My Science teacher once remarked “Because light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak”. This was not the case with our speakers today, as members Ian Macfarlane and David Rush told us about their travels. Ian’s story of a family reunion involving the survivors of the fall of Singapore, and Ian’s photos of the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors left us wishing for more. Once again, our members proved to be interesting and accomplished speakers.
Ian Macfarlane reported on our Rotary Foundation Post-Graduate Grant scholarship candidate, Victoria Hammond, who had sent a HUGE box of chocolates to thank the club for assisting her application. Ian, with Ngaire Cannon and Henry Drury, had assisted Victoria with interview technique and CV presentation for this grant, and she had been accepted to study Refugee and Forced Migration at Oxford. However, to her delight, she was offered a prestigious Clarendon Scholarship at Oxford University, which covers all fees and accommodation. We knew she was a good candidate, and we congratulate her on this scholarship.
My former boss at “The Networker, Philip Archer, is now Rotary Public Image Coordinator Zone 8. He has some useful tips in the current “Rotary on the Move”, where he asks: “If I were on top of everything and at my best, what would I be doing?”
Romana House is nearly ready for the occupants to move in late April. An official launch with a barbecue for “the workers” is planned for 17th May.
Next week, Robinette Emonson, Chief Comm., Guides Australia, will speak on “Burma and Beyond - a Girl Guides Australia/Rotary Partnership”
Our club participated in a District Grant to provide trainers from Australia, who have taken part in training 70 new leaders in Myanmar for school units.
Following the travel talks from Ian and David, I closed the meeting with a quote from Henry Ward Beecher:
“We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started”
Chairman of the day David Pisterman introduced two of our members as speakers of the day, and in so doing remarked on the great range of experiences and speaking capacity within our own. Today was no exception.
First, Ian Macfarlane gave us a tale of his forebears and their trials in Singapore in WW2. The tale of his travel was not so much a tourist promo but a recount of a recent trip to attend a Commemorative Plaque dedication at Changi Museum in Singapore. In February 1942 the Japanese Army overran Singapore.
The plaque was to remember the thousands of service men & women as well as especially the civilian men, women and children that were captured by the Japanese Army. Ian had a special connection to those events which he demonstrated with a 1935 photo in Singapore of a wedding gathering which included many of his relatives. Of that photo of about 20+ people only 3 survived the war. One close relative of Ian's grandmother, Nola, still is with us at 101 years. Ian told of the emotion in meeting her and also attending the ceremony at Changi and meeting and establishing connections with many new relatives/cousins at a "family" cocktail party in the Singapore Tanglin club.
The "Gray" collection of relatives including back to his grandfather Eric Gray (who died in Changi POW camp) were prevalent in Singapore at the time of WW2 and many perished in the detention camps and through illness.
Mixed with wonderful stories of his new found cousins we heard of some of the horrors of the fate of many who left Singapore by the last ships "Mata Hari" and the "Vyner Brooke".
David Rush told of his recent trip with two other couples through China. Commencing with Hong Kong we were treated to several home photos (oddly laced by sound effects by a generous helper) and some insightful comments by David of his perceptions of the country and its culture(s). Hong Kong was magnificent modern city, unique and apart from China, Macau offered a side trip with a mix of historical Portuguese architecture and luxurious casino developments.
Beijing was amazing. The tourists saw the ancient and iconic spots such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The development of this city in the past 35 years to be a massive modern metropolis was striking. Of course we saw photos of the Great Wall (which on examination did cover 21,000 Kms). Those doubting and argumentative audience members seem assured of a big fine at our next meeting! Shanghai was different again and exhibited the influence of years of being open to international contacts.
Last were the 600 plus Terra Cotta warriors. Shots of them( and no two are identical) standing under the protection of a football field style roof were great.
The commemorative plaque recognising the Rotary Club of Hawthorn's contribution to the Fritsch Holzer Park had been removed by vandals, and Charles Morrison contacted Boroondars Council to have it replaced. Wee Jock had some difficulty finding the plaque, so I photographed this small recognition for all to see. Good work Charles, keeping Rotary in the public eye.
The park, located in Rose Street, Hawthorn East, forms a draining retarding basin and features many Australian native plants. It offers barbecues, a dog off-lead area, lineal perimeter walking trails and public toilets. A local playground is found adjacent at Symonds Street Reserve.
The name comes from Augustus Fritsch and the Holzer brothers who formed the Upper Hawthorn Brick Company in 1883. The factory employed around 50 people and produced 250,000 bricks per week for use throughout Victoria.
In 1972 Council purchased the area and used it as a landfill site until 1986, followed by a temporary waste transfer station until 1989. In the years that followed the site underwent a resting period to ensure adequate settling of the area was achieved. In 1995, Council, together with the Department of Employment Education and Training and the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, reconstructed the area into a park.
Recall Ian Macfarlane reported that he came home from shopping one recent Sunday afternoon to find a very large parcel beside his front door. It was from Victoria Hammond.
Now Oxford bound to do post graduate Peace Studies, she visited our meeting in March appropos of our support for her in the Rotary Scholarship. Its history now that that she gained an even better direct scholarship from Oxford.
Ian read the accompanying note to the meeting as we all enjoyed our share of the delightful chocolates contained in that parcel. ( Some were noted to indulge beyond their allotted share!)
Victoria promised to keep in touch with the club prior to her departure and doubtless we will watch and hear of her stay in Oxford too. Best wishes Victoria, Australia (and Rotary too) could not have a finer ambassador.
Remember The Rotary Club of Melton and the District Learning & Development Team will host this year’s District Training Assembly – Rotary Illuminated.
It is encouraging members to attend the Assembly on 18th May 2014 at Tabcorp Park, Melton. All Rotarians are welcome to attend the Assembly but club office bearers and new members, in particular, will find the day very interesting and useful.
It is expected that your club will cover the $27 registration cost ( $12 if not staying for lunch) for each of your members attending.
The morning will commence with an opening plenary session which will be followed by forums on the five Avenues of Service, on our Rotary Foundation, on Membership Development and on Public Image.
In the afternoon, there will be separate sessions for the current Club Presidents, the Presidents Elect, the Presidents Nominees and club executives such as Secretaries, Treasurers and Protection Officers. If any of your members are waiting for a lift home but don’t hold a club executive position they will be most welcome to sit in on the Protection workshop.
Rotary International Convention - Sydney 2014 June 1 - 4
The Sydney RI Convention is an opportunity to meet up with Rotarians from around the world. To help make your experience all the more fun, our District are organising several opportunities to associate with other D9800 Rotarians.
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Convention Goers and District Governor Ross Butterworth invite the Rotarians from DISTRICT 9800 to kick off the 2014 Sydney Convention with a spectacular evening of fireworks, festival lights, fun and fellowship while cruising Sydney Harbour aboard the Captain Cook Cruise Line’s Flagship 'Sydney 2000'
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Recall Ian Macfarlane reported that he came home from shopping 
