QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What is the longest muscle in the human body?
Answer: The sartorius. Correctly answered by Bruce Fiegert.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
The recent death of Charter Member Dr Stuart McCoubrie was reported to the meeting by John Lindquist. Stuart was Club President in the 1987/88 Rotary Year and a Paul Harris Fellow.
A Funeral Service of Thanksgiving for Stuart McCoubrie will be held at St Matthew's Anglican Church, 114 Onslow Road, Shenton Park, on Tuesday, 15.4.2025, at 11:00 a.m. A catered Wake Celebration will follow at the Church.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES: The following birthdays and anniversary were announced by Susan Watson:
Members’ birthdays:
Peter Robertson 54 years old on 31 March 2025.
Ron Wilson 80 years old on 4 April 2025.
David Ellis 78 years on 9 April 2025.
Anthony McGrath 65 years old on 12 April 2025.
Anniversary:
Stuart and Margaret McCoubrie 57 years on 3 April 2025.
CLUB AND COMMITTEES:
- President Hugh was congratulated on the success of the ‘April Fools' Day’ Quiz Night which raised $6207.00 profit for Grandcarers WA (aka Grandparents Raising Grandchildren). Hugh single-handedly organised, promoted the night, and sourced the raffle prizes.
- Craig James reminded Members of the George Haynes Art Exhibition at the Weld Club on Wednesday 16 April 0930 – 1100, and that space for more attendees remained.
- Anthony McGrath called for volunteers to assist at Foodbank on 24 April 2025. A second email has been sent to members with full details.
- It was announced that Anthony McGrath was the best performed RCD Member at the Golf Day held at NGC on Friday 4 April.
- John Bolto reported on the results of the Round 4 Football Tipping Craig got 8/8, zero margin.
First Place: Craig James 8 (0)
Second Place: Steve Hollier 8 (1)
Third Place: John MacKinnon 8(2)
At End of Round 4 leaders are as follows:
First Place: Craig James 31 (47)
Second Place: Bruce Fiegert 29 (75)
Third Place: Win Jones 28 (45)
- President Hugh has sent another email promoting the Anniversary Dinner. Members were reminded to log into Trybooking to purchase their tickets.
SERGEANT SESSION: The following members were fined by the Sergeant:
- Wine Table
- Susan Watson – another letter published in The Australian.
- Susan Watson and Mark Khangure – winning the Quiz.
- Michael Bisset, Craig James and Jason van Straalen – winners of the Quiz wooden spoon.
- Anne Bray – glaring socks.
- Nigel Johnson – arriving at the Meeting ‘Undressed’.
- Lindsay Dry – fraternising to his golfing mates before the meeting, shunning his Rotarian colleagues.
- Steve Halbert.
- Ken Ilett – stealing Nigel’s walking stick.
- Anthony McGrath (2)– golfing successes and overseas arrival tax (Maldives).
- Craig James (4) - winning Round 4 with 8/8, with the correct margin, leading the competition by 2 points and overseas arrival tax (Tasmania).
GUEST SPEAKER: Ross Mackellar – Life Story introduced by Bruce Jeanes.
Born West Ryde New South Wales in 1949.
Left school after year 10 in 1965 to join Qantas Airways Ltd. as a 4-year Aircraft Radio Trades Apprentice, during which time Ross completed Years 11 and 12 part-time through night school, then the first year of an Electrical Engineering Degree at UNSW over two years as a part-time student.
At the conclusion of his apprenticeship, Ross took up a scholarship to complete the final three years of his degree full time at UNSW, from which he graduated in 1972. Ross then worked as an electrical and subsequently reliability engineer for Qantas until 1981.
In 1981, Ross began a nomadic working career in the iron ore, gold and coal mining industries - firstly 6 years in Port Hedland working with Mt Newman Limited (iron ore processing), in 1986 relocated to Cairns working with Kidston Gold Mines Ltd (gold mining), in 1992 to Singleton NSW working with Monitek Pty Ltd (condition monitoring primarily in the coal mining industry), and 1998 to Gillette, Wyoming working still with Monitek, primarily providing condition monitoring services to the coal mining industry. Relocated in 2002 to Rio Rancho, New Mexico working with Monitek in the coal mining industry.
During Ross’s time in Rio Rancho, he purchased Monitek in 2006 and subsequently sold Monitek to Frontier Pro Services LLC. in 2010. Monitek became a subsidiary of Frontier Pro Services until 2014 and then became fully absorbed into Frontier Pro Services. Frontier Pro Services focused on wind energy and Monitek’s role within the Frontier Pro Services was to provide condition monitoring services on wind turbines, while continuing Monitek’s work within the mining industry. Ross remained with Monitek and Frontier Pro Services, after the sale, until Frontier Pro Services went out of business in 2016. Following the demise of Frontier Pro Services, Ross in conjunction with 2 partners, set up Mountain Peaks Diagnostics LLC., a condition monitoring company which is still in business today and Ross is still a partner.
During these nomadic years, apart from Ross’s work at Kidston Gold Mines, Ross’s career focused on monitoring and maintaining heavy and large machinery condition to avoid breakdowns.
Ross semi-retired from Mountain Peaks Diagnostics in December 2024 and relocated to Perth to be closer to his family.
Ross and Ruth married in 1972 and have sons, Andrew and Brendan (both engineers and engaged in the mining industry) and daughter Kirsty (who initially pursued a career in dancing and is now a homemaker). Ross and Ruth have six grandchildren, two from each of their children.
Ross joined Rotary International in 1993 through the Rotary Club of Singleton from where he resigned to join the Rotary Club of Gillette in 1998, transferring to the Rotary Club of Rio Rancho in 2001 until resigning in December 2024.
During his association with Rotary Ross has served as.
· Secretary Gillette Rotary Club.
· President Rio Rancho Rotary Club.
· Treasurer Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation.
· Board Member Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation.
· Board Member Rio Rancho Rotary Club.
REMINDER OF NEXT ROSTER:
Monday 14 April 2025
- Welcome – John Lindquist.
- Table Duty – Jock Laurie.
- Registrar 1 – Mark Khangure.
- Registrar 2 – Paul Kestell.
- Introductions – Craig James OAM and Anita Bourke.
- Microphone – Kent Warburton OAM.
REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS:
Monday 14 April 2025 – Vocational Awards.
Monday 21 April 2025 – No meeting, Easter public holiday.
Monday 28 April 2025 – 41st anniversary dinner, Weld Club.
THANKS:
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President Hugh thanked Mark, Reuben and Novi for their attendance, the Staff of the Nedlands Golf Club for their service and Chef Zamry for dinner.
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President Hugh asked members to 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.
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MEETING CLOSE:
President Hugh closed the meeting by recognising the Rotary International presidential theme for 2024-2025, "THE MAGIC OF ROTARY"
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