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Posted by Lawrence Reddaway
on Jul 02, 2015
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I’m having quite an exciting week.
- Firstly I was appointed to be ‘adjudicator’ (sort of judge) in a dispute about a building project.
- Secondly I was inducted as President of Rotary Hawthorn – and what a good night that was. Many thanks to several people – especially Ngaire Cannon as MC.
- Thirdly I hosted my first Tuesday lunch – and what a great speaker we had. Discovered a few procedural issues that I was ignorant about.
Next Tuesday:
- Normal lunch (with Nopporn Ganthavee - Boroondara Young Citizen Of The Year (joint winner)
- Board meeting at 6pm. Lots to discuss. For example, what time to hold future meetings – in order to help those who would struggle through traffic for 6pm. And a host of other topics of greater weight.
Thanks to everyone for their support.
See you next week.
Lawrence
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Posted by David Owen
on Jul 02, 2015
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The Changeover dinner in late June at the Boulevard in Kew was great, complete with short but incisive speeches and a Barber Shop Quartet balancing the serious formal remarks of speakers with their selection of old memorable songs. Ngaire Cannon’s chairmanship and organisation (with helpers) of the event were applauded.
Now-past President Chris Hanson handed over the “things” of office to Lawrence Reddaway. Thus we saw/heard the last of Winston’s thoughts but then were threatened to be party to the ongoing deliberations of “Eugene” and the sight of that Red Jacket. Read Lawrence's speech here.
Before an audience which included DG Elect Julie Mason, AG Gabe Hau and guest Rotarians from cluster clubs and attending members and spouses Chris summarised his year. In quickly listing all the clubs activities in 2014-15 , there were many, one was reminded of its highly productive and diverse involvement in community activities. Recalling the special targets, for international and domestic long term signature projects, an Open Meeting, and expanded fund raising options Chris acknowledged a significant and positive “mark” for the club. In particular cementing the international link with Timor Leste and the Baguia region was a highlight.
Lawrence’s address was direct. There are challenges for the club ahead. Membership, the balance of tradition and change, the participation in projects/jobs by members and the seamless transition from one member to another and spreading the knowledge around the club were especially key.
Lawrence noted that slogans often aptly summarise issues. So his question “Why I am in Rotary?”, and the stated slogan for the forthcoming year “Easier next Year” gave a personal prod to each member to consider membership benefits/obligations for self and prospective recruits and briefly document existing roles for explanation to others. The new team were appropriately paraded upfront and photographed!
The highlight of the night was the awards. Bill Troedel’s timeless steady work for the club was acknowledged by a 3 Sapphire Paul Harris award. Ralph Treloar’s unofficial (one would forget he is not a member) endless work for the club lead to a Paul Harris award, and Gordon Cheyne, "that man is always willingly involved in any project going", was a fitting Rotarian of the Year.
Finally DG Elect Julie Mason talked of a new District Citation for a club’s efforts for among other things growth of service and enhancement of Rotary’s image.
{Ed : The Photographers were in abundance and offer the following links to see what went on.
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Posted by David Owen
on Jul 02, 2015
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Dr John Carre-Riddell chaired our first meeting of the new Rotary year and hosted a moving yet highly interesting address from our guest speaker.
Lambis Englezos who came here from Greece as a one-year-old is an amateur historian and school teacher. His passion and interest in the events at Fromelles in mid July 1916, probably Australia's worst day in military history for lose of life, lead to him being responsible for discovering mass war graves for 250 lost Australian soldiers.
We heard in Lambis's address, that these souls died in the disastrous Battle of Fromelles in World War 1. It was planned as a diversionary attack to prevent German troops moving from this, a relatively quiet area, to the large battle being fought in the valley of the Somme. It was a disaster, and men from the largely untried 5th Australian Division was utterly destroyed by determined Bavarian troops as they sought to attack on foot. The Germans were well dug in and with large numbers of machine guns. The attack remains the single bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history. By the morning of the 20th of July 1916, Australia had suffered an incredible 5522 killed, wounded, missing or taken prisoner.
Many stories of bravery and humanity emerged from the carnage including that of Victorian farmer Sergeant Simon Fraser, who, after the battle, could not resist the suffering of the wounded and embarked on many perilous trips into no-man’s-land between the opposing trench lines, to bring men to safety. One soldier cried after Fraser “Don’t forget me, Cobber” and it is from this that the memorial statue’s name is derived. The above pictured VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial stands today in that no-mans land as a tribute to the fallen.
A large number of the dead could not be recovered from the battlefield until after the war, and were simply recorded as missing.
In recent years detailed research and detective work, involving examination of 1916 aerial photos of the area and analysis of perceived structural changes to local topography, and excavations, all prompted from leads from German archives, old photographs, and communications and letters of the time back in Australia and Great Britain did lead to finding a mass war grave at Pheasant Wood- the old name for a stretch of ground near Fromelles.
Lambis told of his finds, and persistence in procuring official support to carry out his work and simple endurance along with helpers to do it. He has had 8 such visits to the fields at Fromelles...mostly at his own cost. In 2009, Lambis was honored with an Order of Australia , for "Service to the community through research and advocacy roles relating to Australian soldiers of the Great War buried in Fromelles, France".
Many families gained some relief when the mass-burial site was found near Fromelles and exhumed. It yielded the lost remains of 250 soldiers killed during the battle who were reburied in individual graves in 2010, their dignity and in the case of many, their identity was restored. A key input in linking discovered remains to the name of a lost soldier was the DNA matching with living descendants, a sort of reverse ancestor mapping. We were privileged to view a number of wonderful recent photos of these descendants taken at the moment when they finally learned of the fate of their missing Great War soldier-ancestor. This gave a positive and heart warming conclusion to the address.
