PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Welcome to a new Rotary Year - “Serve to Change Lives” is the theme.
We had a great time at the Changeover Dinner [see note below] - A great venue and one I must return to in the daylight. Many thanks to Eric for his leadership of our Club over the last 12 months
Plans are beginning to form for activities that we want to undertake. Current items that are in various stages of planning are for a Trivia Night in Spring, and later in the year an Incognito Art Show focusing on fundraising for alleviating trachoma among Aboriginal and Torres Straits people. We are also starting to look towards bringing back the Stomp if we can line everything up.
This week we will hear from George Wilson about his recent flying trip.
On a personal note, we had a great time celebrating a birthday in the family over the weekend.
Stay well and warm over the next week
President Warrick
LAST WEEK'S CHANGE-OVER DINNER
The Changeover Dinner at the Royal Canberra Golf Club was a success in terms of the general ambience and camaraderie even if attendance was somewhat reduced due to Covid restrictions and vaccinations and pouring down rain.
The new Board consists of:
President Warrick Howieson, Treasurer Ross Brown, Secretary Sue Lloyd, Membership Sharon Green/Juris Jakovics, Community Services Peter Davies, Club Admin. & Pres. Elect Andrea Conti, Foundation Monica Garrett, and Immediate Past Pres. Eric Carmody
Two awards were given out. The first was for Club Rotarian of the Year which went to Warrick Howieson, and the second a Paul Harris Fellowship to Robert Laine.
Also, it was a pleasure to have new Member Ms. Ieva Apine, Charge d'Affaires of the Latvian Embassy, formally inducted into the Club as part of the ceremonies.
A book was auctioned off with the successful (and a most generous) bid purportedly making this the most expensive paperback book in the world (see note by Marcel Skjald below).
A large part of the success of the evening was the attendance of so many spouses, partners, friends and significant others accompanying our members which added a very positive note to the evening.
It should be noted that due to poor visibility caused by the downpour and low lighting in the car park, the Editor-in-Chief/Cub Reporter of our newsletter took a wrong turn while attempting to leave the venue and was headed for the 4th tee when he realised his error and eventually made a successful exit without serious damage to the course.
JULY DUTY ROSTER
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July 8th
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July 15th
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July 22nd
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July 29th
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CC
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CC
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CC
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ZOOM
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DOOR
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R. Brown
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R. Brown
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A. Conti
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N/A
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TOAST
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W. Andrews
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R. Rabey
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G. Wilson
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E. Carmody
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SARGEANT
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G. Howieson
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J. Jakovics
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O. Gancarz
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M. Rabey
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TRUE/FALSE
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L. Scrivener
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R. Laine
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G. Gibbs
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N/A
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NOTES
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S. Green
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R. Dew
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G. Little
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W. Andrews
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PEACE PROJECT
It is with sadness that I report the passing of Roy Sinclair the founder and coordinator of the Christchurch World Peace Bell. Members may be aware that Roy assisted us greatly when we were first setting up the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell. Roy also attended the opening of our bell in 2018. RIP Roy.
Michael Rabey
NOTE FROM FORMER GUEST SPEAKER FRED SMITH
George [Wilson],
Good to hear from you and thanks for checking in on me. The closure of the Kabul Embassy back in May had a catastrophic effect on my employment there! An inconvenience for me but it bodes ill for the residents of that troubled land. I'm back in Canberra for the winter and mostly content in the bosom of family life. Thanks again for hosting such an excellent event back in December - you have thoughtful constituents.
Fred
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DID I READ THAT SIGN RIGHT ?
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW.
In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS.
In an office : WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN.
In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.
Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS.
Spotted in a safari park : ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.
Notice in a farmer's field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.
In front of a farmhouse: FOR SALE, OUR OWN FRESH EGGS
On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK).
(Thanks to Eric)
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PAPERBACK BOOK IN THE WORLD
“The Legend of the Bugler of Krakow”
In the 13th century in the service of Poland and Krakow, the Prince of Poland wanted to honor a great Knight for his service over the many years for keeping Poland safe from its enemies.
