26 January, 2010 [no meeting]
STOP PRESS Awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in today’s Australia Day Honours –
Robert Matthew SMITH – Our Bob! Congratulations from President Rod and all your fellow Rotarians.
Australia Day – 222 years on
The year was 1787. In Philadelphia, the newly-independent United States of America proudly finalised a Constitution that appeared to guarantee the democratic rights of every citizen. Thousands of kilometres away, in a Britain still ruled by aristocrats, the very reverse was happening. After losing their American colonies, British rulers now planned to ship their surplus convict population to the farthest part of the world. Those expelled were to colonise the eastern coast of the strange southern continent claimed for Britain by Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy, less than twenty years before.
So the famous First Fleet set sail from Portsmouth. Into its eleven tiny vessels were crammed Governor Arthur Phillip, RN, his staff of nine officers, 443 seamen, 211 marines, 27 wives, 659 male and female convicts, 12 assorted children, and food, tools and animals for their maintenance These were to be the founders of European civilization in Australia.
After an eight months voyage, the fleet anchored in Cook’s Botany Bay. Phillip quickly decided to abandon this swampy area. He sailed up the coast and through Sydney Heads to discover what he jubilantly called “The finest harbour in the world”. On 26th January 1788, some officers and convicts landed at the Tank stream, and began cutting down scrub for firewood.
If they had all come on a modern [2010] ocean liner or fast cargo ship, they could have cut the time by about seven months. The total tonnage of those eleven vessels was about the equivalent of a fully laden Queenscliff ferry. The entire complement of 1362 souls, could have comfortably fitted into two A380 Airbusses and flown out in a bit over a day – although the landing may have been difficult!. But they created history, and it was the very first Australia Day.
But let’s not go back quite so far. How about 101 years ago, when Rotary was just five years old!
Here are some statistics from the U.S. of A. in 1909;

Most women only washed their hair once a month, using Borax or egg yolks for shampoo. The 5 leading causes of death were; 1. Pneumonia & influenza. 2. Tuberculosis. 3. Diarrohea. 4. Heart disease. 5. Stroke.
The population of Las Vegas was only 30! Crossword puzzles and canned beer hadn’t yet been invented. There was no Mother’s or Father’s Day. 2 out of every 10 adults couldn’t read or write. Fair dinkum!
Next week’s meeting
2nd Feb.– The International dinner at ‘Bistro @ 310’, a fundraising effort for the Rotary Foundation. This is a partners’ night, and a scheduled meeting of the club. So if you can come, you must register. In addition to partners, guests are most welcome. The address is 310 Moorabool St Geelong, 6.30 for 7.00, a Greek banquet with live music. $50 per head. Register with Geoff Brentnall urgently– 5256 1527 or geoff.brentnell@eftel.net.au. Geoff and the Rotary Foundation deserve our support.
Your editor has ‘cased the joint’. For those unfamiliar with the address, it is best found by travelling on the Bellarine Highway, turn left at McKillop st., left again at Moorabool St., and the venue is on the next corner on the right [corner of Maud St]. The banquet menu looks great!
Birthdays & Anniversaries 31st Jan. John Wynn 1st Feb. Peter Hawthorne
Car Raffle Sales Duties – the final roster for 2009/10
Sun 31st Jan – Portarlington Market Heather Wallace & Wal Kelly.
Sun 7th Feb – Our market Charles Dawborn, Gerry Spencer & Wal Kelly
Sun 7th Feb - Apco Barwon Heads Bill Walton & Geoff Ford. And that, dear friends, should be the end of it!
It’s a woman’s world
Two roadworkers sit down for their lunch break. One opens his brown paper bag and exclaims in disgust, “Aw, look mate! Flamin’ raspberry jam sandwiches again!”
His mate says, “Why don’t yer go crook at yer missus and git her to give yer somethin’ else?”
To which the first bloke replies, “that’s me trouble, mate. She’s away, so I have to cut me own lunch!”
The District Conference, 12th ,13th, 14th March – Deakin Waterfront Campus
The District Conference, 12th ,13th, 14th March – Deakin Waterfront Campus
Full details and on-line registration are available at www.rotary9780.org, and those members not having internet access, can obtain hard copy details from Secy. Vic. If you seek dinner organized by John Calnin on Friday evening at 6.00 PM [Sailors Rest Restaurant], prior to the Conference start, contact John. A room at the Sheraton has been booked from 2.00 pm on Saturday for our members to meet and change for dinner.
The conference commences at 7.00 PM on Friday, 12th March, but there will also be a special TAC Road Safety Grant Forum at the new TAC office in Brougham St., commencing at 3.00 and followed by afternoon tea. Christine Nixon is expected to be the key-note speaker after the opening of the conference on Friday evening, with supper and fellowship following at 9.30.
The conference resumes at 9.00 on Saturday morning, and speakers will include Peter Brown, Executive Director Save The Children Fund; Tom Henderson, Founder & CEO, ShelterBox; John McGrath AM, Deputy Chairman of Beyond Blue; Professor David de Kretser AC, The Governor of Victoria; and Bruce Allen, Polio Plus. There will also be a presentation from the Brazilian GSE team, and the evening’s highlight will be the ‘Rotary Rocks Dinner’ in the Community Bank Marquee at 7.30.
The conference resumes on Sunday morning and will conclude at 1.00 with a boxed lunch.
The costs are, per person, All conference sessions including Saturday Dinner & Entertainment. $185 All conference sessions excluding Saturday Dinner & Entertainment. $140 Friday only $40 All Saturday sessions including Dinner & Entertainment $160 Saturday Dinner and Entertainment only $60 Sunday sessions, including lunch $35
A message from the President about the Thai students’ visit
Special thanks to the 3 host families, - Clays, Emselles & Greers, and to the Waltons and Noel Emselle for touring, [ farm activities, The Marine Discovery Centre, Anglesea kangaroos, Bell’s Beach surfers and Geelong shopping were highlights - See Photos HERE]. The 3 visiting students were products of orphanages or children’s homes, and were examples of a highly recommended program. Rod suggests you visit www.Fr.RayFoundation.org.
Their command of English was gained from a study over just 1 week before arrival in Oz!
Rod says: “As an exercise in building international understanding, I thought it worked well. If it is to continue into the future, then we need to look at the timing of it and keeping the flexibility of the program”.
Celebrating World Wetlands Day , Sunday 31st January 2010
There are lots of local activities, and brochures are available from the Marine Discovery Centre at Queenscliff or visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/worldwetlandsday. You can drive to ‘Waders and Wetlands on the Bellarine’ which will be on from 9.30 am to 12.00 near the start of the boardwalk opposite Minah St, Barwon Heads.
John Fox, 1645, 26/01/2010