Presidential Prattlings
Last week we heard the sad news of Ian Cathels’ passing, and we started our meeting with some reminiscences from PDG Dennis Shore. All agree that Ian was one of the finest Rotarians and gentlemen we have met. There will be a celebration of his life at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club on Wednesday at 4.000 pm.
Our speaker this week was our own PP Anne Scott, OAM, DSJ. We all know that Anne has a Medal of the Order of Australia, but few realize she is also a Member of The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Her address on the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and the Olave Baden-Powell Society showed us once again that many of our members have hidden depths, and we only know a little about their lives. Thanks Anne, for sharing your experiences.
It certainly gets busy at this time of year: last week we had a most enjoyable visit to Paspaley Pearls, followed by a lovely supper at “The Italian” in Flinders Lane. Thanks to Noel Halford, our ever-efficient organizer. Any late payments to Noel for the evening are now well overdue. While we were at Paspaley, Phil Stewart and Joe Devereux led an informal lunch at Kooyong, for those unable to join us in the city.
The weekend was a profitable one for the club’s fundraising coffers: Ian Macfarlane and his sizzling team raised $1,723.70 (net) assisted by volunteers from Swinburne University and Terry from Victoria Police. Left over food was gratefully received at Servants Community Housing.
We now have lots to look forward to: Christmas Party next Thursday at Kooyong, with a famous star to entertain us.
Back to work for the Boroondara Lunch on Sunday 22nd December. Make sure Noel Halford has you on his roster for this annual Merry Christmas for the community event. Peeling spuds or waiting at tables, whichever you are best at.
Bed changeover at St Vincents, alas no longer on Monday 30th December date later in January.
In the New Year we have Car Parking at the Kooyong Classic, 8th to 11th January. Ken McNamara has done a ton of work organizing this, so be sure David Bradshaw has you on the roster.
Busy, busy, busy! But we have a truly great Rotary Club, and it is a great pleasure for me to be this year’s President. Make sure you have a refreshing break, for there’s half the year gone already: our first meeting of 2014 is a barbecue at Rocket Park, and the first formal meeting is back at Kooyong on 21st January to hear Bob Glindemann on Donations-in-Kind.
For our last formal meeting of 2013, I love this quote from Eugene Field: For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes an' toys, Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for naughty boys;
President Gordon