASH Facility is a way of saying to young women, ‘we see you and we understand that you have a right to dignity and respect for your needs.’ Like Emily and her Assisi team on the ground, led by Sister Grace, we in our Rotary clubs in Australia and the US are also a team. We know that through Rotary Australia World Community Service we place funds where they can be swiftly and very well used and accounted for with tangible and enduring outcomes.”

This Week - Delight Musa Sithole talks to us about Dlala Nje

DlalaNje was established in October 2012 with the aim to challenge perceptions and to create opportunities in Hillbrow.

 Tourism as a vehicle for youth development.

Dlala Nje has achieved this by running inner-city immersions and experiences in some of Joburg’s most misunderstood areas. The walking tours run by Dlala Nje provide one of the most authentic experiences of Hillbrow. The guides are from the area, who immerse visitors into the local community.

These immersions and walks have allowed Dlala Nje to build and run two community centres aimed at providing a safe learning environment for children and youth. Dlala Nje has built a space where kids get the chance to learn, to grow, to be safe, to develop friendships, whilst also being exposed to experiences that develop and challenge their worlds and their own perceptions.

Community Development

Community development is a big part of Dlala Nje therefore participants will be working in their community centres. They currently have an army of volunteers that are compensated for all the work that they previously had been doing without pay. Dlala Nje is on the verge of launching two new centres and this will be a great opportunity for some of their participants to train and work closely with the community development officers and programme managers.

Discover the vibrant heart of Johannesburg with Dlala Nje’s unique inner-city tours and experiences. Explore the city’s most misunderstood areas, and help fund our community initiatives at the base of the iconic Ponte Towers. Our tours directly support two community centres, offering safe spaces for early childhood development and youth engagement in one of the world’s most unequal societies.

Last Week

Robert Fisher gave us a fascinating talk on the fur trade today and how he updates old fashioned fur coats for the present generation.  It was interesting to hear such an indepth presentation about something none of us know anything about.

Next Week

It's the club AGM and our Christmas Lunch on the Saturday.  I think we will have to give up on having it in a private room at a restaurant at this time of year.  I will let you know on Wednesday but in the meantime try and think of alternatives.

International 

The roots of Rotary’s polio eradication efforts

On 29 September 1979, volunteers administered drops of oral polio vaccine to children at a health centre in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati, Philippines. The event in metropolitan Manila was arranged and attended by Rotarians and delegates from the Philippine Ministry of Health.

When James L. Bomar Jr., then RI president, put the first drops of vaccine into a child’s mouth, he ceremonially launched the Philippine poliomyelitis immunisation effort. Rotary’s first Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grant project was underway. 

Bomar and Enrique M. Garcia, the country’s minister of health, had earlier signed an agreement committing Rotary International and the government of the Philippines to a joint multiyear effort to immunise about 6 million children against polio, at a cost of about $760,000.

In a 1993 interview, Bomar reminisced about the trip. He recalled how the brother of one of the children he had immunise tugged on his trouser leg to get his attention and said, “Thank you, thank you, Rotary.

The project’s success led Rotary to make polio eradication a top priority. Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985 and was a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Through decades of commitment and work by Rotary and our partners, more than 2.5 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.

This Week - Robert Fischer on Furs

I am just repeating what I wrote last month when Robert's talk was postponed.

 

Since his return to South Africa in 1994, Robert became the driving force and the next generation of the Fischer Furs history. Fischer Furs, is now the new official, name of the business, the name which honours itself to three generations of Specialist Furriers and known to many very satisfied customers, in South Africa and globally as the “absolute best Furriers”.

“I am absolutely honoured and humbled that my family has spent 114 years to date (2024 ). We are known as one of the last specialist Furriers in the world, who have continued for over 114 years to make high end absolute top quality Fur, leather, and cloth garments made to order.

All our garments are mostly hand crafted and made in house from individually ultra top end, selected pelts and hides only exceptionally brilliant enough for our clients. 

Modern fur sourcing emphasises responsibility, with strict standards for animal welfare and sustainability. It is natural to have ethical questions about fur, and today’s fur industry has evolved to address these concerns with rigorous standards. Responsible fur farming practices and sustainable wild harvesting are now core principles of reputable fur suppliers. In many countries, fur farms operate under strict regulations that ensure animals are treated humanely and kept in healthy conditions. For example, farmed mink and fox are raised with oversight of veterinarians and are provided proper food, shelter, and care to minimise stress. Industry certification programs like Furmark have been established to guarantee that any fur entering the market meets stringent criteria for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and traceability . This means that when you purchase a certified real fur coat, you can be confident it was sourced in accordance with well-defined humane standards – from the rearing of the animal to the dressing of the pelt. Traceability initiatives allow consumers to know the origin of their fur, adding transparency that helps ensure ethical practices throughout the supply chain.

