President Hugh Stowell opened the meeting at 6.30pm.
Welcome to our guest speaker, Nick Cook, Ann Bray’s guests, Ellie Malonzo and Anne Meiklejohn, Susan Watson’s guest, Susie Rich, John Lindquist’s guest, Ian Lindquist.
The meeting was opened by an exquisite piece played by Ellie Malonzo on her violin. Then, with accompaniment from Ann Bray on her violin, the National Anthem was sung.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
The Latin name Lasiorhinus krefftii is the name for which critically endangered animal?
Answer: The northern hairy-nosed wombat.
Correctly answered by John Murdoch.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES: The following birthday and anniversary were announced by Susan Watson:
Partner’s birthday:
Jomay Verrier (Panek) on 11 October 2024.
Anniversary:
Peter and Debbie Marfleet 53 years on 10 October 2024.
CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Optus Stadium walk—You will have received an email from Nan Walker about the Optus Stadium walk, to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 3. As Nan is away for another couple of weeks, please pay the fee of $89 to the Project Account (RCD Project Account BSB: 016484 Account no: 100311017) and email Jill atjselias17@gmail.com with your name once the payment has been transferred.
• Bicycle Count—The Bicycle Count will take place on Sunday, November 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Nineteen of the 25 three-hour slots have been filled. Please email Craig urgently at craig.james50@outlook.comwith your availability for all three hours or for a one-and-a-half-hour slot. Please also let Craig know if you cannot attend.
• Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner – There has already been a strong response to the GWCTD event on Saturday 16 November. More hosts and guests would be most welcome. If you would like to participate in this fun evening, please email Jill in Nan’s absence onjselias17@gmail.com
ROTARY MOMENTS:
• MetSO—Ellie Malonzo expressed gratitude for the grants given to the Young Artist Programme at MetSO by the Club and the Charitable Trust, of which she has been a beneficiary and is most grateful. Ellie is also a composer, and her work will be played on the weekend of 19 and 20 October. Please see the attached photo for details.
• Grandcarers WA – a car load of good quality items, a suitcase thanks to Anita Bourke, laundry detergents and non-perishable foods were taken out to Grandcarers WA in Warwick last Wednesday and were gratefully received. Richard Ranshaw also donated eight fruit cakes for the grandparents, and they were so pleased to have these treats. Another car load of items was taken to Warwick on Monday, many were new items given by Nancy from the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and donated by her and her family.
The Warwick branch will be closing soon for renovations. While it will still be operating at a smaller nearby hall, there is no storage available, and so no more donations can be accepted until at least April next year, when they are back in the newly refurbished rooms. That said, our Club will still be having the new toy drive during November for distribution to the grandchildren at Christmas, and details will be forthcoming.
SERGEANT SESSION:
The following members were fined:
Leon Lorenzen for heckling the volunteer stand-in President;
HRH Jill Elias for being a secret royal and for being published in both The West and The Australian in the past week;
Lindsay Dry for using a four-letter word instead of just saying no;
President Hugh for visiting Buckingham Palace on his work trip (though no tourist lines for him);
Kim Smith pour avoir la double nationalité française;
Nigel Johnson for skipping Rotary last week when he heard that the Men’s Shed was serving seafood paella for dinner;
Russell Hawkins for visiting the east coast.
GUEST SPEAKER: Nick Cook – introduced by Graeme Sansom
Nick is the President of the Western Australian Tree Canopy Advocates, which is the umbrella organization for 26 local TCA groups in Perth.
Nick explained that Peth lost 25% of its tree canopy between 2011 and 2020 and has the lowest canopy percentage coverage in Australia. In other States, legislation ensures that significant trees are not wholesale felled for new developments, but not in Western Australia.
Trees have many advantages, including cooling the air, increasing biodiversity, increasing property values, providing shade, and improving mental and physical health. The motto on its T-shirts is ‘Good things come in trees’.
The WATCA aims to have a 30% canopy of trees across Perth by 2040, raise public awareness of the issues, grow local TCA groups, and call for statewide protection of significant urban trees.
A significant tree is defined as eight metres high or has a girth of six metres. The WATCA is not antidevelopment at all but wishes for as many trees as possible to be preserved. Exceptions are for diseased or unsafe trees.
It is extremely frustrating to deal with so many local councils, some of which do not want the issue raised and palm decisions onto the State Government. Some councils make decisions to protect trees, but the state government usually overrides them if the results do not align with the council's thinking.
The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer presents an immediate danger to Perth’s trees. What started as a local issue in East Fremantle has now spread to the Perth and Peel regions. It is no longer a question of eradication but containment and management, which is not how the problem is being considered. Eradication is not possible anymore.
Thanks to Nick for speaking to us about tree canopy in Perth.
REMINDER OF NEXT ROSTER:
Monday 14 October 2024
Anita Bourke Welcoming members and guests
John Bolto Table duty
Susan Watson Registrar 1
Richard Ranshaw Registrar 2
Michael Snell Introduction of guest speaker
Geoff Cahif Pass the microphone
REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS:
Monday 14 October Peter Panek, Saving the African Rhino.
Monday 21 October Suzanne Pekin, Dalkeith Primary School.
Monday 28 October Jennie Connaughton, CINI (Child In Need Institute).
THANKS:
Thank you to Staff of the Nedlands Golf Club, Claire and Anton, for their service tonight and Chef Zamry for dinner.
WE RECOGNISE OUR VERY GENEROUS SPONSORS:
Lizzi Bee - supplier of flowers.
Dry Kirkness Chartered Accountants (Butler Settineri) – Honorary Club Auditors.
Accura Accounting & Advisory Services for providing Xero Accounting software and Sharesight Portfolio reporting software to the Charitable Trust.
Dirk Vanderstruyf from Euroz Hartleys.
MEETING CLOSE:
Past President Hugh closed the meeting by recognising the new Rotary International presidential theme for 2024-2025: THE MAGIC OF ROTARY.
