Meeting Report
23 and 30 March 2010

Attendance 23 March
59 Members
2Guests
Total 61

Attendance 30 March
3 guests

Click here to Apologise 
or advise of gueats
or call on 0439 344 407

Click here to apply for
Leave of absense

Rosters 

Click here to view all rosters

Contacts

Click on the contact you require to send an email

President
Secretary
Enquiries
Newsletter editor
Communications & website

Documents

For a hard copy of this newsletter please print this email.

Three years ago when we first met Karen Hill (above) it was obvious that this was a young lady who was going places. We just did not realise that she meant to Queensland!!!!  Karen has very reluctantly decided to relinquish her scholarship and complete her Masters at Griffith University in Queensland. Throughout her tenure of our scholarship, Karen has been focussed on becoming a sports dietician and she has found the course at Deakin very clinically based. Her lecturers have even advised her to give up the idea of a career in sports dietetics. Following an agonising month, Karen has enrolled at Griffith University commencing next year. For most of this year she will remain in Melbourne working and undertaking volunteer work and intends to visit the club on several occasions. Following is a letter from Karen to President Bill and his response on behalf of the Club. All club members will wish Karen all the best as she pursues her studies at Griffith. (by Peter Blundell).

Dear Bill,

I am writing to inform you that I am not continuing my studies at Deakin in Melbourne.

I have been contemplating this over the last couple of months and very seriously over the last couple of weeks, along with many sleepless nights. I am postponing my studies and relocating to QLD to continue them at Griffith University.

You would not be aware I applied to get into Griffith to complete my Masters in Dietetics this year however I did not accept the offer. I accepted Deakin’s offer due to having financial security with my scholarship in Melbourne however ever since I started uni this year I regret my decision not to follow my heart and go to QLD.

The reason why I wanted to study in QLD is the course there offers all the same core nutrition and dietetics subjects as Melbourne but fosters an environment that is encouraging for Sports dieticians and offers much more opportunity for volunteer/work experience in this field. In addition to this, there is greater opportunity for me to do my placement hours in outback communities and possibly even Thursday Island hospital (in which my Nana and her mum both worked).

The Balwyn Rotary club gave me the opportunity to achieve and strive for my dreams, an opportunity that I may otherwise not have had. It is for these reasons have found it very difficult to make this decision. I feel that I am not happy and motivated to continue at Deakin, and staying would mean that I would not be putting 100% effort in to my studies. My passion to be a successful dietician and reach my goals will mean that I continue to give 100% and this I feel will be achieved through my relocation to Queensland.

I am a very determined and independent person and if I did not feel so strongly about following my dream to QLD I would not do it. Rotary has also given me the confidence and belief in myself that I can achieve what I set my mind to and I now have to stand on my own two feet and follow my heart and dreams.

I will be forever grateful to the Balwyn Rotary club for the opportunities they have given me and I will always be more than happy to come back and present to the club any time. It is thus with quite some sadness that I advise that it will be necessary for me to relinquish my scholarship with immediate effect.

Kind regards,

Karen Hill

March 30, 2010
Ms Karen Hill
77A Church St
Richmond
VIC 3121

 Dear Karen,

 Thank you for your letter advising that you wished to relinquish your scholarship. We are all disappointed to know that the only way in which you can achieve your dreams is to move interstate and complete your master’s degree in Queensland. We all realise that you have not taken this decision lightly; however, we are nevertheless disappointed that you will be unable to finish your education as a recipient of our scholarship.

 Throughout the last three years as the holder of our scholarship you have brought great credit on yourself and our Club. Your academic record is second to none and you have fulfilled your obligations in a dignified and professional manner. At all times you have been a representative of your people in a way that has enhanced and grown our scholarship; and for that we will be forever grateful.

 It is my understanding that you will remain in Melbourne until the end of this year and I hope you will be able to find the time to visit us on more than one occasion prior to your departure. On behalf of all our members, I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the future and I would also hope that you will remain in contact with the Club so that we may follow your progress in the world.

