www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Vol. 27 No. 1
July 1st, 2008
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday, 8th July, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject Community Service, a new concept. Speaker Phil Edwards
Chairman President John
Attendance Officer Trevor McArdle Ass’t Cashier Coral Barker Greeter and Ass’t Sg’t Rod Birrell
Birthdays & Anniversaries
8th July Peter Cullen 11th Lois Dawborn 12th Helen Cooke
Notable World Events in the week ahead, [that was]
On 11th July, 1975, the discovery, more than a year earlier, of the ‘terracotta army’ in Shaanxi Province, China, was announced to the world. Approximately 6000 life-sized warriors were revealed, guarding the nearby tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang [c.210 B.C.], who unified China and ordered the first stage of the Great Wall to be built. The site covered more than two hectares, and was World Heritage listed in 1987.
On a box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong – ‘Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.’
The weekly duty rosters
Our new duty roster starts next week. Assistant Cashiers and Thankers, plus Greeters and Assistant Sergeants are rostered in approx. alphabetical order, and the Chairpeople are generally matched to the speakers or subject. If you are rostered and can’t attend or will be away on holidays etc., your bulletin editor would appreciate your early advice. Early warning to me accompanied by your arrangement of a ‘swap’ would be even more appreciated.
The following members are exempt from those duties;
Fred Andrews, Colin Brown, John Calnin, John Fox, Hans Franken, and Vic Harnath.
A completely new innovation will be the weekly appointment of an attendance officer. This is aimed at removing the onerous duty previously imposed on one member who had to miss out on regular fellowship in order to man the registration desk. Trevor McArdle will show the way on 8th July.
*******************************
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 15th July, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject TBA Speaker TBA Chairman TBA
Attend. Officer Rod Bush Ass’t Cashier Dick Clay Greeter & Ass’t Sgt Margaret Campbell
Birthdays & Anniversaries Nil
Notable World Events in the week ahead, [that was]
18th July 1814 Matthew Flinders’ A Voyage to Terra Australis is published, in which he advocates using the name “Australia” for the southern continent. He died the next day.
*******************************
The Drought hasn’t broken, but……
29 Ocean Throughway has recorded 69mm during June, but last weekend’s drive to Robinvale and back clearly showed that the Murray river is as stressed as it has ever been, and 69 mm would be their total for the year. The colour of the water there was a sickly green, but we were told that it is even worse at Mildura, where the weir has been taken out of the water, and the river level has dropped to an alarming low.
A reflection on Student Exchange, as it was 34 years ago. By Shigeyuki Furuno, 28th June 2008
‘Jan and I were one of the six host families for Yuki in Robinvale when he arrived from Sapporo, Japan, 34 years ago, without any English, and forced to wait at the Tullamarine airport for two hours on his own because the Rotarian delegated to meet him was delayed due to floods. It must have been a very lonely two hours, but the resulting twelve months was a huge success, both for Yuki and the Robinvale Rotary club.
Yuki brought his wife Atsuko to Australia last week, especially to attend the 50th anniversary of the club. 140 attended a very successful evening, and this is what Yuki said when invited to address the meeting:’
“I am very happy to be back on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Robinvale Rotary Club. Congratulations! And thank you for your kind invitation.
Although it has been 34 years, and I look a little older, the one year I spent with you remains a fresh and wonderful memory. I have never forgotten your hospitality and kindness.
I was 16 years old when I arrived here and had no idea that my stay would be such a life changing experience. I learned not only a language! It opened my mind to the true meaning of understanding different cultures and way of life.
And surprisingly, I learned a great deal about myself as well. I am confident when I say that my stay here has made me what I am today and I am very grateful for that gift. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your friendship!”
And a sequel
Over dinner on our return from Robinvale, Yuki confided in me that his Company, started by his father, a Rotarian, but now deceased, celebrates 45 years in 2008, and he has granted all 500-plus employees an overseas trip of 4 or 5 days to any one of Hawaii, Singapore, Thailand, or Korea. It will probably cost him a cool $500,000. There are trade unions in Japan, but Yuki’s Company has none.
******************************
More on Computers
Caller: “Can you give me the telephone number for Jack.”
Operator: I’m sorry, sir, I don’t understand who you are talking about.”
Caller: “On page 1, section 5, of the user guide, it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from
the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you tell me the number for Jack?”
Margaret Campbell offered that one.
******************************
Last night at the Barwon Heads Golf Club
It’s probably the one night of the year when we are all well dressed, and it is certainly the classiest venue of the year. Your editor had a couple of distractions, so the precise numbers are not available, and I don’t have any record of the club announcements. Sufficient to say that Past President Alison George was warmly and deservedly applauded for a year of charm and eloquence. John Calnin will undoubtedly do things differently, and isn’t that one of the features of Rotary throughout the world? Each year, every club has the opportunity to welcome a new leader, a new approach and a new personality. It is the diversity of ideas, not the similarity, which makes Rotary interesting and challenging.
President John asked Trevor McArdle to provide me with a copy of the list of my duties over the last 50 years as read to last night’s meeting, with instructions to me about printing it in this edition of the bulletin. Although it is not a good start in this new year to defy our President, there will be no list.
I would feel decidedly uncomfortable repeating it all, and my proof reader emphatically declares that it would be ‘downright skiting’.
But I do want to express my heartfelt thanks to my fellow members for the presentation of the ‘Four Avenues of Service Citation’ of which I am extremely proud. None of us perform our duties in Rotary with any expectation of reward, but last night was very special for me, and I am flattered to possess what I am told is Rotary’s highest award.