Presidential Prattlings
“The Member Behind the Badge” is always a popular topic: it is lovely to hear more about our members, and today Katrina Flinn and David Bradshaw gave us some insights into their lives, from their childhood to their current careers. As PDG Dennis attests, Rotarians are amazing!
It was also a pleasure to welcome Craig McPherson from Hawthorn Secondary College: Craig introduced students involved in the Student Exchange: outgoing students from HSC, and incoming students from Campbell Town in central Tasmania. Thanks to David Owen for managing the program for this extremely successful and ongoing student exchange. After the meeting, Joe Devereux took the students on a guided tour of Kooyong Tennis Club.
Other members of Hawthorn Rotary Club continue to amaze me: I mentioned the possibility of managing the car-parking at Como Park for the French “Paris to Provence” festival to Ken McNamara. Within a few days, Ken had met with the organisers, squared everything with the Stonnington Council, and prepared a template for parking 322 cars on the site! Remember to mark 22-24th November in your diary for this nice little earner!
Ken also informs us that we will have a large area under the freeway for parking at the Kooyong Classic in January, and his preparations for this event are well under way. Thanks Ken: I dips me lid!
As we are now in the Spring Racing Carnival, I’m looking forward to hearing Jock Mclean, Professor of Veterinary Science speak next week. Professor McLean recently retired as Chairman of the drug testing laboratory for racing animals in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. We hope he will tell us about some of the dodges in the industry. After that, you may not feel like giving your money to the bookies, so consider a donation for bushfire relief instead.
I sought a suitable quote to follow our members Katrina and David, but the one I liked and selected has no bearing on our Rotary Club:
“A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members.” - David Coblitz