Thank you to the members, partners and friends that attended our special Anzac Day meeting on 17 April. With a particular welcome and thank you to Peter Sneddon, a Vietnam Veteran.
Although we had a few challenges planning our meeting, particularly securing a speaker, and when we did secure one, he unfortunately had to cancel due to a pressing family matter but we managed to rise to the challenge and the result was a special night during which we also enjoyed plenty of good fellowship.
Thank you to Sergeant John Schmoll for fining just about everyone in the room, Anne Holland for front desk and venue organisation, Rob Pinchbeck for his report on the Brighton Classic Car Show, PP Arthur Hubbard who updated us on BaySpeak, PP Keiran Cromie for the Rotary Toast and managing the IT, and our raffle organisers PP Arthur Hubbard & guest Seng Goh.
Seng and Alana were also welcomed as prospective members.
I delivered a presentation covering Anzac Day, commemoration, the Shrine of Remembrance, and outlined the WWI experiences of three relatives (my grandmothers, two brothers and her first cousin).
Together those present recited the Ode of Remembrance to commemorate the service and sacrifice of our service men and women across all conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
Anthony Langley
Secretary, Rotary Club of Brighton
Highlights of 17 April Meeting
Secretaries Announcements
presented by Anthony Langley
Apologies: Jo Kwok, Wendy Davis, Glenys Hitchen, Angie Biggin,
Colleen d’Offay, PP Ian Stacy, Di Allan, Pres Donna Wright,
PP Des Thomas and David Finney.
Rob Pinchbeck:Brighton Classic Car Show 2025 Report
Rob spoke about the event he chaired this year. He said in general the Brighton Classic Car Show was very successful and we had 137 cars on the oval which was marginally better than the previous year. That was about the capacity of the oval. The bottom line was that we made about $25,000 which is pretty good for an event that runs for 3-4 hours Rob said. That ignores the effort that went into that of course. Rob said that the feedback from the public and those displaying their cars was generally very positive. People had a lot of nice things to say which was also really good to hear as it's a lot of effort. He said you think what the hell am I doing this for as it's a lot of work. He thought the source of the entry cars was interesting as it was measured for the first time and 34% of the cars were from people who had exhibited in previous years which he thought was particularly high and there were also a lot of people who came with their cars as a result of word of mouth. He said if you add the two together we have something in excess of the 50% of the cars that were there in one way or another because of the goodwill of the previous years which Rob thinks bodes very well for the future. He said we have a tentative date for next year yet to be confirmed. Rob also mentioned that the BBQ made $800 and we ran out of sausages and they ran out of milk. He said that is a cardinal sin amongst retailers. If you are selling something you should never run out of stock. We had a little bit of extra help get the place set up which was useful but there were not enough fit and willing Rotarians. He mentioned one piece of downside and that is that the club is lacking any central coordination for social media, management of the website and mass communication. To try and get something done to a website you have to find out who set it up, what the passwords are etc. In some cases things were done by ex members like Felicity and Narina or Jo Kwok or somebody else. Rob said that Max was able to help with some of it but really the difficulties they faced made him wonder if he can be bothered doing it all over again. But all that apart he was very happy and he said he will see us next year.
PP Arthur Hubbard: BaySpeak 2025
Arthur spoke about BaySpeak which he said was our public speaking competition amongst the schools and they have schools from Mentone up to to Caulfield Grammar with 14 schools entered. He said he needs a couple more volunteers just to help out with timekeeping and things like that. He said the heats are on 6 May, 13 May and 21 May and the finals are on 3 June. If anybody is available to help out in one of those nights please contact Arthur. He said it is a fabulous event and when you hear the students speak and hear the quality and thought that goes into it you know that it is really worthwhile.
Arthur said if you are interested please come along and if you can help even better.
Anthony Langley: Anzac Day Badges
Anthony mentioned that there were someAnzac Day Badges on a front table if we wished to purchase any last week.
Last week's Raffle Results
PP Arthur Hubbard and guest Seng Goh presented the raffle.
The winners were Maria Hicks and Martha Martin.
Sergeant's Session
presented by John Schmoll
1.New Member Tamer. Sarg John said he was young and enthusiastic and therefore should pay a fine;
2. Keiran Cromie: Keiran was fined because Julie Avery wasn't there last week;
3. The two smartest investment professionals in the room - Paul Laband and Geoff Cunningham - fined for being too smart;
4. PDG Dale Hoy - Fined for being the last person to arrive as usual;
5. Anthony Langley - Fined for wearing so many hats at the meeting - a master of everything;
6. Max Martin - Fined for losing his bacon. He arrived home from shopping and thought he had left the bacon at the shop. He went back to the shop and the shopowner even looked in his car. He went back home again and finally found it at the back of the fridge behind
the coleslaw;
7. PP Paul Nicholson - Fined for sitting up until 2am in the morning to watch the Masters Golf. He said it was his favourite event and he enjoyed the hamburger he had when he visited there. He was then fined for bragging;
8. Rob Pinchbeck - Sarg said he was fined as he didn't brag about running a really good Car Show and that he had just bought a 2015 convertible Bentley something he had always wanted;
9. PP Alan Pinkus - Sarg said Alan gave him a quote: "What you wrote yesterday you can improve today" referring to his poetry. Sarg said well he can improve today on the last fine he paid;
Fines across the floor:PP Pat Kearns wanted to fine the Sarg for speaking so lowly and insulting some of our members. Alan Pinkus said "I walked into to the room tonight 10 feet tall
and look at me now!" That ended the session.
