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SERGEANT -Trevor Gorey: Mentioned Nigel Johnson for coming screaming and kicking into the 21st Century by finally joining a Zoom meeting of his committee.
Special mention to Leon Lorenzen for receiving a phone call this evening during the singing of the National Anthem.
Hugh Stowell, how the Weld Club faired during the lockdown.
Trevor Introduced our member Hugh Stowell who provided an insight into the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic for the Weld Club and Hugh.
Hugh’s talk was entitled “My Journey during COVID”
Where we were when a man walked on the moon or on 9/11. I remember where I was at 7.00 pm on Sunday 22 March at 7.00 pm.
Our Prime Minister was telling us he wanted all hospitality venues closed by noon the following day. Clearly Governments do not run hospitality venues. Faced with closing a two-storey heritage building with 31 employees. Never mind thousands of dollars’ worth of fresh produce in cool rooms and the needs of 823 Members. I would be the first Club Secretary in the Club’s 149-year history to close its doors. It has closed. Not in the World Wars, the Great Depression or the Spanish Flu 100 years ago had the clubhouse ever closed.
One of the life lessons I have learned is you are measured not by how you perform when all is well but in a crisis. We closed on Monday and by the Thursday we had an “At Home” catering menu to our Members. We converted the dining room and function kitchen into a full production kitchen.
Since that time, we have processed over 1,400 individual orders and staff have driven the same distance as the journey from Perth to Sydney some 4,000 km or so.
We have also learned a lot about our Members. Those who live in Claremont have a sweet tooth, those in Cottesloe have a penchant for duck confit, those in Nedlands cannot get enough of our homemade pies and members in Mosman Park…. well they just prefer to drink wine.
Importantly Rotary and the Rotary Club of Dalkeith has helped me through the challenges of these last few months.
How do you say?
The Four-Way Test, which if you turn over your menus this evening you will find there as a timely reminder to us all about our Rotary values.
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
I often fell back on these values in everything I had to do, think, or say in recent months.
Is it the truth?
When I had to have that difficult conversation in the week we closed, remember this is before Job Keeper was announced, about their employment, when you have to have those conversations and look them in the eye you can only tell the truth
Is it fair to all concerned?
All through the Committee of the Club did not require it of me at the time I wrote to the President and volunteered that I should also take a reduction in my salary. It had to be fair to all.
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
The goodwill I saw amongst the staff over the last few months was incredible Everyone looked out for each other and often staff were undertaking tasks, not in their normal job description. We also built up incredible goodwill with our Members with the at-home catering.
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
The steps we have had to take during this COVID crisis provided a service to members during a period of isolation and fear, an opportunity for the staff to work. As a Club, we will be stronger and more resilient when we come out the other side.
The other way in which the Rotary Club of Dalkeith helped me was through the weekly Zoom Meetings at our regular meeting time. President John thank you for the initiative. For someone like myself particularly in the early week, it gave me a brief sense of normality once a week and fellowship were very important.
And while this year has not so far been what we expected – I was supposed to chair a conference at the Travellers Club on the Champs Elyse in Paris in September - perhaps like many in this room it has given me cause to reprioritise what matters most – family, health, putting others above self and a renewed commitment to Rotary.
Thank you
President John then lead a Toast to Rotary International
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PRESIDENTS REPORT –
- RCFWB – Rotary Wine Appreciation Society – USD110 one-off joining fee (AUD160), expect there could be a visit to many wine growing regions around the world once Covid-19 releases its grip on us. www.rotarywine.net
- RAM – Malaria – Great cause, Timor Leste 225k cases in 2006 to 0 cases in 2019, other partners are West Timor and Vanuatu. Donations at www.ram.rawcs.com.au.
- DGE Jon Bilson’s virtual handover dinner on Sat 27th June. Here is Jon’s speech accepting the Governor’s role for 20/21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv1E9hbP4CA&feature=youtu.be
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President John then lead a Toast to Rotary International
I congratulate you all on being a part of the Worldwide Fellowship of Rotary International.
