President Jonas Edner opened the meeting at 6.30pm.
Ann Bray played a Welsh lament, Suo Gan, on her violin.
The meeting started by honouring Win Jones. Win was a member of our Club for 38 years, and he will be sorely missed. He served as President from 1999 to 2000. Win’s wife, Margaret, and their children, Jacki, Mark and Bruce were in attendance. Terry and Joan Rogers came to the meeting too; they worked with Win for many years together at the Captain Stirling newsagency.
Lindsay Dry outlined the awards that Win had won for his service to Rotary, including three Paul Harris Fellow pins, the Service Above Self award, only given to 150 Rotarians worldwide and his OAM through his and Margaret’s work with the Bali Eye Clinic, which evolved into the John Fawcett Foundation.
John Lindquist had some amusing anecdotes about Win, including being asked by Win to take an X-ray machine to Bali.
Messages from John and Beth MacKinnon and Michael Bisset, who are currently out of Perth, were read out to the meeting. Anita Bourke had moving words about a generous and service-oriented man.
Win was a humorous, generous man who would do anything asked of him and served Rotary, the Club, and his community selflessly for many years.
*Vale, Win. Rest in Peace*
WELCOME:
Welcome to our guest speaker, Don Burnside, and his guest, John Morrissey and to visiting Rotarian, Dr Puravi from the Rotary Club of Klang in Malaysia. Dr Puravi is a Past President of his Club and has been a member of Rotary for over 50 years.
CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Business lunch – The business lunch will be held on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at noon at the Royal Perth Golf Club in South Perth. Please organise your tables as soon as possible through John Bolto, or come along alone or with a friend, you do not need to organise a whole table. John’s email is rj.bolto@gmail.com The guest speaker is Amanda Lacaze, CEO and Managing Director of Lynas Rare Earth. Please note that there will be no usual Rotary dinner on Monday, 17 November; the business lunch is in lieu of the dinner meeting.
• Melbourne Cup – Please bring $10 and $20 notes along next Monday, 3 November, for the Melbourne Cup sweep.
• Toy drive for Grandcarers – Please support this initiative again by donating new toys over the next few meetings. The most needed toys are for ages seven and up to teenagers, gift cards for teenagers would be very welcome. Richard Ranshaw has organised again for Toyworld Claremont to give Club members a discount of 20% on toys bought at Toyworld Claremont (except on Lego and Connectix), please mention that you are a Club member to receive the discount. Alternatively you can donate an amount and Toyworld will pick out suitable gifts. The gifts bought at Toyworld will be kept there until they are taken to Grandcarers in Warwick in early December.
• Fruit cakes and puddings – Richard Ranshaw has fruit cakes and puddings available, $25 per cake or pudding, please email Richard with your order on richard@ranshaw.com.au before they sell out like, well, hot cakes!
• Cans for Christmas – Anthony McGrath has started to give out the bags and flyers to members. Distribution of the bags and flyers into the community is suggested for Wednesday 26 November and the collection date is Sunday 30 November.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES: The following birthdays and anniversaries were announced:
Partners’ birthdays
Beth MacKinnon 26 October 2025
Debbie Marfleet 27 October 2025
Michele Wilson 28 October 2025
Robyn Chien 31 October 2025
Anniversaries
Steve and Debbie Halbert 46 years on 27 October 2025
Michael and Vicki Snell 15 years on 30 October 2025
ROTARY MOMENTS:
• District Conference – The District Conference is being held in Northam from 13 to 15 March 2026. There is an early-bird offer: the registration fee for two people can be won if registration is completed by 15 December.
• Polio fund – Our Treasurer, Leon, reported that $3,300 was raised by our recent fundraising effort for the eradication of polio. Well done for the contributions.
SERGEANT JASON SESSION:
A total of $1,270 in cash was collected tonight at the meeting during Sergeant Jason’s session, which will be sent to the John Fawcett Foundation in Win’s name.
GUEST SPEAKER:Don Burnside - introduced by Susie Rich
Cacti were introduced by early farmers onto their properties as an ornamental plant. The most pervasive types of cacti are Prickly Pear, Coral Cactus and Riverina Pear.
David Fitzgerald initiated cactus hunting in Leonora in the early 2000s, noticing that cactus numbers were increasing.
Don and John have been involved in the eradication of cacti species in the Leonora district. Cacti are invasive weeds, not native to Australia, and are widespread throughout Western Australia. The cacti use up water that native plants need, thereby affecting biodiversity.
The Shire of Leonora contributes financially to the eradication of cacti, which is achieved through controlled burning, spraying, and insect control. Property owners are responsible for eradicating cacti on their properties; the degree of care varies.
If left unabated, the cacti spread and become unmanageable.
Thanks to Don and John for coming to explain the situation and the steps taken to try to control the cacti.
REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS:
Monday 3 November 2025 - Matthew Meszaros, Integration of renewable energy Project Ohm
Monday 10 November 2025 - Rob Laurie, Strategies for Cybersecurity.
Monday 17 November 2025 – no meeting, due to the business lunch.
ROSTER:
Monday 3 November 2025
David Miller Welcoming members and guests
John Murdoch Table duty
Anthony McGrath Registrar 1
Ross Mackellar Registrar 2
John Lindquist Introduction of guest speaker
Susie Rich 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"
