NOTES ON THE RUN

Hi Everyone,

Trust you have enjoyed the long weekend.

A special thank you to the members who have helped over the long weekend with the parking at the Canberra Racecourse. We will be able to help out people who need support after the recent floods in Lismore.

I will be away this week but the meeting is in the good hands of Bill Andrews.

Unfortunately District Governor Leo Farrely's wife passed away during the week. The Club has sent a sympathy card.

Please remember to pass on the details of the Incognito Art Show to any artist people you know: https://incognitoartshowcanberra.gallery/

We seem to be heading well with items for the End Trachoma project. I will make sure we have an updated list for this week's meeting

No sport but gearing up for the netball season. 

Have a great week... As always reach out if you need anything 

President Warrick

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Peace Project

Coming up at the Peace Bell on Sunday, 20 March at 2 pm is the recognition of Harmony Day in conjunction with the Canberra Multicultural Community Council. Seven new languages will be added to the Peace Pole at Lennox Gardens at this ceremony.

A very moving Vigil for Ukraine was conducted by Amnesty International on Friday evening from 5.30pm. We heard from three Ukrainian speakers and several politicians. All in attendance joined in condemning the actions and attack by Russia on Ukraine. The Peace Bell again provided a suitable setting for such a solemn ceremony.

Michael Rabey

Volunteering

On Sunday and Monday some members volunteered for car parking duty at the Canberra Racecourse with any funds raised to assist the flood damage.

End Trachoma

Here is the list of items we need for our new friends from Robinson River for the End Trachoma project: https://goo.gl/maps/vns3TCukxucCxsHP6

If members could please purchase some of the items or if you are friendly with any shops around the place maybe they might like to make a donation.

I will keep people updated  as we get more items so we don't accumulate too much.

We also need some fabric to make 25 drawstring bags with different patterns suitable for teenagers: fabric 36x92 making a bag 30x40cm with a 1 metre drawstring. So if anyone has spare fabric etc. please bring some in

Item	Quantity
Face Washers	20
Hand Towel
Bar of Soap	20
Soap Container
Toothbrush	15
Toothbrush Container
Toothpaste - Family Size	3
Shampoo/Conditioner Combined Family size	1
Comb / Brush	24 Combs
Deodorant - non aerosol
750 Ml Drink Bottle	25
Bandaids Box of 2
Pocket Tissues	20
Something Special

And if it is all too much - don't forget another side of the Trachoma project:

"Drink Wine, End Trachoma". Can we make it any easier for you? Purchase your next drink, gift, raffle prize or event beverages at The Wateryard and help us End Trachoma: https://www.thewateryard.com/

Warrick Howieson

MEMBERSHIP NOTES

Sadly, to date the Membership Committee has received Membership Satisfaction Surveys back from less than half the club members. Truly, it will take less than 15 minutes of your time.

If you would prefer to talk to one of the Membership Committee Directors rather than completing the survey then please approach either myself or Juris.

I will be attending this week’s meeting and look forward to catching up with all of you.

Sharon Green

 

THIS WEEK'S MEETING (Commonwealth Club, Thu. Mar 17th, 12.15 for 12.30)

Speaker:

Richard Matthews, Convener of Diplomats for Climate Action Now, will speak on the topic "Why Australia should be a leader in climate action"

 

Duty Roster

 

DATE:	March 17th	March 24th	March 31st
DOOR:	Ross B.	Ross B.	Ross B.
TOAST:	Eric C..	Sue L.	Warrick H.
THANK SPEAKER & NOTES:	Andrea C.	Graeme H.	Bill A.
SERGEANT:	Peter J.	Ron R.	Olek G.

If Unable To Attend On A Day You Are Rostered, Please Organise A Replacement.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING (10th of March):

Speaker

Allan Hawke AC spoke about his book on the history of Blundell’s cottage

We had the privilege to hear from Allan talking about his work as an historian. His talk at our meeting focused on a chronicle of the convict Joseph Blundell and his convict consort Susan Osbourne.

We were introduced to the life of Allan’s ancestors going back to the 1500’s. What makes the message so amazing is that the research by Allan for the book was done prior to the advent of the internet which meant massive delays in obtaining information from various sources around the world.