Service Clubs seem to have become less popular during the more affluent years.
But Rotary is just as necessary today as it was when it was first introduced in 1905.
Wars, civil unrest, natural disasters, water shortages and worldwide health issues continue to be a challenge for Service Clubs and in particular Rotary.
You are part of over 1.2million Rotarians in more than 33k clubs, and in more than 200 Countries. When I say you are members of the worldwide fellowship of Rotary International, I mean it literally.
Rotarians from across the world have combined to eradicate Polio and it has now been isolated to four pockets of the world. A superhuman effort since Rotary took control in 1985 when Polio was once again out of control in most parts of the world.
Rotary and Rotarians love a challenge.
To quote our founder Paul Harris at the 1940 RI Convention in Havana Cuba (ironic as no US citizen could visit Cuba for many years from the 60s):
"Rotary stands; though the tempest rage about - Rotary still stands. Why and how? Because it is grounded not on fear, rivalry, and suspicion, but on the eternal and indestructible rocks of friendliness, tolerance, and usefulness".
I am proud to be a part of Rotary International and to be an Australian and I ask you all to stand and join me in drinking a toast to Rotary International and Australia.
"To Rotary International and Australia."
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INDUCTION OF PE:
President-Elect Anthony, you have been chosen by your fellow Rotarians to be President of the Rotary Club of Dalkeith for the ensuing year.
The appointment is not made lightly as it is the highest honour within the powers of the Club to bestow upon you, but it is made in recognition of your service to Rotary in general and to this Club in particular.
With the Presidency you are assuming new duties, new obligations and new responsibilities, which will make severe demands upon your thoughts time and energy. We are confident you will carry out your tasks with the same zeal you have always shown in Rotary and you are assured of the utmost cooperation from every one of your members.
Rotary's Object, with its five avenues of service, will, I know, be your constant guide, and you will always be sustained by the fellowship and esteem of us all.
With this Collar, which bears the names of all the Presidents of this Club, including your own, I induct you as President of the Rotary Club of Dalkeith for the year 20/21
The pendant to the Collar is a Rotary Wheel with the word "President" inscribed. This is the badge of your office.
I also present you with your President's lapel pin and Badge.
On behalf of the members of your Club and all who are here tonight, I congratulate you and wish you a happy and rewarding year in office.
Guests and Fellow Rotarians, I present to you, your new President Anthony McGrath
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INDUCTION SPEECH BY – Anthony McGrath
Thank you to President John for his leadership over the last year. He certainly has been a man for the times! With the pandemic striking he was exactly the right person to keep the Club going by instituting Zoom meetings. Now we are all experts.
He has also effected a few changes in the way that we do things and I think they have been well received. They are small changes and is an evolution, not a revolution.
Also, I would like to thank everyone who has worked on the Committees over this last year and to their Directors. It is a real strength of the Club that so man people are involved in doing a myriad of tasks.
It is a wonderful Club to be involved because the majority of members get involved in so many ways. This may be on the Committees, events, fundraising or simply fellowship.
I would also like to thank you for entrusting the Presidency onto me. I will work hard to not let you down.
Looking forward to next year I am excited that we can enjoy each other’s company as well as doing good works within the Community. Our Community is of course, the people in our street, our City, our State, our Country and other Countries.
A number of people have come to me recently and asked what am I going to do with the Club as part of my Presidency. This has sort of perplexed me. I don’t look at it like this - my thoughts on leadership is for me to facilitate what YOU and OUR Club wants to achieve It’s YOUR Club.
I note that everyone is or can be involved in a Committee. However please note a subtle but important change is that all Projects and events will be run by a sub-set of the Committee. As such, it does not matter which Committee you are allocated, you are encouraged to join a Project group or an organising committee of an event which interests you.
In saying that I can let you some of the things happening this year.
Club Service will maintain their high level of support in ensuring we have great meetings that are run well with interesting speakers. As well as the normal fruit cake, footy tipping and the like. The Director this year is Peter Panek.
