Notes from Meeting of 19th June 2018
Visiting Rotarian: Ron Smith, Rotary Club of Geelong
Guests: Kay Middleton, Jo Hawthorne, Jan Chandler, Barbara Watson, Marian Coppins, Pam Reeves, and Sandy Chamberlain.
President’s Report: Ed Corless, a long-term Lions member, has died.
Andrea Tierney on behalf of the Family Violence Working Group lit a candle and a minute’s silence vigil was held for the memory of Eurydice Dixon, who was killed in Princes Park last week.
Chair: Andrea Tierney
Reports:
Graeme Chamberlain asked for three more volunteers for the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Sunday. All places filled. We need a person to fill in for Norm Elliot while he is ill as Attendance Officer. If you can help, please let Goog know.
Geoff Chandler spoke of his recent visit to St. Moritz where they were charged 2 francs for tap water at a restaurant. However, the charge was actually a donation to the local Rotary Club’s ‘Water Security’ program, which they were happy to pay.
Marian Walton Today was the 1st birthday of the Lazarus Community Centre.
A centre were homeless people can come and have a meal, have a shower, do their washing and feel safe. Get some clothes plus all the other actives that come with the centre.
The photo shows us presenting our 90 pairs of socks, 10 beanies, 22 pairs of men’s jocks and 6 pairs of ladies nickers.
Kardinia Rotary were their also to present 100 pair of socks and they are calling on the Rotarians in our district to donate a pairs of socks, that would be just over 500 pairs one for every Rotarian.
In the photo from left to right:
Kaz, Lazarus Centre Manager, Marion, Sarah, Wendy, Leigh then Michael Nolan
Wendy and Michael had a dream a couple of years ago to open a centre and with the help of Salvation Army they were able to achieve this.
Marg Campbell reminded the Club that Janet Alexander will be taking over the Speakers’ Program next month and asked that suggestions for speakers be given to Janet.
Alex McGee reported that the mid-season leader of Footy Tipping was Geoff Ford, who is 3 ahead of Coog and Gill Morgan. Geoff also won last week.
The Car Rally scheduled for last Sunday was postponed due to the weather to a date to be advised.
Guest Speakers: Nicole Rappel, aided by Lynne Carlson and Gordon King- ‘Trip to Japan May 2018’.
Gordon introduced the talk. Board had agreed to make the trip a quasi-Rotary activity. Members had attended a make-up meeting with the Rotary Club of Tokyo. A surcharge of $200 had been added to the price, which resulted in a $2,600 donation to Rotary Foundation.
Nicole said that 13 people had gone on the trip, many of which were here tonight. The trip was a mixture of traditional and modern Japan. They saw many Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples; many Japanese people practices both religions. They also ate a lot of ice cream in a multitude of flavours.
Their first destination was Tokyo, a centre for shopping, entertainment, culture and dining. They attended a lunchtime Rotary meeting, where translation earpieces were provided, and took a night time dinner cruise. Most intercity transport was via bullet trains, which went over 320 kilometres an hour. They then went to Mt. Fuji located 100 kilometres south of Tokyo. It is still an active volcano 3,776 metres high but has not erupted since 1707. It snowed when they were on the top, which limited the view, however they had excellent views of the mountain afterwards.
The trip then went to Takayama, an historic little town famous for its Hida beef. They stayed at a traditional hotel which had beds on the floor and provided pyjamas to wear while inside. They had traditional style meals in most of the regions visited. After that, they visited Shinakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site with traditional thatched roof houses. The tour then went to Kanazawa, another historical town that had several museums and was known for its gold-leaf handicrafts. Here, they ate gold-leaf ice cream and attended a tea ceremony and the gardens.
The next part of the trip was a visit to Kyoto, which had been the Emperor’s residence until 1868. They visited the Taisma Shrine and dined with a Maiko or trainee Geisha. These girls must undertake five years training at their own expense before becoming a qualifying Geisha. They then visited Miyajima Island off Hiroshima, which had beautiful forests and ancient temples. At Hiroshima they visited the Peace Memorial Park on the atomic bomb site before ending the tour.
Pearl displayed typical souvenirs bought in Japan – kimonos, Saki, seasonally decorated chopsticks. Nicole said they were thinking of running the tour again next year, so if interested please let Lynne know. Jo Hawthorne presented Nicole with a bouquet of flowers as a thank you. Ann Hodgkinson thanked the presenters on behalf of the club.
The meeting ended with John Calnin thanking Marian Walton for all her help during the year. Norm Elliott is home after suffering a stroke and hopefully starting to come good again.
Next week: Is the Change-Over Dinner, 6 O’clock for a 6.30 start. Please wear your Paul Harris medals, etc.
Thank you, Ann Hodgkinson
