|
Vol 36 No.13
24 September 2009
Meeting Report
22 September 2009
50 Members
4 Guests
3 Visitors
1 Partners
Email all apologies to Philip Lambers or call Philip on 9499 7407 ah or 9829 1512 bh
|
|
|
Mini Market Roster
| |
27/09/2009 |
4/10/2009 |
11/10/2009 |
| OIC |
David Hattam |
Murray Wilkinson |
Doug McLauchlan |
| 6.30 |
Eric Davey |
David Hobson |
Geoff Edwards |
| 6.30 |
Mike R-W |
David Harris |
Clarke Ballard |
| 7.00 |
Jane Sargeant |
Colin Campbell |
Joe Paravizzini |
| 7.00 |
Mystery member A |
Pauline Wilson |
Clare Schmeirer |
| 7.00 |
|
Eric Gilford |
|
| Counter |
Keith Carroll |
Judith Lahey |
Jim Hopper |
|
|
Next Week
Next week's speaker is Cr Jack Wegman, Mayor of Boroondara
Cr Wegman has lived in Boroondara for 25 years, the last 15 years in Junction Ward. He is married and has five sons, one still at high school and one at university.
He believes that we face major external planning challenges in maintaining our neighbourhood character, heritage and amenity. It will be up to this Council, over the next four years he believes, to advocate, lobby and fight to protect what residents most value about where we live. We will strive to keep Boroondara the premier city.
He belongs to:
- Psychological Society of Australia
- Market Research Society of Australia
- Institute of Company Directors
And . . . he lists his hobbies and interests as Local government
|
|
This week's meeting
DREDGING PORT PHILLIP BAY:
HERE COME THE GARGANTUAN CONTAINER SHIPS
Did you know that 80% of all the world’s goods traverse the oceans in containers? Well, I guess that when the Victorian State Government gave the all clear for a $AU1billion deepening of channels on Port Phillip Bay, someone knew that Melbourne needed to accommodate our rightful share of the world’s goods. So let’s make way for more of those monstrous container ships we have all sighted as we drive the WestGate.
Experienced container shipping expert Jan de Jonge, told the meeting that ”prior to the dredging, Port Phillip Bay, which is shallow by world standards, could only accept modest size vessels carrying a mere 4200 containers. Now, following deepening of the channels, medium vessels carrying 8000 will enter the Port of Melbourne.” Dredging of the channels was carried out by a behemoth known as ‘Queen of the Netherlands’, which removed 23 million cubic meters of sand, toxic silt, gravel and rock, and dumped them in remote areas of the Bay where they will be covered by sand later. Precise location and movement of the dredger is governed by GPS navigation.
“ Now that the job is finished, maintenance of the channel will be carried out in about 3 years, with a return visit of the Queen,'' he added.
And now what of the expected rush of container vessels docking at Port Melbourne? Well, we learned that the Danish shipping company Maersk, of Copenhagen, makes both the containers themselves and the carriers that ply the oceans. Then it offers to ship anything around the world. Want to ship your cull of kangaroo meat from Albury to Rotterdam, just call Maersk! Oh, and by the way, these huge container vessels, are typically manned by a crew of just 13 or so – technicians - who click on computer keyboards, and navigate the world’s oceans & ports by GPS.
Environmental damage to the Bay during the dredging? Well despite anxieties to the contrary, it seems that nothing much has happened. See today’s (Thursday) AGE Focus, for a comprehensive article on the environmental issues.
We are indebted to Jan de Jonge, born in Holland, who has lived for the last 30 years in Australia, employed by the shipping industry, for a fascinating insight into both the dredging of the Bay, and of the worldwide Container Shipping Trade.
Owen Tassicker
|
|
David Harris Introduced two Chinese doctors to the meeting to talk on the comparative treatment of colo-rectal cancer in Australia and China. Dr. Gordon Low introduced his colleague from China, Dr. Zhenhai Lu. Speaking of outcomes, Dr. Lu, a surgeon from Guangzhou Hospital told us the five year survival for colo-rectal cancer in patients from his hospital was about 50 per cent. The figure in Australia was substantially higher due to the variety of treatments for the disease which in Guangzhou was treated mainly through surgery.
