In The Chair: President Peter Draper
Members: 12.
Guests: Guest speaker Dennis Couch
Exchange Student Javian Niewöhner
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Guest Speaker: Dennis Couch –
Direct Automation, Griffith
Nicholas introduced Dennis as he has had association with Dennis and his wife through a project to encourage young people to stay in Griffith for vocational education so they may remain in town.
Dennis titled himself ‘the prodigal son’ of the North Griffith – baptized with channel water. His maternal Grandfather came to Hanwood from Ireland with the (overblown) lure of productive land. It turned out to be very hard work – along with service in the Boer War and WWI (where Mustard Gas really destroyed his health). It was a difficult farm, and it finally met its match in the ’56 floods. Paternal Grandfather was an Engineer with Agricultural Machinery firm H.V.McKay and later with Commonwealth Fertilizers.
His father was a teacher but also an incredibly innovative person, interested in engineering and was a mentor to Dennis. His siblings are highly educated but he decided not to follow university studies, instead deciding to do a Diploma of Engineering at TAFE. He is particularly interested in Electrical Engineering and was involved in Computer Technology in the days before personal computers, but also has a love of mechanical engineering and was involved in the early days of laser land levelling. He was a partner in Total Electrical Controls (Wagga). The automation industry is both astounding and exciting.
He has a real interest now is in education and is passionate about knowledge in a group situation. He has a philosophy which is captured in the statement in his workshop ‘ if you’re not stressed you’re not learning’ and he believes in face to face learning and mentoring.
He also has an interest in ‘Friends of Luro’ and has been involved in many of the projects but has realized that education is the real key in Timor-Leste.
President Peter thanked Dennis for his presentation.
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The Brain Teaser
Q. If John’s son is my son’s father, who am I?
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Director’s Roundup
- Dan Cotter – Acting for Acting Secretary Geoff:
- An email has been received talking about World Polio Day on 24th October. There are a number of suggested activities in lieu of the film opportunities of past years.
- District Service Projects are looking for a District Environmental Leader – anyone interested.
- Dan attended the Leeton Connect Breakfast. Sue Gavel talked about her attendance at a Conference she attended for Jump Start. Leeton Connect are looking for funding opportunities as their funding will expire soon.
- Some Businesses in town are willing to release employees to help with volunteer projects.
- Nicholas:
- Leeton Pride Committee are looking for options to block off the Cenotaph during the Pride Parade. Anyone with ideas?
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Sergeant’s Session: Nicholas Wright
Raffle winner was Matt Rhodes. Fines for Laurie for forgetting his phone; Dan - need an itinerary for Javian; Bruer in absentia for getting the wind up by the wind in Tumut and for losing a baby tooth after 60+ years; Those not attending the September markets and those not attending the District Conference or the Business Breakfast; Carmel for a dinner at Parliament House in Canberra; those not being at last week’s meeting or leaving early to watch the football.
Congratulations to Greg brown for his first Great Grandchild (a girl). Mother and daughter doing well.
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- A: I am John. Your son’s father is you.
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Jokes?
LEXOPHILIA: Lexophilia is a word used to describe those that have a love for words, such as "you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish", or "to write with a broken pencil is pointless." A competition to see who can come up with the best lexophiles is held every year in an undisclosed location. This year's winning submission is posted at the very end.
.. When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
.. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
.. The batteries were given out free of charge.
.. A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.
.. A will is a dead giveaway.
.. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
.. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
.. When you've seen one shopping centre you've seen a mall.
.. Police were summoned to a day-care centre where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
.. Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He's all right now.
.. A bicycle can't stand alone; it's just two tired.
.. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
.. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
.. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
.. When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she'd dye.
.. Acupuncture is a jab well done. That's the point of it.
..And the cream of the twisted crop: Those who get too big for their pants will be totally exposed in the end.
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Peter’s Quote
A whole stack of memories never equals one little hope.
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