Bob opened the meeting by asking for reports before remembering to introduce the President and inquiring if we had any visiting Rotarians or guests present. Brendan announced that the door was a disgrace this week. Bob then reported that he had left the footy tipping cards at home and so he didn’t know who was winning and members would need to text their tips to him this week. I am going to come right out and say it; we are really missing Nooka’s administrative efficiency.
Attendance: Brendan recorded eighteen members and one guest present. Our one guest was Chris McEwan and Chris Ryan.
Meal: Last week Lindsay was hoping for a roast and the bowls club delivered. This week Gracey and Hutto were hanging out for the sausage casserole on rice and once again the bowls club delivered on cue. Hutto and Gracey gave the sausage casserole on rice a 10/10 and declared that they would have been happy to pay $30 for the meal. Your correspondent thought it was priceless.
In reports;
· President-elect Rob Harris reported that he was related to Paul Harris but not Paul’s brother Rolf.
· Rob has done his achillies tendon but is aiming to be back available for selection by the change-over.
· Bob recommends the Clayfield Wines Shiraz.
· Hutto advised that when we pay with the square the bank takes 1.05% of the transaction as a fee. He recommended members consider paying cash. Of course, if you withdraw cash from an ATM the bank fees might be even higher. Bank managers are clever like that.
Our guest speaker was Chris Ryan, who is a horse trainer, real estate valuer and former elite runner. Chris came from a sporting family and his father played for Geelong. He placed third in the 1986 Stawell Gift. He won the 70m final in the same year and has also won the 400m Stawell race. Chris gave us an interesting insight into the strategy of not running well prior to the event to build your odds and not attract a large handicap before hopefully cleaning up in the race and with the bookies. Of course, here at Warrnambool Central we don’t know anything about that sort of thing. At least that is what I am going to tell the stewards if they come asking difficult questions about Sirileo Miss’ easy win in the group three Matron Stakes at Flemington in March. A race that we still have not been paid for three and a half months later I might add. Anyhow, I digress. We thank Chris for a fascinating insight into the Stawell Gift and professional running.
Rob announced that we have another excellent speaker next week, David Blaxland, before closing another excellent meeting.
