This week, President Andrew mentions a couple of Club appeals, reminds us about the Enterprise Forum next week, and concludes his ‘Thought for the Week’ series on the application of Rotary’s Four-way Test.
I was sorry to miss today’s Club meeting to hear our guest speaker Martin Coleman, and to present PP David Corrigan with his Certificate of Honorary Membership for 2023/24.
Photo: David Corrigan with David Rush and President-Elect Doug McLean.
My thanks to President-elect Doug for presiding in my place. My recovery from Covid is progressing satisfactorily and it’s now my turn to play nurse to Pam who caught Covid from me despite our best efforts at home quarantine.
A report on today’s talk is below.
Joint Rochester Floods Relief project
At the Changeover Board meeting on 6 June, we decided to participate jointly with residents of Sackville Grange in providing additional support to the victims of the Rochester floods, including many children, who are facing the winter in caravans and other temporary accommodations. Anne Scott and the Craft Group at Sackville Grange recently raised $3,000 at a lunch and the Board has decided to make a matching grant of $3000. This is in addition to the $2,120 worth of blankets and bedding the Club has already provided to Rochester flood victims and the additional funds will be used to purchase much-needed essentials for the flood victims. A trailer load of goods donated by the Craft Group and others will be sent to Rochester on 23 June and PE Doug and Terry will also travel to Rochester that day to discuss with Rotary Rochester board members how the joint funds can most effectively be used by the community.
Camcare appeal
The Community Service Commit
tee is again running its Camcare emergency food appeal this winter. The appeal starts on 4 July and runs until the last Club meeting at Kooyong in August.
tee is again running its Camcare emergency food appeal this winter. The appeal starts on 4 July and runs until the last Club meeting at Kooyong in August. Last year members donated over $1,000 worth of produce for the appeal which was greatly 
appreciated by Camcare and its clients. With the increases in the cost of food and rent and the increases in homelessness over the past 12 months, the call on Camcare’s emergency food service will be even greater.
appreciated by Camcare and its clients. With the increases in the cost of food and rent and the increases in homelessness over the past 12 months, the call on Camcare’s emergency food service will be even greater. Members are asked to give generously by bringing non-perishable foods such as soup, cooking oil, instant coffee, pasta and sauce, cans of fish etc., but preferably no baked beans because in the past Camcare have been inundated with baked beans. Pet foods are also welcome.
There will be a container at the Front Desk at Kooyong meetings from 4 July onwards in which to put donated goods, and these will be delivered to Camcare periodically by Club volunteers.
I look forward to seeing you on 27 June and until then please keep safe and well.
Thought for the Week
This week I conclude the series on Rotary’s Four-way Test, the ethical principles that underpin it, and how ethical theory can inform the way we apply the Test. In Part 4 last week we looked at how ethical theories can help us apply the second, third, and fourth parts of the Test. In Part 5, I draw some conclusions about whether the Test remains a relevant and practical guide to ethical decision-making in the modern world, and suggest a process for applying the Test in situations when it may not be possible to fully satisfy all four parts of the Test.