Winner of the Holmes Trophy for the best attendance by a Club at the 2006 District Conference
www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Volume 24 No. 47
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, on Tuesday June 6th, 6.00 for 6.30
Speaker Richard Grimmett Subject What’s new in my forthcoming Presidency
Chairman Tony Haines
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Bill Steains Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Marion Walton
Birthdays & Anniversaries 11th June Wilma Andrews
……………………………………………….
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 13th June,6.00 for 6.30.
Speaker Subject
Chairman Bob Smith
Assistant Cashier & Thanker James Turnbull Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Rod Bush
………………………………………………
Birthdays & Anniversaries 14th June Marion Walton
16th June Geoff Ford, Jan Brentnall
………………………………………………
The other five incidents of good fortune on D–Day, 6th June 1944
• The weather over the English Channel during the first week of June was atrocious. Mounting an invasion of France seemed out of the question, and it would likely be another month before the combination of weather, tides and full moon, [the essential ingredients] would again be favourable. But at the briefing of senior Allied Commanders on the evening of 5th June, the senior RAF meteorologist reported an unexpected and rapidly moving ‘front’ of good weather approaching from the Atlantic and likely to last 24 hours from the night of the 5th. On this barely tolerable brief stretch of acceptable conditions, Gen’l Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, gave the order for the invasion to proceed on 6th June. Incredibly, the German meteorologists never picked it.
• Rommel, commanding the 7th Army at the Normandy beachhead, was convinced that an invasion was out of the question, and left for Germany in his staff car on Sunday 4th June so as to be home for his wife’s birthday, on 6th June. By the time he got back to the battle, it was all over.
• Many of the senior German Commanders at Normandy left for the city of Rennes in Brittany for ‘War Games’ on the afternoon of June 5th, and as a consequence, also missed the first vital hours of the Allied invasion.
• Despite the above bits of bad luck for the Hun, a trump card still lay at their disposal – the three powerful Panzer [tanks] divisions, deployed back from the coast so as to be roughly equi-distant from the Pas de Calais and the Normandy beach-head. But these critical forces could only be moved forward on the direct orders of the Fuehrer, and Adolph Hitler had retired late to bed in Bavaria, and none of his aides were ‘game’ to wake him. Finally stirring in mid-afternoon on the 6th, Hitler released the Panzers to advance to the Normandy beach-head, but it was far too late and they had no impact on the invasion forces.
• Of the five invasion beaches, the American target, soon to become known as ‘bloody Omaha’, was the heaviest defended and produced the highest casualties, whilst the neighbouring beach, Utah, the lightest. But that beach was a mistake, as the correct designated beach for Utah was at least a mile away, currents having taken the leading landing craft 2000 yards too far south. Fortunately, the commanding officer, Brigadier-General Theodore Roosevelt, had come ashore in the first ’wave’, and decreed that the ‘war will start right here’. Casualties at Utah on D-day were lighter than during the dress rehearsal on Slapton Sands in Southern England.
Now then, no-one can be sure that any of those ‘incidents’ had a vital impact on the Allied success of D-day, or even if collectively they made any difference, but they all appear significant. Surely, one conclusion that can be reached when reflecting on them is simply this…………God was on our side!
Our next meeting will be held on the day it all happened, 62 years ago. All of the above was sourced from the definitive history of D-day, ‘The longest Day’, by Cornelius Ryan, and portrayed in the MGM film of the same name.
…………………………………………….
More wicked wisdom
Education An admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. Oscar Wilde said that.
Egotism The Anaesthetic that dulls the pains of stupidity.
Email A means of communicating with people you don’t want to talk to.
Englishman Someone who never enjoys himself except for a noble purpose.
…………………………………………….
That camel really did weep!
John Calnin’s afternoon and evening of entertainment and fellowship was a great success. Congratulations, JC.
Both feature films were excellent. We are strictly amateur ‘crits’ but Jan and I scored ‘The Weeping camel’ five stars, and that beautiful light classical music spectacular, four.[The Da Vinci Code, three]
After ten years in our Rotary Club, I can never understand why only one quarter of our members turn up for such lovely entertainment
……………………………………………
This day tonight
There were three highlights of tonight’s meeting. First, we welcomed members of the RC Queenscliffe on their official visit, then there was the presentation of our annual ‘Pride of Workmanship’ award to Warren Chapman, and finally, an excellent address from our guest speaker Jean Paul, both introduced by chairman-for-the-night, Charles Dawborn.
The ‘Pride of Workmanship’ award has been a significant feature of Vocational Service throughout both Australian and International Rotary Clubs for many years. It acknowledges outstanding qualities of attitude, dedication and work commitment in employees, irrespective of age or vocation.
Warren has been an employee of Barwon Coast for many years and has devoted many hours of both paid and unpaid work in his energetic approach to coastal management. Our club is indebted to him for his enormous contribution to our ‘Barwon Heads Walkway’ project. Community Service chairman John Wynn and Barwon Coast general manager Bob Jordan, warmly supported President Helen in her presentation of this award.
The third highlight of the evening was an excellent address by Jean Paul, on the regional project ‘Leaders for Geelong’, seeking applicants, [current average age- 38] to take part in a training programme to seek talented future leaders for the Geelong community. Funded jointly by State Government and commercial interests, the training programme includes professional assistance on a ‘pro bono’ basis. Rotary is invited to submit the names of nominees for the project
The out-going and incoming boards of our Club are requested to attend a joint meeting at John Calnin’s residence, next Monday evening, 5th June at 7.00 PM sharp.
End bit Dolly Parton and HM Queen E., arrived at St. Pete’s pearly gates on the same day, only to find that there was only one vacancy left. Invited by Pete to appropriately compete for the last spot, Dolly flashed her two most prominent assets and was confident of victory. HM excused herself for a call of nature, and on her return, was graciously announced the winner. As Pete said, a Royal Flush beats a pair every time! Thank you, Alison, for this contribution.
