Welcome to the end of the Rotary year, and the last of my Bulletin messages.
It has been a tumultuous last few weeks, although it ended well with the wonderful news that Donna Wright has agreed to take over the Presidency for the 2024-25 year. She will be great, and I know members will strongly support her in driving through some of the changes that are needed in
the Club.
Last Thursday night - I really appreciated the efforts that the Brighton Travelworld Team of Julie Avery and Keiran Cromie put into making the last meeting of the year so special – the decorations, banners and bubbly, the room was reminiscent of old. Thank you Julie and Keiran. The large turnout made the night, and good to hand over the cheques to the Les Twentyman Foundation and the Brighton Recreation Centre. Not to mention the Geoffrey Shaw’s likely last ever Sergeant’s session. Thanks also Geoff. Then of course the final step of the evening was James Newbury’s interesting talk – the real drawcard of the evening.
And we should not forget to give our congratulations to both Nicole Chong and James Newbury for their Paul Harris Awards - both really deserving recipients.
On a sad note we acknowledge the passing of former member Jim Hay.
Condolences to Kathleen and family.
One of my final Rotary tasks, and I mean tasks, for the year was to attend the District Changeover in Moonee Ponds, along with Stuart and Keiran. It was an experience.
All that’s left now is for me to finally sign off and I look forward to seeing many of you at Changeover on Sunday.
President Arthur
Highlights of RCB Meeting 27 June 2024
Highlights of speaker James Newbury's talk
PHF presentations last week
Both Nicole Chong and James Newbury MP were presented with Paul Harris Fellow Awards last week for services to the Club.
Sad passing of Jim Hay.
Jim passed away recently and he joined our Club in 2003. He is remembered particularly for his wonderful work for our Club organising the Bayside Elderly Citizens Christmas lunches. Our thoughts are with Kathleen and family.
Vale Jim Hay.
Update: Bayside Education Support
Program 2024
Please print out this form and fill it in to make your tax deductible donation and send to Geoff Shaw at email address 1915gjs@gmail.com. If anyone has a problem with printing this form please contact the Editor Max Martin at ecclesmaxmartin@gmail.com
Acknowledging the people who have donated so far:
PP Julie Avery, Andrew Bird, Bruce Crossley, Geoff & Jillian Cunningham, Wendy Davis, PP Damien Hellard, Glenys Hitchen, Anne Holland,
PDG Dale Hoy, PP Arthur Hubbard, PP Anthony Langley, PP Geoff McGeary, Stuart & Carolyn McIntyre, Rob Pinchbeck, John Scmoll, David Smyth,
Judee Stevenson and Graeme Watson.
Sergeants
It all goes back to a long time ago, when dinosaurs were still bad on the streets of Brighton. And every Thursday night, in this very room, a dinosaur would appear and be called “The Sergeant”.
Tonight Arthur has nominated me as the last of the dinosaurs.
And before I start, please note there will be two warnings tonight. When you hear the warning some of you may want to turn off your hearing aids.
Just a quick word about Arthur:- Poetry warning!
We Recycled Arthur as President,
He does it quite well, that is evident.
But to go for a third,
Would be simply absurd,
To say nothing of Stephanie’s temperament.
A bit of history. Traditionally Sergeants (at Arms) actually run the show – think of the army, for instance. The officers only appear after the Sergeant has got everything organised.
In Rotary the Sergeant used to make sure the room was ready, and then ring a bell and start the meeting, and keep it on track, right to the end.
But in time the Presidents always wanted to be in charge , so they took the bell away from the Sergeant, and turned him into the court jester. A Sergeant was given 5 minutes to levy fines on members for real and imagined embarrassments. If it went well it was fun, and lucrative, and we used the money to support our quaintly named fellowship activities – which in those days meant parties – and still should.
Now to fines.
A historic example – which some of you already know. We had a member who kept up a full-time dental practice, and at the same time he also wrote a monthly article for the dental journal for 20 years, completed a Ph.D. and an MBA, and climbed the highest mountain on five continents, including Antarctica. So he was always busy, really really busy. This day he finished work then drove into the city for a meeting, parking in a car park that sort of spiralled up. Noted he was on level five, then rushed off to the meeting. When he came back later, got the lift to level five – and his car was not there. Missing. Gone. He would have to report it stolen, so he started to walk down the spiral – and there was his car! He was fined because at that point he realised that every level in the car park was labelled level 5, because ………… they were speed limit signs.
And for now – BOX CARRIERS PLEASE
A certain President was briefing the students on the rules at the Bayspeak public speaking competition, and the student wasn’t paying attention, so Arthur -it was he – told him to “please keep quiet and listen to what I have to say”. Turned out it was one of the teachers. Oops. Arthur is so old he can’t tell the difference between a 17 year old and a 25 year old. Pay up, and go to Specsavers tomorrow.
Not surprisingly, as a stylish item in the 60’s or was it the 70’s, Joy Laband really has some dance moves – move over John Travolta – and she was showing them all on the dance floor last Thursday – the Issy Dye night. Husband Paul may be late or he may not get here at all, so everybody in the room – that is ALL OF YOU - who can find a dollar or more can put in for our collective joy at seeing at least one of us can still do it.
Then of course – and this is so easy, like shooting fish in a barrel – Alan Pinkus. Again last Thursday, inspired by Joy Laband, got up on the dance floor to scrape the rust of his own dance moves, from God only knows what decade, and slipped over, taking Joy with him. Alan, dear boy, you are NO LONGER MATCH FIT. So next time, get in some training before hitting the dance floor. And now put in a dollar, preferably more.
Anyway, time and the times have moved on, and maybe we are no longer the cheeky pups we imagined ourselves to be, and instead of a Sergeant’s session we will be doing other things to keep up our connections to Rotary and to each other. And it will be fun. And maybe in future there will be a Rotary Jurassic Park, with Sergeants everywhere.
Now to Donna, and her imminent contributions to this club.
But first a caution, Donna has six brothers – that is, she is backed by her own Rugby scrum – so make sure you stay nice to Donna.
Poetry warning!
In Donna we know there’s a good one,
She’ll make sure that we always have fun.
She’s polite when first met,
A real softy, and yet,
She’s red hot at getting things done.
Thank you -Sgt Geoff Shaw (dinosaur)
Raffle results from last week
The raffle last week was run by Colleen d'Offay with help from Exchange Student Mariah. The winners were PP Norm Thomas, Wendy Davis and guest Marilyn Gross.
Antique & Collectable Fair at Pakenham
supporting the Stroke Foundation
On Saturday July 20th, 2024, the Rotary Club of Casey will be running the 18th Annual Antique & Collectable Fair at the Pakenham Cultural Centre at Lakeside. The Fair had been running for many years, to raise funds for charity and this year all funds raised will be donated to the Stroke Foundation.
The Stroke Foundation is a national charity that partners with the community to prevent strokes, save lives and enhance recovery.
The Foundation stands alongside stroke survivors and their families, health care professionals and researchers. It builds community awareness and fosters new thinking and innovative treatments and supports stroke survivors on their journey to live the best possible life after stroke.
The Cultural Centre is fully booked with antique, collectable and curiosity dealers from all over Victoria and is expected to be attended by more than 1000 eager buyers and collectors.