Wild-sourced furs (such as beaver, coyote, or fox from regulated wildlife management) are obtained through tightly controlled programs as well. North America, for instance, abides by the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards, which mandates humane trapping methods and supports sustainable wildlife population management . Sustainable fur harvesting in the wild can actually contribute to conservation efforts by preventing overpopulation and habitat damage . Balanced ecology is key – only a portion of natural surpluses are harvested, so species remain abundant. This counters a common misconception that fur use endangers wildlife; in reality, responsible use of fur can go hand-in-hand with wildlife management and biodiversity protection. Moreover, virtually no part of a harvested animal goes to waste: meat may be used (or animals in the wild are part of food chains), and by-products from fur processing can become organic fertilisers or bio fuel , aligning with sustainable use of resources. The fur industry of today is a far cry from the unregulated past – it is a professionally governed sector with ethical codes of practice. By choosing fur from ethical sources, you are supporting those farms and communities that prioritise animal welfare and environmental stewardship. In doing so, you can enjoy the unparalleled luxury of real fur with peace of mind, knowing it was sourced responsibly and with respect for nature.

Last Week

A speaker no-show.  Here's a cartoon to cheer you up.

Next Week

Delight Musa Sithole talks to us about Dlala Nje, an unusual NGO based in Ponte Tower.

International - Canada

When leaders at the Rotary Club of St. Thomas in Ontario noticed a lack of engagement, the club adapted by adjusting its schedule to allow more time for service. The result has been astonishing, with an energised mission and growing interest by prospective members, says Barbara Warnock, immediate past president of the club. “Meeting every week was a
deterrent to new members, and we felt that we needed to have more active participation in local projects,” says Warnock. The club now meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, with the other Wednesdays designated for volunteering at two local organisations: Grace Café, a street mission and soup kitchen, and Harvest Hands, which collects and distributes edible foodstuffs that would ordinarily have been discarded. “Our Rotarians have embraced this work to contribute to feeding those in need,” Warnock says.

• 0

  Seasons of the television series The Voice

This Week Ken Mervis, Director of Mervis Brothers Jewellers talks about the Jewellery Industry today.

 Rather than show a picture of Ken Mervis I thought it better to show examples of his work.

Here are just three examples, a pair of diamond earrings, a ruby and diamond ring and a ruby and rose gold eternity ring.

Last week

It was a business meeting and the two major issues were fixing the date of the AGM, 2nd December and the financial success of the Golf Day.  Now we look forward to our Annual Burns Night in January.

The most important event of last week was Johan Joubert's Induction as a member of our Club at Saturday lunch at Fahrenheit Restaurant , Edenvale.

Congratulations, Johan and welcome to the Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon.

Next Week

It's back to Robert Fisher and a talk on the Fur Trade which was postponed at the last minute a few weeks ago.

International - Taiwan

The Rotary Club of Taipei combined its members’ interest in the environment with team building during a daylong outing to the Alibang Eco Farm. “Participants attended informative lectures, explored the wetlands and surrounding forest, and engaged in activities such as harvesting and cooking herbs. We also had the opportunity to taste tea made from ingredients sourced from the wetlands,” says club member Nancy Chen Baldwin. “This day
in nature was not just an educational experience but a journey that activated all five senses.” The October excursion was organised as a prelude to future volunteering at the biodiverse farm, which harbours the endangered Taipei frog.

This Week - Business Meeting

 This Business Meeting is important as our AGM is on Wednesday 3rd December and we have to have key board positions in place for next Rotary Year to be sent to Rotary International by 31st December.

Induction Lunch, Saturday 8th November, Noon at Le Noble in Bedfordview.

Le Noble is where Doppio Zero used to be.  Please make every effort to attend.

We have booked for 20 but have not made that number yet.

Last Week

Our informal dinner at Ottimo Restaurant was well attended and a great success.

Next Week

Ken Mervis of Mervis Brothers Jewellers.  It's a family owned business that was founded in 1935.  Ken will be talking about the jewellery business today and current trends.

International - India

Through a centre in the city of Noida, east of New Delhi, the Rotary clubs have worked with the nongovernmental organisation to train around 120 people affected by leprosy and other
disabilities to qualify to work as cosmetologists and IT professionals.  One of the first students to enrol was Disha Santhosh, 17. She grew up in a leprosy settlement in the Dilshad Garden area of Delhi, one of the largest of its kind in India and home to thousands of people affected by leprosy and their family members. Here most households face persistent financial hardship. Her father was affected by leprosy, but he had long been the sole breadwinner, working tirelessly as a plumber to provide for the family. To meet even basic needs, her father had to take out a loan, deepening the family’s financial crisis. But through the training centre, Santhosh completed certification in cosmetology in March and is now employed, offering a vital lifeline to support herself and her parents.

