Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Inc
Volume 24 No. 34
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel on 7th March, 6.30 for 7.00. Note the change!!!!
This will be a partners’ night, so you are registered to attend with your partner, [usually wife or husband, but that is not compulsory, and if not, don’t forget the make-up]. Fascinating language. There are at least three different interpretations one can put on that word.
Now then, if you or your partner are to be an apology, phone Hans!
Speakers,[on 7th March], Tim & Karen Kemp, subject ‘Our two years afloat on the British canal system’.
Chairman John Fox. Ass’t cashier and thanker John Calnin. Greeter and ass’t Sgt. Margaret Campbell.
Birthdays & Anniversaries Tony & Pam Haines 3rd March. Helen & Richard Trigg 9th March.
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Coming up
14th March Speaker Jack Madin. Returned outward exchange student Chairman David Tyrrell.
Greeter & ass’t sgt. Geoff Chandler Ass’t cashier and thanker Rod Bush.
MONDAY 20th March [in lieu of our regular meeting due on 21st] A fun night with the Queenscliffe Rotary club members at the Queenscliff bowls club. 6.00 PM start, to be followed by a meal.
MONDAY 3rd April [in lieu of our regular meeting on 4th ] to enable the Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong to be our guest speaker.
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A change of heart
An Irish lassie came home for the first time in over five years. Upon her arrival, her father berated her.
“Where have you been all this time, you ingrate? Why didn’t you write to us? Not even a line to let us know how you were doin’. You little tramp! Don’t you know what you put your poor mother through?”
The girl, crying, replied ”Dad…. I became a prostitute….”.
“What? Get out of here you shameless harlot! You’re a disgrace to this family. I don’t ever want to see you again”.
“OK Dad, as you wish. I just came back to give Mum this luxury fur coat, title deeds to a ten bedroom mansion, plus a savings account certificate for $5M. For my little brother, this gold Rolex, and for you, Daddy, the new Mercedes convertible that’s parked outside, plus a lifetime membership of the Country Club.” She takes a breath….”and an invitation for you all to spend New Years Eve on board my new yacht on the Riviera, and…”
Father interrupts, “Now what was it you said you had become?”.
Girl, crying again, “A prostitute, Dad…”.
“Oh, be Jesus! – You scared me half to death, girl! I thought you said protestant! Come here and give your old man a hug”.
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And a change of direction
I visited Mildura and Robinvale last week. Driving north from Ouyen, the Sunraysia district appears suddenly, spectacularly, lush, green and to all appearances, affluent. But appearances are deceptive. Only a few short years ago, grape growers could claim up to $1500 per tonne for chardonnay grapes delivered to wineries, and yields of 20 tonnes per acre, [if you will excuse the ‘imperial’ habit] were possible in a good year. That is now, very much a matter of history.
Growers boasting a firm contract with wineries have been savagely cut back either in tonnes delivered or price, but most growers will be lucky to gross $500, and some, nothing! It is a case of massive over-supply, and many growers will be forced to harvest their crop by expensive mechanical means – onto the ground!!
So, what to do with the huge crop of grapes? The fresh fruit market? Probably not. Oversupply again, and Northern Territory fruit hits the southern supermarkets a full three months before the Murray Valley crop. Sadly, the dried fruits market has been ‘killed’ by cheap imports, and so has citrus! Who would want to be a primary producer? …………………………………………………….
Last week’s meeting at the Mirabooka Guide Camp, Kingston Park. With thanks to our roving reporter, Tony Haines.
Barwon Regional Guide Leader Olive Saunders welcomed members and acknowledged Rotary’s contribution to the camp since 1973.
User group representatives then presented a spoken and audio-visual review of the support they had enjoyed at ‘Mirabooka’. Corio Bay Secondary College’s Young Parents Access Program’s Lorraine Armstrong, for a five day camp, and Red Cross president Shirley Osbourne for the annual fundraising ‘Picnic in the Park’.
A proposal has been put to us that we could assist ‘Mirabooka’ by arranging for the construction of two outdoor tables and chair settings for their front veranda. Comm.serv. committee to investigate.
President Helen expressed our Club’s appreciation for an excellent [and free] meal and hospitality. But, of course, there is no such thing as a free meal, [he said, cynically]
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Market Roster, Sunday 5th March Please arrive on time as most of our reserves will be in Portland
Main Gate. 8.30 to 10.30 – Charles Dawborn. 10.30 to 12.30 – Peter Hawthorne.
Parking OC David Cornwell. 8.30 to 10.30 – Brentnall & McGee. 10.30 to 12.30 – Grimmett & Dodgshun. Signs Birrell & Elliott.
Raffle 8.45 to 10.30 Kelly & Osbourne. 10.30 to 12.30 Campbell and Brown [A]
Site Prep. – Car Park Leigh Holloway Sites - Tony Haines
Publicity The Waltons Joint Managers Bush, Turnbull & Haines.
President Helen expects that on this day, every man and woman will do their duty.
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Club Finances
• The car raffle profit was $7204. 450 books sold, [370 by Geoff Ford, with limited assistance from too-few helpers] A truly outstanding effort by Geoff!.
• JC has advised that the final profit from the progressive dinner/ auction was $5260. John is understandably chuffed and extends thanks to all those who supported this function.
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2007 District Conference at Warrnambool
15 rooms have been booked for us at the Mid-city Motel, but will be held only until 19th March. If you want to go, get a deposit of $50 to John Calnin real quick.
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Tonight’s Red Cross Calling
We went and called and collected and counted and accounted and convivialled and consumed an excellent BBQ, [for $11 with the pub’s generosity, and the balance of $7 to RC]. Pete thought we dun real good and so did Pres. Helen. We look like providing help with the transplant games on 21st Sept, but more of that later. Don’t forget, next weeks meeting is a partner’s ‘do’, starting 6.30 And so it’s goodnight from him