The Prince in appreciation bestowed a great gold chain to Sir Bartosz for valor and as a symbol of his status. Sir Bartosz was greatly honored and asked the Prince whether he could become the Bugler for Krakow as his long years as a soldier was coming to an end. Sir Bartosz wanted to be of continuing service to his country in his aging years and felt that as the bugler he could still keep a watchful eye on his city. The Prince agreed provided Sir Bartosz with his bugle and gave him the uppermost room in the St Mary’s Basilicas left tower to which he could observe the city from all directions.
Each morning Sir Bartosz religiously played the Hejnal reveille, which indicated to the other buglers on the defensive walls that the city could be opened securely for visitors and traders.
One early morning while Sir Bartosz was surveilling the city, he noticed a dust storm approaching, the great army of the Tartars was approaching the city walls.
Sir Bartosz grabbed his bugle and played the Hejnal to alert all of the residents and soldiers that danger was approaching. Everyone heard the bugle call and bore arms and faced the marauders; a great battle ensued and the walls to Krakow fell and the city was inundated. The Hejnal kept playing and lifted the spirits of all to continue to fight! After many hours of fighting the Tartars eventually retreated, as it was clear they wouldn’t win. In anger Tartar archers still hearing the bugle call from the top of the tower let loose a volley of arrows. Sir Bartosz was struck in the throat and the Hejnal stopped mid call.
The old Knight was given a ceremonial funeral and all of the city’s inhabitants marched in honor. As Sir Bartosz was placed in his tomb within the Basilica, the bugle could be heard playing above and eerily stopped at the same note as when he was struck by the arrow.
“The History”
The year of the event was placed at 1241, Krakow Poland.
The Hejnal Mariacki is known as the warning song and was played to indicate to the guards on the gate that they could safely open the city. It was also played if danger was present.
You can hear the reveille at this link:
https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/12/28/krakow-advertises-for-new-bugler-to-continue-600-year-old-tradition/
The hejnał is directed first in the direction of Wawel Royal Castle, to symbolise playing for the king; then towards the market square, for city councillors; then to the Florian Gate, for guests; and finally in the direction of the fire department headquarters.
The actually song played was believed to have been derived from a tune from Hungary, and was used as a warning for fires or invasions. The word Hejnal in Hungarian means “wake-up”.
The St Mary’s Basilica, is within the main market square in Krakow. In modern times the tune is played every hour on the hour in each of the cardinal directions.
The current team of Buglers consists of seven firemen who have a rotation to play the tune in pairs.
There currently is an opening for a post of Bugler as Mr Jan Sergiel is retiring after 24 years of service. Michael Kolton (another bugler) has been at his post since 2006 and Michael’s father, Jan was also a Bugler for the previous 35 years.
The buglers of today have to climb 239 steps to reach the top of the tower (54m) to make their calls, so must be fit.
(Thanks to Marcel)
LANGUAGE NOTES (GERMAN)
Given that we have so much international contact with ambassadors, overseas Rotary, local non-English etc. it behoves us to learn some foreign phrases. When we have German-speaking visitors:
Hello Robert
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Hallo Robert
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How are you?
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Wie gehts?
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My name is Robert
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Mein Name ist Robert
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Please
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Bitte
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Thank you
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Danke
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You're welcome
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Bitte schön
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Goodbye
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Auf Wiedersehen
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(Thanks Wolfgang)
WORLD, NATIONAL AND OTHER CURRENT EVENTS THIS WEEK
11 July: Mongolian Independence Day; World Population Day
NOTABLE EVENTS IN HISTORY THIS WEEK
5 July: Isaac Newton's Principia published outlining his laws of motion and gravitation (1687)
6 July: California passes first “no fault” divorce law (1970).
7 July: A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death (1456).
8 July Vasco da Gama departs on first voyage (first European to reach India by sea (1497)
9 July: Argentina declares independence from Spain (1816)
10 July: City of Dublin founded on banks of Liffey river (988); Lady Godiva rides naked on horseback through Coventry to force her husband Earl of Mercia to lower taxes(1040).
11 July: Pope excommunicates King Henry VIII.