Guest speaker Sankar Nadeson is a great contributor to Rotary occasions and the community generally. Sankar has provided services to variety of clients and organisations, covering institutional, non-for-profit and commercial sectors, for example: MCG, National Sports Museum, Richmond F.C, MCC, Commonwealth Games Federation, Villa Maria, Freemasons Victoria, Albert Park College, City of Port Phillip, Legacy and RSL Victoria. His renown for contributing to, and embracing all aspects of our society through his artistic mosaic pursuits is perhaps noted by the commonplace presence of his profiled likeness. Still that's him in the flesh above right with President Lawrence, and PP Chris Hanson after delivering his interesting and highly informative address about mosaics at our recent lunch meeting.
Sankar started with questions he contemplated as a fresh artist. "Is it Practical? What does an artist do? Does Art matter?" The theme implicit in those questions might explain how he has pursued his career in art and mosaics in a way that has involved many members for all aspects (rich, poor,disadvantaged , young, old, sick ....).
The thrust of his address concerned the Napier Waller mural mosaics in the War Memorial in Canberra. This provided a basis (and short film) for him to explain and show some of the techniques in mosaic making. For instance we learnt that these wonderful remembrance images involved detailed planning, and sectional fabrication which required 70 different colored tiles of 6 million pieces!
We did a quick tour of some of his major works in Melbourne including murals in the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Town Hall and Myer. A Collingwood "magpie" image doubtless was put in to demonstrate his connection with......... people?
Finally Sankar told of his involvement in a four year project with Melbourne Legacy to create a mosaic marking World War I. This street art which will comprise 1000 handmade terra-cotta clay tiles made by members (adults & children) of the Legacy family, is being supervised by Sankar and was launched on 8th November. It will be sited in the lane behind Legacy house in Swanston St. and will include a series of mosaic plaques commemorating important events relating to WW1.'
Sankar explained that his Indian origins and then UK upbringing had exposed him to the thought that individuals can prosper from having an "ownership" of community projects--- the Legacy mosaic essentially collating a multitude of pieces created by various individuals from all walks of society is a great example of this.
Question time , lead by a couple of mosaic enthusiasts, uncovered some more interesting facts. Mosaics are very durable, some go back to Greek times, Pompeii works survive and unlike paintings colors are preserved because generally the basic chip/tile, often glass, is colored throughout the material.
The cluster concept whereby the four Rotary clubs in our region assist each other is going from strength to strength. Regular cluster meetings of the presidents provide a forum for this commonality.
Note that the new year of Rotary for each will kick off with a cluster BBQ on January 12.
Our last lunch meeting on November 10 saw Hawthorn Rotary host a "joint" session with a large number of attendees from one of these cluster clubs which 40 years ago was sponsored into existence by us, ie Glenferrie Rotary. This reciprocated an earlier joint meeting this year hosted by that club and the presence of many of our members at its recent 40th birthday celebrations.
Members from the two clubs happily mingled (see photos above) without any prompting to mix, all prior to an address by theMosaicman(see article above).
Glenferrie Rotary's president Robert Winspear took the opportunity to formally thank our club for the day, and its support over the years remarking that our offspring was now a very healthy and vibrant 40 years!
Here are some of the issues considered at the Board meeting on Tuesday evening:
How should we best thank our speakers? If we heard a standard thank you speech, week after week, would we get unduly bored? In the short run, we will continue to use the new standard speech so successfully voiced by Ngaire Cannon this week.
Noel Halford, one of our hardest working members, is preparing the 60 second video of our activities for the year – to be included in the District Conference in March. Thanks Noel.
On 12 January, Rotary Hawthorn will be leading the Cluster BYO BBQ in Alexandra Gardens
At the 17 November meeting of Presidents of the four Riverside Cluster clubs, Meredith Hayes will stand in for Lawrence Reddaway
Reports show that a Sausage Sizzle at Masters raises about $500. Working on this event is not a good experience. If we are offered this opportunity do we accept? Resolved: NO
Recent Board meetings were held at O’Donoghue Real Estate offices: Thank you Simon.
Meetings will now revert to being at NAB offices: Thanks to Katrina and NAB.
The Shadow understands that a certain Rotary Hawthorn household has recently acquired a very young puppy. (The Shadow, being a curmudgeon wonders “why?”; but that is irrelevant.) So if a phone conversation is interrupted by expostulations about “oh no, he’s found the cable coming to the phone” you can be reasonably sure that it’s a reference to the puppy, not the husband.
We are all appalled that the surgical team left part of a retractor inside Gordon Cheyne’s chest. However, The Shadow, being a perennial bleeding heart (joke!), asks everyone to spare a thought for the surgeon who – whilst no doubt gravely embarrassed – also no doubt learned the stringent views of Sheila Cheyne– our favorite feisty Scottish wife. “Behind every good man is a good woman fighting to protect her man” (The Shadow. Nov 2015).
The Shadow is delighted to hear that Kevin and Jane Rose have come home safely from a holiday in Jordan. Maybe we could hear from them at a lunch: How safe is it? What has IS destroyed? Was the pool water clean and healthy? Has the River Jordan dried up? Did you see the Sea of Galilee?
Each year we have Remembrance Day November 11. It is synonymous with the armistice in 1918 at the end of World War 1, but of course has taken on a broader aspect of remembrance for all those who served in subsequent battlefields too.
We note the prevalence of the red poppy, and mention of Legacy at this time. But have you ever wondered about Legacy's role or drive?
Their Charter reads:
"The Spirit of Legacy is Service"
The care of dependents of those who served their country; namely , veterans who gave their lives or health on operational service or subsequently, and Australian Defence Force members who died in service, affords a field of service.
Safeguarding the interests of dependents,especially children, is a service worth rendering.
Personal effort is the main essential.
Inasmuch as these are the activities of Legacy, it is our privilege to accept the legacy of the fallen.
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Remember Christmas Party for Tuesday December 1. Here is the detail...
