www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Vol.26 No.28
January 6, 2009
Notice for the Meeting at the Ocean Grove Fire Brigade Premises, 13th January, 6.00 for 6.30
Please note that if you do not intend attending, you must inform Hans by 10.30 am Friday 9th. The cost remains $20.You are required to bring whatever drinks you propose consuming on the night, plus glasses.
Chairman Bob Smith Attendance Officer Dick Clay
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Charles Dawborn Greeter Ken Fleay
Birthdays & Anniversaries
9th January Colin & Jan Brown, Alex & Ann Magee
11th Richard Grimmett
13th Noel & Trish Emselle
14th Geoff & Jan Chandler
Notable World Events in the week ahead, [that was]
The Great Hanshin Earthquake
The 7.2 magnitude Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 hit the Kobe area at 5.46 A.M. on Tuesday January 17th, leaving over 6000 people dead, 30,000 injured, 300,000 homeless, and 110,000 buildings damaged. It was the worst quake to hit Japan since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 which killed 143,000 people. No city block was spared with many buildings leaning on their foundations. Many people in smaller wooden dwellings and larger high-rises were left homeless in near-freezing temperatures.
Immediately after the earthquakes in San Francisco [1989], and Los Angeles [1994], Japanese authorities claimed that Japanese construction – unlike that of U.S. and other countries, was uniquely capable of withstanding quakes of great magnitude. The Kobe quake dramatically proved how misplaced this confidence was.
One of the most puzzling aspects of the disaster was the reluctance of Japanese authorities to accept assistance from foreign countries. Motivated by national pride and self-sufficiency, Japanese bureaucrats resisted allowing medicines and relief personnel into the country without first subjecting them to time-consuming procedures, such as obtaining government licences. The disaster provoked considerable discussion in Japan and abroad about lessons to be learned for managing similar catastrophies in the future.
Aren’t we lucky to live on the Bellarine Peninsular.
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Notice for the social night in the gardens of ‘Galeforce Proteas’ [Al’s Place] on Tuesday 20th Jan at 6.00
Partners are welcome but must be booked in with Hans, [or in the Book], by noon, Friday 16th. [To be confirmed] Non-attendance must also be advised by that time. Caterers need to have ample advice of numbers.
Chairman Alex Magee Attendance Officer Bruce Gilbert
Assistant Cashier Bob Osbourne Thanker President John
Fellowship and nibbles in the garden on arrival, followed by an address by Siemens Science Summer School delegate Camden Tilley. Dinner at 7. BYO drinks, glasses and chairs
Birthdays & Anniversaries
22nd Margaret Campbell 24th John & Shirley Dodgshun 25th Heather Grimmett
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A kinder. pupil told his teacher he’d found a cat but it was dead. ‘How do you know the cat was dead?” she asked him. “cos. I pissed in its ear and it didn’t move” replied the child. “You did what?” the teacher exclaimed. “you know” said the boy, “ I leaned over and went Pssst and it didn’t move.”
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Amy’s Ride
I am immensely grateful to Marion and Bill Walton, Jo and Peter Hawthorne, Gerry Spencer, David Cooke and my Jan for volunteering to work with me for most of last Sunday coping with most of the 2200 riders taking part in the annual ‘Amy’s Ride’ around the Bellarine Peninsular. I am sure that most of my team had other commitments, such as visitors from Sydney for the Hawthornes, but their presence made me feel for the umpteenth time, what a privilege it is to be a member of such a great Rotary club.
The Amy Gillett Foundation took about $70,000 in gross revenue from 2,200 riders entered in 4 fun events, ranging from 120 to I kilometer. We eight in our exclusive team did not meet even one unhappy rider, and they each paid $53 for the privilege of taking part in that very worthy outing. We worked very well as a team, and handed out drinks, fruit and other goodies over a three hour period. We had a gazebo, large table and running water supplied, and Peter H even provided a running commentary on the test cricket.
The CEO of the Foundation is to be our guest speaker on 27th January, and he will tell you more about the local event, the aims of the Foundation, and their plans for the future.
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The Car Raffle Ticket Sale Extravaganza!
My mob were selling in the western end of the Riverview Caravan Park. Frankly, the economic downturn did not seem to be troubling the incumbent holiday-makers. The only knock-back I got was from a guy who said all he had was a credit card. It was one of those occasions when I wished I could have produced one of those little ‘slip .n slide’ machines!
The most reliable count I got of the attendees at John & Nan Calnin’s excellent BBQ was 43 members and about 15 consorts. They all appeared affable. We are grateful for the hospitality.
The boss struggled to hold the attention of his audience, but he did get across the advice that Trevor McArdle needs 16 marshalls at the Portarlington cycling event on Sunday 1st February. More concise details will be supplied in bully 26/29.
He also announced a rather extraordinary collection at the market main gate last Sunday morning of $1152.10, all of which was contained in a cheque which your editor has been instructed to convey to the CEO of the Amy Gillett Foundation.
The boss also announced that our entire allocation of 80 tickets for the ‘Trots Night’ later this month at $35 each, have been sold. A brisk trade on the black market is now underway!
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Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
It was a bloody good market
Chairman Phil. Edwards reported to my editorial staff, attendance last Sunday, [on top of the ‘Rip to River’ run, the Amy Gillett Ride and numerous other local events], 1238 cars parked at our monthly market, with occupants patronizing 97 stalls and handing over $222 in raffle takings, on top of the entrance donations listed for the AGF benefit as described above. We were a busy little community!
What a truly marvelous job Phil. And his team are doing!
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