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President Craig James welcomed Rotarians and guests to the Rotary Club of Dalkeith, “the home of Rotary District 9455”. He particularly welcomed this week's speaker Jeremy Scott, who will speak on the topic "Bike ride from London to NZ". President Craig noted that Jeremy’s 52,000 km ride was 1000 times more gruelling than his own Multiple Sclerosis Ocean ride effort of 50 km in just under 2 hours which had left him barely able to walk.
President Craig invited John Thornton to lead the singing of the National Anthem. John requested members to sing the anthem in the key of F, and sounded the starting note. The rendition was better than usual and reflected the benefits of John’s recent training of members.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests:
None.
Apologies and LOA: There were 13 apologies and 2 LOA; 41 members are expected.
Question of the Week:
The question for this week was read by President Craig:
Question: What are the dates of the 2018 District 9455 Conference and in what City will it be held?
Answer: The dates are the 6-8th April 2018 and the city is Geraldton.
Answered by: Acting Sergeant Kim Smith.
Family and Friends Announcements:
President Craig announced Secretary Trevor had fallen from his bicycle and was recovering with a broken collarbone. Also, that Sergeant Peter was in hospital for a minor procedure and Kim would be acting Sergeant this evening.
Birthdays and Anniversaries: David Smith announced the birthdays and anniversaries as follows:
Mon, 27 Nov - Ken and Helen Ilett will be celebrating 52 years of Marriage.
Mon, 27 Nov - Kent and Mary Warburton will be celebrating 52 years of Marriage.
Wed, 29 Nov - John and Cherry Martin will be celebrating 48 years of Marriage.
Club Announcements:
Members Attendance: Richard Ranshaw announced 71% attendance – 37 members present and 1 make up.
Committee Reports and Announcements:
Charitable Trust: (Russell Hawkins): No report. Russell did, however, remind members that there was limited wine available between now and Christmas and they should get their orders in promptly if they wanted some.
Club Secretary’s Report (Trevor Gorey): Apology.
Club Treasurer’s Report (Anthony McGrath): Accounts on the website now.
District Conference 2018 Report: Anthony urged members to book for next year’s District conference. Members were reminded of the Early Bird prize, which is still current, and urged to book soon. Anthony will send all members an e-mail.
The website to book is … http://www.rotaryconference9455.org.au/ticketing
Club Service: (John Bolto/John Murdoch): John thanked all the members who had brought guests last week to the blockchain presentation. Bruce McGeorge reminded members to put their names down if they were intending to be at the Christmas party at President Craig’s place on December 8th.
John advised members that on Tom Langley’s recommendation the Club has subscribed to RI’s ClubRunner website for 12 months. ClubRunner will be run as a test site for some time to Beta-test it before taking it to the full membership. President Craig noted that the meeting apologies were working well on the current website and a challenge will be to translate that success directly to the new website when the time comes.
John also took the opportunity to encourage UWA mentors to volunteer for that service, which Kevin Jackson will be coordinating this year.
Community Service: (David Miller/Steve Halbert): David reminded members to hand out their Cans for Christmas packages this coming Tuesday, or very soon afterwards. He asked members to collect after 9:30 am and to CHECK BOTH the front door and the letterbox. David noted that this year 4 clubs in Geraldton, as well as 4 clubs in Perth, are doing “Cans for Christmas”. President Craig congratulated David and his team for their good work growing the concept.
Vocational Service: (Peter Marfleet): No report
Foundation and International Service: (Ken Ilett/Gary Dienhoff): No report
Public Relations: (Peter Robertson/Albert Deda): Peter noted the publication in the Post of a story on “Cans for Christmas”.
Membership: (David Ellis/David Smith): David advised he has all sizes of tee-shirts now and is even trading in old ones in order to make a sale.
David also reminded members of “Rotary Means Business” at the Wembley Hotel next Tuesday (5th Dec) commencing at 5:30 pm. $10 is payable for drinks and nibbles.
Youth: (Kim Smith/Leon Lorenzen): Kim informed members that Natalie Everett will be attending the NYSF early in the new year, sponsored by Dalkeith members. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find a RYLA candidate to sponsor.
Kim’s committee is working closely with AG Tim to organise a 4 Way Speaking contest into local schools.
Special Announcements: David Smith
President Craig invited David Smith to tell members a little of what he had been doing recently in Cambodia and Vietnam.
