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B ULLETIN 6 S EPTEMBER, 2012 Rotary Club of Brighton Inc P.O. Box 206 Brighton VIC 3186 District 9800 Club Number 18309 Chartered: 24 September, 1973 www.rotarybrighton.com.au No. A23508S ABN 29 236 561 983 President Peter Sherman H: 9593 1595 M: 0419 322 093 President Elect Pat Kearns W: 9553 8038 H: 9553 8038 M: 0418 998 735 Secretary Arthur Hubbard H: 9592 4465 M: 0411 124 204 www.rotarybrighton.com.au [email protected] Editor, Designer: Max Martin Phone: 0409 822 378 www.maxmartindesigns.com.au [email protected] Photography: Cameron Ward, Ivan Vojlay Rotary Club of Brighton Victoria Australia Rotary Club of Brighton Victoria Australia Last meeting 30 August, 2012. Pictured are controversial speaker Professor Ian Plimer, President Peter Sherman, Mayor of Bayside Louise Cooper- Shaw and Chairman Ian Mence. This week’s Speakers: Caulfield Grammar & St Leonards Debate The debating teams are from Year 12 Caulfield Grammar and St Leonards College. The Topic is a secret. The Rotary Club of Brighton Sam Morris celebrating his 100th Birthday at the last meeting with a large attendance. See article page 4. Next week’s speaker: Eddie Kutner - Chairman Central Equity Property Developers Back cover: Ron Sher’s Life Story STOP PRESS! Planning Workshop Reminder! Norm Thomas would like Members to respond to the Planning Workshop on September 22. Please contact Norm to show your interest in being involved in this important Club initiative. More info on page 5.
Transcript
Page 1: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

BULLETIN 6 SEPTEMBER, 2012

Rotary Club of Brighton IncP.O. Box 206 Brighton VIC 3186District 9800 Club Number 18309Chartered: 24 September, 1973www.rotarybrighton.com.auNo. A23508S ABN 29 236 561 983

President Peter Sherman H: 9593 1595 M: 0419 322 093President Elect Pat Kearns W: 9553 8038 H: 9553 8038 M: 0418 998 735Secretary Arthur Hubbard H: 9592 4465 M: 0411 124 204

[email protected], Designer: Max MartinPhone: 0409 822 378www.maxmartindesigns.com.aumax@maxmartindesigns.com.auPhotography: Cameron Ward, Ivan Vojlay

Rotary Club of BrightonVictoria AustraliaRotary Club of BrightonVictoria Australia

Last meeting 30 August, 2012.Pictured are controversial speaker Professor Ian Plimer, President Peter Sherman, Mayor of Bayside Louise Cooper-Shaw and Chairman Ian Mence.

This week’s Speakers:

Caulfield Grammar & St Leonards Debate

The debating teams are from Year 12 Caulfield Grammar and St Leonards College.

The Topic is a secret.

The Rotary Club of Brighton

Sam Morris celebrating his 100th Birthday at the last meeting with a large attendance. See article page 4.

Next week’s speaker: Eddie Kutner -

Chairman Central Equity Property Developers

Back cover: Ron Sher’s Life Story

STOP PRESS! Planning Workshop Reminder!

Norm Thomas would like Members to respond to the Planning Workshop on September 22. Please contact Norm to show your interest in being involved in this

important Club initiative. More info on page 5.

Page 2: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

Last meeting’s speaker - 30 August, 2012

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Professor Ian Plimer Chairman Ian Mence introduced our speaker and said that he was one of Australia’s best known geologists. He is also a leading Australian Climate sceptic. He has spent most of his life working on base metal deposits, particularly in Broken Hill and also the Mediterranean where he predicted and discovered a number of gold deposits. He is also Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at Melbourne University from1991- 2005. He is known as a Director of Ivanhoe Mines - a Rio Tinto companyfrom 2007 to today. Ivanhoe is developing a range of projects in North Queensland. He is also a close personal business advisor to Gina Rinehart and frequently flies around the world with her in her private jet assisting her looking at mining development propositions. In that capacity he has been appointed a director of a number of the main companies in her stable - Hope Downs Iron Ore (HDIO) Pl, Roy Hill Holdings & Queensland Coal Investments. As well as being a respected scientist and academic, Ian is also a high profile public figure. He has published over 130 papers and 8 books on topics ranging from religious fundamentalism to climate change science to mining history. Ian is very active on the speaker’s circuit and is networked into government state and federal. He is a larger than life figure who has never been afraid to call it how he sees it.

