A thought - provoking presentation and our 2025 SUN RUN Marshals

PP Sue Terry gave a very interesting and well-prepared talk on Coeliac disease at our club meeting on Tuesday evening. Many of us of heard of it; but don’t fully understand its implications. Both Sue and Rick are sufferers and gave us valuable personal insights into the implications.

 

Sue at the whiteboard

Coeliac disease is the most severe gluten-related disorder.  It is NOT an allergy, or “gluten intolerance”.  It is an inherited autoimmune disease that affects about 1% of the population and, undiagnosed and treated, will damage the digestive system (small intestine). In Australia about 1 person in 70 suffers, and about 1 in 100 world-wide. It’s more common in white Caucasian females. It may show up in later life rather than from birth.  Why?   It is often thought to be triggered when a person (who has the Coeliac Gene) has had surgery, illness or pregnancy, or a major emotional event..

 

There are four main sources of gluten: wheat, rye, barley and oats (oats can be gluten free but often cross- contamination occurs between growing fields.). Gluten is a protein that is found in these grains and often present as a binding agent in processed foods and to add flavour & texture.   e.g. in Soy Sauce.

 

especially gut pain, diarrhea and mood changes. It’s disruptive to daily life and can cause severe illness long term, without the appropriate diagnosis and management.

Gluten damages the vast lining of the small intestines in individuals with celiac disease.

The resulting damage to the gut lining leads to poor nutrient absorption, resulting in significant digestive discomfort, poor development, stunted growth ( in children), skin reactions (dermatitis herpetiformis), fatigue, possible iron deficiency anaemia, unexplained weight loss, (especially in younger children), chronic pain, sleep disruption and frequent diarrhoea or constipation. Sufferers can also have liver disease & psychological symptoms like depression & anxiety.

 

Symptoms vary; however, sufferer must stick to a gluten-free diet for the remainder of their life. Once a person adopts a gluten-free diet even minute/trace amounts can cause an attack and each time they are presented with gluten, the symptoms may escalate and increase in severity - because patient becomes further sensitive to gluten. The need to avoid cross-contamination of possible gluten containing foodstuffs and utensils is paramount. Even fish & chips will have traces of gluten in batter used for frying in the cooking oil.

 

It is essential that Coeliac Disease is properly diagnosed (quite easy, and accurate, these days).   It must not be confused with Gluten Intolerance (where, although unpleasant, the digestive system is not actually damaged by gluten.)

 

A simple blood test can be used to identify if the person has the Coeliac Gene (remember, it’s an inherited disorder, from the Gene.). If the Coeliac Gene is present the patient is then referred to a gastroenterologist who will, via an endoscope, see the level of damage to the small intestine.   A small biopsy is generally taken and identified by the pathologist as Coeliac Disease.  It is normally a clear diagnosis….Yes or No.

 

Shopping can take time since not all foods have the gluten free logo or coeliac endorsement. Some brands like AYAM have many gluten-free sauce options.    There is even Gluten Free Weetbix & TimTams now !  Whenever symbols are not present, reading all ingredients on the label must be done.  Also attending restaurants or travelling away from home can require extra precautions and cause difficulties, however most professional kitchens and chefs are increasingly aware of the requirements and ensure that problems don’t arise.

 

Staying Gluten Free for life and living safely with Coeliac Disease is now much easier than it was, even a few years ago.

 

A few grocery items labeled gluten free

Everyone present was most appreciative of Sue’s presentation and now more fully understand what is required.

 

FUN RUN 2025 - Volunteer Marshals

Saturday Feb 1 at 5am in Abbott Rd Curl Curl and 7 brave souls assembled to then take up the marshaling positions at intersections along the road.

 

The marshals this year were Diana Hart, Anne and Robert Thompson, Robert Exner, Lindy Myers, John O'Brien and Michael Mead.

 

Anne, Michael, Lindy, Robert E, Diana and Robert T (Photo:John O'Brien)

 

 

 

Now John is second from the left

John and Anne all ready.

 

The course is either 7km or 10km along the picturesque coast from Dee Why to Manly Beach and the event caters for elite athletes, causal joggers or just out people out to have fun and keeping healthy and active.

 

 

There were over 10,00 runners this year with starts occurred in stages from 6:30am at Dee Why.

 

Our marshaling locations were all on the Abbott Road loop that is on the 10Km course.

Just on 10 minutes after the start and 3.7Km here comes the lead runner (and eventual winner),  Samuel Clifford. He finished the 10Km in 30minutes 6 seconds.

 

 Followed by the next fittest and Robert giving them encouragement...

 

 

 

The run caters for all levels and the fun element shows.

 

 

 

By way of background here is so other photos from the FUN RUN organisers website:

 
 The start at Dee Why at 5am:

 

 

and at 6:30am
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the air, It is quite a sight:

 And towards Freshie:

 

The winner, Samuel Clifford finishing his race

 

Jennifer Clancy won the female Category in 30 minutes 39 seconds

 

Many Running Clubs compete and run as a group: 

Some runners really make having FUN the key ingredient...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--00OO00-- 

Future Events:

THE NEXT MEETING IS at CLUB TOTEM 

on Tuesday Feb 18th, 2025

We can have a meal in the upstairs dining room at 6pm;  then move to a meeting room at 7pm.

It is essential that you let Tony Hill know if you are attending by Friday Feb 15 latest, so that the dining area can set up our reserved table space.

Tony can be contacted: 

E: aehill93@bigpond.net.au

M: ‭0411 670 341‬

Liz McDougall: An inspiring Rotarian: Tuesday March 4, 2025

This is a combined  meeting with Warringah Club members attending. It will be held in the Wine Room at Balgowlah RSL

District Conference: March 21- 22, 2025

Our Rotary District 9685 conference is close to home this year just 50 minutes drive from Sydney. Whilst there is a dinner on the Friday night, the Saturday (March 22) program is the real reason to attend. The theme is Our Better World: Through People & Rotary.

 

The event will be held at the brand-new Pullman Hotel in Penrith within the state-of- the -art Western Sydney Conference Centre.

 

Keynote Speakers include: 

• Alan Finkel, Australia's former chief scientist
• Venna Shajwalla , a leading UNSW scientist
•  Pitch for purpose Student Innovation challenge
  

Hear first hand how Rotary's unique position allows us to tackle local and global challenges through partnerships with governments, community groups , the UN, WHO and more.

The flyer:

More Information and to Register

 (use the link above)
 

Planner:

Finally:

One liners from Albert Einstein:

·       Information is not knowledge.

·       Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.

·       You can't blame gravity for falling in love.

·       I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.

·       Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.

·       Politics is for the present, but an equation is for eternity.

·       Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

·       The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

·       If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

·       Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.