An important take home message from Allan was to make sure you have put your will in place as things can change in unexpected ways.

The book Calamity and Conquest is Allan’s book and was purchased by many of those present after the talk. It looks like an interesting read and shows that Canberra does have a depth of history.

Michael Rabey

The Toast

In Ukraine, Rotary is, or has been, represented by 52 clubs in various cities of Ukraine and has almost 1000 members. There are, or were, 9 clubs in Kyiv.

I know there is a flood catastrophe right here in our neighbourhood, but I thought we would probably like to be reassured that amidst the cruel and incessant invasion of Ukraine, Rotary is still functioning, delivering service above self in the most dangerous situations.

Rotary Club Kyiv International opened on December 27, 2019, and has 30 members. It is evidently still operating, helping women and children wherever it can.

Their website page, with a black-and-white photo of the face of a tearful child across the whole page, says: Let's help Ukrainian refugees!

Google translate says (unadjusted):

"The public organization Rotary Club Kyiv International, together with the US-Ukraine Foundation, is organizing support for Ukrainian women and children, who stumbled near the zone of fighting Russian troops and were terrified to get rid of their houses. For the whole hour, a center has been organized to receive and support migrants, to provide them with housing, medicines, and then they will consume the goods first. The centers are located near Rakhiv, Polyanytsya and Uzhgorod and the united territorial communities (OTG) to form a cordon with Poland and Romania."

There are heartrending pictures of women and children with their meagre belongings walking to escape bombardment, and what looks like a three year old girl crying, leaning against the dead body of her mother.
There are contact sites and phone numbers on the website to make donations.

It's a very distressing, harrowing time there, with many lives already lost and many more under constant threat.

For their great work, under huge stress, a Toast to the Rotary Club of Kyiv International!

Juris Jakovics

 

MEMBER NOTES

Member Bill Andrews sends photos related to his trip to Brewarrina NSW. On the way was a visit to Come By Chance NSW, reputedly the only privately-owned village in the Southern Hemisphere. In Brewarrina (Bre) the lizards grow big as the photo indicates. A visit to the ancient Aboriginal fishtraps was unsuccessful because they were under one metre of floodwater.

 

FUTURE EVENTS

--17 Mar: Richard Matthews, Convener of Diplomats for Climate Action Now, will speak to us on the topic "Why Australia should be a leader in climate action"

--19-20 Mar: District Conference in Temora

-- 20 Mar: Harmony Day event at Peace Bell, Lennox Gardens, 2pm.

-- 24 Mar: Christine Helliwell, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology ANU, will make a presentation to us about Secret Australian Operations in WWII Borneo

-- 26-27 Mar: Rotary Peace Walk - we need 5-6 volunteers for the start of the walk at Albert

Hall. Please contact peter.davies04@gmail.com to volunteer.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

--Never blame someone else for the road you are on.

That's your own asphalt.

--My wife told me she’ll slam my head on the keyboard if I don’t get off the computer.

I’m not too worried, I think she’s jokinlkjhfakljnm,.nbziyoao78yv87dfaoyuofaytdf

--My grandma is 80% Irish.

People call her Iris.

--Ancient Egyptian architect: “Do you know how to build a pyramid?”

Ancient Egyptian builder: “Well, err yeah, up to a point.”

--People call me self centered.

But that’s enough about them.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DAYS THIS WEEK

Mar 17: Ireland St. Patrick's Day

Mar 20: Tunisia Independence Day; International day of Happiness; French Language Day

NOTABLE HISTORICAL EVENTS THIS WEEK

Mar 14 (1794): Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin machine revolutionising the cotton industry in southern US states

Mar 15 (44 BCE): Julius Caesar stabbed to death by Roman Senators Brutus, Cassius et.al. on the Ides of March in Rome

Mar 16 (1867): Joseph Lister reported discovery of antiseptic surgery

Mar 17 (432) St.Patrick captured in Great Britain by Irish pirates and taken as slave to Ireland

Mar 18 (1325): Tenochtitlan (later named Mexico City) founded on island in Lake Texcoco

Mar 19 (1932): Sydney Harbour Bridge opened

Mar 20 (1800): Alessandro Volta reported discovery of electric battery to the Royal Society of London