26 November 2009

Meeting Report
24 November 2009

54 members
3 guests

Email all apologies to Philip Lambers or call Philip on 9499 7407 ah or 9829 1512 bh

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Our own Geoff Bond, who has just returned from serving with the UN in Afghanistan, gave us a vivid account of life there on the ground.  Geoff was part a large team of civilian and military experts who were recruited by the UN Mission in Afghanistan to supervise and monitor the presidential elections there.

Housed in the highly protected Green Zone, Geoff mingled with staff and officers of the several nations, including American, UK, European and Russian who were in service there. 

Geoff told the meeting that “during the Russian war against the Taliban in 1992, a great deal of damage was done to the roadways and other infrastructure.  The UN went to extraordinary lengths to provide transport for the staff who supervised the polling booths during and before the elections, with a budget of $US368million. 

A former civilian pilot with airlines in Australia and overseas, Geoff noted the robust Russian-built helicopters, the Mi18 utility model and the Mi 26 with heavy lift capacity including three tracked APC's, that were used to transport armoured Toyota LandCruiser troop carriers, supplies, voting papers & paraphernalia, as well as troops & staff. 

Then we learned, that since the country is mountainous, the helicopters could not cope fully loaded with the thin air at altitudes over 10,000 feet although they were operated at 15,000 ft without oxygen.  So then, Geoff explained, donkeys came to the rescue – some 3000 of them!  Each such donkey posse was guarded by half a dozen armed men. A total of 123 of  the 1300, $144,000 armoured Toyota LandCruisers were not used, said Geoff through gritted teeth.

Since large parts of Afghanistan were subject to armed raids by Taliban forces, the area was potentially unstable.  Hit and run raids by the Taliban, as well as improvised roadside explosives, made every movement dangerous. 

Then there was the comic-tragic.  A Taliban suicide bomber was the guest of honour at a farewell party by his family and friends.  A husky brother, giving him an enthusiastic bear hug, accidentally set off his explosives, dramatically demolishing the farewell celebrations together with all the guests & the house…..

In response to questions, Geoff confirmed, that yes, there was corruption in the polling procedures as reported, and it was certainly instigated by Taliban sympathisers.

And yes, the military/civil task of dispersing the Taliban and pacifying Afghanistan looked hopeless – much the same situation as prevailed in Vietnam in the 1970s.

Owen Tassicker

Rotary exchange candidate for the Asia Pacific division of Rotary International's foundation, 32 year old Tom Bamforth, told the meeting of the work in which he was involved in the Pacific was in conflict resolution, a subject he had studied in the UK, Australia and in Thailand.

Tom, had a world peace fellowship for 2010 and had worked in Darfur and Afghanistan. He had worked with the Red Cross in Darfur on disaster relief and was helping with planning for Tsunami relief among low lying Pacific countires.

``We were talking about worst case scenarios in a blissful atmosphere''  when he was abruptly called to help following the Tsunami in Samoa and Tonga where 15,000 of a total of 180,000 people were affected.

``The Pacific region particularly interests me,'' he said adding that a further 10,000 people were affected by the storm in Fiji. ``People were actually going down to the edge of the sea when it went out before the storm surge came back,'' he said illustrating the education gaps among local residents.

There were 10 million people facing flooding conditions from tsunamis as part of the so-called geological `ring of fire' of tectonic-plates circling the Pacific Ocean. Research had shown that 70 per cent of the poorest people in the area affected were women.

The guest speaker/s on 1 December are not yet clear, and will depend on frantic action in the week before then.  There are two possibilities.

The original intention was for a group of Swinburne engineering students to describe the challenges they faced in designing and constructing in two semesters a rather specialised electric motor car, and to demonstrate the car in the Golf Club car park. It is specialised because it is a motorkhana car – motorkhanas being a somewhat demented form of motor sport (but then all motor sport is a bit demented) where the aim is to perform complex manoeuvres around a series of flags and in and out of “garages”, as rapidly as possible.

However, like many “design and construct” engineering student projects, the timing has slipped. As at November 18^th, the chassis is complete and almost all the components are on hand (which means strewn around the campus and the associated TAFE college). All that remains is to collect the bits and fit the suspension, motor, batteries, transmission, brakes, steering, electronic controller, a bank of “supercapacitors” which are supposed to be an electronic form of supercharging, and body. This is supposed to be done before a presentation on November 27^th to Swinburne examiners, on which students are marked. There is also the small matter of road testing.

The students will work full time on the car for the next week, because most of them have now finished more formal exams.

If we are not in a position to demonstrate the car, I will leave it up to the students to decide whether it is worth presenting a talk on “the car we nearly built and why we can’t show it to you”. If they feel that is not worthwhile, we can defer it till some time next year.

In that case Prof Ajay Kapoor, who is Professor of Engineering Design and Associate Dean International Research at Swinburne, will talk to us about “Global engineering challenges”. As well as his role as an academic administrator, Ajay has a distinguished and varied research background in mechanical engineering and mechatronics (he might explain what that means) in universities and research organisations – for 20 years or so in the UK and before that in India. His talk may be at a different level from the hands-on student project (which comes within his responsibilities and which he enthusiastically supports) but should be no less interesting.