Apologies but as speaker’s notes weren’t available the following has been acquired from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/6559454/Prof-Ian-Plimer-tenets-of-a-climate-change-sceptic.html Another view on climate change can be found at:http://www.science.org.au/policy/climatechange.html

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has no effect on climate above 50 parts per million (ppm). Prof Plimer rejects the argument that the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere from its pre-industrial (1750AD) level of about 270 ppm to today’s level of about 380 ppm, has begun to affect the world’s change.In an interview with ABN Newswire in June he said: “Carbon dioxide has an effect on the atmosphere and it has an effect for the first 50 parts per million and once it’s done its job then it’s finished and you can double it and quadruple it and it has no effect because we’ve seen that in the geological past, and we’ve seen it in times gone by when the carbon dioxide content was 100 times the current content. We didn’t have runaway global warming, we actually had glaciation.” He also said: “If we had only had warming, then there would be a connect between CO2 and temperature; there is not.” Water vapour is responsible for about 96 per cent of the greenhouse effect, he has argued, a theme consistent among climate change sceptics. Most climate scientists argue there is a correlation between CO2 and global mean temperatures, pointing to evidence from air trapped deep in the polar ice that gives a snapshot of the atmosphere thousands of years ago.

Extraterrestrial events like solar flares have driven major climate change episodes in the geological past: He has said: “It’s got nothing to do with the atmosphere, it’s about what happens in the galaxy.” Promotional material for his controversial book Heaven + Earth reads: “Climate has always been driven by the Sun, the Earth’s orbit and plate tectonics and the oceans, atmosphere and life respond.” Most climate change scientists argue that changes in the atmosphere have been fundamental to changing global temperatures throughout the planet’s history.Global warming should be welcomed because humans ‘thrive’ in a warmer planet: “Humans have made their mark on the planet, thrived in warm times and struggled in cool times,” according to Heaven + Earth. When the Earth’s climate has been cooler - such as during the most recent Ice Age - he argues that populations have fallen, there were terrible droughts and social disruption. Many historians and anthropologists would agree with the premise that global cooling has caused massive problems in the past - and that a cooler world is also a drier world, leading to droughts. But many scientists disagree that global warming will bring net benefits to life on the planet in general or the human population in particular.Climate change scientists push global warming theory because it is good for their careers: Prof Plimer said of scientists such as those that contribute to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): “They are taking advantage of the current situation. That is understandable. In previous times people got wonderful research grants in a war against cancer and they achieved a lot of money for that. Now we have a war on climate change and we have a huge number of people out there who have their career staked on it and are beneficiaries of this process.”

A belief in man-made climate change is a ‘fundamentalist religion’: He has described people’s belief in anthropogenic climate change as “a fundamentalist religion adopted by urban atheists looking to fill a yawning spiritual gap plaguing the West”.

Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it gives 101 simple questions with answers for you to ask teachers, activists, journalists and politicians. He then took questions. President Peter thanked the speaker for a very enjoyable talk and presented him with the Club Tie. Pres Peter then closed the meeting.

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Page 3: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

Rotary Club of BrightonVictoria Australia

Chairman: Geoff BentleySpeaker: Caulfield/St Leonards DebateLocation: Milanos Bayview Room

Upcoming Meetings/Events:

13/09/12 - Eddie Kutner - Chairman Central Equity Property Developers20/09/12 - Dr Peter Hollingsworth - CEO Brotherhood of St Lawrence 24/09/12 - Rotary Club of Brighton Charity Golf Day27/09/12 - AFL Grand Final Theme Night: Speaker - Michael Green Legendary Richmond Footballer04/10/12 - Harold Mitchell AC

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This week: Sergeant: Geoff Bentley Hosts: Mac Chapman, Brendan KierceProperty: Mark Trafford, Bill Howley Front Desk: Rev Kenyon McKie, Andrew BirdRaffle: Brett Parkin, Arthur Hubbard Week of 13 September 2012: Chairman: Daryl ForgeSergeant: Trevor MartynSpeaker: Eddie Kutner - Chairman Central Equity Property

DevelopersLocation: Milanos Bayview Room Hosts: David Efron, Peter JohnsProperty: Tom Buxton, Tony Nanfra Front Desk: Bill Howley, Brendan KierceRaffle: Brett Parkin, Arthur Hubbard CAN’T COME? YOU MUST FIND A REPLACEMENT! ROSTERED ON PROPERTY OR FRONT DESK? PLEASE BE ON DECK BY 5.30PM.

