Rotary Meeting 25/9/24 (thanks to our visiting Rotarian Pratz Deshpande for his notes)
Geraldton Golf Club 7am
Attendence (was down this week due to Landor Races):President Hugh, Kevin Green, Bob Hall, Russell McKinnon, Rob Mosel, Don and Jenny Rolston, Terry Stewart, Daniel and Vanessa Wellstead and Thomas Wellstead and Visiting Rotarian Pratz Deshpande.
<-- Caption: Don and Jenny Rolston
Caption: Glenn and Jenny Feltham -->
Apologies: Jo Clarke, Laurie Dines, Robert Symington, Ian Taylor, Grant Woodhams and Bob and Julie Urquhart.
Makeups - Peter Sukiennik, Jim Dillon and Dave Freeman who were doing duty at LANDOR RACES along with about 30 Volunteers. - thank you guys, fabulous contribution.
Special Guests this week were Thomas Wellstead and his parents, Daniel and Vanessa Wellstead.
<-- Caption; Vanessa and Thomas Wellstead
Caption; Daniel Wellstead with Glenn Feltham -->
President Hug
h was back in the Chair and introduced our Guests before CK Catering served a delicious Salmon and Mash main course.
Announcements
Russell McKinnon
Need as many volunteers as possible for a Radio Auction Pre-call session at 9.30 AM on Tuesday
Has visited Telstra and they made a donation – A classic BT speaker
Let’s get the pledges in.
Next Tuesday, 1st October, at 9.30 here at the Golf Club for the final pre-call session
Former Rotarian (Geraldton) Glenn Feltham – Radio Auction
Get as many pledges as we can
As long as everything’s in by the cutoff time, we then get the big sheets produced.
The majority of the work is collecting the pledges.
Glenn does a lot of the computer work in the background. This year he will be in Queensland but he can do his part from anywhere.
Guest Speaker
Hugh introduced 1
st Guest Speaker
Thomas Wellstead.
Runner-up State Final of Four Test Speaking Competition on August 5th in Perth.
President Hugh presented Rotary WA badge with request for Thomas to continue being an ambassador for Rotary.
Thomas gave an excellent speech in which he thanked his teacher, Rebecca Forbes-Ritchie, public speaking coach, PP Clark Scarff, President Hugh and the members of the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton.
During the coaching and preparation, Thomas rewrote his whole speech. State finals were an exceptional experience – he was in awe of the event but spoke confidently.
T
homas was also presented with the Barry Marshal Perpetual Trophy for display at Nagle Catholic College.
Bob Hall presented Thomas with a certificate representing 50 polio vaccines donated by the Club on Thomas’ behalf.
Second Guest SpeakerRussell McKinnon spoke in lieu of Guest Speaker
Russell summarized some key points of a book on Frederick Walter Whitehead published by his son, Chris Whitehead
Head of Geraldton Plumbing Company.
Apprentice was Ron O' Malley, who won the Apprentice of the Year award in 1964.
President of CGG Rotary Club
Story about Johnny Ô'Keefe coming to Geraldton.
One-hour read and contains some interesting history of Geraldton.
Copy of the book in the Geraldton Library and our copy is available for members.
Feedback from Thomas on Russell’s speech: taking a leaf out of Clark’s book, Thomas suggested that he should “Pause more; makes you look smarter. Hand gestures, good”
No fine session.
Sgt Kevin Green suggested Don should wish his wife, Jenny, happy birthday even if belated.
Hugh was in Perth for the birth of his tenth Grandchild, Ruby Louise Erin
- Membership, Ethics are important. Read the Rotary's Introduction to Vocational Service en255
IBEX
report with Norway's Sofia Underland:
Inbound Exchange Student Sofia Underland: Sofia was away last week with the Fosters - Donnelly River - look forward to her report..
Before going on holiday she had tests at school in Maths and Biology. They were difficult because the terminology is different to what she has learnt at home in Norway. In the school holidays she will be heading down to Donnelly River with her host family and after that going on a Rotary exchange student camp.
Guest Speaker Bernie Gorringe: Bernie is a former Rotarian (Rotary Club of Geraldton) who is involved in the Chapman Valley Country Music Festival (CVCMF)
Peter Sukiennik – Are dogs allowed? Yes in the camping area but not where the music is being played.
President's Report - Hugh Lavery:
Australia’s worst naval disaster occurred on 19 November 1941 when HMAS Sydney II was lost following a battle with the German raider HSK KORMORAN, in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast. Geraldton was the last port visited prior to her demise. The loss of the SYDNEY with its full war complement of 645 sailors remains etched in the nations psyche. The KORMORAN was also sunk, but 317 of its crew of 397 survived. The fate of the Sydney remained one of Australia’s greatest wartime mysteries until the location of the wreck in 2008.
