Posted by Karin Soster on Apr 13, 2022
It was a welcome return to Cilantro for today’s meeting, cojoined with Zoom for members unable to attend to “zoom in”. One of our newest club members, Samantha Langridge, was our chairperson today.  Larry was invited to conduct the invocation, and Jo to conduct the toast.  A warm welcome was extended to our special guest to for today’s meeting - Debbie Taylor-Haynes - her second in two weeks running.  Tony and Julie joined the meeting via Zoom.
President Helen Announcements
    Helen announced our club received a Special Certificate as Silver Sponsors  in recognition of our club contributions to Shelter Box that provides emergency assistance after a natural disaster.
    We have sad news to report one of our former members, Liz Pascarl, passed away recently – if anyone has any contact details for Liz’s family – to please let Helen know.
    We are also saddened to hear Neville’s partner’s (Sheryl) mother has also passed away and only weeks after Neville’s mother passed away.  Helen extended our thoughts and condolences from the club to Neville and Sheryl and their families.   
    Helen reminded everyone of the Art Auction that will be held at the Bentleigh Club on Saturday 7th May – a promotional flyer was available on all the tables.  A $40 entry fee applies and includes nibbles.  Drinks will be available at bar prices.   Please bring along your friends to join in – they may walk away with a ‘masterpiece’.  Proceeds from the night will go towards 3D printing of prosthetics for underprivileged countries.
    Our club members are invited to attend Woodlands Golf Course  to celebrate the 50 year Rotary anniversary for Mordialloc Rotary Club  – also on Saturday 7th May.
    A club board meeting will held on Tuesday 19 April in Cilantro  -  could board members please submit their reports prior to the weekend.
    Helen displayed new club promotional material we have had made up recently – these include a new club brochure for members to distribute, and a new sticker to be included when making presentations of support to various community groups.   
Jo Impey
    A new club member, Graham Chad, is now home recovering from his hip operation – and is happy to receive contact from club members.  Linda and Margaret M have been dropping off meals – thank you Linda and Margaret.
    Our other new club member, Gaurav Gaur,  has been busy with family and business commitments  -  but we should see him fairly soon.   
Guest Speaker
A warm welcome was extended to our guest speaker, Ross Guenther, Deputy Commissioner, and Brian Horan from Victoria Police.  Ross Guenther joined the police force in 1985, after a career in music playing the clarinet and flute in bands that, among other gigs, included work on the Don Lane Show, Ernie Sigley Show and other commercial work.  However, as enjoyable as this work was, work in the industry does not offer financial security – and he joined Victoria Police.  Ross provided a brief outline of his policing history as he rose through the ranks - with appointments at Russell Street that included shifts at Parliament House (no fun and a shift dreaded by everyone), and police stations – Prahran (constable and at a time when fellow colleagues Gary Silk and Rodney Miller were murdered), St Kilda (detective), Richmond, Darebin and Moorabbin (superintendent for 3 years).  He was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 2015, and the head of Victoria Police Counter Terrorism Command in 2016.  In 2020 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Public Safety and Security.  He has a portfolio that covers three areas – Counter Terrorism Command, Crime Command and Transit and Public Safety Command.  Public Safety is a new portfolio with 4000 full time employees and covers the transit system, canine services for search and rescue, and a special air service that uses helicopters that have a lot of capability, can take full crews and fly as fast as a jet plane.   Crime Command has 700 employees, and Counter Terrorism Command has 155 employees.  Since the appointment of Shane Patton to Chief Commissioner of Police, there has been a shift in policing back to grass roots and neighbourhood policing with more involvement in the community that includes schools programs and education to help counter crime in a growing population – particularly in new and expanding suburbs and estates that suffer from a lack of services and infrastructure.  Public Safety has involved police assisting other states such as the recent floods.  Post Covid, policing is rebasing back to core duties, but also needs to consider what may lay ahead in a changing world.  Ross challenged everyone (with a music theme) to think of the show, the Jetsons (1962), and their futuristic predictions that seemed unfathomable at the time, but have since come to pass such as smart watches, 3D printers and tanning beds for a start.  Since ANZPAA in 2020, there has been a focus on digital operations to help counter cybercrime.  There is recognition that crime will change in the future, and policing will no longer be the domain of police on their own – it involves building relationships and partnerships with government and other external relevant parties to help identify and counter crime in the future.    Ross finished up answering questions from the floor – covering questions on regulations for aerial devices such as drones and Uber (no regulation yet), use of PSOs, CCTV and AI – artificial intelligence.  It was a very interesting and well received presentation, and provided an insight on policing in the future.
 
Sargent Session -Sargent John confined his fines to football matters, and members were fined for their team winning the game and losing a game.  Neville was fined for his losing team and mentioned   “he thought his team had it in the bag, until they played”.
Rosters - The rosters for the next meeting and market were read out.  A volunteer is needed for this coming Sunday market - particularly to help with closing time.
Next club meeting - Next week’s club meeting will include a talk from our two sponsored participants to this year’s NYSF program.