15th June, 2011
Notice for the meeting at Club Grove, Tuesday 21st June, 6.00 for 6.30
Subject 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Speaker Dr. David Holloway, author of the definitive history of the Brigade – ‘Endure and Fight’ Chairman Phil Edwards
Assistant Cashier & Thanker Rod Birrell Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Rod Bush
Birthdays 22nd Geoffrey Cummins
Sign in a Japanese hotel: ‘You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.’
Notice for the meeting at Club Grove, Tuesday 28th June, 6.30 for 7.00 NOTE THE SPECIAL TIME
Our annual Presidential change-over night, when Noel Emselle will hand over the Presidential chain of office to Margaret Campbell. It is a partners night and all members and partners are expected to attend. If not, you must lodge apologies no later than noon, Monday 27th June. Master of Ceremonies Geoff Chandler
Assistant Cashier Ian Downing Greeter & Assistant Sergeant Rod Greer Birthday 1st July Rod Greer
In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: ‘You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday.’
Monday is not often a time for exciting media comment, but there are exceptions
- One of the headlines on the front page of the Age last Monday referred to Max Walker, of cricket, football, media, literary and after-dinner-speaker fame being awarded a Queens birthday honour. In the commentary which followed, he was named as one of the prime movers behind ‘Disaster Aid Australia’, which is in direct competition with our Rotary ‘Shelter Box’ programme! I didn’t know that!
- On the front page of the ‘Addy’ on the same day, was reference to a riot in Crane Court, Ocean Grove. 11 patrol cars, 18 police personnel, and about 60 teenagers were involved, and with Crane Court only occupying half a block, it must have been quite a ‘fracas’, and fairly crowded!. The home of one of our esteemed members backs onto CCOG, and I phoned her on Monday morning, only to get her answering machine. By the time you read this, we will have discovered if she survived! P.S. She wasn’t even there!
- Of much lesser import was the account of the severe disruption to Eastern Australian air traffic caused by the ‘ash cloud’ originating in a Chilean volcano. Initial reports stated that the ash cloud had drifted towards us via the Pacific Ocean, heading East to West! That would have been contrary to normal weather patterns, but has since been corrected. It crossed the Indian Ocean from South America, drifted south of the African continent, crossed the Indian Ocean, drifted south of Australia, before shifting north to New Zealand, and then to southern Australia. Very odd!
Hotel, Zurich: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
Committee reports fron last night’s meeting
- We had lots of visitors last night, including our ADG Jane Cox, the Warrnambool RC secretary for the March 2012 district conference, and a large delegation from RC Queenscliffe.
- Chris Nolan, our ‘Shine on’ awardee addressed the meeting and thanked the club for our $500 support of the MS appeal.
- Bill Walton advised a working bee at the lookout reserve next Wednesday, and the launch of the Heritage Panels on Saturday 25th June at 10.00 am.
- Geoff Brentnall reported an infusion of $US174m into the PolioPlus fund over the past three years, including $7587 from our club.
- Geoffrey & Ingrid Cummins, due to re-locate to Lara in the near future, have decided to delay their move for a brief period to enable Geoffrey to oversee the winter markets commencing 3 July.
- Ian Downing & Coral Barker reported progress with the Art Show timed for 29/30/31 October, with general plans, catalogues, and catering.
- Trevor McArdle reminded us of the 19/20 November ‘Megaswim’.
- With his customary shy reticence, Alex Magee admitted his leadership of the club footy tipping competition, but pointed out that the Waltons have scored FIVE bottles of wine so far, [and the season is only half over!]
Our many visitors could not have failed to be impressed with our programme last night
It was a very skilled, professional and informative overhead-projection-aided talk by Geelong urologist Mr Richard Grills on that small but potentially aggressive organ, the male prostate. But the success of the evening included the supporting cast of chairman John Dodgshun, some searching questions from the audience, and the thanks expressed by Colin Brown. Those male members in my age category not already afflicted, may no longer fear prostate cancer, although we may perhaps die with it, rather than of it, as it is generally a very slow growing disease.
Common with many other health concerns are cardio-vascular problems, smoking, weight control, high cholesterol, hypertension, mental health, alcohol and drug dependency. Prostate cancer is as prevalent in males as breast cancer is with women. Was there ever a more attentive audience than last nights?
With my long term as bulletin editor coming to an end, I take this opportunity of congratulating, on your behalf, Trevor McArdle for his excellent choice of programmes this Rotary year. Last nights and next Tuesdays programmes should prove to be a very satisfactory culmination of a great effort!
Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand: ‘Would you like to ride on your own ass?’.
Update on past member Dennis Sanders
Dennis, in Bellarine 5 at Geelong Hospital, is recovering from a lung infection, but will need a triple heart by-pass operation. He is in good spirits and is accepting visitors.
Airline ticket office, Copenhagen: ‘We take your bags and send them in all directions’.
Two interesting years, 1981 & 2005
In 1981, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool was crowned soccer Champions of Europe, Australia lost the Ashes, and the Pope died.
In 2005, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool was crowned soccer Champions of Europe, Australia lost the Ashes, and the Pope died. Fair Dinkum!
There is a lesson to be learned: The next time Charles gets married, someone should warn the Pope. Fair dinkum!
Sisters and Brothers in Service
Australian Rotary clubs, in common with most others, began their service work in the community, and some early attention was given to the problems of war widows and their children. However, only two years after the formation of the first Australian Rotary club, Legacy was formed and took over that role. With a little help from Rotary, Apex was first established in Geelong in 1930, and by the 1970’s, had 6500 members in 500 clubs; sadly, no longer in existence. Lions, like Rotary, was formed in Chicago in 1917, and is still flourishing. Kiwanis was formed in nearby Detroit in 1925, but was always a poor relation to both Rotary and Lions. The first Zonta club was formed in Buffalo, U.S.A. in 1919, and the first club in Australia was formed in 1966 in Sydney It was also Buffalo, and in the same year, 1919, that the first Quota club started and quickly grew but ultimately faded.
Soroptimists may only be known to you if our Alison George has mentioned her membership, but the movement, strictly for the ladies, is alive and kicking! Oaklands, California was the original home of this organisation in 1921, and is a curious amalgam of the words ‘sorority’ and ‘optimum’. Inner wheel is an association of female relatives, [mainly wives] of Rotarians, but the incidence of this type of club has clearly diminished with the ever-increasing membership of women in Rotary.
The point of all this is that the above clubs can all trace their existence back to the standards set by Rotary way back in 1905.
A laundry in Rome: ‘Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time’.
Don’t forget this Friday, 17th June, for a ‘hands on’ day!
Community planting day, Bellarine Rail Trail, departing by free rail from Queenscliff Rail Station at 9.00 am, or drive to the corner of Anderson Rd. Drysdale and the rail trail at 0930. Free lunch and refreshments courtesy the Bellarine Landcare Group.
And this concludes my penultimate bulletin. John Fox, 1030, 15/06/11
