Meeting Notes 12th November 2018 - Michael Bisset (Nov 13, 2018)

President David opened the meeting at 6.30pm on 12^th November.

President David noted the passing of RCD Charter Member and Past President, Fred Stone and read part of his obituary. The funeral will be in Busselton on Friday 16^th, and John Lindquist will be attending.

John Thornton led the meeting in singing the National Anthem.

Welcomed Guest Speaker, Michael Bisset, who will give us his life story. Richard Ranshaw will formally introduce later.

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VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS:

Peter Smart, Laurie Hevgold and Brad Noble.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Bob Davis correctly answered the question, despite there being some conjecture over the question.

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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:

Bruce Fiegert, Bruce McGeorge, Shirley Smith and Tracey Jardine.

Peter and Rebecca Robertson.

John and Beth MacKinnon.

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FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Nil news.

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CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Charitable Trust:

Russell reminded members of a Committee meeting on Tuesday 13^th, and the AGM to be held in the NGC Board Room on Monday 19^th November at 5 PM.

Also new wine stocks available for Christmas.

Secretary:

Not present, but President David reminded members that the Club AGM has been deferred until Monday 17^th December.

Treasurer:

The NeoMetals Golf Day raised a total of about $118,000, and our share may be about $10,000.

Anthony asked that Bicycle Count Sheets be returned to him.

Attendance:

42 members and guests.

Club Service:

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner was well patronised with 48 members participating, including 6 hosts.

Richard Ranshaw advised pre-Christmas stocks of fruitcakes were available. Also requested replies re attendance at President’s Christmas Cocktails. The quota is nearly full. Also seeking sponsors for the Widows of 7 Past Presidents.

Community Service

Coin collection raised about $2,450, which will be supplemented by the Gates Foundation.

Cans for Christmas kits are being prepared for distribution in the first week of December, with pick up from 9 AM on Sunday 9^th.

Vocational Service

Payments requested for the Duyfken cruise. Nominations are required for this year’s vocational awards.

Rotary Foundation and International Service

Film evening ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ raised over $4,000, also to be supplemented by the Gates Foundation.

Public Relations

Nil report.

Membership and New Members

John Lindquist requested details of any members who hold current Working With Children cards.

Youth

More news from Holly in Switzerland on the website. One applicant for RYLA.

Men’s Shed

Trevor advised MoU had been signed with RASWA for a 20-year lease at $1/year. RCD members to assist with drawing up the lease.

Set up costs will be $400,000, and will be seeking a LotteryWest grant.

Presidents Report:

President David reported on recent and future events.

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SERGEANT:

Sergeant Trevor Gorey enforced the usual fines for the wine table, birthdays and anniversaries.

Neil Wilkie and Ron Wilson were fined for spilling wine, in separate incidents.

Win Jones for winning the bowls; Kent Warburton for nearly winning.

GWCTD hosts were applauded, but guests were fined.

Albert Deda for getting his car bogged during the bike count.

One year member Geoffrey Cahif.

Calcutta winners Anita Bourke, Ron Wilson and Tim Humphrey.

Bob Davis for a winning bet on ‘the Cup’.

Stewart Brash for a belated birthday.

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GUEST SPEAKER:

Michael Bisset – Life Story

Michael was introduced by Richard Ranshaw.

MY FAMILY BACKGROUND

My parents were born in the early 1930's into middle-class Melbourne, and their parents had sufficient means to provide private school secondary education for both of them.

My father’s parents were small retail business owners with the corner store and ultimately a couple of them.

My mother’s father was a senior manager/administrator in the Church of England, and he received an MBE from the queen for services to the church. A big deal in that era we were told when we were old enough to understand who the Queen was.

The Queen's presence reappeared in the same house many years later when my grandmother turned 100 and received the letter from the Queen.
My parents married at the young ages of 23 and 21 respectively and as was the standard of the day my mother had to resign from her bank job when she married. Dad’s career was in the textiles manufacturing industry in various managerial sales and marketing roles.

I was born in 1958 and had a fantastic 1960's childhood where you just seemed to be allowed to roam the streets and paddocks of our new neighbourhood which was about l0 km east of Melbourne. I have an older brother and younger sister. The suburb where the family home was full of kids who spent all daylight hours after school in the street playing footy, cricket, fighting, racing bikes, billycarts and just getting into trouble as we dared each other on, as you did when you were very young.

When I think back, parenting was so hands off during my childhood. The epitome of hands-off parenting for me was the annual Guy Fawkes cracker night when the dads would compete to build the biggest bonfires on their verges replete with burning car tyres and then literally set the street on fire. It was quite something to look up the street and see so much on fire. Then to cap it off they would set off an arsenal of fireworks and rockets with minimal regard for safety. The injury tally became clear at school the next day.

My parents were passionate football fans with dad being Richmond and mum a very passionate Melbourne girl. For some reason, they allowed us, kids, to choose our team and I became an Essendon follower. Saturday afternoons in the late 60's and into the 70's as kids were often spent at the MCG which influenced my keenness of Victorian football. I saw some great finals and Grandfinals at the MCG from 1970 until we moved to WA in 1998.

My secondary school was a private C of E school which quite frankly my brother, and I was somewhat unenthusiastic, about given all our friends headed to the local gov't school. In the end, I had a sufficiently enjoyable time, especially with the sporting side and was somewhat rebellious on a number of the aspects of the school culture. It was the 1970's after all, which my father did not always understand. I finished school in 1976 and university in 1980.

I married my wife joy in 1990 at the age of 32. 1990 is also significant as it is the year of shame for Essendon supporters as this was the year that Collingwood broke their drought and won their first flag since 1958. Joy and I have three kids who are Julian 26, Cameron 20 and Stephanie 18. we moved here in late 1998 with two kids, and Stephanie was born here and so is the only true West Australian in the family.

The full version of Michael's Life Talk can be read here.

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FUTURE EVENTS: President David reminded members of the future club events.

Christmas Cocktails … Saturday 8^th December.

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CLOSE:

President David thanked Michael for his talk, the NGC staff Emma and Michael and Bunch Caterers Ros and Nathan. He acknowledged Sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists, Butler Settineri (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).

He called on members to recognise RI President Barry Rossin’s Presidential theme for the year, Be the Inspiration. Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.

Meeting closed at 19:40.

Author: John Murdoch

Photographer: Tom Langley

Editor: Tom Langley

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