“the grandeur of Rotary is in its future and not in its past…” - Paul Harris
Next week’s meeting (Tuesday 19th) is a very important meeting. It will include the AGM but more importantly committee updates. You can learn more about what is happening in your Club and activities planned for the coming months. Please come along and support your Club leaders.
It will be a busy week with Thursday 21st September being our inaugural Thursday evening meeting. Please come along and support this exciting new initiative.
Once again our programme convenor Jill Weeks produced an interesting and thought-provoking speaker for our Tuesday lunch-time meeeting.
Peter Fenwick expounded on the philosophy of John Locke and Adam Smith, the ideals of subsidiarity, libertarianism and taking responsibility for ourselves, our families, and our society.
The principle of Subsidiarity states that the individual and the family precede the state; that is, individuals do not exist for the state but rather the state exists for the well-being of individuals and families entrusted to its care. Furthermore, nothing should be done by a higher or larger organization that cannot be done by a lower or smaller one.
Libertarianism is the political philosophy of individual liberty. It is based on the principle of private property and founded on natural rights theory as expounded by John Locke in the seventeenth century. The essential elements of the libertarian creed are self-ownership, private property and the free market. In practice, this leads to a society of co-operation, tolerance and mutual respect; a preference for voluntary organisations; and a minimal role for the state.
Wherever this ideology has been tried, mankind has flourished. Per capita incomes have risen multiple times; longevity has increased by many years; education has become universally available; women have been treated equally; there has been more time devoted to culture and the arts; and there has been noticeable increases in civility. Elsewhere, throughout history, only small ruling elites led the good life; the majority led a precarious and unpleasant existence.
Unfortunately, over the past hundred years the social democratic welfare state has inhibited progress in the West, and now theocratic Islamists are creating mayhem in the Middle East.
Our wonderful, free and prosperous society is being threatened by ideologies, from within and without, that compromise the reasons for its success. If we are to succeed in our battle with competing ideologies, then we need to acquire an appreciation of the legacy of our Western Civilization and be determined to live up to its ideals.
Members responded with challenging questions on welfare and a safety-net, the current electricity problem, and the two-car family.
PDG Dennis Shore thanked Peter for his erudite presentation.
You can find out more about Peter’s ideas, books and Ludwig von Mise at www.peterfenwick.com
Peter Fenwick was born in Geelong, Australia and educated at The Geelong College. He studied Civil Engineering at the Gordon Institute of Technology in Geelong, and Melbourne University, graduating in 1966. In 1972 he completed an MBA with distinction at Melbourne University.
From 1976 to 2011 Peter ran a successful consulting business, Fenwick Software, which implements commercial systems for business in the manufacturing, distribution, and waste management & recycling industries. He established an employee shareholder scheme and five of my long-term staff now own seventy–five percent, and manage the business.
At Melbourne University, he studied philosophy under the charismatic Father Eric Darcy. He is an alumnus of the Cranlana colloquium, a facilitated program, inspired by the Aspen Institute in the USA, designed to promote open and informed, non-partisan dialogue on the philosophical, ethical and social issues central to creating a just, prosperous and sustainable society.
Our District 9800 students performed at an exceptional level at the Model United National Assembly in Canberra during August, and of the 26 teams were judged in 2nd place.
On the Saturday night semi-formal dinner hosted by ANU out of all of the students they picked only one to speak and summarize the event up to that stage and they chose one of our students, Lilian Gonzales. The choice was based on her performance during that day.
On the Friday I was able to get the three students into the Israeli Embassy where they had a meeting for almost 90 minutes. Our students represented Iran but we were unable to get a meeting with them.
Lilian is a year 11 student at Melbourne’s Girls College sponsored by Richmond Rotary Club and the other 2 are Year 12 students from Balwyn High School sponsored by the North Balwyn Rotary Club.
The photo shows them receiving their prize. From the left they are Lilian Gonzales, Lachlan Phan and Catherine Zhou.
It is time for us to identify a serious fundraising project that can be matched to a major Community Service initiative either overseas or in Australia.
I would propose that members suggest a fundraising project that will satisfy the following criteria;
A worthwhile amount of money can be raised related to effort
Capable of being repeated
Potential to involve less organisation each year
Raises an increasing amount of money each year
That they personally are prepared to become involved in the project
It will be seen as a specific Hawthorn Project
Ideally, each member would submit his or her suggestion to a club forum and a small panel consisting of myself, Brian Reid, and one other member, would review the proposal.
