Presidential Prattlings

Bob Glindemann, AM spoke on the topic: Donations In Kind – A Well Kept Secret. Bob’s relevations on the extent of DIK’s operations were a surprise to most members. The scope of the activities and distribution of goods to the needy, both overseas and in Australia, are something about which he can justifiably be proud. Chairman Ken McNamara thanked Bob with a small gift, and several of us shall be loading hospital beds to go to Chile later in the week. 

Other visitors from RC Melbourne were Marion McLeod, who told us about the International Women’s Day Breakfast on 4th March (details elsewhere) and Philip Endersbee, who swopped lies with Gery Cantwell about their experiences in the Sydney-Hobart Ocean Race. Sheila Cheyne completed the list of visitors. 

RI Convention in Sydney: David Pisterman requests that each attending couple to pay $480 to the Club via credit card, cash or EFT as soon as possible, so that Treasurer Robert Ball can complete payment of the room deposits. Deposits are DUE NOW! 

Noel Halford reported on the Boroondara Foundation Xmas Lunch, when we served Xmas lunch to around 260 socially disadvantaged or isolated residents of Boroondara. This was a great co-ordinated effort between the Boroondara Foundation and our club, with enthusiastic assistance from Camberwell High School: well done, Noel and team! 

Another great effort over the holiday break was the car-parking at Kooyong for the AAMI Tennis Classic. Thanks to Ken McNamara for liason with the council, day-captains David Bradshaw, Chris Hanson and Ian McFarlane, Swinburne University Volunteers, and all who assisted. Bagman Philip Slobom collected the money daily, and by the end of the tournament he had banked $5,235.00 

What could be better than a fairy-tale with a beautiful princess and a happy ending, but a true story? You may remember that last year, under the leadership of President Ngaire Cannon, that Hawthorn RC became a Corporate Sponsor of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and that shortly afterwards District 9800 did the same. Anne Scott invited several members to have dinner with and to meet HRH Princess Azizah Iskandar, Patron of the Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGGS when she visited Melbourne. Our exchange student Anemone Kirk was especially delighted to meet Princess Azizah, as she is a Girl Scout in Denmark. Discussions were carried on behind the scenes about training Girl Guide leaders in Myanmar, involving District 9800, WAGGS and the Myanmar administration.  

 DG Ross Butterworth has continued these discussions, and can now reveal that the Rotary Clubs of Hawthorn and Melton Valley will be involved in a District Grant of $15,000 for training Girl Guide leaders in Myanmar within a few months. This exciting breakthrough may lead to further Rotary involvement and perhaps the eventual founding of a Rotary Club in Myanmar: it is gratifying to think we have been a part of this small step towards world peace and understanding. Many thanks to Anne Scott and PDG Dennis Shore for instigating the idea. Yes, that IS better than a fairy-tale! 

Next week: Natalie Djurkovic: 5,000 years of Chinese Culture.  Chairman to be David Rush  

Quote for the week: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” -Colin Powell