President Leon Lorenzen opened the meeting at 6:30 pm. We welcomed our guest speaker, Philippa Nikulinsky, and guests Carolyn Murdoch, Matilda Aposto, Colette James, Susie Davis and Michael Elias.

The meeting opened with the singing of the national anthem.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are the French and Swedish words for “grandfather”?

Answer: Grand-père and morfar.

The question was correctly answered by the new morfar himself, Jonas Edner.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

• New grandchild: John and Carolyn Murdoch became grandparents for the third time. Their daughter, Lauren, had a baby girl, Luella Ann Rebecca—their first granddaughter.

• Barbara North and Susan Watson: Barbara slipped and fell, badly breaking her wrist. She has had surgery and will be unable to drive for six weeks. The Club will send her prepared meals, as it will for Susan Watson, who had shoulder surgery last week and will also be out of action for a few weeks.

   

CLUB AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Foodbank: Anthony McGrath reported that the final Foodbank day was held last Friday. Anthony, John Mackinnon, Anita Bourke, Susie Rich, Mark Khangure and Jill Elias attended. The team packed 315 kg of frozen chips into 420 bags. Thanks to Anthony for organising this worthwhile opportunity again.

  

• Fruit cakes: Richard Ranshaw said that an order of 200 more fruit cakes would be placed shortly. Please order as soon as possible to avoid the Christmas rush. The cakes are $25 each. Please email Richard at richard@ranshaw.com.au.

• Pocket forests: John Bolto updated the meeting on the pocket forests, including a meeting next week with the Nedlands Tree Canopy Association and the City of Nedlands. There will be an opportunity to plant this Saturday morning at Mt Hawthorn; details are to come.

• Royal Show: Peter Panek thanked the volunteers who staffed the Bush Barbecue stall at the Royal Show on the public holiday. All money raised will go to the Club. Peter, John Murdoch, Jonas Edner, Jonas’s niece Clara, Anita Bourke, Ross Mackellar, and Michael and Jill Elias cooked close to a thousand sausages, if not more. Thanks to Peter for organising this opportunity.

• Bicycle Network Count: Peter Panek spoke about the bicycle count taking place on Sunday, 8 November. The count runs for three hours, from 9 am to noon, and the Club receives $120 for each site. Peter has 33 sites available, mainly in Fremantle. Please email Peter at ppanek@merit-group.com.au if you are able to help. Details have been sent by email.

• Handel’s Messiah: Anita Bourke spoke about a concert of Handel’s Messiah, conducted by Margaret Pride. It will be held at Government House on Saturday, 14 November at 7 pm and Sunday, 15 November at 2 pm. All proceeds will be donated to Passages Youth Engagement Hub, which supports homeless youth. Please book through TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1622815.

   

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Susie Rich announced the following birthdays and anniversary:

• Member’s birthday: John Lindquist turns 82 on 5 October 2026.

• Partner’s birthday: Jomay Verrier, 11 October 2026.

• Anniversary: Jock and Jennifer Laurie celebrate 40 years on 3 October 2026.

   

ROTARY MOMENTS

• Polio Day: World Polio Day is commemorated on 24 October 2026. Members are asked to donate the equivalent of the dinner and drinks from last week’s meeting to the campaign to eliminate polio. Please transfer your donation to the Project account, with “POLIO” and your name in the description.

• Volunteer hours in September: In September, 32 volunteer hours were contributed: 24 by Club members and eight by friends. So far this financial year, 232.5 volunteer hours have been contributed: 201 hours by 24 Club members and 31.5 hours by eight friends.

• A lovely article about the Business Lunch appeared in the Post. Thanks to the lunch organisers and everyone who attended.

  

FIRST LIEUTENANT JILL’S SESSION

The following members were fined:

• “Can anyone else smell barbecue? Oh, wait—that’s just Anita, Ross, Peter, Jonas and John Murdoch,” after they cooked nearly a thousand sausages and onions at the Royal Show last week.

• “Would you like fries with that?” Anthony, John Mackinnon, Anita, Mark and Susie were asked, after packing 420 bags of frozen chips at Foodbank.

• Michael Elias, for being the only person featured on Channel 9 News barbecuing at the Royal Show—and he isn’t even a Rotarian.

• Richard Ranshaw, for teasing the meeting with an offer of more fruit cakes, then selling them all to Graeme in a monopoly deal.

• Bruce Jeanes and birthday boy John Lindquist, for being away from us for so long.

   

GUEST SPEAKER: PHILIPPA NIKULINSKY

Philippa was introduced by Leighton Chadwick.

• Philippa is a world-renowned artist who specialises in botanical subjects, particularly flowers, and works mainly in watercolours. She has published 15 books with Fremantle Press alone. Her artwork has adorned a bus in Japan, where it was seen by millions, and her work was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Philippa received an AM in 2016.

• Philippa grew up in Kalgoorlie and came to Perth to attend Teachers’ College on a bursary. She has been married to Alex for 65 years. They have four sons, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

• Wildflowers bring Philippa a sense of joy and wonder. She often travels to the outback, spending weeks photographing, sketching and painting the plants, birds and wildlife. She self-funds her expeditions.

• The Cape Arid Rooms at COMO The Treasury are devoted to Philippa’s artwork. Many exhibitions of her work have been held throughout Perth.

• Thanks to Kevin Jackson for inviting such a high-calibre guest to present to the Club.

   

COMING EVENTS

• Monday, 12 October 2026 – Veronica Lawrance, District Governor

• Monday, 19 October 2026 – Colleen Altstock, US Consul General

• Monday, 26 October 2026 – Peter Panek, National Bicycle Counts

   

ROSTER: MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2026

THANKS

Thanks to the Nedlands Golf Club staff, Shino and Anton, for their service tonight, and to Chef Alvin for dinner.

WE RECOGNISE OUR VERY GENEROUS SPONSORS

• Lizzi Bee – supplier of flowers

• Dry Kirkness Chartered Accountants – Club auditors

• Accura Accounting & Advisory Services – provider of Xero accounting software and Sharesight portfolio-reporting software to the Charitable Trust

•  Dirk Vanderstruyf from Euroz Hartleys

   

MEETING CLOSE

President Leon closed the meeting by recognising Rotary International’s presidential theme: Create Lasting Impact.

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