President Craig James welcomed Rotarians and guests to the Rotary Club of Dalkeith, “the home of Rotary District 9455”.

President Craig welcomed members, Assistant Governors Michelle Alexander and our own Tim Humphry, and guests to the club meeting this evening; with a special welcome for Guest Speaker Dr Ben Miller, Director Science at the Kings Park Biodiversity Conservation Centre. He will speak about the management of King’s Park and Bold Park bushland.

He asked members and guests to sing the anthem. John Thornton asked the members to sing the last line with emphasis.

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11 Apologies, 3 LOA and 1 guest speaker and 4 guests; should be 45 present.

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John Lindquist introduced his friends Anita and John Bourke.

Pete Marfleet introduced his wife Debbie, and friends Jeremy Thomas and Rebecca Maddern.

Steve Halbert introduced his friend Jon Steward

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The question for this week was read by Tom Langley:

Tom Kendall announced that Talea and Thomas Kendall are expecting their third child (fifth grandchild) in early November.

John Saleeba announced that Esther Foundation has now moved to St Emilie’s in Kalamunda

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Birthdays and Anniversaries: Bob Davis announced the birthdays and anniversaries as follows:

David Smith introduced Anita Bourke and Past President John Lindquist read the induction message. Anita has been chosen to membership in the Rotary Club of Dalkeith because her fellow members believe her to be a leader in her vocation and because she manifests those qualities of head and of heart which fit her to interpret and impart the message of Rotary to those with whom she comes in contact.

Anita will have the vocational classification of “Radiologist”.

Anita was charged to judge herself by the Rotary Four-Way Test of the things she thinks, says or does and to encourage and invite her friends to join Rotary.

President Craig then declared Anita a member of our club and the world’s newest Rotarian.

Anita will join the Rotary Foundation and International Service Committee chaired by Ken Ilett and assisted by Gary Dienhoff.

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Members Attendance: Kent Warburton – 75% attendance 42 members present.

Charitable Trust: (Russell Hawkins): an apology

Club Secretary’s Report (Trevor Gorey): an apology.

Club Treasurer’s Report (Anthony McGrath): an apology.

President Craig reminded members Anthony is seeking gold sponsors for the Cottesloe Gold Day in November this year.

Club Service: (John Bolto/John Murdoch): John advised members that Tom Langley still has one Entertainment book to sell for the benefit of the club.  He also announced that member website training will be conducted Monday week.

Community Service: (David Miller/Steve Halbert): Tree planting will be THIS Friday 1^st June.

Vocational Service: (Peter Marfleet/Kevin Jackson):  Peter advised his committee will be meeting Monday week.

Foundation and International Service: (Ken Ilett/Gary Dienhoff): No report

Membership: (David Ellis/David Smith): David presented Anita with her polo shirt and District Directory.

Youth: (Kim Smith/Leon Lorenzen):  Kim announced that his committee is in the process of conducting two NYSF interviews and one RYE interview over the next two weeks.

Kim also reminded members that Richard had emailed all members seeking sponsorship for the Science and Engineering Challenge next year.

Public relations: (Peter Robertson/Albert Deda): Peter announced that the Board has set the Rotary shopping bag price at 2 for $5.

Board Meeting last week.

June Board Meeting will be a joint 2017/18 and 2018/19 Board meeting to set projects and priorities.

Greening Australia … 400 trees in Mosman Park on Friday 25^th May 2018.

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Sergeant: Acting Sergeant Stuart McCoubrie with Corporals Terry Rogers

Sergeant “cutter” McCoubrie commenced operations with an incisive fine to all members who had had surgery in the past, pointing out the 100% success rate for surgery amongst those present as validated by their presence. Richard Ranshaw celebrated his failing memory, protesting it was not his memory but a different combination which he could not remember seeing before. Eagles and Dockers fans shared tears and joy, with tears more expensive.  Steve Halbert contributed some of his footy tipping success, which even he cannot understand.  Arrivals, departures and Guilt tax was levied; Guilt tax for those with coins out in anticipation (clearly guilty!). Anniversaries were celebrated, some for the second week in a row. Kevin Jackson paid the price for the Maserati Envy of fellow members.  Peter Webb was pinged for planting trees alone.  Anita was welcomed to the club.  Finally, all lawyers and farmers paid the price for the Sergeant’s parting storyline (they shoot horses don’t they).

 

Bruce Fiegert introduced members to Dr. Ben Miller, Director Kings Park Science.