ROSTERS:THIS WEEK’S MEETING 6 SEPT 2012

Page 4: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

Last Thursday night we were all invited to celebrate Sam Morris’ 100th Birthday and many members, wives and partners were privileged to be there. Sam’s son Barry opened proceedings by saying he never thought it would happen.He then told us a little of his Dad’s life and said he was born in Woodend on 2 September 1912 when the average age expectancy was 55.2 years. Sam followed into the family butchery business doing apprenticeships in Chapel Street, Church Street Brighton and Frankston. He eventually went into the Family business in Frankston living on top of the shop with his wife Violet. There was slaughter yard where he slaughtered his own beef for the shop. Later he turned to selling insurance for approx. 10 years and later purchased a hair oil bottling distribution company. The family sold the business over 30 years ago and he has been enjoying life ever since. Sam has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He gave up cigarettes when he was 70 years of age and was the oldest person to have a triple bypass at 94. He still has the ability to enjoy food, a good bottle of wine and a beer. He still enjoys life every minute. Barry then thanked President Peter, the Board and Members of the Club for giving Sam and his family time to celebrate his 100 years with his peers. Sam then said a few words in response and then it was the turn of the Mayor to present a commemorative plaque to Sam and delivered a short speech. A summary follows: Louise said that on behalf of her fellow Councillors and everyone at Bayside City Council, that she wanted to say from the outset how pleased she was to be with us to help celebrate Sam’s very special 100th birthday. She then mentioned that Sam’s was a milestone that only a few of us are likely to reach. Louise said Sam has lived in Bayside for 90 of his 100 years so we shouldn’t be surprised that he has lived to such a wonderful age in such a healthy foreshore location. She then went on to mention her interest in what has contributed to Sam living such a long life and decided it was his philosophy to make the best of every day and turn negatives into positives. When she asked Barry he said it was probably more to do with his happy disposition and that he enjoyed life to the full. Sam has also been a Rotarian for some 32 years and this has helped as well with his zestfor life. Louise then said that she hoped he had many more years ahead though less demanding and that he would continue to make a valuable contribution to the community. She then passed on her sincere congratulations on behalf of the Council and presented Sam with the plaque representing his Rotary Service and 100th birthday. The event was finished with a rousing version of happy birthdayfrom everyone in the room.Congratulations Sam!

4

Big Club turnup as Sam Morris honoured by Mayor of Bayside on his 100th Birthday

Philippe Mouchel Executive Chef, PM24 Restaurant, Melbourne Dale Lyman Executive Chef, William Angliss InstituteJeffrey Tan Chef De Cuisine, IPF Culinary Consultancy ServicesAlvin Leung ‘Demon Chef’, Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Mark Normoyle Executive Chef, RACV City ClubPierrick Boyer Executive Pastry Chef, Le Petit Gateau

“Join us for an evening of fine cuisine specially prepared to tantalise your tastebuds, matching wines to compliment each of our culinary creations, live and silent auctions to raise funds, and musical entertainment to delight you”

Please join us for A Night to Remember...

when: Saturday 15 September 2012 at: RACV City Club, Level 17, 501 Bourke Street, Melbournetime: 6.30pm to midnightcost: $200 per person

Master of Ceremonies: Derek Guille

Special Guest:Ita Buttrose AO OBE President, Alzheimer’s Australia

dress: black tie | rsvp: by Friday 17 August 2012 bookings: by phone 9815 7800 | by post using the payment form provided

Page 5: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

5

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Peter Sherman welcomed all to the meeting and delivered the following report:

“We have such a large audience here this evening and I would like to especially welcome all the wives and partners of Rotary members and our Visitors. I would also like to welcome the Mayor of Brighton Louise Cooper-Shaw who will be presenting a plaque on behalf of the Rotary Club of Brighton to our long standing member Sam Morris.

