Weekly bulletin for the Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, Western Australia for the week of 26 January - 2 February 2012

1. The Official Bulletin of the Rotary Club of
Freshwater Bay Inc.
PO Box 168, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6909 District 9455 ABN: 99 602 195 617
Volume 4, Issue 27 26th January – 2nd February 2012
luckier still that nobody
Wendy Wardell our except miners has
speaker on 25th bothered going to check if
January it’s still there since Toni
Collette left in about
Wendy Wardell has attended 2003. It’s ingenious
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay really. One patch of
as a guest on a couple of recent spiniphex punctuated by
occasions and hopes to make it termite mounds looks
a more regular association later much like any other, so
in the year. Currently working really, who is going to
in marketing, she also writes notice if a few thousand
regular satirical articles for square kilometres go
Medical Forum magazine and missing? And if anyone
provides entertaining does catch on, there’s
conference talks and after- always the fallback
dinner speeches. Wendy will position of sucking your
also be gaining registration as a breath in over your teeth
Marriage Celebrant in the and muttering ‘bloody
coming months. termites.’
(wendy.wardell@iinet.net.au) Having recently returned
Wendy kindly edited her very from spending time with
insightful and humorous talk my family in the UK over
for inclusion in our bulletin per Christmas, what I saw
Clifford’s request, as we had President Bryant Stokes and Wendy Wardell
there made me celebrate
very few of our regular the diversity and
members present to enjoy it quirkiness of Australia
firsthand. girt by sea, but the bit that even more. I discovered that grey
sloshes on the WA coastline is and damp wasn’t just a weather
Australia Day seemingly packed to the gunnels forecast, but a lifestyle and an
Reflections with things on the underside that attitude that permeates
want to eat us and on the top everything. European
Perth has been my adoptive home with people that want to join us interconnectedness has given
for over 20 years now and every What’s more, from our vantage them some great benefits; wine
time I leave the place I’m so point of what Paul Keating so and cheese for instance are high
happy to return I almost come eloquently described as the ‘arse quality and cheap. But everyone
over all Papal and kiss the end of the Earth’ we can hear the has to cop the credit card bill for
tarmac. One of the amazing ominous rumbles of another bout Greece’s little indulgences and
things about WA, and Australia of economic indigestion heading France’s trips to the beauty salon.
in general, is it’s diversity. It’s like our way – or not as the case may The Euro may not have reached
living in a be. Will our mineral wealth the purses of the Poms yet, but is
dozen provide us with immunity from a has already homogenised so
different nasty case of the European Trots?
countries Does the fact that we play mainly
all at the with China these days mean that
same we won’t have picked up this
time. particular bug from the other
Australia kids in the global playground?
may be We’re lucky to have the Pilbara,
and at the rate we’re selling it off,
Rare photo of drop- Not so rare photo of Redback
bear
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 1

2. favourite topic of fear. As far as
Europeans are concerned, the
ocean here is simply a large bowl
of shark soup and humans are
but croutons in it. They may have
a point on this one.
This image of an unsophisticated
country in thrall to creepy-
crawlies of varying degrees of
ferocity is not assisted by the
intellectual excellence of our
chosen Ambassadors – Warney,
Lara Bingle and assorted soapies.
But as much as it makes us cringe
to be represented by shallow
caricatures of what Australia
really has to offer the world,
we’re not about to change this
image overnight and nor should
we even try.
Just quietly, we rather like the
feeling that maybe we really are
much of life that when they look living on the edge in a landscape OK– it’s a shallow and one
in the mirror, they no longer hell-bent on eradicating us. It’s dimensional image, based largely
recognise themselves. You could fun to think of ourselves as a on myth and exaggeration. But it
believe that England has had nation of Bear Grylls’ and given won’t easily be shifted and it’s our
plastic surgery to become more the content of some of the image, undiluted by proximity to
European and has suddenly sausages we consume by the ton, nations with whom we feel we
found that it has turned into there may even be some dietary need to morph for the sake of
Michael Jackson. parallels. Why else would we trade or political correctness.
Yet the beauty of a land that we invent the notion of Drop-Bears Out-dated stereotypes and
feel defines us is lost on these cold to scare the tourists if we didn’t misrepresentations are so much
climate creatures. To Europeans want to put ourselves at the top better than painting our culture
living in soft light filtered of the Tough Guy totem pole? and identity in beige so that we
through almost constant can blend in with the
cloud, where the only natural neighbours.
threat to life and limb is the I’m afraid that it really is time
chronic bad temper, Australia to chuck another shrimp on
is the country that wants to the barbie.
kill you. ©Wendy Wardell
There is distrust for a sun
that appears day after day in
a blue sky and sunburn is
apparently proof that God is Next Week’s Meeting
punishing us for having on 1st February –
weather that is unnaturally Maiti Nepal update
good. He has also seeded our
landscape with so many Gillian and Clifford will be
highly improbable and doing a presentation on the
invariably lethal creatures Maiti Nepal Organisation that
that Australians never our club has been supporting
apparently go anywhere with a RAWCS Project and
without a stout stick to fend matching grant. Anuradha
off their unrelenting attacks. Koirala CNN Hero and
founder of Maiti Nepal has
Irate creatures featured on given a voice to the innocent
our coat of arms will deliver a victims of trafficking
death blow as soon as look at worldwide and has rescued
us and snakes are simply over 12 000 girls and women
salivating in anticipation of who have been trafficked from
digging their fangs into our Nepal to India. Anuradha
flesh. Sharks are obviously a Anuradh Koiarala CNN Hero- Maiti Nepal Koirala and her Director of
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 2

