Guest Speaker

Rotarian Grant Woodhams on his trip to Japan. Introduced by Hugh Lavery.

Grant and his wife spent most of June and part of July in Japan, travelling from the south (Kagoshima, Kyushu) to the north (Sapporo, Hokkaido) by train. An adventure which began nearly forty years ago when Grant who was working for the ABC met a young Australian man at the Wagin Woolarama. He, Rob Fletcher, was working in Tokyo for the Dutch Electronics company Phillips. He invited Grant to visit if he was ever in Japan.

The next year Grant was there. Fast forward to this century when a somewhat older Grant returned to Japan leading delegations of Parliamentarians from the WA Parliament. Every year from 2009-2012 visited Japan on WA Government business.

When he retired from Parliament and threw the shackles of the suit and tie life away he decided that he wanted to go back to Japan and spent far longer and see much more.

Wife Gabrielle organised Airbnb's in

Fukuoka – where we landed after flying from Singapore.

Akizuki – ancient Samurai village that has existed for over 800 ears.

Nagasaki – bombed by the US on 9^th Aug 1945. A beautiful and historic city that was influenced strongly by Europe in the 19^th century.

Kagoshima – at the very south of Kyushu with a live volcano that emits volcanic ash every day. It last erupted in 1914... we're waiting.

Hiroshima – bombed by the the US on 6^th Aug 1945. Another beautiful and historic city with possibly the world's best coffee.

Kobe – sister city to Perth. Home of Godzilla and Gigantor. (real reasons for visiting).

Tokyo – self explanatory. There is no end to it.

Aomori- At the top of Honshu. This city of 400,000 is regularly Japan's coldest place in winter. It is also home to the Jomon people, an ancient civilisation who existed 3,000 years ago.

Hakodate: On the south coast of Hokkaido, the northern island, Another city that saw great influence from Europe and the US at the end of the 19^th century.

Sapporo. Big city of the great snowy north. More European or American that the cities further south.

While Grant is speaking a series of over 700 photos streams behind offering everything from Nagasaki replica atom bombs, meals of Ramen, Glasses of beer and derelict houses.

Japan's population has been in decline since the mid 1970's, with many houses abandoned with no legal owners or inheritors.

The Woodhams-san didn't visit the tourist hot spots nor have any interest the cherry blossoms that have mainly finished their season by the end of May. Grant and Gabrielle's ambition was to live among the Japanese, having coffee with them in the morning and eating their meals with them at night. Most days would involve a 10-20 kilometre walk. Some tourist places were unavoidable such as the Hiroshima Peace Park but they mainly stuck to the unfamiliar. The Japanese were friendly, obliging, helpful and mostly terrible at English (Ingriss). To successfully negotiate Japan take a mobile phone with reliable GPS coverage and a translation app. The food is good, better than good and the everything works. You can drink water out of the tap. Trains run on time and everyone has forgotten that Dawn Fraser dove into the Imperial Moat at the 1964 Olympics.

Thanks by yesterday's birthday girl Jo Clarke who reminds everyone that today is Grant's birthday. Graciously as a non singing club there are no renditions of Happy Birthday.

Fines Session:

Visiting and former Geraldton Club Rotarian Chris Fleming fines Barry Dring for the absence of suitably displayed member's name badge.

Ian Taylor fines himself for pouring a cup of hot water instead of coffee.

Geoff Wood fines Ian Taylor for Doc's black bag which was left at Geraldton Golf Club.

Bob Urquhart confesses to having been in Geraldton for nearly 60 yrs … almost a Geraldtonian.

Hugh – some members are confused about registering and paying for meals on Club Runner

Jim Dillon – I have registered for this meeting.

Bob Urquhart registered and paid twice!!

Membership: (Hugh) The reality is that people will always be away for meetings so we are instigating a program called Fit For Purpose. Everyone has received an email on same.

Meeting finished. :-)

Grant Woodhams note taker and secretary Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton

President's  Report - Hugh Lavery:

Apologies for not presenting in person. Thanks for getting zoom working to enable the sharing of the incoming World President Stephanie Urchick's address:

It can be found on the internet here: “The Magic of Rotary”

It is also very rewarding to watch Stephanie Urchick's presentation on making a Rotary Club irresistible.

Hugh's message echoes Stephanie's in making our meetings irresistible and engaging. Have conversation, connect, learn and get involved in the Community.  It is important that we become a more diverse membership.