Good to have Geoff Hare back from a bout of illness and Carol Imison back from moving house.

Should mention that Carol, in middle of her moving, found time to supply our grand niece (an admirer of Carol's multi Gold Medal daughter) with mementos for display at a school activity. Grand niece was envy of all school with her treasurers from Carol.

Gary Leget arrived with a 10 cm bandage wrapped round his head. Generated much sympathy though he assured us it was nothing ,'no was it not domestic trouble!'. (After this note there might be domestic trouble). The problem was the removal of some sun impact on his tender skin!

Gary assured us that Wendy is making great progress and walking further each week. Good to hear Wendy.

Don Jones is feeling OK but frustrated with his inability to drive. Will have a further operation next year.

Denise Gibbs has also been to hospital to cure a knee problems. She is doing well and will enjoy Fred doing all the domestic duties looking after her. Best wishes Denise for a speedy return to the tennis court.

Excitement in Beeston household with the arrival of their first grand daughter. Congratulations. Grantham looks old enough to be a grandfather but Helen looks much too young to be grandmother.

Not sure that members are aware of President Bill's other interest, which is rowing. This weekend his club, Hawthorn, are running the Head of Yarra, with 2000 competitors. All H.R.C. members are very busy controlling boats and crew and offering hospitality. Crews are coming from interstate to compete. The Bridge Rd bridge area will be a very busy spot this week end.

'Our Ben' has taken up residence in Eva Tilley Memorial Home , Burke road , though official the address is 24 Nicholson St North Balwyn. His phone number is 9810 4848. He is already involved in some of the activities organised by the home.

I will be seeking assistance for a transport roster for pick up of Ben, from members living in Burke rd area or further west.

Keith

XMAS DINNER

It's on at:

• Royal South Yarra Tennis Club
• on Tuesday, Dec 8
• Cost $65 per person.

This is a great venue & it's always a wonderful event. So . . .   please reserve the date and come along to enjoy a great night.

Just thought I would forward a few photos of the project at Kevin Heinze. As you can see it is developing. Since these photos were taken we have added irrigation to the growing area and a full length shade cloth cover to the hothouse. This means it is now set up (but not finished) for our students to use in 2010. Next we will need a security fence and finish the grounds work. Will keep you informed 

Regards . . .    Chris Reed
Executive Officer
Kevin Heinze Garden Centre Inc.
M. 0448 052 256   (03) 9848 3695
www.kevinheinzegardencentre.com

Overheard at Table 1

Soon after Julie Gray was presented with this week’s raffle prize, the bottle of Red ...Ben lent over to her and said

“Are we going to open it at your place or mine????”

Julie’s comment . . .   “He is such a lovely man....with a fun sense of humour!” We agree!

Boroondara Literary Awards

 The Literary awards conducted by our Club , Council and Leader Publishing had a presentation of awards last Thursday night. Judges announced the winners, and gave critics and encouragement to entrants..

Five main sections include one for a national open competition which seeks entries from all over Australia and four other sections for are for school attendees living in Boroondara,

In the open section the winner was also a Boroondara resident so she also won the resident award . This resident award is to encourage local writers. This is the first time a local writer has won the National award. In the school sections we had entries from pupils attending 25 different schools.

In total we had in excess of 700 eligible entries. The presentation night, held in Hawthorn Town Hall, is a warm family night when brothers sister Mums and Dads attend to support entrants.

In April next year, when we launch the 2010 competition, an anthology of winning entries and Judges comments is produced and distributed to all Schools, Libraries and winners. The Leader in the first four weeks of 2010 is to publish photos of winners of  school stories in Progress Press.

 Graham Brown and Keith Carroll

Open Short Story  Best Boroondara Entrant 

K M Keeble Aftermath

Junior Prose

1^st Katherine Dartnell Rendezvous Strathcona

2^nd Pearl Paguio Sail Comrade SailRuyton

3^rd Yiyand huang Courage Scotch

Senior Prose

1^st Rachel Kour Iron MLC

2^nd Sylvana Zhu You’re Pretty Wise for a Kid MLC

3^rd Kate Masters Attention-ROW! MLC

Junior Poetry

1^st Cameron Dusting The Oblivious Beach Trinity

2^nd Cassandra Hurley Where do Memories Go? Canterbury Girls

3^rd Georgina Efthymiou Harness the Tree Siena College

Senior Poetry

1^st Hayley Yip Lion Canterbury Girls

2^nd Larissa Keen Takapuna Canterbury Girls

3^rd Eleanor Jackson Harmonies Canterbury Girls.

Melbourne Cup Memorial Presidential Market Handicap form guide.

Click here to view

Henry Brockman

Have you ever wondered why psychics need to ask you for your name?

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.

1 Dec 09 - Mechatronics . . .   Clarke Ballard/Swinburne Uni

8 Dec 09 - Christmas Dinner

15 Dec 09 - A judge's perspective - Children's Book Council Awards - Suzanne Thwaites

22 Dec 09 - Christmas Breakfast . . .  Rev. John Bodycomb

29 Dec 09 - No meeting

5 Jan 10 - No meeting

For details of meetings beyond the dates above, click on the READ MORE link below

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