Dr. Lu who has worked at the Peter McCallum institute said that diverticulitis and some other colo-rectal diseases were comparatively rare in China. He said he was impressed with the relations between the hospital staff and patients in Australia.
Our RATSITS scholar, Emma Sharman, explained to the meeting how her course was progressing. It was made a little more difficult by her needing to move three times so far this year while attending the course at Footscray. However, she had settled now in Essendon and was enjoying the course and was not too far from a gymnasium. It was a bright presentation delivered with feeling.
It's been a busy week for the rotary club of Balwyn.
Diary note: There will be a special preview screening of Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere to be held on 11 November to help in the promotion of a very special Polio Challenge fund raising event.
It is under consideration to deem this screening a `Make up" with the idea that it becomes a nation-wide celebration of Rotary and what it stands for.
|
|
Care Report
The funeral service of Judy Hogg on Monday was supported by President Bill and twenty or so Rotarians and partners. It was a most impressive, sincere service of thanks giving for quite a remarkable lady. Stan was most appreciative of the attendance of the Rotarians and partners.After the service we were invited back to Royal South Yarra Tennis Club, where our member Phil Lambers, hosted and extended a warm welcome in comfortable situation and to tasteful refreshments with a chance to relate to family.
Our sympathies to Stan who is quite exhausted after the close attention he has given Judy, particularly, over the last 12 months of her life. He will also be having some R & R.
Well Ben is back, thanks to David Harris who picked him up from Connault. This remarkable man, 97 in a few months, was looking forward to his return. He gets a lot from thefellowship and appreciates the support he receives from Rotarians. He could possibly be changing his R & R situation early next week. I will send a message if this happens. He makes visitors very welcome so please do not pass without calling in --- suite 20 on ground floor, Connault, Yarrbat Ave., Balwyn, almost opposite Brenbeal Street.
Had a talk to Don Jones in Epworth today. Story so far, now chapter 10, has still at least another 10 chapters to go. Latest advice from Doctors is that he will be at Epworth until end of October. He is appreciative of attention from all at Epworth but getting very bored and tired of it all.(Don was the first member transferring to our Club after our Clubs chartering. The first new Rotary member was Les Horner.) Don's direct phone number is 94266591 and he would appreciate a call.
To that modest, sophisticated, sincere, quiet, group of members within the Club who suffered so severely last Saturday night, just take confidence in the fact that we have been there and done this, many times before, and we can handle the Presidents, Browns,or SGs' of this world !!
Keith
|
|
Press coverage for "Boroondara Cares"
Here's an article from the Cobram Courier about the recent Boroondara Cares "Drought - Who Cares?" seminar in Nagambie.
Click here to view
|
TRIVIA NIGHT
Rotary Club of Boroondara
Saturday 10th October, 2009 at 7pm.
The Kew Heights Sports Club,
397 Barkers Road, Kew.
Donation $25.00 per person
Click here to view brochure
If you are interested, please make contact (see brochure). They need numbers ASAP.
|
|
Thought for the week
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
|
|
Diary Dates
NOTE
There are many other Rotary events scheduled for the year. Please refer to the calendar in the club website for details. You can click on the "Agenda" tab for a summary.
29 Sep 09 - City of Boroondara . . . Jack Wegman
6 Oct 09 - Cottage by the Sea . . . Anne Catchpole
11 Oct 09 - Sunday lunch Click here for details
13 Oct 09 - Camp Getaway . . . Ken Maxfield
20 Oct 09 - Experiences in Pakistan . . . Justin Kolbeck
27 Oct 09 - Ballymore Stables . . . Michael Maroney
For details of meetings beyond the dates above, click on the READ MORE link below
read more
|
|
