Both the All Ordinaries Index and the thermometer going up were surely good omens for the holiday break.  Johnny and June Carter Cash certainly livened up our Christmas Party at Kooyong Tennis Club.  Even Robert Ball was hitting the low notes: “Papa sang bass .  . . “ to send the evening swinging.  PDG Dennis Shore dexterously kept the running sheet on time, and Kooyong served delicious Traditional Christmas fare: Roast Turkey and Xmas Pudding.  Most Rotarians were just loosening up on the dance floor, when the evening ended, all too soon. It was the first Hawthorn RC Xmas Party for recent recruits Sheridan Brown and Lindsay, Katrina Flinn and Mick, and David Bradshaw and Lynne: we hope they enjoyed the party as much as we enjoyed their company. Thanks to John Christoffelsz for arranging this lovely fellowship evening, despite the corny Xmas Cracker Jokes.

 

 

We were delighted to see Foundation Chairman Richard Logan pin a Paul Harris Sapphire badge on John Christoffelsz, in recognition of John’s annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation which have taken him to the next level.  Well done John, and thanks for supporting the Foundation through the “Every Rotarian, Every Year” (Centurions) Program.

 

 

On your behalf, I presented Ken Scott with a nice aged “Chivas Regal” in appreciation of his help as Auditor for the past year. Ken has undertaken this work for several years, despite the complication of GST being added to our book-keeping. Ken’s assistance has been especially appreciated over the three years that included the Conference in Albury.

 

 

You can see lots of photos of members enjoying themselves at:  https://picasaweb.google.com/106224275621582639712/XmasParty2013?authkey=Gv1sRgCMm0ndXYzp383AE

 

 

“The Hamsters” were all up early the next morning: distributing hams, shortbread and wine in the Kooyong TC Car Park. Phil Stewart and his merry fundraising team unloaded the truck and gave out the goods before it got too hot.

 

 

The occasion called for one last corny cracker joke:

Q: If it takes a man one hour to eat a ham, how long would it take for him to eat a hammer?

A: It depends on whether he is a professional or a “hammerchewer”!

 

Earlier I helped out at Donations-in-Kind at Footscray, packing clothes to go to the Philippines. They have so much “stuff” to distribute that they have overflowed into Woolshed 41, so we were trying to clear that out. And it gets hot in those sheds in summer!  I look forward to Bob Glindemann of Melbourne Rotary Club updating us on DIK’s activities when we resume normal meetings in January.

 

Unfortunate news that Kooyong have to increase meal costs to $35.

 

Kooyong have held meal costs since 2011, and unfortunately rising costs dictate that charges be increased to $35 in the New Year. The board tried to negotiate this downwards, or to have a lesser meal, but to no avail. I still believe the lovely surroundings and meal quality give us fair value.