We are celebrating Sam’s 100th Birthday which is on 2 September and I would like you to give a special vote of applause to you Sam for reaching this venerable age and for being with us this evening. Because of the busy schedule this evening we are dispensing with our normal schedule of Sergeant and the Joker Raffle and moving straight onto proceedings. Barry Morris will be presenting a short summary of Sam’s life. How can it be short Barry? Then Sam will say a few words. The Mayor will then present a plaque to Sam which we have prepared and then we will move straight to our Speaker Professor Ian Plimer.

Last but by no means least I welcome Professor Ian Plimer as our Guest Speaker. We always seek to bring you leading Speakers and tonight we bring you one of the best known Australian Academics and author Ian Plimer. Welcome Ian and you will be introduced more fully later by our Chairman Ian Mence. In brief Professor Plimer is a geologist and Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences for the University of Melbourne and a Professor at other Universities over the years. He has published over 100 scientific papers on geology and various books. His best selling book which is his most controversial is ‘Heaven & Earth’ in which he debunks the theory that Climate warming is man induced.

I welcome the following guests and visitors - Members guests: Norm Baker, Steve Hulse, Michael Kuzilny, Dorothy Wall-Smith David Martin, Robert McGeary, Steve Hartney, Craig Beaver, Ray Street and Irene Liu. I would also like to give a special welcome to Members wives and partners - Pat Akhurst, Angela Biggin, Helen Buxton, Marina Donnellan, Helen Doyle, Lesley Kearns, Maria Hicks, Elaine King, Ann McGeary, Sally Morris, Kim, Belle Kirwan Hamilton, Jan Sher, Jenny Styles and Helen Ward. I also welcome visiting Rotarians: Rod Dunn (Melbourne South), Jim Mitchell and Roy Bird (Brighton North), ADG Gordon Cheyne, Steve Aquilina (Southbank), Alan Jarrott, Judee Stevenson.

I would like to make a special mention of one of our ex Rotarians Gavin Ballis who is competing in the Paralympics in London. He has won the World Championships in Rowing and he and his partner Kathryn Ross also set a World Record in a Regatta in Europe. They will be competing in the Rowing Events starting this week.”

Club Vision Facilitation helps a Rotary Club design its own VISION, and then sets out the steps necessary to achieve that vision. The result is not a vision decided by the Rotary District or by Rotary International, it is a vision designed and endorsed by the Club’s own members that will help to ensure continuity and consistency in its leadership & programming, to set the stage for future progress.

By starting with the end in mind, successful clubs:• Sustain and increase membership;• Implement successful service projects;• Support the Rotary Foundation;• Develop leaders in the club and beyond and develop a long-range plan which creates;• Continuity of leadership, vision and process;• Consistency in programming;• Consensus, solidarity & unanimity in purpose and action. During the session the Members of the Rotary Club of Brighton will review every aspect of the Club’s functions and determine the way forward for the Club. During the coming weeks all Members of the Rotary Club of Brighton will be invited to participate in an online survey, which should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. This will allow for a current benchmark of your Club to be achieved. The results of your anonymous survey will be forwarded to Club President Peter Sherman prior to your Club Vision session.

The information gathered in the survey will be used as a starting point for the Club Vision facilitation on the 22nd September, which will commence at 9am and go for 4 hours. At the end of the 4 hour process the members will have a clear vision of:• What the Club stands for in its community;• The Club’s target membership size in 5 years;• Identification of the Clubs attributes;• Top 3 objectives for each Avenue of Service;• Ways to improve the Club’s leadership development;• Understanding of the Club’s Leadership Plan.

It is anticipated that a good representation of your Members will volunteer to attend the facilitation session. Once the facilitation is completed, various responsibilities will be allocated and implemented at the Club. The entire membership will be given a summary of the outcomes of the session and the plan will then be implemented in the coming month.

The District Club Vision Facilitation Team is looking forward to assisting the Rotary Club of Brighton with this very important facilitation session.If you have any questions please contact Norm Thomas 0418325347, or email [email protected]

Here’s what others have had to say...“We are truly on a new adventure, with a fresh sense of excitement and possibility. Thank you for making this happen”. “If other clubs experience the same level of progress that we are enjoying, this truly ranks among the most significant contributions to Rotary that I will experience”.“It’s so simple, it actually works; the process is sound and easy to follow”.“The session generated a great deal of enthusiasm and gave the club a point from which to rebuild and progress”. Norm Thomas

President Peter Sherman

Club Vision Facilitation Session

SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE TO A BUSY SCHEDULE. - Secretary Arthur Hubbard

Page 6: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

Highlights of last Meeting 30 August!

