Past President Jill Elias opened the meeting at 6.30pm.
Welcome to our guest speaker, Igor Bray and to our guests,Tony Howes, John Bourke and Michael Elias
The meeting was opened by singing the National Anthem to the accompaniment of Ann Brayon her violin.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What is the name of the lane which runs from Wavell Road to Gallop Road in Dalkeith?
Answer: Ringneck Lane. Correctly answered by Bruce Fiegert.
CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Bicycles for Humanity WA – Richard Gorham let the meeting know that from Sunday, 14 September, he is participating in a six-day 440km bike ride called the Wild Gravel Trail. The purpose of the ride is to raise funds for Bicycles for Humanity WA (B4H WA). B4H WA has two main programmes. The first is sending container loads of bikes, tools and spare parts to NGO partners in Africa and the second is donating pallet loads of bikes to schools in remote Western Australian and Northern Territory indigenous communities. B4H WA has been collecting, repairing and re-distributing pre-loved bikes since 2011 and is proud to have been able donate over 10,000 bikes to NGO and corporate partners in Africa and to schools and indigenous organisations in remote WA and NT communities. The bike group at Claremont Showgrounds Men’s Shed is an active supporter in repairing and donating bikes.
Cancer Council – David Miller reported that for the three days of selling daffodils on behalf of the Cancer Council that $11,470 was raised. Thanks to all the Club volunteers, family and friends for giving their time and to David for organising the opportunity.
Football tipping – John Bolto gave a report on the football tipping. Coming in first place was Craig James who tipped so well that he was placed #345 in Australia! Second was Paul Lambrick and third Kent Warburton. The NATA (if you don’t know what NATA stands for, keep your innocence) award goes to President Jonas Edner (are congratulations in order?) Thanks to John for organising the competition again this year.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:The following birthdays were announced by Susan Watson:
Members’ Birthdays
Win Jones 86 years on 3 September 2025.
Michael Bisset 67 years on 4 September 2025.
Partner’s Birthday
John Bourke 2 September 2025.
ROTARY MOMENTS:
Anniversary tree – Past President Jill spoke about the damage done to the Rotary 40th anniversary tree, planted on the corner of Alexander Road, Leon Road and Genesta Crescent. Somebody tried to climb it and broke off the tree’s main limb so it is now lop-sided. The Nedlands Council parks supervisor has sprayed the tree with anti-fungal and thinks that the tree is still viable.
ACTING SERGEANT SESSION: The following members were fined by the Acting Sergeant Graeme Sansom:
Ann Bray for her fashionable glasses and lovely jumper;
Neil Wilkie for wearing a green jumper;
Ross Mackellar for wearing his Rotary t shirt;
David Miller for hawking his marmalade;
Peter Marfleet for not giving the Acting Sergeant due credit for an introduction he made to Peter in 1966;
Jock Laurie for supporting the Claremont Tigers who lost at the weekend;
John Martin for being able to see again and he is now visible.
GUEST SPEAKER: Igor Bray – introduced by Bruce Fiegert
Igor obtained his PhD in 1986 from the Department of Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide, entitled “Gravitational Lens effect of Galaxies and Black Holes”. Currently, he is Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Curtin University. He has several awards for best Australian Physics and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, American Physical Society and the UK Institute of Physics. In 2022 he was elected to the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame and in 2025 was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to High School Mathematics and Physics education.
Igor spoke about the correlation between society and how it acts and the Second Law of Thermodynamics in Physics. Emmy Noether in 1918 wrote about symmetry principles and how external forces are needed to break symmetry. This applies as much to physics as it does to society. A society with minimal entropy and maximum information is much healthier than one with maximum entropy and minimum information.
Igor gave a thorough dissertation on the subject, please find his slide show attachedwhich is a neat summary of all his arguments. Thanks to Igor for his highly relevant and thought-provoking presentation.
REMINDER OF NEXT ROSTER:
Monday 8 September 2025
Kevin Jackson Welcoming members and guests .
Richard Gorham Table duty.
Craig James Registrar 1.
Ken Ilett Registrar.
Paul Kestell Introduction of guest speaker.
Bruce Fiegert Pass the microphone.
REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS:
Monday 8 September 2025 - Stephen Satchell, What would I know!
Monday 15 September 2025 - Gaye McMath, Chancellor ECU.
Monday 22 September 2025 - Geoffrey Thomas, aviation writer.
THANKS:
Thanks to the Staff of the Nedlands Golf Club, Anton and Matt, for their service tonight and Chef Zamry 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"
