Opened By: President Leon Lorenzen at 6:30 PM Guest Speaker: US Consul General Colleen Altstock Other Guests: Matilda Aposto, Anna Fordham, Marty Fordham, Gustav Langham, Paul Larson, Susan Larson, Di Moxham, and Steve Young Opening Activity: National Anthem

❓ Question of the Week

• Question: What is the name of the mascot of the Tasmania Devils AFL team?

• Answer: Rum'un

• Correctly Answered By: Peter Panek

💬 Friends and Family

• Juniper Paintings Exhibition: Kevin Jackson outlined the opportunity to visit an exhibition of Juniper paintings, which will be held at the Weld Club (between 10:30 AM–11:45 AM) on 18 Nov and 23 Nov. There is a maximum capacity of 32 per group, and the cost is $30. Kevin will liaise with Tom Langley for expressions of interest.

• Save Matilda Bay Initiative: Kevin also highlighted the "Save Matilda Bay" initiative. He encourages everyone to send letters to newspapers, local members, etc. A rally is also planned for 12 November at Parliament House. Contract signing is expected in about 4 weeks.

• Marathon Milestone: Peter Panek mentioned his wife turned 70 a week ago and participated in a 22.1 km run. She came 1st in her age division.

• Soccer Selection: John Bolto said his eldest daughter (aged 8) has been selected for a soccer academy.

📊 Club and Committee Reports

• Grandcarers WA Dental Collection: Lindsay Dry thanked everyone who had already contributed to the toothbrush/toothpaste drive. He encouraged members to continue for the next couple of weeks to add to the already generous donations.

• Bicycle Network Count: Peter Panek emailed all members about the bicycle count on Sunday, 8 November. The three-hour counting periods are from 9:00 AM to noon. The Club will receive $120 for each site. Peter has 33 sites available, mainly in Fremantle. Please email Peter at ppanek@merit-group.com.au if you can assist. To date, we have a good number of volunteers, but we want more. Please consider joining the activity.

• Handel’s Messiah: A concert conducted by Margaret Pride of Handel’s Messiah is to be held at Government House on Saturday, 14 November at 7:00 PM and Sunday, 15 November at 2:00 PM. All proceeds will be donated to the Passages Youth Engagement Hub for homeless youth. Please book at TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1622815.

• Fruit Cakes: Due to demand, Richard Ranshaw has ordered further fruit cakes. Some members received their cakes from the first order. Please order as soon as possible to avoid the Christmas rush. The cakes are $25 each. Please email Richard with your order at richard@ranshaw.com.au.

🎂 Birthdays and Anniversaries

Susie Rich announced one member's birthday:

• Jason van Straalen: 56 years old on 22 October 2026.

🌐 Rotary Moments

• World Polio Day: World Polio Day is commemorated on 24 October 2026. You are asked to donate a sum equivalent to dinner and drinks to help eradicate polio. Please transfer to the Project account with POLIO in the description line and your name. Leon is attending; others may be interested.

👮 Acting Sergeant Jonas Session (Fines)

The following members were fined:

• Susan Watson: For taking her badge home.

• Lindsay Dry: For a super haircut.

• Arrival Tax: John Hopkins, Kim Smith, and Bruce Jeanes.

• From Previous Week: Some members with Paul Harris awards — Dave Miller, Steph Fryer-Smith, and Anita Bourke.

• Peter Panek: For letting his wife run on her own.

• Leon Lorenzen: For being the one South African present.

• Wine Table: General fine.

🎤 Guest Speaker: Consul General Colleen Altstock (Introduced by John Murdoch)

Colleen has a career as a Foreign Service Officer. She has worked in the US Embassies of three countries (including China/Beijing) and has a prestigious record of key US appointments.

Colleen identified:

• The role Rotary plays in supporting international initiatives.

• Links to WA's key strengths — mining, oil and gas, and farming — and recognizes the importance of these issues in international business and trade.

• Recognition of deep ties to Australian war heroes and serving members.

• Currently, 39,000 US citizens live in WA.

• She left a pamphlet about the Ben Franklin Club — the US Consulate General Perth's young professional networking group — detailing who can join and why.

   

📅 Reminder of Coming Events

• Monday, 26 October 2026: Peter Panek – National Bicycle Counts

• Monday, 2 November 2026: Anita Bourke and Richard Gorham – Medical Equipment and the Science and Engineering Challenge

• Monday, 9 November 2026: Yuben Moodley – Curing Lung Scarring

👥 Roster: Monday, 26 October 2026

🙏 Thanks & Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Nedlands Golf Club staff (Shaun and Shino) for their service, and to Chef Alvin for dinner.

We Recognize Our Very Generous Sponsors:

• Lizzi Bee: Supplier of flowers

• Dry Kirkness Chartered Accountants: Club Auditors

• Accura Accounting & Advisory Services: For providing Xero Accounting software and Sharesight Portfolio reporting software to the Charitable Trust

• Dirk Vanderstruyf: Euroz Hartleys

🚪 Meeting Close

President Leon closed the meeting by recognizing the Rotary International presidential theme: CREATE LASTING IMPACT.