Our container has arrived back in Melbourne, and we expect to be able to load it on Saturday 23rd September
No, we cannot load it on 16th September, as DIK already has a busy working bee planned for that Saturday, involving our friends at the Rotary Club of Central Melbourne.
So please let Ian Macfarlane know if you can assist from 9a.m. onwards on the 23rd. The fork-lift drivers will be around, so we can promise you won't be asked to do any heavy lifting. Partners, friends, able-bodied youth, everyone is welcome!
Come and have some fun and fellowship, packing goods for the Khmer/Russian Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh. We'll provide the coffee and tea, if you bring along a biscuit or two for morning tea-break.
What? You've never been to DIK, Footscray? I don't believe it!
Cross the Westgate Bridge, and take the first (Williamstown) turnoff. But turn right immediately to head north up Williamstown Road. Then turn left on Somerville Road and slowly (50km limit) head west. Cross Geelong Road and wriggle to go straight ahead (you'll understand when you see this intersection)
In about 1 Km you'll see Woolshed 44 on your right, with yellow pillars at the gate. Go right through to the back, for Shed 40.
We recently advised all Boroondara Cares Rotary Clubs that a Golf Day on 23rd October at the Box Hill Golf Club is being organised to raise funds to assist the Chances program.
The Chances Scholarship program is unique in that it supports financially disadvantaged, talented and motivated young people between 12 to 25 years who live or study in Boroondara.
The Rotary club of Hawthorn is playing a significant role in organising the event but it needs your support.
We know golf is a very popular pastime among Rotarians in our community and we invite you to support our event by seeking the involvement of your members on the day.
We are limited to 126 participants and we would hope that each of the eight clubs in Boroondara would provide at least eight players players for the event.
I stress this is not restricted to Rotarians so there is the opportunity to bring friends.
We believe our golf day is exceptional value at $95.00 per head that covers the round of golf, refreshments prior to and a Dinner following, to celebrate the day.
We would hope to grow this event in the future so any help regarding sponsorship or other assistance in the form of prizes would be would be greatly appreciated.
To ensure the success of the day we invited each Rotary Club in Boroondara to sponsor a hole at a cost of $200. We thank those clubs and sponsors who have already pledged their support.
Following Derarca O’Mahoney’s talk last week, we have had several enquiries about how to get to Baguia.
First you need to fly to Darwin, then to Dili in Timor Leste.
There are regular bus services between Baucau and Dili, which depart once they have filled (or over-filled!) with passengers.
Baguia has a daily truck to and from Baucau. In Baguia the truck normally departs between midnight and 2am. In Baucau, the truck normally leaves from near the market in Kota Baru (New Town) around 7am each morning.
The Shadow is on holiday, but his resident-in-training gnome is happy to publish any gossip: just whisper in the right ear.
Mick Tyrrell is well on the road to a full recovery. President Katrina says any healthier and he'll be dangerous . . . .
A quick "get-well-soon" to Ralph Treloar, laid low with pneumonia. We just know it won't hold him down for long.
Cheryl Pisterman is recovering from a hip replacement: the fact that she has borrowed crutches from DIK may indicate that RC Glenferrie is soon to support DIK Inc in a big way . . . watch this space . . .
No sergeant today, so fines for holidaymakers went a-begging: the Rosbacks are just back from a cruise in the Kimberleys, and the Scotts from a bean-feast in New Caledonia.
There are special rates for first time attendees (& partners) which includes those that have not attended a District 9800 conference in 10 years and also a special rate for partners to attend the Friday/Saturday evening functions only.
Make sure you register your interest with Noel Halford as he is organising the accommodation . There is the option of extending to Thursday and/or Sunday night at special rates.
A tour of Rotary's 2018 convention city reveals one common thread: a welcoming spirit. Visitors to Toronto will also find world class museums, restaurants, shopping, and attractions, like the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Register before 15 December to save on convention fees.
Lawrence Reddaway always seeks to finalize numbers by Sunday 10pm by collating responses to attendance at the next meeting. So please try the electronic response (or phone) or even carrier pidgeon! Forewarn of any guests at the same time. This minimizes catering costs.
Geoff Wright collates the attendance information. He needs to know of "make up " events.
This is an update meeting, with a (short) AGM and a summary (with photos) of the recent successful Swinburne Public Speaking Course that Rotary Hawthorn conducted.
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by ANU out of all of the students they picked only one to speak and summarize the event up to that stage and they chose one of our students, Lilian Gonzales. The choice was based on her performance during that day..jpeg)
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ie is soon to support DIK Inc in a big way . . . watch this space . . . 
