President Jonas Edner opened the meeting at 6.30pm.
Welcome to our guest speakers, Nancy Chiam and Janet Reynolds, and to our guests, Heng Kiong Chiam, John Reynolds, Di Wilcox, Marion Cahif, and Michael Elias.
The meeting was opened by singing the National Anthem.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
In the Rotary Down Under magazine for January - February 2026, an article on learners drivers' licences features a story about a Rotary Club of Sullivan's Cove member, whose name is the same as one of our members, who is it?
Answer: Kim Smith
Successfully answered by none other than KIM SMITH!!! What are the chances??? (About one in 49, actually).
CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Quiz night – The quiz night will be held on Monday 30 March 2026. The cost is $35 per head for a shared platter on each table, drinks available at the bar, no BYO. There will be a live auction and a raffle. Please book by cutting and pasting at https://www.trybooking.com/DJSDK Tickets can be booked singly, couples or up to eight on a table. This year proceeds from the quiz night will go to the John Fawcett Foundation in memory of Win Jones OAM. Please support this evening, it is great fun for fundraising! Last year the event sold out, please buy your tickets as soon as possible, two thirds of the available seats have already been sold.
ECU Joondalup tour – Craig James reported that Kevin Jackson had arranged for Club members to have the opportunity to visit and have a tour of the ECU campus at Joondalup, at 10am on Friday 10 April 2026. Please indicate your interest to Craig or Kevin.
Anniversary Dinner – The 42nd Anniversary dinner to commemorate the founding of the Club will be held at the Weld Club on Monday 20 April, please mark the date in your calendar now.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Craig James reported that the evening was a huge success again. Thanks to the hosts and the guests for participating in the fun. Thanks to Craig for organising this great event.
Bicycle counting
Peter Panek thanked the 21 volunteers who counted bicycles last and this week, a total of $1,470 was raised for the Club. There are a few opportunities this week as well which will add to the coffers.
Footy tipping – John Bolto reported on the dismalness of tipping this week, the Club average was 2 and a half. Mike Snell picked four of five successfully, and he’s in a different country!
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES: The following birthdays were announced by Susan Watson:
Members’ birthdays
Peter Panek 70 years old on 27 February 202.
Jonas Edner 54 years old on 13 March 2026.
Peter Webb 78 years old on 13 March 2026.
Partners’ birthdays
Ruth MacKellar on 2 March 2026.
Jennifer Laurie on 14 March 2026.
Anniversaries
Russell and Annie Hawkins 38 years on 10 March 2026.
John and Katrina Hopkins 31 years on 12 March 2026.
SERGEANT JASON SESSION: The following members were fined by Sergeant Jason:
Every member who tipped less than three in the first round of footy (only Mike Snell escaped and he wasn’t even there!);
President Jonas for trying to blame the guest speaker, Nancy, for the winning card being placed in front of Kim Smith for Question of the Week;
Arrivals and departure taxes.
GUEST SPEAKERS: Nancy Chiam and Janet Reynolds, introduced by John Bolto
Nancy started volunteering at PMH after her son, Jonathan, asked for money instead of gifts for his sixth birthday; the funds he raised bought toys for the children’s hospital. The family were shown the direct benefits of the fundraising and the impact it had, and Nancy is now in her 27th year of volunteering there.
Janet is originally from Yorkshire. Janet first started volunteering aged 11 when she was asked to help push a neighbour in her wheelchair to the shops. She and her husband, John, have a son and a daughter. They also adopted five more children, including two sets of siblings who would otherwise have been split up. Janet and John have fostered 65 other children as well.
Janet started a stall at Princess Margaret Hospital in 2004. She asked for another volunteer to help her, and Nancy was asked. At first, there was only one table; now there are nine tables each week, set up to sell items.
Janet and Nancy take between $1,500 and $2,000 each week of their stall on a Friday, and the funds all go to the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation. Occasionally, they set up stalls as well at other venues to fundraise for PCHF. The stall runs so successfully as much of the merchandise is donated.
The stalls that Janet and Nancy have run since 2004 have raised nearly half a million dollars! Congratulations to Nancy and Janet for volunteering for PCHF and for their hard work over so many years.
ROTARY MOMENT:
President Jonas: Thank you, Nancy and Janet, for your presentation on being Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation volunteers. As you have served as volunteers for so long and for the outstanding amount of money you have raised over many years on behalf of PCHF, we would like to recognise your work with Paul Harris Fellowship awards. These awards can be given to any worthy recipient inside or out of Rotary to acknowledge exceptional work done and you have been chosen to receive these pins from our Club in recognition of your volunteering. Thank you for all the hard work that you do.
Volunteers at the MetSO concert at Government House in February
Robyn Chien, Neil Wilkie, Susie Rich, Jill Elias, Anita Bourke, Michael Elias, Tony Chien.
REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS:
Monday 16 March 2026 – Club sponsored students speaking about their experiences at NYSF, RYLA, RYPEN.
Monday 23 March 2026 – Paulina Hobbs, Kalbarri Kid ***Please note that the meeting will start at 6:15pm this evening***
Monday 30 March 2026 – Quiz night.
ROSTER:
Monday 16 March 2026
Bruce Fiegert Welcoming members and guests.
David Ellis Table duty.
Lindsay Dry Registrar 1.
Geoff Cahif Registrar 2.
Neil Wilkie Introduction of guest speaker.
Jock Laurie Pass the microphone.
THANKS:
Thanks to the Staff of the Nedlands Golf Club, Claire and Anton, for their service tonight and Chef Alvin for dinner.
WE RECOGNISE OUR VERY GENEROUS SPONSORS:
Lizzi Bee - supplier of flowers.
Dry Kirkness Chartered Accountants (Butler Settineri) – 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:
President Jonas closed the meeting by recognising the Rotary International presidential theme for 2025-26, "Unite for Good"
