Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove Inc.
www.rotaryoceangrove.blogspot.com
Vol.26 No.46
May 12, 2009
Notice for the meeting at the Ocean Grove Hotel, Tuesday 19th May, 6.00 for 6.30
Speaker Anna Hunter Subject Road Trauma Unit Chairman Trevor McArdle
Attendance Officer Ian Bent Assistant Cashier & Thanker John Paton
Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Coral Barker
Birthdays & Anniversaries 22nd Joan Steains, Phil Edwards 24th Anne Geerings
Apologies and advice of guests attending
Don’t forget to record your apologies or guests in the book before you leave the week before, or otherwise phone Hans no later than noon on the Monday before the meeting. Death, hospitalization, [unexpected] or the outbreak of swine flu in your household will constitute reasonable excuse for non-apology, but at the next available meeting you attend, the ‘penalty meal’ will be a lamb shank, with a risotto chaser.
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Coca-Cola was invented in 1885 by American Pharmacist, John Stith Pemberton. The original ingredients included wine and cocaine and it was sold as a medicine.
Notice for the introductory meeting at Club Grove [Ocean Grove Bowling Club, Tuesday 26th May
6.00 for 6.30
Your editor knows no details of this meeting but it is reasonable to presume that the meal will cost no more than the usual $20, and that we will pay for our own drinks. If there is anything else you need to know in advance, I will try to get details to you before the night. Vice President Helen Trigg will act in JC’s place.
There will almost certainly be other personnel required, but with our multi-skilled members, that is cinchy.
Birthdays & Anniversaries.
27th May Phil & Robyn Edwards 31st Bob Osbourne 1st June Wal Kelly
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In the 1890’s, Emperor Menelek of Ethiopia was informed of a new method of execution in the USA – the electric chair. Impressed, he immediately ordered three to be sent to his palace. There was no electricity in Ethiopia at the time, but rather than waste the chairs, he used one as a throne. Fair dinkum!
Suriname project delivers clean water to 10,000
The small South American nation of Suriname may only have three Rotary clubs, but Rotarians there have made a big impact with projects to improve access to clean water. Illegal mining has caused mercury contamination in many rivers and streams , affecting the lives of thousands.
Focusing on the indigenous communities of Kajapatie and Abenaston, the Rotary club of Paramaribo worked with clubs in Germany, the Netherlands and United States on a US$73,000 project for a new safe-water system. These funds helped purchase holding tanks, filters, pumps, and other equipment, all powered by solar panels. The club received Matching Grant support from the Rotary Foundation, and additional support from other organizations.
The local populations were actively involved in all aspects of the clean water facilities. Villagers helped install underground water mains and were trained on system maintenance.
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Number Two Idiot of 2008
Early that year, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s.. They were successful in getting it out of the aircraft and home. Shortly after, they took it for a float on the river, and noticed a Westpac Rescue Helicopter coming towards them.
It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locator beacon that activated when the raft was inflated. They are no longer employed at Boeing…
Forensic scientists can identify a person’s age, gender, race and state of health from a single hair.
Mildura – an oasis [of fruit, wine and art] in the desert
Your editor was in Mildura last weekend. When I lived there [until 1956], the population of the Sunraysia district was about 25,000. Today, the Rural City of Mildura boasts 60,000. With the worsening drought, the drive north of about 600 kms from here is far from a pretty experience and thousands of visitors recognize that by flying, as I did. Mildura, third busiest airport in Victoria, is serviced from Tullamarine by 8 return flights each day – one, a pure jet, the other 7, prop-jets, provided by 3 airlines. My plane, a Dash-8, had 76 seats, and took 65 minutes for the flight, considerably quicker than the drive from OG to Tullamarine.
The disrict’s reputation for abundant fruit, quality wine, fine food and ample accommodation is now enhanced by its development as surely the most culturally significant provincial centre in Australia, and that is no exaggeration.
The recently completed multi-level and multi-million-dollar ‘The Art Vault’ in Deakin Avenue is an eye opener and a quite axtraordinary example of what can be achieved by the innovative conversion of the old Commonwealth Bank premises. But it is only one of several art precincts in this modern city. Be There!
Useful websites include www.helenhealy.com & www.theartvault.com.au.
If you want to do a ‘Rotary make-up’, there are six Rotary clubs in the Sunraysia district.
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The world’s highest tsunami wave since 1900
A 524-metre-high tsunami wave crashed down in Lituya Bay, Alaska, on 9 July, 1958. Located in Glacier Bay National Park, the tsunami was caused by a massive landslide that was triggered by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake. The water from the bay covered 13 square kilometres of land and traveled inland for 1100 metres. Millions of trees were washed away. Amazingly, because the area was very isolated and the coastline was sheltered by coves, only two people died when their fishing boat sank.
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Today’s Board Meeting
$2500 granted to the local CFA to assist with refurbishment of their light trailer.
$300 to assist with the Youthfest at Bellarine Sec. College. We will have a display, incl. a shelter box.
$500 to Rotary Health Fund for health programmes, including cancer & mental health.
We will be trying out a couple of venues over the few weeks before ‘change-over night’, but you will all be asked for your views. What is certain is that the change-over night will be held at the Barwon Heads Golf Club on Tuesday 30th June, and the ultimate regular venue will be given very careful and unrushed consideration before a final choice is made.
Our Judy Greer and a rep. from the Drysdale Rotary club, will shortly be visiting local colleges to seek students for the summer Science programme. The cost is expected to be $1990 per student, of which we will probably find half.
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The fingerprints of koalas and humans are so similar that they could be confused at a crime scene.
And we all went out to dinner
Generations of students have known tonight’s venue as Davidson Hall, a place for assemblies, exams, dances and dinners. It is the oldest building of the Gordon Institute, completed in 1887.
Davidson Hall was remodeled in 1978 to become Davidson Restaurant and again in 2000 and now operates as a training facility where students gain hands on experience in hospitality service and cookery. This practical work forms a very necessary part of student training.
66 of us had exclusive occupancy of this venue for a lovely dinner of the chef’s tasting plate, a choice of Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Prime Roast Beef Sirloin or Classic Chicken Chasseur, followed by The Grand Dessert. A gastronomic orgy for just $30 per person.
Almost 1000 staff provide 200 courses for 26,000 students. Fair dinkum!
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The shortest war in history was fought between Britain & Zanzibar in 1896. The Brits won in 38 mins.
