Rotary Connection

Salt, Stone and a Seat to the Abrolhos

Club Meeting Highlights • Wednesday 23 September 2026

Acting President Jim Dillon was in the chair at the Geraldton Golf Club at 7.00 am — possibly his last turn before Landor. Bob Urquhart gave the invocation and the toast to Australia and the King. Guest was Dr Paul Blackwell, who spoke on the salt that eats Midwest masonry and then demonstrated the work in the car park.

Meeting at a Glance

Jim Dillon in the chair; Sergeant Bob Urquhart; invocation and toast by Bob.
Guest and speaker: Dr Paul Blackwell. Welcome back Kim Wann.
Apologies: Bob Hall, Di Gilleland, Ian Taylor (Melbourne), Clare McElhinney, Russell McKinnon and Leni Tenwinkel.
Leni: Abrolhos with Shine Aviation last weekend; away until late October (Exmouth, Albany, Outward Bound).
Grant: book launch, Geraldton Regional Hospital, Thursday 1 October at 2.30 pm.
Paul on rising damp and crumbling heritage stone; demo after the meeting.
No raffle. Non-Dockers and a 34-year Rotarian found the box.

Opening the Morning

Bob blessed the food and the fellowship and led the toast. Jim asked the room to eat what the caterers had prepared for sixteen. Barry’s On This Day marked Bob Marley’s last concert in 1980, Bruce Springsteen’s birthday, Freud’s death in 1939, and the birth of Mary Mallon — Typhoid Mary. Thought for the day, the printable one: if you kick the person most responsible for your problems, you will not sit down for a month.

On the newsletter, Russell McKinnon wrote that last week’s issue made him relive the whole meeting. Others have asked for less detail. Hugh would like the feedback kept coming.

From the Secretary’s Desk

Grant reminded the room that club funds helped Margaret Pike and colleagues research and publish a history of Geraldton Regional Hospital. The launch is Thursday 1 October at 2.30 pm in the courtyard next to the foyer. The invitation will go around; the date is worth writing down.

The standing dates remain: Gold Polio dinner Friday 23 October at Royal Perth Golf Club; Northam Rotary’s 80th on Sunday 1 November; RYLA applications to 30 November; Christmas at Tarts & Co. on Saturday 12 December.

Polio dinner bookings: trybooking.com/DPIZB

Coming Up

Wednesday 30 September

Geraldton Golf Club, 7.00 am. Guest speaker Rosie Vlahov (OzFish) — seagrass restoration in Geraldton. Jim may be on the road to Landor.

Thursday 1 October — Hospital history launch

2.30 pm, courtyard beside the foyer, Geraldton Regional Hospital. The club helped fund the book.

Friday 2 – Sunday 5 October — Landor Races

Hospitality at the bar is one of the club’s major fundraisers. Extra hands welcome.

Friday 23 October — End Polio dinner

Royal Perth Golf Club. Keynote Professor Barry Marshall.

Bookings: trybooking.com/DPIZB

Late November — Paul’s open day

Heritage masonry trials at Durack. Handbook $10. Date to follow.

Sunday 1 November — Northam Rotary 80th

11.30 am, Northam Recreation Centre. Names to Grant.

30 November — RYLA applications close

Ages 18–28. Grant or ryla@rotarywa.au.

Saturday 12 December — Christmas function

Tarts & Co. Grant is keeping the list.

Fellowship and Fines

No raffle this week — Barry, the Sergeant said, keeps winning it. Hugh put in for two items: an error in last week’s newsletter (Robert Mosel was invited to share the blame) and 34 years in Rotary the next day. Non-Dockers, or anyone openly supporting another side, found the box. The meeting closed at 8.00 am exactly. Walkaway Polocross was this weekend; Landor starts next.

A Word of Thanks

Thank you to Jim for the chair, to Bob for the invocation and the box, to Hugh for the Leni update, to Grant for the hospital date and the introduction, and to Paul Blackwell — for the science, the slides, and the mortar in the car park.

Rotary Connection Highlights 23 September