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Posted
on Jul 02, 2015
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Gordon Cheyne with (l to r),
Gilbert Habla, former President Toorak Rotary Club, Brick Manufacturing
Maurice Pitard, former Toorak Rotarian, Real Estate, and is Chairman of the Oakleigh Centre, which provides services for those with mental handicaps
The picture and medals are of Maurice’s uncle.
Peter Lugg is an Orthopaedic Surgeon, goes to Cambodia up to ten times a year to teach joint replacement surgery.
Then of course, Joe Devereux (a new lad?), who lives in the same building (across the road from Kooyong TC) as Maurice Pitard.
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Posted
on Jul 02, 2015
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.jpg) 40 Years in Business – Salute the Sheridan!
Yes, The Shadow hears that, on 1 July, it will be FORTY YEARS since Sheridan Brown first set up in business. (The Shadow, being a compulsive sycophant, reckons that he must have started at a very early age!) His antiques shop and furniture repair business is now located at 420 Burke Road Camberwell (just North of Toorak Road). For those who have not yet visited – give yourself a treat. Especially if you’re looking for a present for someone who has everything.
Back from the FLOOD – Henry & Jane Drury
It was about 6 months ago, so The Shadow understands, that Henry & Jane Drury returned home to find their house resembling a deep paddling pool. Alas! Alack! Fortunately, they have an excellent insurance broker (yes – you guessed it – John Christoffelsz) who busily launched the insurance company into putting Henry & Jane into a Quest apartment; putting everything from the house into storage; installing pumps, and then drying fans that ran 24/7 for many weeks; and replacing timber work, carpets; and repainting etc.
For 6 months, Henry & Jane lived in a one bedroom apartment – definitely squeezy! Then, finally, recently, it was a case of WELCOME HOME.
Wrong Night, Gromit?
Er, well, actually “Wrong Night, Brian Reid?” It seems that Brian sent out an email on Tuesday saying “see you all tomorrow night”. Fortunately, he did actually know that the Changeover Dinner was on Thursday, not Wednesday. Nearly a case of the normally-ever-so-thorough club secretary shooting himself in the proverbial foot!
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Posted by Ngaire Cannon
on Jul 02, 2015
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Bill and his wife Blanche go to the air show at Point Cook every year. And every year, Bill would say, "Blanche, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."
Blanche always replied, "I know Bill, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks. And fifty bucks is fifty bucks!"
One year Bill and Blanche went to the air show, and Bill said, "Blanche, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride in that helicopter, I might never get another chance."
To this, Blanche replied, "Bill, that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks."
The pilot standing near the helicopter overheard the couple and said, "I tell you what, I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word, it's fifty dollars.”
Bill and Blanche agreed and up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word...
When they landed, the pilot turned to Bill and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"
Bill replied, "Well, to tell you the truth I almost said something when Blanche fell out. But you know, fifty bucks is fifty bucks!"
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Posted by David Rosback
on Jul 02, 2015
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Remember to keep Monday 20 July free for our offsite meeting/excursion to Epworth Richmond. David Rosback is now collating a list of prospective attendees.
We are to meet at Noon at the Hudson's Coffee and ground floor of Epworth Richmond, 89 Bridge Road. Closure will at 2pm. A light lunch is included.
Considering the great support that Rotary has given over many years, members may be interested in this “ A New Day” at Epworth.
Just click onto the internet Link below.
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Posted by David Pisterman
on Jul 02, 2015
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 The place for next year's District 9800 Conference has been set as Bendigo. Sounds conveniently close but yet sufficiently away to enjoy the holiday feel of it.
David Pisterman initially booked 15 rooms at the site in anticipation of a significant Hawthorn RC presence. Recently he has expanded that on the basis that it is expected accommodation will tight.
You will need to contact him re attendance and lock in one of these rooms very soon. There is only limited time in which we can retain these bookings.
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Posted by John Carre-Riddell
on Jul 02, 2015
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No news. .jpeg)
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Posted
on May 14, 2015
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Remember Geoff Wright collates attendance information and he needs to be told of "make up " events which we attend.
Tell Noel Halford days before of an inability to attend Tuesday. Late or non apologies raise catering costs.
Also please alert him to attending guests. Recently with swollen numbers pursuant to a high profile speaker there were problems for a surprised chef in supplying all meals simultaneously.
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Posted
on Jul 02, 2015
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July 7
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July 14
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July 21(not applc.)
Epworth Exc.
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July 28
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Greeting & Badges
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Trevor Jones
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Ian Pohl
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na
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Tilak Dissanayke
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Front Desk
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David Pisterman |
Ian Warren
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Ngaire Cannon
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Credit Cards
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John Christoffelsz
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Geoff Dumayne
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Richard Logan
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Clean & Set Up
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Jim O'Beirne
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Jim O'Beirne
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Jim O'Beirne
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Chairman
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Geoff Dumayne
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tba
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na
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Stephen Bowtell
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Sergeant
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tba
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tba
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na
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tba
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SECOND BITE ROSTER (Check with Ian Macfarlane if no Salvation Army personnel present)
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4 July
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11 July
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18 July
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25 July
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Member
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Kevin Rose
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tba
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Ian Macfarlane |
Sheridan Brown |
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