rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page

RCDC 1 3 t h N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2

ROTARY CLUB OF DIAMOND CREEK

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 2

RI President

Sakuji Tanaka Rotary Club of Yashio, Saitama, Japan

Governor

John Gatt Rotary Club of Diamond Creek

AG

Pat Millar Rotary Club of Diamond Creek

Club Officers

President Steve Crosling

Vice President Alan Jones

President Elect Bev Baker

Secretary Greg Paull

Treasurer & Public Officer Greg Adams

Directors and Standing Committees

Club Administration PE Bev Baker

Membership Phil Chambeyron

Public Relations PP Alan Jones

Service Projects PP Alan White

Rotary Foundation PP Linda Gidlund

Who ya gunna call !

President Steve Crosling 0417 595 282

Secretary Greg Paull 0427 712 688

Treasurer Greg Adams 0419 355 842

Editor: Greg Adams

Art Director: Greg Adams

Advertising : Greg Adams

Bottle washer : Greg as well

Editorial: send to ferrarigreg@gmail.com

Caution: The Bulletin contains no calories, vitamins,

minerals or proteins. In fact, it is devoid of nutritional value.

Nevertheless, it is a supplement much sought after and

regularly devoured by the Rotarians of Diamond Creek.

rotary club of diamond creek inc.

RCDC

V o l u m e 2 1 I s s u e 1 9

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter

are not necessarily those of the Club or its members

District 9790

past presidents

Brian Bowen 1978-1979 Heidelberg North

Bob Eycken 1983-1984 Alperton UK

John McCrohan 1992-1993

Ron Gordon 1993-1994

Chris Doupe 1994-1995

Cliff Wearne 1995-1996

Ern Wardell 1996-1997

Rod Mackenzie 1997-1998

Steve Sampson 1998-1999

Robin Chapple 1999-2000

Peter Marriage 2000-2001

Rob Lloyd 2001-2002

Bev Baker 2002-2003

Joe Di Natale 2003-2004

Geoff Swan 2004-2005

John Gatt 2005-2006

John Arthur 2006-2007

Linda Gidlund 2007-2008

Alan White 2008-2009

Pat Millar

2009-2010

Clyde Hulme

2010-2011

Alan Jones

2011-2012

Printed by Coventry & Co. Real

estate Greensborough

contact Irene Adams 0416000453

After visiting 59

Clubs and attending

another 15 club

meetings, traveling

17,120 kilometres in

135 days that’s one

Club visit every 1.8

days!

And traveling

126.8 kilometres

each day to do it.

John and Eileen are

finally visiting US !

Please make DG

John and Eileen

welcome.

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 3

THE PRESIDENTIAL CROSS CHAT XRAY STEVE

Greetings and salutations to all Diamond Creek Rotarians and all others who may be

reading this newsletter. I have returned from my travels and am now back in harness and

ready for the next eight months. For those who may have missed the fact that I was absent or

not aware of my travels – a brief snapshot.

I headed up to Cairns to spend a week SCUBA diving on the Great Barrier Reef prior to

heading further north for some more serious diving. The week out of Cairns was for

preparation – settling in some new equipment and acclimatising myself to diving in tropical

waters. I was also interested to see what changes, if any, have occurred along the reef as

reported in the press and try and get some sort of handle on “global warming and climate

change”. We were very fortunate to have on board a marine ecologist from Townsville who

was researching that very topic, and over seven days we dived the reef system from just north

of Port Douglas up to north and east of Cooktown. Yes – there was evidence of reef

degradation but essentially limited to the top 3- 5 meters of the reefs whereas the deeper parts

of the reef were extremely healthy. The marine ecologist explained that the damage was most

probably caused by cyclonic weather, chemical runoff from the mainland, a cyclical upsurge

in Crown of Thorns starfish numbers, and, a slight increase in water temperature. Food for

thought there – just what impact is global warming having and is there really a need for

gloom and doom? After seven days I was none the wiser but had learnt to keep an open mind

and look at these issues rationally rather than judgmentally. Good opportunity to apply the

Rotarian 4 way test.

Moved on from there to Bikini Atoll which is in the Marshall Islands – just north of the

equator and about as far as you can get from anywhere in the Pacific Ocean. This was the

site of the post second world war atomic weapons testing program conducted by the

Americans using WW2 destroyers, battle ships, submarines and an aircraft carrier. Wreck

divers’ heaven but complex technical diving and not for the faint hearted. Try spending half

an hour doing decompression at 12 meters with a school of sharks circling around you!!!

What this part of the trip did show was the futility of what man can do to man. The

Marshallese people were “relocated” from their islands for safety reasons, allowed to return

too soon with many becoming sick and dying, relocated again but will now not return

because of their fears of sickness. The younger people have no desire to return as they have no

memories of their home islands. To make matters worse nothing grown on the islands can be

eaten because of the radioactive caesium uptake in all plants. Add to these woes the people of

Rongelap Island who were irradiated following the last test because the wind was blowing in

the wrong direction on the day of the test but the politicians who were there had to see it that

day.

We see and hear these sorts of predicaments and we realise why we join Rotary and why we

gladly do what we can to help out in communities less fortunate than ours.

Steve’s back !

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 4

On and around 11 November each year,

the Returned & Services League of

Australia sells millions of red poppies for

Australians to pin on their lapels.

Proceeds go to the RSL's welfare work.

Why a red poppy ?

The red poppy, the Flanders poppy, was

first described as the flower of

remembrance by Colonel John McCrae,

who was Professor of Medicine at McGill

University of Canada before World War I.

