Sergeant Bill opened the meeting and invited President Les who welcomed all attendees as well as Guest speaker Dr. Robert Likeman. President Les also welcomed both Cec and Bob Jordan and hopes that he will stay for the remainder of the evening.
Rock O’Keefe proposed a toast to the Women in Rotary and how a great difference that they contributed to the history of Rotary. He mentioned that women had a hard time becoming members in the early days. In 1940 in England women were rejected and that’s when they decided to start Inner Wheel. Women were allowed to become members in Australia in 1989 . The Ashmore Rotary Club were the first to induct women and they also elected the First ever woman President.
Following the meal, President Les addressed some business relating to upcoming events. He advised that the movie night in aid of Polio Plus will go ahead next Tuesday the 13th October. He asked that those members who are willing to attend the event to register asap. Cost of tickets is $20 p/p. He thanked Jim Hawkins for looking into issues with members Gmail accounts and Ray Milton and participating members for their support of the upcoming sausage sizzle at Bunnings this weekend. Les also called for volunteers to assist with the audit of an asset register at the Hub for the Saturday of the 17/10/20.
Sgt Bill entertained the members and guests with some cheeky fines assisted by bunyips John Monks and Peter Tomlinson.
The raffle was won by Dr Graham Sivyer and the heads and tails by David O’Dwyer.
The silver circle was won by Rock O’ Keefe.
President Les called on Chair person Dr Graham to introduce our guest speaker Dr Robert Likeman. Graham mentioned that Robert had presented at the club on previous occasions. Robert graduated in medicine in 1971 in the UK and migrated to Australia a year later. In 1986 he joined the Royal Australian Army as Lieutenant- Colonel and later in 2011 became Health Director of Australian Armed Services. Robert has 26 publications and is an excellent historian. The topic for the evening was the life story of Breaker Morant.
Lieutenants Morant and
Peter Handcock were then court-martialled for the murder of the Rev.
Carl August Daniel Heese, a South African-born Minister of the
Berlin Missionary Society. Rev. Heese had spiritually counselled the Dutch and Afrikaner victims at Elim Hospital and had been shot to death the same afternoon. Morant and Handcock were acquitted of the Heese murder, but their sentences for murdering Floris Visser and the eight victims at Elim Hospital were implemented by a
firing squad from the
Cameron Highlanders on 27 February 1902.
Morant and Handcock have become
folk heroes in modern Australia, representing a turning point for Australians’ self-determination and independence from British rule. Their court-martial and death have been the subject of books, a
stage play and an award-winning
movieGraham thanked Robert and presented him with the Broadbeach Rotary glass.
President Les closed the meeting and thanked all guests.