Our Community Services with Tim Humphry as Director amongst other things is planning on a bigger and better “ Cans for Xmas” to support Foodbank which has been under increased demand for services during these trying times. Already this year during the lock-down we have already donated the equivalent of 5,000 meals to the Community of WA.
John Bolto will use his skills to head-up the Membership Committee which no doubt will be successful gauging on what he has done this year. He will also lead the Green batch project which is likely to be a great source of income for the Club from now into the future as well as doing real re-cycling of plastic in the Community.
Again this year leading the small but very potent Public Image Committee is Kevin Jackson. Kevin has done a tremendous job of getting our Club’s story out into the wider public’s gaze. He has forged a great working relationship with the Post newspaper which has and will be a great asset to the Club.
Our International Committee is looking at a very vibrant programme over the next year and beyond. There are a number of people on the Committee who just love to get their hands dirty with meaningful projects. Not the least of these is their Director Michael Bisset and helped enormously by Anita Bourke. As well as still supporting the Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital in Cambodia they are taking on a PNG educational book collection drive. You are all cordially invited to participate. Already we have seen local schools pick this up and run with it. Also, we are continuing to support the John Fawcett Foundation - Bali Eye Clinic and to this end, we raised money thru’ the Lock-Down. With Ken Ilett’s expertise, he made an application for a District Grant to effectively double what we raised. We have recently been advised that the Grant Application has been approved. Well done Ken!
No doubt under the Vocational services umbrella lead by Trevor Gorey we will continue to have a couple of interesting visits, cultural experiences and the recognition of successful community enterprises.
With Kim Smith in charge of the Youth Committee, we will again be heavily involved in the mega event of the Science & Engineering Challenge. Unfortunately, it was cancelled this year but no doubt it will be bigger and better next April. We will also be supporting inbound and outbound Rotary Exchange Students which over the last couple of years has reinvigorated the club by having wonderfully engaged young people showing us the fearlessness and vitality of youth. Who can forget the great experiences we have had in seeing Agata and Cadu blossom into confident young adults during their time with us. We are also forging connections with Shenton College, Bob Hawke College and the Dalkeith Primary School. We also support the various Rotary Youth Programmes such as RYLA, RYLEAP, and NYSF.
In what I dub the executive team, Craig James will be our Secretary and my mentor to ensure I don’t go off track too much. And our treasurer Leon Lorenzen who does a wonderfully controlled job of the finances.
Allied with all this is obviously our Charitable Trust well led by Russell Hawkins and Ken Ilett. This financial year they have distributed over $80,000 to worthwhile Community Groups. It is a wonderfully generous additional arm of our Club. Thank you to all contributors.
Supporting all of our programmes we will have a number of fundraising events - some that are well known to you. Some that will be new.
One to look out for will be our business lunch in early November. We are having as guest speaker the extraordinary Thai Cave Diver rescuer and Australian of the Year Mr Craig Challen.
It will be a busy, fun enjoyable and worthwhile year. Please involve yourselves as much as you can. It is always true that you will get more out of it than you put in!
Thank you to everyone involved in this great club and I look forward to a great year.
Thank You.
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REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS
July 6th – Trevor Fisher – Volunteer of the Year, Men's shed member.
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July 13th – Paul Napper – Help the Homeless – Sleeping Bag Project
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July 20th – Fellowship and Club Forum
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July 27th – Michelle Blakeley – My Home, Homeless Hub
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THANK YOU
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Thanks to;
- Hugh Stowell and staff at the Weld Club
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Recognise our very generous Sponsors;
- Lizzy Bee-supplier of flowers
- Butler Settineri – Hon Club Auditors
- Paragon Consultants -Our Foundation’s Auditors
- PSZ Accounting for providing Xero Accounting software and Sharesight Portfolio reporting software to the Charitable Trust.
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MEETING CLOSE –
All be upstanding and for the last time
Recognise RI President Mark Maloney’s Presidential theme for the year
Rotary Connects the World
Goodnight everyone – KEEP SAFE
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