Colonel McCrae had served as a gunner in

the Boer War, but went to France in

World War I as a medical officer with the

first Canadian contingent.

At the battle of Ypres in 1915, when in charge of a small first-aid post, he wrote in pencil on a page torn from his despatch book:7l~.

Colonel McCrae was wounded in May 1918 and died after three days in a military hospital on the French coast. On the eve of his death he allegedly said to his doctor,

"Tell them this. If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep."

the Red Poppy

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders' fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders' fields.

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 5

'The Great Foundation 5 cent challenge'

As November

(Foundation Month)

draws to a close,

remember to keep

collecting those

coins !

A project of the Rotary Club of Devonport North

District 9830 & Food Plants International

Imagine, if you could, a world that was free of chronic

malnutrition. Where children as young as five did not die of

hunger or disease. That could be a reality now thanks to the

efforts of Tasmanian agricultural scientist, Bruce French.

Bruce has devoted a lifetime of work to devising a simple and

sustainable solution to global malnutrition through establishing

the not-for-profit organisation, Food Plants International.

Through his work he has documented the world’s most

complete and comprehensive database of edible plants.

These plants thrive in their homelands, provide nutrition and,

most importantly, help the hungry feed themselves.

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 6

13th November 2012 TUESDAY 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

DG’s Club visit—Partners Night

Attend, John E, Chair, Steve C, Cash Greg A, Welcome Tina E, Regalia Sharraine B,

Raffle Gift Alan J.

20th November 2012 TUESDAY 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

O.H.S. night—Town Fair brief with Maureen Mackenzie all volunteers welcome.

Attend, Jaqui H, Chair, Rod M, Cash Greg A, Welcome Rob L, Regalia Geoff S,

Raffle Gift Greg P.

24th November 2012 SATURDAY Town Fair

Attend, everyone

27th November 2012 TUESDAY 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

AGM and Club Ass

Attend, Pat M, Chair, Steve C, Cash Greg A, Welcome David P, Regalia Geoff S,

Raffle Gift Ern W.

4th December 2012 TUESDAY 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Foundation night

Attend, Jaqui H, Chair, Rod M, Cash Greg A, Welcome David P, Regalia Geoff S,

Raffle Gift Greg P.

9th December 2012 SATURDAY 12 noon on

Rotary Family Christmas Party

11th December 2012 TUESDAY 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Nando Night partners night 5 cent results

Attend, Alan W, Chair, Linda G, Cash Greg A, Welcome Sharraine B, Regalia Phil C,

Raffle Gift John E.

LIFE’S EVENTS

WHAT’S ON, WHO’S ON AND WHEN’S IT ON

Eltham Lower Park Oval .

Club BBQ Available BYO Drinks Food & chair's.

Santa arrives 1.30 PM

Please bring children's present to value $20.00 wrapped with child's name.

All children and Grandchildren Welcome

Please advise Geoff Swan of attendance and number of children.

Nov 20 Maureen Mackenzie—birthday

Nov 22 Sharraine Ballao—joined Rotary 1 year ago

Nov 25 Judith Pike—birthday

Nov 27 Rob Mackenzie -birthday

Nov 28 Glenda Swan—birthday

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 7

Toast to Australia: Eileen Acting president: PP Alan Jones

Visiting Rotarians: President Mike Westler (Eltham)

Ride to Conquer Cancer: David successfully completed his bike ride on the weekend. He raised over

$7500. The ride was tough, and was completed by People of all shapes and sizes. His adventure

included some big hills, lost drink bottles and a really professionally organised bike ride.

Whittlesea Trivia: We still have a vacancy for the Whittlesea RC trivia night. Please contact Alan J.

If there are any items for the DC news, please let Alan J know.

Town Fair – Rod: The roster has gone out. Please respond to Jacqui with any changes.

Eltham Town Fair: RC Eltham has their festival on Nov 10 and 11 including fireworks. Go along and

have some fun!

Conference – Rob:

Speakers are locked in, catering underway, sports day being organised, and generally planning is going

well.

Phil admitted to being a trouble maker at school.

DG Visit: In 2 weeks, November 13th, the DG will be attending our club. DG John will speak to the

club, and Eileen will give us an update on Learngrow.

Hat Day: Hat day was won by David in his bike helmet.

Chairman: Ern

Sergeant Arthur confused some facts and fined the innocent while ignoring the guilty.

Travellers Tales: Geoff and Glenda gave us a rundown of their cruise from Sydney to Beijing, then their

trip on the Trans Siberian Railway. Highlights included B52s, white Tigers, Elephant rides, more tigers,

human tigers, sleeping Buddha's, sitting Buddha's, unusual buildings, temples, big guns, big bells,

churches, shops, trains, vodka, more buildings, sloping block buildings, statues, more trains, lakes, more

churches, yurts, submarines, bridges, Korean DMZ and more.

Please book your conference tickets and accommodation.

Raffle raised $41 Won by Rob

Fines Raised $28

AND HAT DAY NIGHT raised $90 + $10 from Greg and Ray.= $100.00 (his nurse was free)

WHAT HAPPENED at the MEETING LAST WEEK before LAST

rotary club of diamond creek inc RCDC 13 th November Page 8

Phone 03 9438 3044

Fax: 03 9438 4070

Email: sales@lpwarrenhomes.com.au

NOTICES— UPCOMING EVENTS

District Governor’s Visit (Partner’s Night) – Tuesday 13th November

Rotary Club of Whittlesea’s Trivia Night (need 1 more) – Saturday 17th

November

Family Christmas Party – Sunday 9th December

Combined Churches Christmas Carols – Sunday 16th December