David and Rosalind had visited a literary school in a remote part of Cambodia that they had helped fund to see how the project and teaching was progressing. That part of Cambodia had been a Khmer Rouge stronghold and there are many residual landmines and amputees among the population as a result of encountering them.
David and Rosalind had then travelled to Vietnam and participated in a charity bike ride for the Platypus Foundation that had raised $10k for fighting child slavery.
David also informed members he is working with Geoff Hicks to get a container of medical supplies together for a new hospital supported by the Tabitha Foundation in Cambodia. Nokor Tep Women's Hospital in Phnom Penh will provide women in Cambodia with improved health facilities & services. The Hospital will provide women in Cambodia modern gynaecological and oncological care, preventative, education and mobile services plus research facilities. This will be the first hospital dedicated to women's health services in Cambodia.
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Announcements and President’s Report:
President Craig advised members he will distribute the Cricket Sweep for the Ashes Series next week. He advised that members need not be concerned that the games were already being played because the winner is not determined until the last ball of the last test.
Sergeant: Acting Sergeant Kim Smith and Corporal David Smith
The “Smith Family” attended to an efficient wealth redistribution from members to the club coffers with characteristic humility and light humour. Your scribe was so often on his feet forking out (five times) that there was no time to note the specific excuses or targets of the financial expropriation.
There was celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, the wine table, departure tax for your scribe and others, arrivals tax, Rotary badge celebration and club service celebration. Everybody celebrated the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
The Acting Sergeant apparently shares the Sergeant’s failure to understand that a Rotary lapel badge first requires a lapel to rest upon. This lamentable lack of dress sense, demonstrated by a badge adorning the left breast of the Acting Sergeant’s shirt, indicated the futility of further discussion of this issue.
Guest Speaker: John Murdoch introduced Jeremy Scott as a person who took a longer time over his travel than John, who preferred the idea of 24 hours 6 minutes and 1 stop between London and Auckland, to an ordeal of 2 years, 7 months and 20 days.
Jeremy Scott told his story of starting life with a huge hole in his aorta valve. At four years of age, Jeremy underwent open heart surgery by renowned surgeon Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes. Thirty-four years later, Jeremy took the plunge and began a 2 ½ year, 51,916 km bicycle ride through 29 countries from London to New Zealand.
Jeremy noted that the distance he had travelled was more than a full lap of the planet (40,000 km). He said that heart surgery had changed EVERYTHING about his life, except perhaps that he remained a “stubborn little bugger”.
He had succeeded in his mammoth ambition of cycling from London to New Zealand because he broke it down into smaller targets … London to Amsterdam … Amsterdam to Prague … Prague to Vienna … and so on for the 3 months to cross Europe. As time went on he began to believe he would achieve his New Zealand destination.
There were harrowing experiences of freezing (minus 20 celsius during the day!) in central Turkey and sandstorms in 50 celsius heat in East Asia, of drug dealers in Iran and much more. But the day he felt most like giving up remained DAY 1. A lesson learned was that making a start takes the most courage and after that, it is simply a matter of putting one foot ahead of the other.
Jeremy noted that he had never been so happy as during that 2 ½ years on the road with so few possessions … a reminder that possessions lead to purgatory.
Jeremy has written a book, part of the proceeds of which go to the Australian Heart Foundation. “The Long Road From A Broken Heart” (in Jeremy’s words) is not only a story about life in the saddle, it is a story about the beautiful side of humanity and an example of what someone can achieve if they believe in themselves and have the courage to chase their dreams.
Members can buy the book by visiting Jeremy’s website:
https://www.jeremyscott.com.au/products/the-long-road-from-a-broken-heart
The $65 book will make an inspiring Christmas present for a loved one.
Future Events: President Craig noted the following future events.
Cans for Christmas on 3rd December 2017.
Christmas Party on 8th December 2017.
Family Barbeque on January 15th, 2018.
International Dinner 26th February 2018.
Boat-Tie-Up 18th March 2018.
District Conference … 6-8 April 2018.
Close: President Craig thanked Jeremy again for engaging, entertaining and inspiring the club members. He described Jeremy’s effort from London to NZ as exciting, inspiring and brave. The next trip from Alaska to Argentina promises to be no less so. He gave Jeremy a cake of appreciation and wished him a merry Christmas.
He thanked the NGC staff Michael and Emma, Cupid Caterers Mandy and Sandy, for an outstanding effort to feed twice the number usually catered for. He acknowledged Sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists, Stirling Partners (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).
He called on members to recognise RI President Ian Riseley’s Presidential theme for the year, Rotary Making a Difference.
Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.
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