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Vol.26 No.25
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday, 23rd December, 6.00 for 6.30.
Acting Pres. Helen Trigg Speaker Tania Lewis [Barwon Health] Chairman Geoff Brentnall
This address will be a fore-runner to the mental health forum our club has organized for Tues. 24/02/2009.
Attendance Officer Rod Bush Assistant Cashier & Thanker Ingrid Cummins
Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Noel Emselle
Birthdays & Anniversaries
24th Geoff Brentnall. 25th Jesus of Nazareth. 26th Jennifer Bent 28th Colin Brown
.Notable World Events in the week ahead [that was] The bird flu cull, 29th December 1997.
In Hong Kong, hundreds of poultry markets and farms were the scenes of mass slaughter on that day, after the government ordered the culling of the territory’s entire chicken population. The drastic measure was a precautionary move to prevent an outbreak of bird flu at a local poultry farm and wholesale market from infecting humans. Earlier in the year, the first documented cases of the transfer of the virus to humans had been recorded in Hong Kong. The virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, 6 of whom died.
Government teams wearing gloves and face masks executed the cull, collecting the carcasses in plastic garbage bags and scrubbing down premises with disinfectant. The bags were then transported to Government landfill sites across the territory for disposal. Within three days, an estimated 1.2 million chickens had been slaughtered, as well as unspecified numbers of ducks, geese, quail and other poultry. Authorities believe at least some of the infected chickens came from mainland China, which supplies around 80% of Hong Kong’s poultry.
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You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
Whats on at Rotary for the next few Tuesdays
30th December. Nothing for us. This meeting has been cancelled. However, because there is such a lot on for Rotary in the first few days of 2009, there will be a bulletin printed on 30th Dec.
4th January [Sunday] Event No. 1 Our monthly market [and expected to be a big one]. Don’t miss next week’s exciting roster. [I firmly believe the main gate traffic counter needs to start at 8.30.]
Event No. 2 ‘Amy’s Ride’ Volunteers will be contacted direct by the CEO.
6th January This is the planned 100% participation by members in the sales of car raffle tickets at local caravan parks. A complete roster will be printed in next week’s bulletin. We will then adjourn to the Calnin’s for a barbeque tea.
13th January Another night out. This time at the new fire station, where we will be entertained.
20th January Still another night out, this time in the garden of Alison George’s home. Timing and other details will be advised in later bulletins.
23rd January [Friday] – I tricked youse all when I told you it was a Sunday in the short Bully on 3/12?
This is our Trots night at Beckley Park. Full details to be advised later.
It is important for members to note that the above events on 20th and 23rd January are both partner’s nights, and registrations of your partners and guests will need to be lodged with Hans, or even better, in the ‘BOOK’ next Tuesday night before you go home.
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If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you are old.
Ralph and Edna [contributed by Keith Nixon, all the way from Canada].
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day, while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped in the deep end and promptly sank to the bottom.
Edna immediately plunged in and rescued him. When the Head Nurse heard of Edna’s heroic action, she ordered her discharged from hospital as she was now considered mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news, she said “Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are being discharged, as you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hanged himself in the bathroom with his dressing gown cord right after you saved him, and I’m sorry, but he’s dead.”
Edna replied, “He didn’t hang himself. I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?”
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Worth repeating
“I am putting the full operational power of the World Health Organization into the job of finishing polio eradication……….I am making polio eradication the organization’s top operational priority on a most urgent if not an emergency basis”.
Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, at the 2008 RI Convention in L.A.
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Fun Things to do over the Holidays
‘A Bollard of Life’, depicting the life and work of local artist Jan Mitchell, on show now at the National Wool Museum in Geelong. It’s on until March 1st.
Drysdale RC’s Family Fun Night on New Year’s Eve, from 4pm to 9pm, at the Portarlington Miniature Railway, Pt Richards Road. Train rides, BBQ, coffee van and ice-creams. Unlimited train rides and jumping castle for just $8. Ladies, please remove your stilettoes on the jumping castle.
See ‘Tour de France’ runner-up Cadel Evans, and stage winner Simon Gerrans, plus cycling legend Phil Anderson appear in ‘Amy’s Ride, starting at Geelong’s Botanic Gardens on 4th January.
Count the times the media mentions Ben Cousins! First to 100 gets a plastic footy.
It’s not often you get a chairman and a speaker wrapped in the same skin!
From his lofty stage, guest speaker Ross Cutler [sponsored by the RC of Tel Aviv] spoke always convincingly, often passionately, invariably humorously but always knowledgably on his chosen subject ‘Pigs in the Universe’. The most consumed animal in the world, and probably one of the least loved, the many varieties of ‘Porky Pig’ has to be the most misunderstood but almost certainly the most useful animal known to man.
The pig is capable of providing transplanted organs of a great variety to humans, and specially bred pigs for that purpose are greatly in demand by medical scientists. Ross is a widely acclaimed expert veterinary scientist specializing in this greatly misunderstood animal of far greater intelligence than our domestic dogs.
Sure, there are problems when the meat is not properly cooked, as evidenced in ‘emerging’ countries such as Laos and Vietnam, and epilepsy is a fairly common bi-product of tapeworm infestation resulting from badly processed pork in countries such as Papua. Pork sausage from Poland is even more of a no-no!
But rest easy, Aussies – Australian pork is of a very high standard.
Ross was an excellent speaker.
Bits and Pieces, condensed for the available space
* We are 1 of 7 Oz RC’s involved in a matching grant for US$20,000 for water purification in India.
Judy Greer passionately promoted the RYLA camp for 6 days, 13-18 April for 18-25yo’s
A Rotary Foundation supper is planned for Feb. 24. Volunteers to Coral Barker, please.
The market roster for 4th January will be published next week.
So will tonight’s lyrics of the musical presentation by Pam, Jan and Geoff. [Perhaps, even tomorra]
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