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Vol 37 No.4
Meeting Report
27 July 2010
49 members
3 guests
Click here to Apologise
or advise of guests
or call on 0439 344 407
before noon Monday.
Click here to apply for
Leave of absence
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From the Oblong Office
What a night of inspiration and history. Maryka Mulqueen inspired us with her determination to complete each section of the Tour de France retraced by her team. No matter how tough, how steep, how much pain she was suffering, she never gave in. A terrific experience; well presented.
It was wonderful to have Betty Clark present to hear Jim Hopper talk on Stan Clark, the first president of the Rotary Club of Balwyn when it was chartered on 7 September 1972. Since Stan died in 1982, Betty has had no involvement with RC of Balwyn. Thank you to Trevor Penry, Fred Gibbs, Les Horner and Jim Hopper for giving us the history and background on STEVENS, CLARK, MARTIN & RIGBY to launch each of our Teams. It is now up to each member to participate and enjoy their team’s activities.
Our relationship with the Bendigo Community Bank offers the RC of Balwyn significant partnering opportunities’ The growth of the Canterbury, Ashburton and Surrey Hills Community Bank branches is generating funds to be channeled into community activities. Dick Menting is looking to RC of Balwyn members to provide the skills and experience to initiate and develop projects that could be partly funded by the Community Bank. A campaign has started for the Bendigo Community Bank to open a fourth branch in Balwyn. This will further increase the community pool.
Last Friday night the Eastside Cluster Rotary clubs (comprising Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Boroondara and North Balwyn) Presidents had our first meeting. Following approaches from the Youth Resources Officer, Boroondara Police Service Area based in Harp Road, the Cluster clubs are considering the formation of a partnership with Boroondara Police to develop projects for disadvantaged youth in the area.
Program for the next three weeks is as follows:
3 Aug John Davis from Rotary Foundation: Topic; Rotary’s Future Vision Program; also speaking will be Sally Johnson updating us on the East Timor IMOG project. CFD is Paul Mulqueen.
10 Aug David Kudlak from Exxon Mobil; Topic; Kipper Tuna Turrum Project, a major new project Exxon Mobil is undertaking in the Bass Strait. CFD is Peter Blundell.
17 Aug. Mick Cronin and Sherilyn; Topic: YMCA Bridge Project; CFD is Richard Seeley
Ken McQualter.
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Next Week
John Davis from the Rotary foundation will talk about Rotary's Future Vision program. To read more of the program for background before John Davis speaks click here.
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MARYKA MULQUEEN: CYCLIST de RIGOROUS
Who amongst us was not astonished at this remarkable young woman and her achievements? With a B. Eng, Maryka (below) is an established design engineer with the City of Melbourne. And she lectures part time at Swinburne University. But her talk to us centred on none of those achievements, but rather on her 3500km bike ride Tour de France.
All of us have watched the coverage of the Tour de France on SBS over recent weeks, marvelling at the stamina of the cyclists of many nations as they compete up and down mountainous roads.
Although Maryka did not pretend to compete in the official event, she did complete the gruelling course one month beforehand with a small group of cycling friends. Said Maryka: “It was my partner and his friends who made the decision in December 2008 to complete the challenging course. At first I was reluctant to go along, but then I made the decision to be part of the group, and to prepare myself.” It was a mental decision – Maryka was determined.
When she approached a cycling mentor for advice and help, he simply shook his head – “You just can’t do it. It is not possible.” Not deterred, she started training with strenuous rides with her cycling friends over the Australian Alps, beginning with Mt Beauty to Falls Creek, eventually making it to Mt Hotham.
``I had just five months training, from being an occasional pleasure bike rider to prepare myself for the world’s most challenging bike ride,'' she said determining then on a regine of 200 km a day. That was the Round the Bay race every day for three weeks - and then hills. Finally it was to Europe and France, Switzerland and the Pyrenees. Bikes had to be reassembled and checked. Then there was the back-up crew with support and supplies.
