Around the Club 18-12-2012
Tony Charlton – The Private Legend
There have been many tributes to our member Tony Charlton, who died this week. Most related to his contributions to public life. The Shadow, however, was particularly moved by the tale briefly told by Kevin Rose: Kevin’s 17 year old daughter had to make a speech; Tony offered to come round to the Rose household and provide support and guidance; and Tony did just that; without any fanfare whatsoever. Yes, Tony just loved to help. What an example to us all.
President Ngaire Undermining the Police Force?
Soon we are to have an address by Inspector David Griffin of the Victoria Police Highway Patrol. So how does our beloved president try to ‘sell’ this event? She says that our friend the police inspector will tell us how to cheat all the new technological wizardry that the Highway Patrol now has! Fortunately, not even The (pedantic) Shadow believed she was serious!
All We Need is for Geoff Dumayne to Collect the Cash!
Sometimes even our most savvy members ‘mis-speak’. So it was when Phil Stewart told us that all the Christmas wine was sold; but “all we need is for Geoff Dumayne to collect the cash”! Some sage truisms come to The Shadow’s mind, like “The cheque is in the mail” and “Don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched”. Oh, it’s a hard life being an incurable cynic.
What Have I Done Wrong This Time?
So muttered Anne Scott as she and Ken were called up to the podium at our Christmas Dinner on Thursday. Such modesty! Such surprising insecurity? The Shadow doubts that Anne has ever done anything wrong in her entire life. Actually, of course, they went to the podium so that President Ngaire could say nice things about both of them.
Acronyms, Acronyms, Acronyms
Rotary is full of acronyms. Indeed, the District Handbook used to have 3 pages explaining numerous acronyms and abbreviations. (Why, The Shadow asks, in an aside, has this useful information been omitted from the 2012-2013 Handbook?). Anyhow, at our Dinner we learned from President Ngaire that Rotary is not alone in its addiction to acronyms as she reported on having attended a high-powered Guiding lunch. In a surely un-scripted comment, she told us that the Guides had so many acronyms – meaningless to her - flying round the room that she had muttered “Give me another drink!”
Pin, Pun or NZ accent – the Cheek of Bill Troedel!
Our Club is lucky to have in its midst several New Zealanders, including our beloved President Ngaire. Most of us love to hear, analyse and wonder at the occasional NZ vowel sound. Only a few – indeed a very few – quite possibly only one - of us would comment out loud at the intrusion of the tiniest NZ vowel into Ngaire’s fluent diction. Yes, perhaps “Paul Harris Pin” did emerge into the world sounding a tiny bit like “Paul Harris Pun”. But only Bill Troedel would have the bravery and the mischief to comment upon it. We love you, Bill, for your many fine qualities – including your irrepressible cheek!
Off the Cuff – a whole new meaning
Who is the Club’s greatest showman? Gordon Cheyne would surely be on the short list. “I’ll just make a few off the cuff remarks” he said – and promptly produced out of his jacket sleeve a hefty sheaf of notes. Such style! Such panache! The Shadow is green with envy!
Elvis, the Angels, the Dancers
At our dinner, Elvis (the singer, not the helicopter) came again to our club, complete with low lighting and incitement to fun. Elvis roamed through the near darkness, crooning to various of our fine women about looking like an angel. The Shadow, not being equipped with night vision goggles, could only discern Sue Rush, Ginia Reddaway and Anne Scott amongst the ranks of the flattered.
A huge number of members and spouses crammed onto the dance floor. The Shadow awarded the prize for most energetic accomplished dancers to Noel and Lorraine McInnes. The prize for the most successful recruiter of dancing non-spouse-dancing-partners went to David Rush. The prize for the most bashful couple went to Bernie and Margaret Walshe who danced in the dark at the back of the room.
Few of us knew many of the words. But most of us joined in to the Viva Las Vegas chorus. President Ngaire insisted that Elvis should sing Jail House Rock. And all of us had a great time.
