District Conference week and a great week it was. Really excellent speakers, an extraordinary venue, and a well planned program. Enjoyed going to MONA despite the “confronting” exhibitions – the venue was unique and worth the visit. Hobart of course has come a long way and is now ia superb place to visit. I even enjoyed a game of golf at Royal Hobart. The only negative was being seated on our own at the Gala Dinner. Not sure who has the say in who sits with who but we were not included. Thanks for that.
Anne Scott is the story of the week for being awarded the Service Above Self Award one of Rotary’s highest levels of recognition. Congratulations Anne.
Our guest speaker this week was a triumph. Great to see someone with true guts and determination overcoming obstacles to achieve something beyond imagining. Thanks to Jeremy Scott.
This week is 21st March - Relay for Life (Noel Halford). Please turn up at 630pm for a sausage and a walk.
Soon it will be “Rotarians At Work Day” (April 11-12) when we will be asked to join with our sister clubs in Boroondara to be visible for Rotary. Please mark the date.
14th May - Theatre Night - Evita the Musical (Noel Halford )
With a title about a "broken heart" some maybe expected a story of unrequited love! Not so. Jeremy Scott a New Zealander described his adventures and bike riding from London to Auckland over two and a half years, 50,000 kilometers and only 7 punctures.
Why such a trip? As Jeremy explained here was the thrust of his life changing moment. Noting that we all contemplate/perhaps dream of carrying out some fanciful idea but mostly don't, he told of when first in London the idea of cycling home to NZ was one such little thought. However then the big moment "why not" and "let's give it a go"! So he did, without any significant cycling background or skill he outfitted a bike and sought to challenge himself onto the first leg to Amsterdam. The joy and fulfillment in getting there built up his confidence and motivation and so with successive incremental steps in Europe, his skill, fitness, and drive grew. Finally at Istanbul any doubts about carrying on were dispelled.
Subsequently Jeremy traveled east through Iran, ultimately traversing China, across to Japan and then back through south east Asia (Vietnam) to Singapore across to Indonesia, landing in Darwin to traverse to the south of Australia and finally circumventing New Zealand.
He described moments of peril with encounters with the Iranian and Filipino Mafia, wonderful scenery but above all the many acts of kindness offered by strangers throughout the world along his journey. Just listening we got an understanding along with the geographic progress, of his evolving self-discovery/ actualization,confidence and above all increasing awareness of the plight of others and how he could and wanted to help them.
The "broken heart'' tag arises from how as a child he was successfully operated on to repair a large whole in his heart. At the time his case was leading edge surgery and rehabilitation techniques. Only a few years previous cases like his had limited success rates. That history helped inspire his journey, his interest in humanity, and desire to provide financial support for various heart research.
Back home after 2 plus years Jeremy was faced with a vacuum and need for another challenge. Hence he wrote about his journey. This culminated in the delighted publication "The Long Road from a Broken Heart" and the commitment to contribute a significant part of any royalties etc to funds for heart research.
The highlight at the recent District Conference in Hobart was the presentation to member Anne Scott of Rotary's major award "Service above Self". This award was first created in 1991: it is the highest honour that Rotary International can bestow on an individual Rotarian. Recipients of this award must have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary on a continuing basis. A maximum of 150 such awards are made annually, and only five Rotarians from District 9800 have been previously honoured.
With an in absentia presentation by Rotary President Gary Huang, Anne was duly given the award in Hobart. It was without doubt the top event for our club members. Hearing of all the pursuits which Anne has undertaken for Rotary over the years was wonderful. Clearly she was absolutely deserving of it and at our last lunch meeting we all extended our congratulations and thanks.
The Club was well represented at this most enjoyable District Conference, with Hansons, Walshes, Shores, Pistermans, Corrigans, Drurys, Scotts and Cheynes attending.
We had some outstanding speakers: criminal and human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique told her amazing story as a British Soldier in Iraq, and David Galbally, one of Melbourne’s most respected legal authorities gave us a laugh a minute. “Coodabeen Champion” Ian Cover kept the show moving along until the final dinner, when we were entertained by Kiwi Magician Jonathan Usher and 1970’s Queen of Pop, Colleen Hewett. It was a truly splendid show, and we congratulate DG Murray Verso and his team on a great conference.
One of our long term members Vic Burns has recently relocated to an age care facility(see item below). What is little known however is how Vic years ago was a key promoter in establishing one such group.
Vic was one of the men who started Catholic Homes. Below is a link to the Catholic Homes website.
It's an interesting story to read but the following extract is most relevant.
In the early 1950’s, seeing homeless people all around, Dame Pattie Menzies, the wife of Prime Minister Bob Menzies persuaded her husband to legislate to provide housing for the Aged. This became known as the Aged Persons Act 1954. The funds that were allocated became available to build housing controlled by Churches, Religious organisations, local Government, Not-for--profit organisations and Benevolent Societies.
Enter into this scenario four ordinary men. Four normal human beings like you and I. Not saints. Not theologians. Not priests or religious. But four men who had a social conscience and a deep concern for the growing number of homeless they saw around them. People who in addition to their own full-time work and raising, often times large families, began Catholic Homes. They were: Neville Stanley Finn, Victor Edward Burns, Amadic Stanley L’Huillier and Raymond Frederick Shepherdson.
Driving to work one morning, Neville Finn heard the news that the Menzies Government had passed the Aged Person’s Act and that funding for housing elderly people would become available. After mulling over the idea, he rang his good friend Vic Burns and told him all about it. ‘Between then and getting to work I was thinking about this and so I rang Vic Burns. I said, ‘I reckon we can do something with this.’
Get down to John Gardiner Reserve at 6.30 pm this Saturday night for the "Relay for Life" event with some of our club members. There will a BBQ there and try to stay around for the wonderful moving candlelight vigil just after dark. I am sure even a spontaneous visitor who has not forewarned our team will be welcome
Gordon Cheyne will be the editor of the Bulletin for the next 3-4 weeks until 14 April. In the absence of the current one overseas visiting a daughter, contributions, notifications etc should go to Gordon.
.JPG)