The start line was Monaco “but we got lost, and then lost again; unable to read the road signs” she continued. Most days it was breakfast at 5.30am, check the bikes, and other preparations. Some days it was a start at 11.30am with four or five hours cycling. Most days they became lost at least two or three times.
“Then I developed an excruciating pain in my left leg, so that I could not use it. It was only with determination, pedalling with my right leg only, that I just made it to the summit. Yes, it was gruelling, but we made lots of friends along the way,'' she said.
She added: “by the time we made it to the next B&B, it was often late so that after showering and supper, it was finally to bed at 1.30am.”
As to the weather, temperatures were from 12 to 36 deg Celsius - and sometimes it rained. “To be wet through, and pedalling down a hill, the wind chill factor was so severe, that my hand trembled so that I could hardly use the brake” she remarked.
All told it was a ride of 3525km, with 63 climbs, and, at 1cent per km, she raised $23,000 for a favourite charity, Crohnes and Colitis Foundation for intestinal disease.
In response to a question from the floor, she said “Yes I am a woman and not as strong physically as the boys. But as to mental toughness, I was stronger”.
Congratulations Maryka and when you complete your book of the ride, surely with the promotional skills we have in the Rotary Club of Balwyn, we could sell a lot of copies . . . . Owen Tassicker.
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This Week
RCB member and past president Jim Hopper (below) spoke about Stan Clark this week describing the early days of the club's charter president Stan Clark..
“We go back 38 years to 1972 when our Club Balwyn was chartered by RC Camberwell,'' said Jim Hopper. ``Stan Clark was chosen as our first President over a Club of just 30 members, all novices to Rotary. I was Stan’s Secretary.” (Oh and we learned that this was the tumultuous year when the Whitlam Government was elected to power in Australia. Great happenings coincided!)
In those days the Club met at Canterbury Senior Citizens Centre in Rochester Road where the Head Table was on an elevated stage, with Club management sitting in a long line facing the other tables. As few knew much about Rotary procedures, we were discretely helped along by senior representative from RC Camberwell Bert Stevens who hastily scribbled notes along to Stan during meetings. But Stan Clark soon mastered procedures and guided the Club with a firm but friendly hand.
Stan heeded advice from RC Camberwell, not to rush into community projects, but to first foster fellowship amongst members and cultivate team spirit. Board and Committee Meetings were held in family homes. We also had fireside chats in homes, informal meetings where Rotary related issues were discussed. In time under Stan’s Leadership, a wonderful friendly spirit developed, with the result that in 3 years, club membership increased from 30 to 40 and we were able to establish the Sunday Camberwell Market. “ Stan’s leadership style suited us, for when he gave someone a job to do, he never interfered or meddled” Jim continued.
We learned it was in January 1978 that R.I. President Jack Davis visited Melbourne, that Stan was tasked with organising the dinner to be held at Chaucers for all the Clubs in the District. This was a major event at a difficult time of the year, when families took 3-4 weeks holidays. Jim continued: “As his assistant, I saw at first hand Stan’s organising abilities with attention to detail.”
When our first Paul Harris Fellowship was awarded in 1977, Stan Clark was the recipient in recognition for all the work he had put into the Club and District during his early years. “Within his first nine months, we assisted in the Camberwell RC’s Annual Art Show, and we helped the North Balwyn Senior Citizens locate permanent premises,” Jim remarked. A few years later Balwyn in fact donated $70,000 towards building of their Marwal Avenue premises.
Central to the warm fellowship in the Club were family days at Stan and Betty’s holiday home at Mt Eliza.
In Conclusion, Jim said: “’ Stan Clark embodied what to me are the benefits of being a Rotarian – voluntary community service with fun and fellowship. I’ll remember Stan for his unfailing quiet good humour, the ability to take a joke against himself, his hard work in Rotary and his generous and friendly spirit. The fine team spirit still present in the Club owes much to Stan’s initial year as President”
Owen Tassicker
Dick Benting (above) from the Bendigo Bank told the meeting there were plans to open a new branch of the Bendigo Bank in Balwyn and that the bank was keen to co-operate with the RCB to help with the funding of community projects.