Ben gained a Bachelor of Science with honours in 1991 and PhD in 2004 from the University of Melbourne. His thesis title was: Life history variation in co-existing, Mexican rain‑forest understorey palms.  Ben spent time in Mexico while preparing his research.

 

Ben discussed some of his current and past projects:

How plant traits and fire regime elements interact to define species response to fire.

The effect of varying fire interval and season on the resilience of Banksia woodland species.

Assessing the impact of management alternatives on fire risk, biodiversity and weed cover in urban bushlands.

Development of completion criteria and monitoring protocols for mine closure.

Banksia decline: hydrology, physiology and demography of trees in urban remnants.

Members are invited to visit the Ecosystem Ecology section of the Kings Park website to learn more about the current projects.

Strategy for the conservation and rehabilitation of native plant cover in Saudi Arabia

An integrated research program into the ecology, conservation and restoration of the rare plant species Darwinia masonii and Lepidosperma gibsonii.

Habitat characterisation the rare BIF-endemic plant Tetratheca erubescens.

Ben expressed to members his appreciation of the wonder of Kings Park and the amazing value it represents to the City of Perth and its people.

President Craig thanked Ben Miller for his presentation congratulating him upon the conduct of his role as leader of 50 scientists who work together to conserve threatened species.  Craig said Ben had described huge projects focussed upon tiny and rare objects spread over huge areas. He gave Ben a Rotary cake as a token of member’s appreciation.

Jeremy Thomas receiving the award 

 

President Craig invited John Bolto, the Club Service Director and President Nominee, to announce the newly minted Rotary Club of Dalkeith Vocational Excellence Award for 2018. The inaugural recipient of this award is Mr Jeremy Thomas Curator of Arboreal Culture at Kings Park.

John announced that the Directors of the Club have supported the creation of a new award with the aim of:

·         Recognising Vocational Excellence of the highest order.

·         To honour outstanding contribution by individuals or small teams of individuals significant advancement in their vocational field in Australia.

·         To inspire further enthusiasm and to give added reward to the exceptional achievers.

·         Set an example to others, particularly youth, of the need to strive for Vocational Excellence for the benefit of their discipline and Australia.

We are now all aware of Rotary International’s 2017/2018 President, Australian Ian Riseley’s worldwide challenge to every Rotarian to plant a tree during this Rotary year.

Dalkeith Rotary members have joined 1.2 million Rotarians in meeting the challenge.

In this year of celebrating Environmental Sustainability, Club members were privileged to have had the opportunity to visit Kings Park in September last year to hear and see firsthand the significant achievement of the arboriculture team of four headed by Jeremy Thomas.

Club members were impressed by Jeremy’s enthusiasm for his role as Curator of Arboriculture and his responsibilities for managing the park’s 50,000 trees.

 Some of his current projects include.

·         New tree planting

·         Remedial tree surgery and prescribed removals

·         Tree transplanting

·         Risk management and reporting

·         Root zone management and protection

·         GPS mapping of the Park’s trees

The resulting nomination and recommendation for Jeremy to be the awardee for the Club’s Vocational Excellence Award has been unanimously approved by the Board.

John told Jeremy that it is with much pleasure that we award him with the Rotary Club of Dalkeith’s Vocational Excellence Award for 2018.  President Craig congratulated Jeremy upon his award and the terrific job he and his team do at Kings Park.

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Future Events: President Craig reminded members of the future club events.

Tree Planting THIS FRIDAY

District Assembly …. 10^th June 2018.

Dalkeith change-over dinner …  26^th June 2018.

District change-over dinner …  30^th June 2018.

Business Lunch … Thursday 18^th October 2018 at Royal Perth Golf Club.    

The speaker will be the former CSIRO chief executive, Dr Megan Clark AC FTSE who was recently appointed to chair an Expert Review Group into the Australian Space Industry.

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President Craig thanked Michelle, Debbie, Rebecca, Jeremy, John, Jon and Ben for attending. He congratulated Jeremy Thomas on his Award and Anita Bourke on her induction and welcomed her again to the club.

 President Craig thanked the NGC staff Denise and Emma, and Cupid Caterers Mandy and Sandy. He acknowledged Sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists, Butler Settineri (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).

President Craig thanked Ben again for his enlightening talk about his interesting projects.

He called on members to recognise RI President Ian Riseley’s Presidential theme for the year, Rotary Making a Difference.

Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.