While the culture wars and debates over multiculturalism dominate politics and news, the invisible force we call culture quietly influences everything we do. It can be seen as the shared values, habits, and beliefs that develop within a group over time. It gives us identity and a sense of belonging, but it can also hinder us if we stop questioning it.
Our guest speaker this week, Dr Cameron Roberts, discussed the impact of culture on performance based on his PhD research and his book Pianism. Although his focus was on the world of music, his findings can be readily applied to sport, education, and, indeed, all human pursuits, institutions, and communities. He contrasted long-standing cultural beliefs, how things have “always been done”, with approaches rooted in science and evidence. When pianists use evidence-based methods, they perform better, recover more quickly, and maintain their well-being more effectively.
Rotary clubs also have their own cultures. Each one has its own rhythm, personality, shared traditions, and ways of working. Seven clubs in Boroondara, all drawing from the same demographic, each possess distinct cultures. Culture can be a valuable asset, but if left unchecked, it can also be destructive. As we discussed in our Bookworms meeting about Monsignor Quixote, belief systems—whether religious or political—can either foster cohesion or lead to conflict when held too tightly.
Cameron’s message served as a timely reminder that success and improvement come from curiosity and reflection, and from being open to examining what works, what doesn’t, and why. The same mindset applies in Rotary: when we make decisions based on evidence and experience rather than long-held assumptions, we can become more resilient and relevant.
As we near our Strategic Planning discussions and Annual General Meeting, it’s essential to reflect on our club culture; what sustains it, what may need to change, and how honest, thoughtful reflection can enhance our performance, wellbeing, and longevity as a vibrant Rotary club.
Mark your calendar for our AGM on the 25th of November. This is a key meeting for ALL members. Please prioritise your attendance.
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING Kooyong - 11 November
(No meeting next week - Cup Day)
Shaun Graf - Former International Cricketer
An admired Victorian all-rounder Shaun Graf delivers a wealth of cricketing knowledge and stories from his lifetime of playing the game.
You won’t want to miss this lively and engaging talk by one of cricket’s respected figures.
Some of his many achievements include:
Commenced 1976 at Premier Club St Kilda Cricket Club -Played over 300 1st xi Grade/District/Premier matches with St Kilda, Frankston Peninsula and South Perth CC winning five (5) Senior Premierships, (Captain/Coached two (2) of those).
Coached Hampshire in 1993 as a replacement for Malcolm Marshall
Pro with Wiltshire & Cornwall in the Minor Counties; Knowle in the Bristol & District League & Great Harwood in the Ribblesdale League.
Played 55 1st class matches for Victoria, WA & Hampshire (1979 - 1984) winning two winning Sheffield Shields, one with Vic (79-80) & WA (83-84) and two one day cup State wins
Joint winner with Greg Shipperd WA Cricketer of the Year in 1983-84
Represented Australia in 11 one day internationals (India, NZ, WI & Pakistan) and was 12th man in two Tests (India, NZ)
1983-84 Played for Western Australia
State Selector/Chair of Selectors for eight (8) years, successfully managed Victoria’s Salary Cap within the CA Player Payment Pool and State Male/Female lists -this was Victoria’s most successful era in Australian 1st class competition.
Administered Victorian HP cricket (GM Cricket Performance) for 28 years (took over from Bill Lawry), overseeing eleven (11) Shield finals for seven (7) wins, nine (9) one day finals for four (4) wins, two (2) Women’s State titles and four (4) T20 State Big Bash titles
Responsible for Redevelopment of the CitiPower Centre, Junction Oval.
Overseeing the MCG drop in wickets.
Project managed 2000 and 2002 Super Challenge Series (India and Pakistan).
Still very active in Cricket circles at St Kilda, his son is now Coaching St Kilda.
M.C. David McNamara
Photo Credit: Rodger Wang via Unsplash
UPCOMING SPEAKERS
November 11: Shaun Graf, Former International Cricketer
November 18: No meeting (Beechworth Adventure)
November 25: Roger Hunt, Author – Live from UK and our AGM
December 2 : Charlie Allen, Building Resilience
December 9 :Christmas Dinner
December 16:Last meeting for 2025
3 DAYS LEFTtill the End Polio Now Campaignends on 31 October this year. Rotary Hawthorn’s goal was to contribute $3,000 in donations for this year’s campaign.