3. Maiti Nepal, Bishwo Khadka, will wonglee.yawehfoundation@gmail The RLI is a training day, where
be returning to Perth for .com Wong will hold the Rotarians are provided with
International Women’s Day. In classification of Political comprehensive training. There
addition, there will be a morning Economist and Joyce’s are three levels, each taking a day
tea fundraiser at Chez Pierre on classification is Periodontist. each, commencing at Stage 1 on
Tuesday March 6th at 10.00 AM Welcome to the RC of Freshwater Saturday 18th February, Stage 2
and an evening dinner fundraiser Bay to both of you. will be on Sunday, 19th February,
on March 7th at 6.30 PM instead with Stage 3 set down for Sunday,
of our regular meeting. 11th March. All are being held at
Changemaker Award Mt Lawley Senior High School
commencing at 8.30am.
The Changemaker Award has Members interested in these
Assistance for Young been devised by RI President training days please let Sec. Di
Man Kalyan Banerjee to encourage know so that she can arrange for
Clubs to support a well-balanced you to be registered to attend.
A request for financial assistance program of projects and activities
has come from a local Solicitor, in all Avenues of Rotary Service.
George Georgiou, who is acting Having been able to tick enough District Assembly
for a young man, Damyn Cox, who of the required boxes to qualify for
was seriously injured in a motor this Award, the completed form The District Assembly for Board
vehicle accident in 2003 when he has been sent to DG Liz Westoby. members for 2012-13 and any
was 9 years of age. At this time only one other Rotary interested Rotarians is being held
Damyn was left brain injured, a Club in D. 9455 has sent in a on Sunday, 1st April at Mt Lawley
quadriplegic and on a ventilator. completed form, so we can be Senior High School, commencing
With his 18th birthday the pleased with this achievement. at 8.00am.
following week, in mid-January, Board Members, particularly
the family arranged a surprise members who have not held the
Presidential Citation Board position previously, should
celebration with family in
Melbourne in an effort to give him put this date in their diary now so
a small ‘boost’. Whilst carers etc. The second part of the recognition that they attend on the day.
are able to be funded from his by the RI President for Clubs this
Insurance compensation, there is year is aimed at increasing
membership and a personal Rotary in WA Facebook
a shortfall of almost $3,000 for
Damyn’s expenses. The R C of contribution by all members to Seminar
Wanneroo and the RC Freshwater the Rotary Foundation.
Bay have both agreed to fund The RCFB has qualified on the Districts 9455 and 9465 are
$500 each to assist Damyn’s membership aspect, however, holding a Facebook Seminar to
family. PRID Ken continues to work on enlighten members on how to
personal support by all members safely use Facebook. It will be run
for the Rotary Foundation. The by AG Simone Carot Collins who
A very warm (hot) majority of members have already has been conducting such
welcome to the Hay given or have agreed to give a Seminars in Eastern Australia.
donation, be it small or larger. Details: Sunday, 12th February,
family Remember, that the Rotary 2012
Foundation is Rotary’s Reg. Desk opens 8.30am
Our member Gordon Hay Foundation for ‘doing good in
returned to Perth from Hungary for 9.00am start. Concludes
the world’ through its 1.00pm
recently with his lovely wife Educational and Humanitarian
Zsuzsanna and two boys Sam and Venue: North Lake
Programs’. Campus, Kardinya.
Oscar. A huge thank you to members
Delighted you are all here and the Register on line. Link in
who have thus far contributed and Rotary Out West Blog and District
members of the RCFB look Paul Harris Recognition has been
forward to getting to know you. Newsletter.
presented to Paddy and Zerina
Ramanathan. A few other
Welcome to New members have also now qualified Club Changeover
for Paul Harris Recognition. In
Members
addition one couple have qualified The Nedlands Golf club has been
for Level One Major Donor booked for Thursday, 21st June for
Joyce and Wong Lee were Recognition. the Club Changeover. Please put
nominated for membership of the the date in your diary. Further
RCFB and we look forward to details will follow in due course.
their ‘official induction’ in the Rotary Leadership
coming week or two. Institute
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 3

