The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. 

Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form.

The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow.

- Leonardo da Vinci

What’s in the News?

It looks like Phil Dolan hit the news with his talk last week:  The Linkedin Network certainly had the event covered. The Shadow wonders how many tuned in. 

Morning Tea with the DG (by Zoom) 

This was quite an event last Saturday, with an introduction of gleeful singing and dancing. We workers at DIK logged in and had a coffee break as Bob Glindemann gave a report on the past year’s activities. Bob pointed out that in the past 20 years the amazing volunteers at DIK has shipped out 612 containers, with goods valued at over sixty-four million dollars!

Then President Tilak’s call for helpers to “clear up the mess” at a Working Bee next Saturday was quickly re-badged as “streamlining the production line”.  

The workers on the left showed you before how easy it is: Denbigh Richards, Faye Christoffelsz, Peter Lugg, Suzy Zidziunas and David Pisterman, all smiling as they work.

The East Keilor and Passport Rotary Clubs are committed to help: we hope some of you can come along too: Saturday 5th December from 9.30 am. See under “Events”

DISCUSSION GROUPS

Andrew Crockett reported that the Zoom Meeting of Interest Groups this week to be a great success: everyone enjoyed it sufficiently to want to hold monthly meetings in future.

The Current Affairs Group’s topics included:

·         Should soldiers suspected of war crimes be stripped of bravery awards? 

·         Should public transport be free?

·         The pros and cons of jury trials

Meanwhile The Bookworms described their eclectic tastes, and unanimously agreed to read ‘The Hare with the Amber Eyes' by Edmund de Waal, and then discuss it at the next meeting in February.

A number of members had expressed interest in a Travel discussion group.  When he publicises the February meeting, Andrew will ask Club members who are interested in a Travel Group to let him know.  If we have four or five interested we can include a Travel Group.

Did you enjoy Pam Crockett’s report on Eleven Bats?  Pam modestly described her cricketing credentials: :

“I have attended many Test matches in the dim past  particularly at the MCG and several members of the family were good cricketers for the Coburg Cricket Club. They mixed medicine with bats and and were mostly psychiatrists and my great, great uncle, Dr Ramsay Mailer, played against the infamous English Cricket Captain, Dr W G Grace, whilst in UK. finishing his medical studies.”

What could be better than a mixture of Psychiatry and Cricket? Appoint her Cricket Editor on the spot!

And The Shadow loved Chris Hanson’s contribution, from Rudyard Kipling’s “Tommy”:

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap. 

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. 

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an` Tommy, 'ow's yer soul? "

But it's " Thin red line of 'eroes " when the drums begin to roll

The Shadow contributes a mathematical constant to keep you focussed.

Can you fathom it?  It always works!