Anzac Presentation
Anthony Langley
ANZAC is an acronym and stands for
Australian New Zealand Army Corps.
ANZAC Day, originally a commemoration of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli on the 25th April 1915.
On the 25th April the ANZAC troops were committed to their first major action of WWI with their landing at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles Strait, Turkey.
ANZAC Day first commemorated on 25th April 1916.
Approx. 8700 Australian troops were killed in the Turkish campaign and many more were injured.
Australians served in various countries during WWI including, France, Belgium, Turkey, Egypt and Palestine. They also served at sea and in the flying corp.
WWI continued until the armistice was signed at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month 1918.
The Dawn Service is a major part of the tradition of ANZAC Day and harks back to the military practice of 'standing to' at dawn. Each dawn and dusk, the most favourable times for attack, soldiers were called to 'stand to' and manned their posts in full kit, ready to repulse enemy attacks or launch their own.
The Dawn Service at the Shrine commences at 5.30am and lasts approx. 40 minutes.
Approx. 40,000 – 50,000 attend, up to 100,000 in 2015 for the centenary of ANZAC service
The March, led by veterans and serving personnel, now also includes the descendants of veterans, sometimes alongside their relatives but more often, as the men of the Second World War in particular pass on, in honour of those who served.
The March commences at 9am & concludes at approx.12.30 pm.
Those marching assemble at Federation Square and proceed along St Kilda Road to the Shrine.
Approx. 15,000 participate in the March.
Dawn Service is followed by wreath laying in the Sanctuary.
Dignitaries in attendance will include the Victorian Governor and Premier. The armed forces are represented.
The inscription on the Stone of Remembrance, GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN is taken from the Bible, the Gospel of John, 15:13.
Following a major redevelopment the Shrine undercroft space was opened in 2015 for permanent and temporary exhibitions
The Galleries are structured around a chronological narrative which commences with the rise of the militia in colonial Victoria and then moves through major conflicts of the 20th century to current day conflicts and peacekeeping
Key elements - Devanha boat - Anzac story - Scrolling Roll of Honour - 3 temporary exhibition spaces
Anthony then presented 3 personal stories about
members of his own family
Lt Archibald Chesterman Chalmers, (Chester) Enlisted 8 February 1915. 22nd Bn, B Company, sailed from Melb. 10 May 1915 on the Ulysses. Service at Gallipoli, Egypt & Western Front.Pozieres, Bullecourt, and the Somme, and the Third Battle of Ypres. Letters from Chester to his mother June / July 1916. Took part in raid on enemy trenches 29 - 30 June, Pozieres France. 23,000 Australian casualties, 6,800 men were killed or died of wounds.Promoted to Corporal July 1916. 2nd Lieutenant February 1917, promoted in the field, transfer to the 2nd MG Bn Feb 1917, trained in the UK, returned to France and promoted to Lieutenant May 1917. Zonnebeke, (east of Ypres, Belgium) October 1917. Action on the 6 October 1917. Awarded the Military Cross (MC). MC Citation. On leave to UK, returned from leave November 1917, attached to 7th Field Artillery Bgd Nov – Dec 1917. Suffered trench fever, returned to UK. Attached to 2nd Army School of Instruction February - March 1918. Proceeded on leave in France.Rejoined unit. Returned to Australia arriving on the Lancashire in Melb. 24 March 1919.
Pte Wallace Hugh Chalmers. Enlisted at age 21, occupation farmer, keen horseman. 4th Light Horse Regiment. Departed Melbourne 10 March 1917. Returned to Australia 15 June 1919. Served in Palestine and Sinai campaign. 31 October 1917, Battle of Beersheba, known as the ‘Charge of Beersheba Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros 30 October 1918.
Lt Albert Chalmers Borella.Enlisted 15 March 1915. Served with the 26th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli 1915 and on the Western Front 1916-17. 23 July 1916 Pozieres (France), 29 July wounded and evacuated to England. Somme offensive November 1916. Reinforcing the Hindenburg line March 1917Awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Second Battle of Bullecourt from 3 to 17 May. On 17 July 1918, the 26th Battalion attacked the German line east of Amiens.Awarded the Victoria Cross. Arrived in Melbourne 1 January 1919. Later served in WWII.
Anthony then asked us all to stand and repeat the Ode of Remembrance.
Eam is our active member of this club. She dedicates a lot of her time to giving back to our community and she inspires and empowers many rural students to follow her footprints.
She is a smart student and always receives incredible results from university. She is grateful to receive support from the Rotary Club Of Brighton to study at the best university in Siem Reap. Below is her thank-you message to the club.
