Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Inc.
Joint winner of the Lange trophy for best membership growth.Sole solver of the mystery of the white glove.
www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Vol. 26 No. 41
May 13th, 2008
John and Shirley Dodgshun aboard QE2
Speaker Richard Trigg Subject At sea with the cadets.
Chairman Martin Geerings
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Heather Wallace Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Dick Clay
Birthdays
22nd Joan Steains and Phil Edwards
24th Anne Geerings
Notable World Events in the week ahead, [that was]
In the humble opinion of your bulliman, May 20th was the most significant day of the week ahead. e.g. Captain James Cook released the first sheep in New Zealand [1773], Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis won a patent for miners’ work pants – ‘blue jeans’ [1873], Cuba gained independence from the United States [1902], and Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to begin the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland the next day [1932].
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Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 27th May, 6.00 for 6.30
Speaker Suzanne Bozorth-Baines Subject ‘Our Heritage’.
Chairman John Calnin
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Phil Edwards Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Hans Franken
Birthdays & Anniversaries
27th May Phil & Robyn Edwards
30th Julie Gleeson
31st Bob Osbourne & Paul Gleeson
1st June Wal Kelly
Notable World Events in the week ahead, [that was]
On 29th May 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hilary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. On Hilary’s return to England, the BBC asked how the men reacted when they reached the top of the world.
“We shook hands and gave each other the odd thump on the back,” he responded. Their stay would last a mere 15 minutes since their oxygen supplies were low.
In the 53 years since then, the number to reach the summit extends into the thousands, most of whom have left their rubbish behind, and some, their bodies.
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“You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” Bob Hope.
Working Bee at Barwon Heads Community Garden (Painting schoolroom)
And in this week ahead
Tomorrow night, 14th May, at 6.30, the Ocean Grove and District Community Association is holding a Community Workshop about the short-term future of our town, at the library. Phone 5222 6228,
or just turn up.
Wal Kelly reminds us that there will be a CPR refresher course, costing $30pp [not $10 as incorrectly advised last week], at Bellarine Memories next Monday, 19th May, commencing 7.30pm. Essential you register with Wal on 5256 2248.
Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Contributed by Geoff Chandler
Blazing a trail to freedom
In October last year, four Rotarians left from Hull, England, to embark on a 25-day, 7,000 km. humanitarian journey to Sierra Leone. Clubs from district 1270 sponsored one of the group’s five four-wheel-drive vehicles, which the Rotarians drove along historic slave routes from France through Europe and North Africa. In Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, the team and other volunteer drivers handed the trucks over to agencies that will use them to repatriate child slaves and soldiers. ShelterBox provided survival equipment for the Rotarians to pass along to aid organizations, including ‘Help a Needy Child International’.
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Rotary by the Numbers
As at the end of December, there were 1,205,518 Rotarians worldwide in 32,841 Rotary clubs, 163,415 Rotaracters in 7,105 Rotaract clubs, and 258,865 Interacters in 11,255 Interact clubs.
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And the final few words on the Obituary of Common Sense
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; ‘I know my rights’, ‘Someone else is to blame’, and ‘I’m a victim’.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
This series was contributed by Noel Emselle, and if you want a full transcript, your editor can provide a copy.
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The vandalistic bastards amongst us
A motor bike rider has caused damage to the Surfside Primary school garden which members of our club did so much to help establish. There will be a working bee on Monday morning to help repair the damage.
The Barwon Heads Community Garden project is complete. I wonder how long it will take for someone brainless to vandalise it.
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The Queens
John Dodgshun reported on the three Oceanic Queens, QE2, QM2 & QV, sailing together from Southampton to New York with much pomp and ceremony. The QE2 was launched in 1967, but can easily outstrip the new Queen Vic., with a top speed of 32 knots compared with 17-18. The QE2 also saw war service in the Faulklands.
As expected for such a regal lady, everything from food to service to entertainment to art auctions to dinner attire, was first class, but it is perhaps a little sad that they have sold her to the Arabs.
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Okawachiyama
I promised to write a story about this delightful little Japanese village Jan and I visited last month, but I am too disturbed about the local vandalism to write objectively. I will bring some photos next Tuesday.
This mountain village in the Inari pottery district, about 80 kms. north of Nagasaki, is unspoilt, no graffiti, no rubbish, and apparently, no petty crime or idiotic motorcyclists, features a beautiful little bridge over a peaceful stream, faced with exquisite pottery, and surmounted with a metre high vase as the centerpiece.
Of equal beauty is a three metre square map of the village all done in porcelain. How long would it last here?
