Tom Podbury

In The Chair: President Carmel
 
Members: 12
Guests: Thomas Podbury, Marina Cook, Aaron Snaidero
 
 
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Thomas Podbury
 
Youth Exchange
 
Tom was a Rotary Exchange Student, sponsored by the Woolgoolga Rotary Club.  He had never been out of Australia prior to his exchange, having only lived in Perth and Coffs Harbour.  He left Australia in February 2010 at temperatures of 35C and arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden at temperatures of -10C and snow deeper than any locals had seen.
 
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and has a very different character to Stockholm.  It is recognized as the first place in Sweden to import the potato (in 1600) and there is even a museum dedicated to this important food.
 
Tom really gained a lot from his exchange. Some highlights were the Euro trip, the cultural experience and the friendships that have lasted long after the exchange.
 
Although many Swedes speak better English than we do, Tom insisted that they speak to him in Swedish so he could learn the language.  High Schools in Sweden offer specific channels foe education.  Tom chose the music stream and concentrated on bettering his guitar skills.
 
He had three host families in Sweden – the first for 6 months and the others for 3 each.  Rotary in Sweden is more formal – must be correctly dressed with collar and tie. Definitely no thongs (flip flops).
 
Tom felt the political system was more of a Social Democracy then in Australia and the people seemed to be more interested in the political system.
 
Exercise Physiology
 
Tom is now a Clinical Exercise Physiologist.  He is based in Griffith but also works in Narrandera and Wagga.
 
He promotes regular exercise for many conditions including cancer, chronic pain, and to help manage disease.  He runs a clinic in Wagga to treat PTSD with ex-Servicemen.
 
Prior to moving to Griffith with his wife, Tom worked for 5 years in Sydney – primarily with the Uniting Seniors Group.
 
He was thanked by George for his interesting and informative talk.
 
 
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The Brain Teaser
 
What is the next letter in the sequence?
 
 
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Director’s Roundup
 
  •  President Carmel
    • Thank you to all who helped at RYDA.
    • Bill Draper not doing well.
    • Matt Rhodes Mum has also been ill (in Wagga Hospital).
  • Brian
    • PETS on 29th March
    • Brian and Greg will also be going to the Griffith Rotary Celebration on the same day.
    • Ken Williams funeral 11 am Tuesday
    • Seeking ideas form the Club for the latest round of Rotary Grants
  • Citrus Australia Breakfast arrangements (Brian)
    • On Thursday 20th March
    • Set up 8 am to 10am Tuesday for those involved.
    • Wednesday - will pick up cool room and food and take it out to the site
    • On Thursday – 6am start on-site for 7.30 serving.
    • Directions to the site at the end of the Director’s Roundup section.
  • George
    • Sought the club’s interest in seeking outgoing exchange students.  A positive vote.
    • Responded to some questions about the Rotunda.
  • Editor
    • Please note that the talk by Salla and our dinner meeting will now be on Wednesday 16th April to escape the clutches of the evening before Good Friday.
  • A:
    • D—each letter represents one note in the diatonic musical scale: Do, Re, Mi, Fah, Soh, La, Ti, Do.
 
 
 
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Directions to the Citrus Australia Breakfast.
Moricom Orchards, Round Hill Road, Leeton
 
  •  Travel to the End of Brobenah Road,
  • Turn Left
  • Travel 2.3km to Stony Point Rd (green sign points to Murrami)
  • Turn Right.
  • Follow Stony Point Road for 7.6 km to Wattle Rd (a small green sign points to Murrami).
  • Keep straight.  Do not turn to Murrami.  Stony Point Rd becomes Apostles Yard Rd at this point.
  • Follow Apostles Yard Road for 2.1 km.  This has the main canal immediately to your right.
  • At the end of the tar, turn right on Round Hill Rd. This will take you over the Main Canal.
  • Turn right after the bridge
  • Turn left into the first gate. This leads to the Shed.
  • You have reached your destination.
 
 
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Sergeants Session – Andrew
 
 
It was with great relief for us that Andrew escaped Alfred’s tentacles in Kyogle and was able to be our Serge for the night.  For many, however, relief turned to pain and expense when they were singled out for the ‘Andrew treatment’.
 
Thank you, Andrew for an entertaining – if a little costly – session.
 
The raffle was won by Alan.
 
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Wasp’s Wrong?
 
The world's leading expert on European wasps walks into a record shop.
He asks the assistant “Do you have ‘European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2? I believe it was released this week.”
“Certainly,” replies the assistant. “Would you like to listen before you buy it?”
 "That would be wonderful," says the expert, and puts on a pair of headphones.
He listens for a few moments and says to the assistant, “I'm terribly sorry, but I am the world's leading expert on European wasps, and this is not accurate at all. I don't recognize any of those sounds. Are you sure this is the correct recording?”
The assistant checks the turntable and replies that it is indeed European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2. The assistant apologizes and lifts the needle onto the next track.
Again, the expert listens for a few moments and then says to the assistant, "No, this just can't be right! I've been an expert in this field for 43 years and I still don't recognize any of these sounds."
 The assistant apologizes again and lifts the needle to the next track.
The expert throws off the headphones as soon as it starts playing and is fuming with rage. 
"This is outrageous false advertising! I am the world's leading expert on European wasps and no European wasp has ever made a sound like the ones on this record!"

The manager of the shop overhears the commotion and walks over.
"What seems to be the problem, sir?"
"This is an outrage! I am the world's leading expert on European wasps. Nobody knows more about them than I do. There is no way in hell that the sounds on that record were made by European wasps!"
 
The manager glances down and notices the problem instantly.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir. It appears we've been playing you the bee side."
 
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