The Hawthorn Walkers Team has reached their goal plus $352! Well done Charlotte and David.Along with the 2:1 from the Gates Foundation, you have raised $6,704!With 3 days to go, let’s make it $7,000!
Go online and give our two courageous members your support.
As an extension of our Club’s ongoing support for Box Hill Hospital’s Upton House, we are putting together Christmas gift packs for the inpatients of the mental health ward.
Upton House staff will assemble the packs themselves so they can tailor each one to individual needs.
Some of the items will come from our regular care bag products (such as deodorant, lip balm, moisturiser, and hairbrushes) in place of our usual December delivery of care bags. We’ll also include a few special treats for the inpatients to share during mutual help meetings.For items needed … READ MORE
The Bookworms Written by Jane Bentley
Last week the Bookworms gathered at Charlotte’s home to discuss Graham Greene’s Monsignor Quixote, a late work exploring Greene’s familiar themes of faith, doubt, love, hope, and the moral ambiguities of power.
Jane Dury found it disappointing compared with Greene’s earlier, more compelling novels. She felt the story’s whimsical tone and extended philosophical dialogue between Monsignor Quixote and his companion, the Communist mayor Sancho, made it purposeless.
Vincent approached it differently, recalling his study of Cervantes’ Don Quixote in the 1980s. He had struggled with the 17th-century original but found that Greene’s reimagining clarified many of its ideas. He particularly enjoyed the exchanges between faith and reason, belief and doubt, that framed the friendship between priest and politician.
Charlotte shared Jane’s reservations, describing the novel as pleasant but thin, while Gordon, who, with his Spanish language teacher, once attempted Don Quixote in its original language, appreciated Greene’s dialogue and the way each man exposed the contradictions in the other’s worldview.
Ian noted that the 1987 film adaptation starring Alec Guinness and Leo McKern captured the novel’s humour and humanity but felt fragmented, more like a sequence of ‘short stories’ than a cohesive narrative. The two men’s journey together, divided by ideology yet bound by mutual doubt, reflected Greene’s preoccupation with the flawed institutions of both Church and State.
For most of us, Monsignor Quixote was a worthwhile, thought-provoking read that sparked a lively discussion.
Our next book is Operation Mincemeat, to be discussed—along with its acclaimed film—at Jane and Ian Bentley’s on 11 December.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Who Am I?
Clue 1: I am a recognised walker!
Clue 2: I am a Past President
Clue 3: I love my red hat
Clue 4: My surname is part of the UK
Email or message David Pisterman (pisterman41@gmail.comwith your answer to this month’s Quiz. A bottle of the best is waiting for the winner at our lunch meeting 11 November donated by the last prize winner.
YOUR CLUB BULLETIN NEEDS YOUR STORIES!
Please send a travel story, project update, story of interest and photographs to Editor, Dorothy Gilmour by Sunday afternoon and you will be Bulletin celebrity and be able to tell your children your stories are in print!
Rotary Hawthorn Members wish you a wonderful birthday in November:
Simon O'Donoghue November 4
Kevin Rose November 4
John Perry November 5
Tamara Cannon November 11
Gilbert Habla November 15
Denbigh Richards November 23
Dennis Shore November 28
Congratulations to the following Members celebrating their Rotary Hawthorn Membership Anniversary in November:
Simon O'Donoghue 53 years 11 months 22 Nov 1971
Peter Lugg 44 years 11 months 29 Nov 1980
Charlotte England 40 years 11 months 10 Nov 1984
Ian Macfarlane 26 years 11 months 30 Nov 1998
Kim D’Arcy 14 years 11 months 24 Nov 2010
DID YOU KNOW?
Our 1980-81 President was Vic Burns who was an outstanding president though ‘pint-sized but gallon capacity’ in appearance.
It was said that Vic was often asked to stand up when he was already on his feet.
Vic and his wife Betty were held in very high esteem by all Rotarians.
Small in stature but large in vision, he was a terrific counsellor to many presidents.
THANK YOU GORDON CHEYNE for the photos from Dennis Shore’s Albury Conference 2012
L-R: Ian Macfarlane, Ngaire Cannon, David, Simon O’Donoghue and John Blackman
Dennis Shore and Ian Macfarlane (either about to sing, dance or talk!)
Christmas Packs for Upton House Inpatients
