www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Volume 26 No 12
September 18 2007
Guest speaker Tamaryn Stevens (centre) with her mother Amy and Geoff Chandler
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 25th September, 6.00 for 6.30Subject Mental Health Speaker John Lessor, President of the Mental Health Review Board
Chairman John Dodgshun
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Bruce Gilbert Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Anne Brown
Anniversary
26th Leigh & Meryl Holloway. And on this day in 1983, an Australian entry, Australia 11, won the America’s Cup yacht race, the first non-American boat to do so. The defender, the New York Yacht Club, had held the Cup since 1851, the longest winning streak in sport. Bob Hawke told us all to take the day off. Dennis Conner, sailing the yacht Stars & Stripes, won it back four years later.
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 2nd October, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject Professional Development opportunities for school principals Speaker Mark Donehue
Chairman John Fox
Assistant Cashier & Thanker David Tyrrell Greeter & Assistant Sergeant John Wynn
Anniversaries 5th Fred & Wilma Andrews, Bill & Marion Walton.
There were quite a few historical events on this day, including
• 1905 The pioneer of flight Wilbur Wright sets a world record in Flyer 111 with 39 minutes in the air for a flight of 24.5 miles [39 km.]
• 1947 U.S. President Harry S. Truman gives the very first White House address, in which he asks U.S. citizens to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving Europeans.
• 1962 The Beatles release their first hit, “Love me do”.
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Someone will probably tell me that I shouldn’t mention religion, politics, sex or the Aboriginal question.
My proof reader has given me that advice, but I claim freedom of the press and I did state in last week’s bulletin that I would follow up on last week’s guest speaker.
A majority of our members have traveled overseas, and many of us, me included, have been asked about the aboriginal question. If we answered honestly, we would have to hang our heads in shame. Our history on that question is disgraceful, but we have yet to come up with a solution to complex and ever-increasing problems.
And we have tried. Consider this:
• My regular reports to the appropriate authorities as auditor of a major Aboriginal Co-op fell on completely deaf ears, despite the fact that for any other organization with similar legislative requirements, their performance would almost certainly have resulted in dissolution.
• When I first arrived in Robinvale in 1956, the resident aboriginals were housed in a separate community, called ‘Manatunga’ within 1 km. of the main street, but on ‘the other side of the tracks’. Soon after, it was razed to the ground. The integration into the main settlement was, and largely still is, a failure.
• The Northern Territory and West Australian cattle industry survived very successfully for almost 100 years using aboriginal stockmen, who were given a horse, saddle, bridle, bags of flour, salt, sugar and tobacco, but little else. Amongst their tribes, they were ‘kings on horseback’ skilled at their work, naturals in the saddle, and respected by their families. That all came to an end in the 60’s when we white fellas decided it was disgraceful to discriminate to such a degree. We now set aside millions for their welfare, which appears to be miss-spent.
• The problems are of our doing. The Australian aborigines lived for thousands of years as nomads. We expected them to become ‘westernized’ in less than 200. We introduced them to alcohol, drugs and promiscuity. What did we expect?
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A triumph of the human spirit
Tamaryn Stevens, a kidney transplant recipient, was our guest speaker tonight. She was accompanied by her donor – mum Amy. We helped sponsor Tamaryn to the World Transplant Games in Thailand earlier this year. As I said to my dinner companions, when it comes to a worthwhile sponsorship, Rotary generally gets it right. She was on dialysis at age 12, a transplant recipient at 14, and a fluent and healthy speaker at 16.
Tam won a bronze medal in badminton. It was just about as heavy as her. She also competed in the sprint and the swimming, made lots of friends and had the time of her life. There were 47 countries competed at those games, so Tam’s feat was outstanding. A lovely, bubbly personality, and a joy to hear her enthusiasm.
An invitation to our volunteers at last year’s transplant games Particularly for those without a P.C.
Karen Knuckey sent this e-mail on 15/9;
“Hello Past Volunteers, A reunion is to be held for those who volunteered at the 10th Australian Transplant Games in Geelong in September 2006. We would love to see you there.
Please let anyone you know who volunteered who may be interested in joining us, as this notice is being sent to those with e-mail only.
Details are below. Please feel free to RSVP to me via e-mail or to Eva Barwise on 5229 7718 or 0408 521 432. RSVP by 8/10. Event on Saturday 13th October, 2007, 2-4pm, Virginia Todd Centre, Clarence St., West Geelong. Cost $5 per person. Light refreshments provided. Kind Regards Karen Knuckey.”
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This day tonight
• I forgot my bottle of wine won last week, until I woke up with a thirst at 0500 last Wednesday. A bit of a nong, but Wal Kelly demonstrated his Christian upbringing and his excellent memory by saving it for me. Unopened!
• Possible applicants for an ambassadorial scholarship are under investigation.
• Lack of apologies by non-attendees is still a problem, so much so that PresAl was moved to get cross with us. In a desperate bid to at least change the drill, the Board has resolved to try the alternative of partners needing to be BOOKED IN for future events. Some of you won’t understand that, but it’s worth a try.
• We could have as many as six students applying for the Science Summer School.
• We regret John Webb’s decision to resign his membership due to work and other commitments. John was a member of our club for 16 years.
• The 2007/08 market roster has been published. E-mailed today for PCers. In the mail for ‘hardies’ tomorrow. Calenderize your duties or advise Judy. She also seeks a future replacement for her after several years of dedicated service as the manager. We also need a food vendor with wheels, as our resident foody has departed.
• The GPAC performance of ‘The Mikado’ may be a social function in October.
• Also in October, there will be a concert to aid Anam Cara House, one of our recent projects.
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Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in it. Of course, it sank.
This proved once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too! Sorry.