6

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GEE FOR A CENTURION YOU ARE A BIT FRISKY

SAM!

WELL I’M NOTA TIE CHANGE

SCEPTIC!

WELCOME VISITORS!

DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD PHOTO ROBERT?

WAYNE & JENNYLOOKING STYLESH!

ELAINE, JOHN & JUDEE ENJOYING

THE NIGHT!

THERE’S MORE CHANCE OF THAT THAN THE MAGPIES

WINNING THE PREMIERSHIP BRENDAN!

WELCOMEELAINE, MARINA &

MARIA!

IT HAD BETTERBE HELEN!

YOU RECKON PETERWILL REACH 100 VERA!

IVAN’S HACKERSSaturday, 1 SeptemberIVAN’S HACKERS

We had 16 players on Saturday for the 1st week of the eclectic competition. Lowest score for the round was David Kearns with 40. Tom Buxton had a great start to the competition with a 43 and 2 birdies in his round.Bruce Newham claimed the Venus trophy with a birdie on the 17th. Well done Bruce.Photo top left: Ken Gallaher who introduced new player Craig Dallimore.Photo top right: Darryl Forge, Kavin Crundell & Arthur Hubbardobviously enjoyed themselves.Pictured bottom right: The group of Hackers who turned up for play last Saturday.

NO YOU’RE KNOT!

WATCHTHOSEHANDS SAM!

PAT & LESLIEWERE THERE TO

CELEBRATE SAM’S 100

Page 7: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

BayviewTravel

7

Birthdays Geoff Bentley 31 August Peter Sherman 01 September Sam Morris 02 September Barry Morris 02 September John King 07 September

Anniversaries Tony & Kate Rouse 06 September Jim & Imelda Donnelly 14 September Glenn & Suzie Ross 14 September

Birthdays & Anniversaries

The Club meets Thursdays at 6pm for 6.30pm at Milanos Hotel, The Esplanade, Brighton Beach.

Rotary Toast “To Australia, Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Brighton.”

Rotary Grace “For good food, good fellowship and the privilege

of service, we give you thanks O Lord.”

Welcome to all visiting Rotarians & Guests

AUSTRALIA’S LARGESTTOYOTA DEALERSHIPPHONE 1300 910 200

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“I hope nothing happens!”- said Sam Morris when his daughter reminded him

he was turning 100 soon.

“He has been a lad in his day!”- said the Mayor when Sam whispered

something to her.

“Looks like I have got to go home!”- said Sam after son Barry tapped him on the

shoulder.

“I’m not a climate sceptic!”- said speaker Prof Ian Plimer at the start of his talk.

“On a Thursday 4 mill plus years ago...!”- said speaker Prof Ian when talking about the

changes in world climate in the past.

Quotes of the week!Quotes of the week! As heard during the meeting 30 August:

Page 8: Rotary Club of Brighton · Professor Plimer also talked about his new book “How to get Expelled from School” - A guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters and it

Environmental Print congratulates the Rotary Club of Brighton on their sustainable approach to printed material. t 9555 1244 | f 9873 8845 | [email protected] | www.printeasy.com.au

Ron Sher - My Life StoryMy parents arrived in Australia end 1938 just before the 2nd world war. They migrated here from Austria to start a new and exciting life.

Arriving from Europe and all the cultural wonders, they considered Australia the new frontier, and were excited about being part of it. Australia became their new home, and they embraced it with incredible joy de vie and fierce loyalty.

In the 1920’s my father worked in Paris for a company which designed and manufactured an electric drill. That was his project, and was to become his future.

I was born in 1940 and am an only child. Now that there were 3 Shers, a new dynasty was founded.

Living in Armadale as a youngster, I went to Caulfield Grammar where I was the marbles champion. In 1951 my parents went to Japan. I became a border, and really enjoyed the experience. It was great discipline being forced to have clean ears, nails and shoes at inspection in the morning line-up. The after school sport, and organised homework was a valuable lesson for life.

In 1957 I matriculated after 6 fabulous years at Scotch College. Academically I was not a brilliant student. Played tennis and swimming, and was a piano accompanist for the house and school choirs. (A singer I was not). I was involved with the Scotch ski club known as Koomerang Ski Club. I spent many seasons enjoying the snow long after leaving school.

