Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Inc.
www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Volume 26 No 30
February 5th 2008
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 12th February, 6.00 for 6.30.
Subject Rotary ‘shelter Boxes’. Speaker Peter Kavenagh and assistant [Highton Kardinia RC]
Chairman Vic Harnath
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Bill Steains Greeter & Assistant Sergeant John Calnin
Birthday
6th Feb. Ken Fleay [also Babe Ruth 1895, Ronald Reagan 1911, Eva Braun 1912, and Natalie Cole 1950.]
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And, appropriately to the above program, the 500,000th shelter box is delivered
In August last year, in a rain-soaked village in Nepal, Shelterbox delivered its half millionth box of aid to a family left homeless by monsoonal flooding.
“Almost without exception, we are the first aid organization on the ground” said founder and general manager Tom Henderson, a member of the Rotary club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall, England. “after the 2006 earthquake in Java, we had about 20,000 people in tents within eight days.”
Shelter Box started in 2001 as a small project of the Helston-Lizard club, but it took off quickly. As of September, it had raised 15 million pounds, [$A35m] and delivered aid in 38 countries. In August, the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, agreed to serve as president of ShelterBox. She is believed to be the first royal patron of a Rotary club project in the United Kingdom.
Each ShelterBox costs about $1,200 and is designed to help a family of 10 survive for six months. It contains custom supplies that typically include a large tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, and a multifuel stove. Rotary clubs provide more than half the funding, and private donors contribute the rest.
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Seen in a Tokyo bar ‘Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts’
Genocide on Swan Lake. [aka Begola Wetlands]
Remember my story in vol.26/5 – 31st July 2007, ‘There is magic on our Begola Wetlands’? Two generations of cygnets, 5 and then 7, born within four months of each hatching. The five were taught to fly by Dad and flew off into the wide blue wonder on the very day that the seven emerged from the reeds with Mum.
Six months later, Dad had got rid of five of his seven new offspring, without ever having been seen at flying lessons. Those five probably bought a book on flight, but at least they disappeared! The remaining two seemed happy to swim and forage at one end of the lake whilst Dad lorded it over about 150 ducks and at least 100 seagulls at the other end.
Lo and behold, Mum emerged with another five fluffy offspring last Wednesday That’s 17 kids in six months, with Dad in tow, puffing out his chest. The word “Randy” springs to mind, or is that being anthropomorphic?
On Friday, we discovered a dead adult swan on the bank near the home of the new family. We think it was one of the last two from the last batch which was silly enough to invade the new generation’s territory.
And that is hardly an example of anthropomorphism! How I love that word!
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 19th Feb. 6.00 for 6.30
Subject Probus Clubs Speaker Bob Osbourne Chairman Alex Magee
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Trevor McArdle Greeter & Assistant Sergeant David Tyrrell
Birthdays & Anniversaries
21st Feb. Jan Chandler [also Lee Marvin 1924, Karen Silkwood 1946, and Andrew, Duke of York 1960]
25th John & Shirley Dodgshun. On this day in 2006, the World’s estimated population reached 6.5 billion. In 1700, it was estimated at 600,000,000. By 2015, estimates suggest there will be seven billion people on the planet. By 2050, there may be as many as ten billion people. Can Earth support this population? When will we reach the limit of our resources? If humans wish to expand their population beyond the limits of the Earth’s resources, where will they go? Not to John & Shirley’s place, methinks!
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An 800 metre swim, a 26 kilometer bike ride, and an eight kilometer run, in 1hour, 17 mins, 56 secs.
One super fit young triathlete, Brent Schuster, achieved that at Portarlington last Sunday morning. About 3000 others followed.The first female across the line, Jo King, did it in 1.30.9. Our Rotary club provided 20 marshalls; another 20 did monthly market duties. We were clearly identified in our caps. There were only 7 members absent. I was one member who was very proud to be a Rotarian, and a member of our club.
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Rotary by the numbers
As at 30th September, 2007, there were 1,210,047 Rotarians worldwide spread over 32,774 Rotary clubs in 532 districts. There were 163,116 Rotaracters in 7092 Rotaract clubs and 255,277 Interacters in 11,099 clubs.
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Notice Board
Jazz in the Geelong Bot. Gardens next Sunday. Suggest you arrive with food, drinks and sitons by 4.30
The DIK collection is on again soon. Books, tools, crockery, cutlery. Let your neighbors know.
Rotary promotes the ‘Shine on Awards’ for disabled people. Contact Noel Emselle for info. or ideas.
Paul Gleeson is considering one nominee for the RYLA award.
The Stage production of ‘Cats’ is the subject of a group booking for Thursday 6th March, at $27.90 pp.
Colin Brown was very gruntled at our contribution at the Triathlon. Our team next at the Torquay bike race on Saturday March 15.
Market guru Judy reported 57 sites at last Sunday’s market. More than 500 cars. Raffle took $158.
Phil Edwards may take office as MG next season, with Alison George Chief of Staff.
If you are going to the Swan Hill conference or will be away at Easter, please check that ur not on duty.
Red Cross Calling is this month. Organ donor promotion is on at Market Square on 19/20/21 Feb. If you can help, please contact Peter Hawthorne.
For our annual car raffle, Geoff Ford’s mob raised $14,000. Absolutely incredible!
The Queensciff Seafoodfest, and our part in it.
Grant Talbot was our guest speaker, assisted by Michelle. It is on again on Good Friday, 21st March, with net proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Geoff Ford is our co-ordinator. They raised $71,500 last year. Another incredible effort!
It will run for about twelve hours this year from 9.00 AM, but we are asked to help with signage on Thursday, and if you can be there, wear your shirts, caps and dinner plaques at all times, because that will be your ‘volunteer’ recognition. They expect about 12,000 attendance.
The figures I heard included 6 tonnes of seafood and 2.5 tonnes of potatoes.
I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.