Though leprosy stubbornly persists, there is hope for prevention. A possible vaccine called LepVax is in development and has shown promising results in preclinical tests against the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria that causes the disease. But until a vaccine materialises, much support is required.

“As Rotarians, committed to service and inclusion, we must come together to raise awareness, support early diagnosis and treatment, and challenge the harmful myths that still surround leprosy. Let us unite to end both the disease and the injustice,” says Patel. “Together, we can restore hope, dignity, and opportunity.”

This Week - Informal Dinner

It's the 5th Wednesday and there will be an informal dinner from 18:00 hrs at Ottimo Restaurant, 13 Nicol Rd., Bedfordview.  It has parking on the property.

Ottimo Restaurant  Here's a link to Google Maps.

So far 13 are coming so I am hoping at least one more will come to take it out of the danger zone.

Ilesh has also added the poll to our Rotary Guest WhatsApp Group so that those who attend our meetings but are not yet members have the opportunity to come....nobody has confirmed from that group yet.

Last Week

Our speaker asked to us to postpone his meeting as his presentation wasn't ready so we had an ad hoc speaker with a presentation on "How Military Requirements created the Food we eat Today".

Next Week

It's a Business Meeting.  What do I say?

Remember, remember!

    The fifth of November,

    The Gunpowder treason and plot;

    I know of no reason

    Why the Gunpowder treason

    Should ever be forgot!

    Guy Fawkes and his companions

    Did the scheme contrive,

    To blow the King and Parliament

    All up alive.

    Threescore barrels, laid below,

    To prove old England's overthrow.

    But, by God's providence, him they catch,

    With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

    A stick and a stake

    For King James's sake!

    If you won't give me one,

    I'll take two,

    The better for me,

    And the worse for you.

International - Argentina

Wearing a Rotary-themed shirt, Estefanía Balocco stands in front of a colourful mural symbolising the joy of service. “This image reflects my best version, filled with authenticity and gratitude,” she says. “It was taken at the end of a service project where every action counts, because serving others is also serving oneself—growing together, from the heart. I’m grateful for every opportunity to contribute and to continue growing as a person.”

I was just 14 when I first discovered the power of service through Rotary. As a member of Interact, a Rotary programme for young people ages 12-18 to learn and apply their service skills, I was shy to speak, but active in action. One Sunday, while visiting a nursing home, a woman asked me for a hug. In that moment, I understood what it meant to be of service: offering presence, listening, and sharing affection. From such a small place, we could be part of something meaningful.

I began my Rotary journey with Interact and then, in 2018, joined Rotaract, a service club for young adults. Fast-forward to today, and I have the honour of leading the International Service committee for one of the districts in Argentina. During the 2024–2025 Rotary year, our team focused on building bridges between communities globally through intentional, human-centred programmes.

One of the most notable initiatives was an international teacher exchange, through which four Argentine teachers travelled to Kansas and Georgia in the United States. They lived with Rotary families and shared their culture with local schools. We are expanding this initiative to include exchanges with Canada, England, and more U.S. districts. We are also preparing to host international teachers in Argentina for the first time.

Building on the success of our educational exchanges, we expanded our efforts to include professional collaborations. We organised professional exchanges for firefighters and paramedics, with meaningful collaborations in Mexico and Poland. Through Rotary Friendship Exchange, twenty-one Rotary members from Argentina and Mexico participated in a program that combined institutional activities, cultural encounters, and tours. One of the most valuable moments was seeing how, by wearing Rotary apparel, other members recognised the participants during the tours, generating spontaneous encounters and new friendships. Along similar lines, we are moving forward with organising future exchanges with Puerto Rico, India, and Brazil.

Leading these efforts is not without challenges, especially in teamwork. But Rotary taught me that strong teams don’t need to be identical—we just need to be committed to our shared purpose. Managing differences is one of the greatest challenges, but also the greatest rewards.

I am fundamentally driven by the belief that organisations like Rotary can be engines for human development. From a very young age, Rotary was the place where I built my identity, not only as a young person but also as a leader. At Interact, I discovered I could be part of change. At RYLA, a multi-day leadership camp for youths,  I found something even deeper: my voice, my skills, and the certainty that service is also a path to self-discovery. That process motivated me to choose a college education in administration and coaching, focusing on people and how to bring out the best in them within organisations.