In the local scouts I achieved various badges including Queen Scout. Scouting in my day was a little different than it is today.

I was accepted into the Engineering faculty at Melbourne University, then moved to Caulfield Institute of Technology, graduating as an electrical engineer in 1961.

I travelled Europe and Asia, worked in Stockholm making electric motors for the Swedish Army, lived on a yacht and ate at the cooking school. I didn’t have a work permit, so was escorted to the border and put on a train going north to Narvik and the midnight sun.

I also worked in Zurich manufacturing electric motor winding equipment. It was my first introduction to the metric system, working in millimetres and not inches. Sounds simple today, but in 1962 it wasn’t. Nor was communication, trying to speak ‘Swiss German’.

I travelled to East Berlin through Check Point Charlie twice, and on the second trip the police wanted to know why I returned to East Berlin. Later they released me and escorted me back to Check Point Charlie. It was an interesting experience.

Upon my return to Australia my father gave me a job. I managed R & D, engineering and motor manufacturing departments. I also designed and built small sirens for police cars and emergency services vehicles. (Remember the siren on the bonnet of the police car used in “Homicide”?) This was a great little business which became obsolete with the introduction of the modern electronic wailers. I also built updated versions of the air raid sirens which the CFA strategically placed around Victoria. Perhaps they should be introduced again.

In 1964 Skil Corporation acquired the majority interest in Sher Tools, and the family company culture was lost, replaced with rigid line management. Skil Corp sent me to Chicago for education and training to carry out their expectations in their Australian subsidiary. Working for Skil was a great experience in how to do things, and also how not to do things.

I met my first wife, Jan, on a blind date in late 1963, and a year and a half later married her. Now there were 4 Shers. By 1971 we had produced 2 boys and a girl. There now were 7 Shers.

I founded Sherline Products in 1972, manufacturing miniature bench tools for model engineers, schools and universities. The USA was the main market, and within a few years we commenced manufacturing there. Sherline is the leading manufacturer of miniature machine tools, selling machines and accessories worldwide.

This year is 40 years since we started the business.

My father was a member of the Rotary Club of Collingwood. So Rotary has been part of the family for many years. I was briefly a member of Collingwood, and then joined Moorabbin Rotary. In 1979 Mayer Page, then President, talked me into transferring to Brighton.

Rotary has been a big part of my life. I’ve been on the Board as a director, a secretary and in 2000/2001 I was given the privilege of being President. It was the year we opened Rotary Place in Church Street after selling plaques to fund construction of a house for ‘Kids Under Cover’. We are still offering plaques for sale, the proceeds going to the Rotary Club of Brighton Charitable Foundation.

During 2000 my then wife, Jan, was diagnosed with lung cancer so I moved my office home to become a part time carer. In August 2001 she died. It was then that I realised what an incredible group of people made up the Brighton Rotary Club. So many members cared for me, and included me in their social life.

It is a fact that 1 in 5 people are affected by Mental Illness. I wanted to become involved with an organisation that helps people with mental problems. I joined the District Committee of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. This committee organised and assisted with forums around Victoria where patients, psychiatrists, carers and nurses would meet to discuss their problems with people in similar situations. This was done in conjunction with the newly formed Beyond Blue.

I also had the privilege of being PDG Don Jaego’s Assistant Governor for the Auburn Cluster in 2003/04.

I was thrilled when Julian Goglia presented me with a Paul Harris Sapphire award. I also get a lot of satisfaction being a Rotary mentor to the Victoria Police Leaders Mentoring Program.

Ian Stevenson pressured me to meet with Jan Collins. Eventually I succumbed and invited her to our Rotary Christmas lunch in 2003. And so our friendship began, love blossomed and in October 2007, we married.

Now back to family. My three children are wonderful, successful and married. Now there were 10 Shers. And they gave me 4 fantastic grand children. There have been 14 Shers from the initial 2 Shers, Over 74 years the dynasty still has 11 members. But there is more!! Because I re-married, I have 2 lovely step children with partners that have between them 5 children + Mum in law (11 more). All this has made for a fantastic and happy group. How lucky am I?

I am fortunate to have a wonderful family, great friends, and the opportunity to travel, to play a little golf, play the piano every now and then, and sell some machines for fun to cover overheads.

Sherline products Ron & Jan Sher (Collins)


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