Presidential Prattlings

Stop Press

Although around twenty typhoons strike the Phillipines in a year, Typhoon Haiyan caused particular devastation by striking a densely populated area with flimsy structures, and was followed by a storm surge which drowned many people.

On Tuesday, your Board decided to donate $5000.00 on your behalf to Disaster Aid Australia, to assist their Rapid Response Disaster Relief. Members are welcome to add to this amount, or to donate through District 9800’s links with Rotary District 3860’s Disaster Fund.  We hope relief efforts can provide fresh water, and prevent disease and further loss of life.

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It is good to be back after the Melbourne Cup break: I hope members enjoyed some profitable investment, and that you found Tuesday’s Club Forum informative. I personally am delighted by the involvement of our members, and the smooth running of the club under the watchful eye of Noel Halford. Ngaire Cannon was thrown into the deep end, just back from India and being required to report on her portfolio of “Rotary Cares”. Ngaire skilfully got David Owen, Geoff Wright and Ken McNamara to update us on the progress in areas of Youth, Vocational and Community Services. Fundraising was described by Chris Hanson, and Simon O’Donoghue explained how the Survey Street Trust contributes to our community fundraising.

In all, it was a worthwhile exercise, giving members the opportunity to understand and question the club’s programmes.

We have several Travellers Tales yet to be heard: for example David Rush negotiating the Great Wall of China, and Ngaire the Himalaya passes, once we can find time. Today was just too busy, but it was a pleasure to welcome DG Elect Murray Verso and Richard Groom back for a visit and a chat.