4. Rotary Clubs Meet The DG from D. 1880 in how fascinated we all were by
US$200 Million Germany, where our last Group what Clive imparted to us.
Study Exchange Team travelled to Clive did his Doctorate on this
Challenge has contacted D. 9455 seeking subject and was in the process of
assistance for a young man, Felix writing a book. The book is now
The Challenge of US$200 million Schulze the son of one of his published and his work is gaining
set by Bill and Melinda Gates has friends. international recognition.
been met by the Rotary Clubs Felix has been unsuccessful in If any member is interested in
around the world. obtaining an internship for 5-6 obtaining a copy the full price is
Manager of the RI Sydney Office months. He would like to work in $150.00. However, they are
Bruce Allen wrote: the Food and Agricultural area. available on Amazon at $90 per
“Congratulations to one and all If any members are able to assist copy plus shipping or Fishpond at
and thanks for having the heart Felix please contact Sec. Di for $79.95 a copy with free delivery.
and the courage to do it. I don’t further details.
think I’ve ever felt more proud to
be a Rotarian than I do right Richard Symons
now. We might have reached District Conference
$200 million but we can’t rest Members will recall Charter
until the job’s done” The District Conference is being Member, now ‘Friend of the
held in Geraldton from 20-22nd RCFB’ Peter and Mandy Symons
April, 2012. son Richard, who entertained us
Polio Summit, New See at the Club’s Charter Night and
Delhi, India http://conference.rotaryperth.org again at our first
.au for details. Christmas/Birthday function.
To celebrate one year of no cases Richard has just completed a
of Polio in India, PRID Sushil Bachelor of Music degree at
Gupta, Chairman, Rotary RC Nedlands WAAPA and will do his Masters
Foundation in India has written to there this year. In 2012 he will
PRID Ken to personally invite him Have a Rio Carnival planned on also become Artistic Director for
to attend the Summit due to his 18th February on the Crystal Swan The Giovanni Consort along with
long association with the Floating Function Centre. Cost is continuing his involvement with
eradication of Polio and India. $80 per person. See attached the St George’s Cathedral Choir.
The Summit is being held in New brochure. Each New Year’s Eve the RC Perth
Delhi India 25-26th February, stage a wonderful Vienna Pops
2012 and is to be chaired by PRIP Concert at the Concert Hall. This
Raja Saboo. year Richard was one of the main
It is significant that this program performers, being one of three
which commenced in India in Tenors. He said it was absolutely
1988 with PRID Sushil and RIP thrilling to perform to a full
Kalyan involved from the start is Concert Hall. He did a superb job
able to celebrate a year without and we wish him every success
Polio when their own fellow with his future endeavours.
Rotarian Kalyan Banerjee is the Any member interested in
President of Rotary International. supporting the Giovanni Consort,
please contact Sec. Di for forms.
RC Kalamunda Birthdays and
Anniversaries
On Tues, Feb. 14th the RC
Kalamunda will have students A very Happy Birthday is wished
who travelled to East Timor last to two of our new members. Pam
November recounting their Reynolds celebrates her birthday
exploits about the projects that on 29th January and Leonie Still
they assisted the villages with. Clive Body
will celebrate a birthday on 31st
Any member interested in January.
attending contact Bernard No Anniversaries.
Reaveley ISC bandc@iinet.net.au Corporate Psychopaths
Members who attended the
Assistance for German address by our then member Clive
Man Sought Boddy two years ago, on
Corporate Psychopaths will recall
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 4

5. Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 5

6. Roster for Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay for Month of Oct / Nov 2011
Date Program Duty Attendance Introduction Vote of Thanks
1st February Maiti Nepal Cliff Gordon Hay Paddy Debbie Cash Pam Reynolds
& Gillian Ramanathan
Yudelman
8th February TBA Wilma McBain Leonie Still Vanessa Wood Alistair Brown
15th February Joe Porter Rex Evans Margaret Stuart Max Hipkins Toni James
22nd February Koro Scholarship
Project – Alistair
Brown & Mignon
Shardlow
29th February Mike Griffith –
Manager St Louis
Village
NB: ‘Duty’ responsibility is to set up venue and to pack away venue after meeting.
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 6

7. Board Rotary 2011-12
Jim Gould – Membership President-Bryant Stokes
Bryant Stokes – President Director E-mail
bstokes@bigpond.net.au james@bizsuccession.com.au bstokes@bigpond.net.au
Mobile
Di Collins – Secretary Jenny Gill – Fundraising Director 0419 919 572
collinsd@bigpond.net.au jennypgill@gmail.com
Toni James – Treasurer Bill Hassell – Vice President Bulletin Editor
tonipjames@hotmail.com hassell@arach.net.au Clifford Yudelman/Di Collins
Gillian Yudelman –Club Service Club Details Website
Director, President Elect
yudelman@westnet.com.au The Rotary Club of Freshwater www.rotaryfreshwaterbay.org.au
Bay, Inc.
Gordon Hay - Community/ PO Box 168, Facebook
Vocational Service Director Nedlands,
gordon.hay@dsd.wa.gov.au Western Australia, 6909 http://www.facebook.com/freshw
aterbayrotary
Ken Collins – International Meetings
Service Director
collinsk@bigpond.net.au Wednesday 5:45pm to 6:45pm
Café, Bethesda Hospital
Hamish Mackie – New Queenslea Drive
Claremont, 6010 Chartered 19 December
Generations Director
hamish.mackie@optusnet.com.au 2008
Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay, District 9455 Page 7