Happenings at last weeks’ meeting
This week's meeting began with Greg welcoming future member Marion Trevellyan and then proposing the Toast to the ANZACs. Next, he read through the Apologies and noted that both Pete and Tyrrell have applied for extended leave. He then thanked Geoff for standing in and handed the meeting over to this week’s Chair, Adrian.
Adrian began by reading out the following poem called Waste:
Waste of Muscle, waste of Brain,
Waste of Patience, waste of Pain,
Waste of Manhood, waste of Health,
Waste of Beauty, waste of Wealth,
Waste of Blood, waste of Tears,
Waste of Youth’s most precious years,
Waste of ways the Saints have trod,
Waste of Glory, waste of God, ---
War!
This was written by the Rev. G.A. Studdert Kennedy, famous Padre serving in the first world war. (I must admit that when I tried to discuss the subject of war with my eight year old grand-daughter it just sounded wrong and incomprehensible, which it sort of is. Ed.)
The Chair now called on Mark to stand in for Tyrrell and give the next “Rotary Education” talk. The subject this week was the Aims of Rotary and the Four Way Test.
First a quote from Paul Harris, Rotary founder:
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves”.
The Aim of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
- FIRST: The Development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. Rotarians have the opportunity to create relationships with many business, professional, and community leaders;
- SECOND - High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society. Being a Rotarian authenticates the person and their business or profession.
- THIRD - The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life. Rotarians nurture this personal characteristic; the cornerstone of building and sustaining relationships.
- FOURTH - The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
More than 80 years ago, in the midst of the Great Depression, a U.S. Rotarian (Herbert J. Taylor) devised a simple, four-part ethical guideline that helped him rescue a beleaguered business. The statement and the principles it embodied also helped many others find their own ethical compass. Soon embraced and popularized by Rotary International, The Four-Way Test today stands as one of the organization’s hallmarks.
It may very well be one of the most famous statements of our century.
- Is it the TRUTH? There is a timelessness in truth that is unchangeable. Truth cannot exist without justice.
- Is it FAIR to all concerned? The substitution of fairness for the harsh principles of doing business at arm’s length has improved rather than hurt business relationships.
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Man is by nature a cooperative creature and it is his natural instinct to express love.
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? This question eliminates the dog-eat-dog principle of ruthless competition and substitutes the idea of constructive and creative competition.
Mark now changed hats and delivered the Secretary’s Report:
- Directors reports are due by the end of May;
- Could the David Jarman Trophy be returned asap?
- There has been a District e-mail regarding the End Polio Now Walk on the 26th May;
- The Handover Dinner organisation is progressing, however Mick has had an accident but says it will not impact the work (get well soon. Ed);
- Mark is missing for four weeks but Rick will act as stand-in; and
- The new shirts and vests are due within the next week or two.
Adrian pointed out that inviting guests to the Dinner may lead to new Members. He then called for Directors Reports, but failed to elicit any so called for Members questions.
The only question from the meeting was “How did the Market go?” and the answer was that the proceeds are still being finalised and will be reported as soon as that is done.
While the meeting ate, the Zoomettes (Zoomees?) conversed amongst themselves.
Lotto followed main course, which was won by John. There was a brief reminder that the next Bunnings BBQ will be on 14th May (Mother’s Day!!) and then we had the Fines session. Murray conducted the Fines and, being at his intimidating best, managed to extract a suitable contribution from the Members. Geoff and Greg received fines for not contributing to the Bulletin and then Adrian called on Ann to deliver this week’s TMG.
Ann’s appropriate subject was Vivian Bullwinkel:
- Born in Kapunda, Soth Australia, in 1915;
- Trained as a nurse and began her career in Victoria;
- Joined the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941 and was posted to the 2/13th Australian General Hospital in Singapore;
- When Singapore fell she and 65 other nurses attempted escape aboard SS Vyner Brooke, which was sunk by Japanese aircraft;
- She and 22 other nurses survived and landed with other men, women and children on Banka Island, later joined by 100 British soldiers;
- Bullwinkel was the only survivor of the Banka Island massacre and spent the rest of the war in internment;
- She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1947 and spent the rest of her career in nursing;
- Her army nursing dress, with a single bullet hole, is preserved in the Australian War Memorial; and
- She died 3rd July 2000, in Perth.
The Chair thanked Ann for a timely and entertaining talk and then handed the meeting back to President Greg who reminded the meeting of Marion’s induction next week.
Harry announced that there would be a video presentation next week on a new RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) initiative.
On that note, Greg closed the meeting at 7:50, with thanks to all attendees.
Not Just Pill Foils, Now Aluminium Cans
Don’t forget that Elaine and Rob are now collecting aluminium cans as well as your old pill foils.
Lucas Mill Update
For those of you that remember this project
Thanks for your assistance
Bernie Farquhar
