Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/RotaryOG/
March Theme: Literacy Month
Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster: 12/3/2017 – 25/3/2017 Noel Emselle,
26/3/2017 – 8/4/2017 Geoff Chandler, 9/4/2017 – 22/4/2017 Tony Haines.
Report of Meeting: 14/3/2017
President:
******There will be no meeting on ANZAC Day. ******
- The next Bunnings' BBQ will be on Sunday 21st May.
- There will be a combined Board Meeting on May 2nd for outgoing and incoming directors.
- A proposal for a trip to Japan will be presented at 5.30 pm next week, 21/3/2017 prior to the regular meeting.
Visitors: Felicity Rousseaux and Hamish Campbell as well as Angus Campbell and two of his friends. Danny Phillips (prospective new member).
A cheque for $750.00 was presented to David Pasvier from OGSLSC and one for $535.00 was presented to Andrew McKinnon from 13th Beach SLSC. These funds came from the gold coin collections gathered at recent markets.
Ivor Guest, the guest speaker.
Community: Items from the OG Primary School and recycled linen from Eng will be included in the next DIK collection.
Publicity: DISTRICT CONFERENCE "BE BOLD" 31March – 1/2April will be held at the Barrabool Hills Centre and Saturday night dinner at the South Barwon Civic Centre with the theme of James Bond. Please check the District Website for all info relating to this important event. Registration forms are also available from the Website. Please register ASAP.
Fundraising: - 'Ride the Bellarine' for Polio Plus is being planned. See John Paton if you can help and confirm if you want the same Marshaling places as last year. This year the event is on 9/4/2017. Hello World has donated tickets for the Rotary Club who sells the most tickets.
Market: Lynne Carlson reported that her handbag went missing.
Raffle tickets are available for sale for the BBQ for the Summer Market.
Health: - Gerry Spencer is still receiving treatment in St John of God and would welcome a chat or a visit. He has been in hospital for 6 weeks and would like contact with the outside world.
Youth: There are approximately 50 students interested in the Junior Citizenship Awards.
Two students are attending the RYPEN Camp.
Jackie Honeywell our Youth Exchange Student is enjoying her experience but is a little homesick.
Footy Tipping: It's on again. See Alex if you wish to have some fun. Please register ASAP.
- Those interested in the trip to India please see Gill Morgan.
Guest Speaker: Ivor Guest.
Ivor has been retired for four years after completing 25 years in the Port Phillip Sea Pilot Service. He was previously in the sea rescue service.
The pilot boat Service commenced in 1839 with the sole purpose of guiding ships into and out of Port Phillip Bay. The Service is privately owned with no government assistance. The fuel supply is available 24 hours and is carefully controlled.
Early Pilot boats were iconic 43ft. launches. The shell built in Western Australia is completely fitted out in Queenscliff. The boats were small with basic equipment and fittings. They were easy to maneuver and carried two pilots, a coxswain and AB. There was no heating but air conditioning. One boat capsized with the loss of all crew so the 53ft. Chivers was introduced. These vessels are good in rough seas but are noisy and not as maneuverable. They have more instrumentation, GPS and track plotters, which make the job easier. In later years 18metre ORC French Design has been introduced. This boat is built and fitted in Mornington. It is very good in heavy weather, cuts well through the water, is comfortable and climate controlled. It is not good at low speed. The engines are computer driven.
The control room is at the Pilot Station in Queenscliff and is manned over 24hours. This is a very busy workplace. The passage of ships is known in advance and under instruction one hour before the pilot takes over. There are 34 pilots, 16 on the duty roster at a time. They work two weeks on and one week off.
The Boarding Ground for pilots on and off ships is five nautical miles South West off Point Lonsdale. The trip is 17 nautical miles in and out of port. Access to the ships is via ropes and rope ladders, not an easy task in rough weather. Ships guided by the service include: Oil Tankers, Container Ships, Heavy Lift Ships, Car Carriers, Chemical Tankers, Wood Chippers, Self Discharging bulk Carriers, General Cargo and various sizes of Cruise Liners.
Qualifications required for the position of a Pilot are a Foreign Going Masters Certificate, several years command experience 80 ledding trips, written and oral exams and 5 check trips. It takes three years to qualify.
Thank you, AG