Peter Thomas (right below) was the winner of the contest at this week's meeting which involved a couple of coins being tossed in the air by sergeant Michael Hennessy (left).
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Rotary Exchange Students
Back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s the Rotary Club of Balwyn was involved with Youth Exchange and Richard and Yvonne Seeley took part in one of the early exhanges.
``In 1988 we were to host a young man from Japan by the name of Yoshi Detani and I must say we reluctantly agreed to be part of that program requesting that Yoshi stay with us for the first 3 months,'' said Richard Seeley.``Our two sons were 12 and 10 years old and they were not very happy about having an exchange student come to stay. But as with most things, it was a successful exchange and indeed our two sons immediately warmed to having an “older brother” and us “another son” and what has eventuated is an ongoing association although there was a void of some 15 years,'' he said.
In their first visit to Tokyo all Richard and Yvonne had was Yoshi's parents telephone number and ``we spoke no Japanese. We knew that they spoke no English. The staff at the hotel were kind enough to ring the number and explain who we were and that we would like to see Yoshi and his wife if that was possible. Within 15 minutes Yoshi was on the phone to us and immediately arranged to come to our hotel,'' he said.
In June of this year they made our third visit to Tokyo and went to dinner with Yoshi his wife and Yoshi’s mother whom we hadn’t seen for 21 years. It was a most delightful meal and a wonderful evening of fellowship.
``Yvonne and I therefore commend to our new members that by their participation in such a program that they too might enjoy the wonderful international fellowship that has evolved through this exchange.
``I am sure that other members would have similar stories. We certainly went on to host a German exchange student and one of these days will go back to Germany and be able to look him up as we did with Yoshi,'' said Richard.
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District Conference in Adelaide in 2011
Mark your calendars now. Something for everyone! Make sure you have an opportunity to consider attending the District 9800 Conference in Adelaide next year. As well as an exciting and stimulating program of speakers and social activities, the location of the conference this year offers us wonderful opportunities for fellowship travelling to and from Adelaide. Just think how many vineyards there are between Melbourne and Adelaide. Paul and David will be surveying members soon to gauge interest in which might be the best activities to package together for this great trek to the City of Light. Please make sure you’ve had an opportunity to consider at least in a preliminary fashion whether you’d like to come. Probably would be a good idea to discuss it with your partner.
Click here http://www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/major_events_rotary_district_9800_conference_adelaide_2011 to see some of the preliminary list of speakers already assembled for the event.”
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| Market Roster |
1/08/2010 |
8/08/2010 |
15/08/2010 |
| OIC: 6.30 - 1.30 |
Gavin Wayland |
Jim Kiley |
Mark Caldwell |
| 6:30 - 12:30 |
Mike Dobson |
Rob Poynter |
Bill Goodwin |
| 6:30 - 12:30 |
Stephen Lambert |
Ken Davis |
Colin Campbell |
| 7:00 - Clear |
Norman Taralrud-Bay |
Allen Pretty |
Eric Davey |
| 7:00 - Clear |
David Hobson |
Clive Whittington |
Michael Curry |
| 7:00 - Clear |
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Lewis Stephens |
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| Counter: 11.00 - |
Carol Imison |
Julie Gray |
Hamish Macmillan |
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| Welcome Roster |
3/08/2010 |
10/08/2010 |
17/08/2010 |
| . |
Trevor White |
Hugh Rutter |
Peter Thomas |
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Lewis Stevens |
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Owen Tassicker |
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.
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Thought for the week
``Never pick an argument with people who buy ink by the barrel''. Ibid. (Of newspapers - quoted by former president Bill Clinton).
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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.
For details of meetings beyond the dates above, click on the READ MORE link below
27 Jul 2010 - Tour de France - Marika Mulqueen
read more
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