 Sincerely,

Bill Goodwin

President

NOTE: The full rosters for all duties (market, EERN, Mini-rail & meetings) are available at any time. You can access them by:

• clicking here
• or, you can view it any time by selecting the rosters tab in the members area of the club website.

The son of Balwyn Rotary's Mike Curry, Hamish, eloquently told Balwyn Rotary about his new passion as the education and on-site learning manager of the State Library of Victoria. As such he is responsible for managing a suite of school programs which services nearly 25,000 school students and 2500 teachers annually as well as an award - winning offsite program called `Travelling Treasures''.

There was no doubting the enthusiasm of Hamish as he told the meeting ``the State Library of Victoria is a great emporium of learning.'' We learned that the SLV is the State's premier reference and research library. Its collections include more than two million books, newspapers, pictures, maps and more with thousands of articles reflecting Victoria's cultural and social heritage. Examples include John Batman's deed and Ned Kelly's armour.

The history of the site places it as a leading example of Melbourne architecture with beautiful spaces such as Queen's Hall and the domed La Trobe reading room from 1913. Founding of the SLV took place in 1856 under the guidance of one Redmond Barry, a British lawyer with a colorful reputation as a womaniser. The original drawings by architect Joseph Reed depicted an edifice of opulence. While not all of this was realised, much is to be seen today at 328 Swanston Street.

The library also offers access to online catalogues and data bases through its internet services as well as a range of modern technology.

Hamish is also responsible for managing a host of public programs that cover library learning workshops, history seminars, multimedia events and another award winning program called `outside in cinema'. He works closely with other staff in matters of marketing, IT, venues and collecitons themselves as well as with key external partners and stakeholders. 

``Before joining the library I spent 10 years as a teacher in such diverse places as touch schools in Lond's south-east as well as two years in Japan,'' he said. It was in Japan that he found his wife with whom he now lives in Blackburn with their two children.

In response to a question from Don Kerr, Hamish assured RC Balwyn a warm welcome adn a tour of the SLV sometime soon.

Thanks Hamish for an enlightening and intriguing overview of the State Library of Victoria.

Owen Tassicker

Keith Carroll is taking a break from Rotary until the end of April.

Ian Nisbett, Ian Lees and Dick Mitchell would all appreciate a phone call from Rotarians since they are all below par at the moment, according to Hamish Macmillan who appears to have kindly - and adeptly - stepped into Keith's shoes in his absence.

SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2010 AT GALLIPOLI PARK,
MARYSVILLE

• 0745  Depart car park Eastern Golf Club in five star coach over the Black Spur to Marysville. We shall be joined by Rotarians from Victoria and Interstate who have visited Gallipoli and participated in the Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove.
• 1015 Warm beverage at Bake House, Self Serve. WARM BEVERAGE AT BAKE HOUSE, SELF SERVE
• 1045  Assemble at restored Gallipoli Park.
• 1100 March by RSL, solemn remembrance.  Oration by Gov. Elect D9800 Iven MACKAY.
            Ceremonial planting of sapling, a descendant of the original Lone Pine from Gallipoli.
• 1215 Coach to Golf Club House (2 km) for refreshments.
• 1230   Depart Marysville by coach back up highway to Black Spur Inn, Narbethong, for a two course lunch at Inn with suitable refreshing drinks. 
• 1500 (3pm) Depart for Melbourne.
• 1730 (5.30pm) Arrive Eastern Golf Club  

      COST: $60PP Coach and Meal at Narbethong.

The new Mini Rail Roster for Box Hill has been prepared.

