Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Inc.
Winner of the Holmes Trophy for the best attendance by a Club at the 2006 District Conference
www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Volume 24 No. 46
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, on Tuesday May 30th, 6.00 for 6.30
Speaker Jean Paul Subject The ‘Leaders for Geelong’ programme Chairman Charles Dawborn, who will also introduce the ‘Pride of Workmanship’ Awards.
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Bill Steains Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Ken Wyatt
Birthdays and Anniversaries 31st May Bob Osbourne
1st June Wal Kelly
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Notice for the special screening of the classic film- ‘The Weeping Camel’ at the Leopold Theatrette next Sunday afternoon, 3.00 pm 28th May. This is amoving and sensitive film.
All dress circle seating, [very Posh]. $10- no senior or student concessions. JC has advised that there are a few more seats available, but you need to contact him urgently if you now want to go.
To get there From Ocean Grove, to Leopold via the Bellarine Highway, turn right into Kingston Avenue at the lights, Leopold Primary School on your left, then first right into Robertson Rd, then second left into Arden Avenue. It’s the residence of Neville Gaynor, 23 Arden Avenue. 3.00 pm sharp
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, on Tuesday 6th June, 6.00 for 6.30
Speaker A mystery, watch this space. Subject Wouldn’t you like to know!
Chairman Margaret Campbell
Assistant Cashier & Thanker James Turnbull Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Marion Walton
Birthdays & Anniversaries 11th June Wilma Andrews
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“Les sanglots longs des violons de L’automne”- [The long sobs of the Violins of Autumn]
“Blessent mon Coeur d’une langueur monotone”-[Wound my heart with a monotonous languor]
These are the first and second lines of Paul Verlaine’s “Chanson d’Automne” – Song of Autumn, which were transmitted by the BBC to the French Underground forces over public radio to announce the invasion of the French Coast by Allied amphibious forces on 6th June 1944, [D-Day].
This was the only vital piece of D-day intelligence which the Germans intercepted, and if it had been acted upon, the world’s greatest Armada could have been routed and the second world war prolonged.
The first line was to be transmitted on the 1st or 15th of the month preceding the attack, and the second would signal that the invasion would take place within 48 hours. The Germans knew all of this, and they intercepted both messages, the first on June 1st, and the second on June 5th. Lt.-Colonel Meyer of German intelligence rushed to inform Major-General Rudolph Hofman, who immediately put his Fifteenth Army on full alert.
But the 15th Army was stationed at the shortest distance between the coasts of England and France- the Pas de Calais, where the rather stolid German high command always believed the invasion had to take place.
Of course, the invasion started on the morning of 6th June along a 25 mile front of the Normandy coast, overlooked by Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel’s 7th Army. Every one thought someone else had given the alert there, but, incredibly, no-one had. The 7th Army heard nothing of the message and was never alerted.
There were five other incredible incidents favouring the Allies on D-day, to be related next week.
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The Canadian Exchange
Eleven possible hosts met after the Rotary meeting last Tuesday, and details have been advised to Keith Nixon. If you were not at that briefing and would like to be a host, [with or without intention to visit Canada], please contact John Fox. You will not be committed to a specific length of hosting time, and if you can manage say, a limited few days, we can slot you in with another host family. I have asked Keith to advise preferred length of stay. Their proposed timing to visit us is either late January or early February 2007.
Last Sunday, AM. I received an e-mail reply from Keith, who is in Beijing on business, having accessed the above e-mail from me. He was planning to visit the provisional Rotary Club of Beijing on Tuesday, at about the time this bulletin will hit his laptop! It will be my first e-mail to China.!!
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More Wicked Wisdom
Dog The only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.
Drama Life with the dull bits cut out.
Dying A dull, dreary affair. My advice to you is to have nothing to do with it. [Somerset Maughan]
Easter A national celebration of chocolate.
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Tonight, I went home sad.
David, [sorry, but I missed hearing your surname], was our guest speaker. David has been a member of the Geelong Animal Welfare Society for ten years, and is currently Vice President. Located at Moolap and unfunded by Government, their aim is to prevent cruelty to animals and to provide food and shelter for lost and strays.
82% of all cats and kittens admitted are put down, and many of the cats are feral as a result human carelessness or indifference. The dogs fare a lot better. 28,383 were admitted over the past 10 years, and only 31% were p.t.s. [put to sleep] Poor little buggers!- that’s 8,800, and that’s why I’m sad.
Our two little Cairn Terriers would have to be the luckiest little fellas. Putting a much loved pet down would have to be the most terrible job. 8800 in ten years!!
Anyway, 55% to 60% of lost dogs arriving at Moolap are returned to their owners. I can imagine how overjoyed they must be. David was particularly scathing of circus owners of ‘exotic’ animals such as lions, tigers and elephants. Sorry for being so obsessed. I should have left tonight’s subject unsaid
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This and that.
• Change-over night will be at the Barwon Heads Golf Club on Tuesday 4th July. 6.30 for 7.00.
• I am not going to be so crass as to make any flippant observations about how unique it must be for a Presidential undertaker to be handing over to another of the same ilk, [and without even coughin’]
• I apologise for that last dot point. It will not be repeated for the rest of this month.
• Richard Grimmett is still looking for chairpersons of International and Vocational Service Committees for 2006/07.
• The DG’s newsletter for May puts us 38th in the district for % attendance. 69% average for the year. The district has a net gain of 22 members for this Rotary year, now 2236. We have 43 members, a loss of 8 since July.
• The district governor c/o will take place on the racecourse at Avoca on Sunday 2nd July for lunch. Incoming DG Andrew Suggett hales therefrom. [Specifically from Avoca, not necessarily the course].
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