 2 April                          18 April                  16 May                  20 June                  18 July              
Fred Gibbs                   Kath Ballard         Fred Gibbs          Trevor Penry           Ken Davis
John Keogh                 Robyn Hateley     Denise Gibbs      Carole Penry          Isobel Davis
David Hobson             Rob Poynter         David Hattam       John Keogh           Julie Gray
Garry LeGet                 Margot Kerr           Lewis Stephen    Karen Kiley            Philip Lambers
Pauline Wilson           O Tassicker          Peter Frueh          Peter Thomas       Geoff Bond
Ralston Wood             Hugh Rutter          Frances Rigby     Paul Thomas        Les Dwan
Lindsay Jones            Andrea Rutter                                       Geoff Bond            Fred Gibbs
Peter Thomas            Frances Rigby                                      Frances Rigby      Mike Hennessy
Paul Thomas                                                                                                              Frances Rigby
Geoff Bond
Frances Rigby

Grants approved from previous RCB Board meeting:
International Service:

Equipment for new schoolhouse in MME Chey Orphanage, Cambodia  $  4995
Buy container and shipping to McCord Hospital South Africa                     $  6300
RAWCS-RCB to purchase the stickers                                                            $    450
10 Shelter boxes to Haiti                                                                                    $12,000  sub total $23,705 Grand Total $23,705
.

Grantham Beeston

As part of a scholarship to study in Australia through RCB member Peter Frueh, 27 year old Mei Maruyama from District 2770 in Japan told the meeting about the culturual differences she was experiencing in Australia.

She comes from an area just north of the modern capital Tokyo,``about 30 minutes drive'' - which is not far in Japan. She is now studying international relations at Melbourne University.

Having residence in the United States, Mei Maruyama studied at a high school in Hawaii and attended university in Seattle, Washington state. Back in Japan, she worked in sports marketing on a getting a world event in 2016 for Tokyo but switched to another career when the event went to Rio de Janiero in South America.

``Baseball is a national sports event in Japan and many people watched it. The problem was how to connect with the people in Japan. If you cannot understand understand the language, you can still enjoy the sport,'' she said.

The rotary club with which she is associated in Japan has 24 members all of whom are men. ``It is hard to get women into the club in Japan,'' she explained. ``In Japan we are not very diverse,'' she added.

She will return to the club from time to time to report on her progress in international relations.

A lunch and wine tasting has been arranged at Quion Hill Vineyard on the Sunraysia Highway at Waubra. beginning at 1200 for 1230 hrs as part of the weekend away arranged for 1-2 May by Richard Seeley.
 

Waubra is an easy drive up the Western Freeway, turning then onto the Sunraysia Highway to Waubra which is about 20 minutes past Ballarat. Total travelling time from Balwyn is less than two hours. It is an hour and half's travelling from the Westgate bridge.

Lunch will offer a choice of three main courses and two deserts for $22 per head. Tasting will be a flat charge of $5 per head. Five different wines will be available and the $5 tasting fee will be deducted from the cost of bottles purchased. Boutique beer is also available with lunch.

That weekend is "Booktown weekend" at the town of Clunes. That event attracted 12,000 visitors in 2008 over the weekend. Clunes is where gold was first discovered in Victoria in 1840's and the whole town has a heritage listing making it interesting to wander around.The book event attracts 60 book sellers with all types of books A number of writers are also available You may wish to leave Melbourne earlier to detour via Clunes. 

 If you are interested in attending see either Don Kerr or Richard Seeley.

To the end of March:

                                     overall market income is 3% higher YTD compared with last year.
                                     stallholder Income is up by 7% YTD compared with last year
                                     gate Income is down 10% YTD compared with last year.

 All stalls are now fully booked until August 1st (16 weeks excluding Anzac Day, Sunday April 25th, when the market is closed).

Graham Brown.

In the long run, the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.

Read this. It will surprise you

You wnot blveiee taht you can aulaclty uesdnatnrd tihs. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

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.

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

6 Apr 2010 - How to profit from Gen "Y" . . .   Ann Buik

13 Apr 2010 - Ardoch Youth Foundation . . .  Carla Barbieri

20 Apr 2010 - National Youth Science Forum . . .  Hillary Grover & Chris Wheeler

27 Apr 2010 - Teachers without Borders . . .  Susan Clements

Click on the links below to get the latest from RI & District

Rotary International news

Rotary District 9800 news

Rotary Foundation Newsletter