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We meet Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
(Fellowship from 6:00 PM)
Bucatini Restaurant
454 Whitehorse Road,
Mitcham, Vic  3132
(03) 9873 0268
 
 
Upcoming Events
Anzac Day - NO MEETING
Apr 25, 2018
 
Presidents' Meeting
Mulgrave Country Club
May 04, 2018
 
MUNA
Parliament House Melbourne
May 05, 2018 – May 06, 2018
 
Board Meeting
May 09, 2018
 
Whitehorse Farmers' Market
Whitehorse Offices Nunawading
May 13, 2018
7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
District Assembly
May 20, 2018
 
Bush Banquet
Aurora School
May 26, 2018 7:00 PM
 
District Changeover
Southern Golf Club Keysborough
Jun 02, 2018
 
Speakers
Apr 25, 2018
No Meeting
ANZAC DAY
May 02, 2018
Carol Rosenhain
Great War Letters
May 09, 2018
Mary George
Retirement Living
May 16, 2018
Robinette Emonson
Girl Guiding - A Project in Myanmar
May 23, 2018 6:30 PM
Colin Read
Cambodia Project Proposal
Jun 06, 2018
MEETING CANCELLED
Forest Hill Theatre Night
Jun 07, 2018
Charity Performance Preview
Forest Hill Theatre Night
View entire list
Meeting Rosters
Meeting Roster - 02 May 2018
 
Chairman
Lane, Harvey
 
Cashier
Thomas, Kevin
 
Recorder
Tregear, Dick
 
Host
Vanaria, Joe
 
Meeting Roster - 09 May 2018
 
Chairman
Simcox, Bruce
 
Cashier
Vanaria, Mary
 
Recorder
Warmington, Russell
 
Host
Warmington, Sue
 
Meeting Roster - 16 May 2018
 
Chairman
Eadon, Judith
 
Cashier
Willoughby, Wayne
 
Recorder
Wilson, Roger
 
Host
Wittick, Max
 
Meeting Roster - 23 May 2018
 
Chairman
Arnolda, Lesley
 
Cashier
Armstrong, Ian
 
Recorder
Arnolda, Lesley
 
Host
Atkinson, Bruce
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Ian Armstrong
April 24
 
Spouse Birthdays
Vivien Ibbott
April 23
 
Alison Penington
April 27
 
Anniversaries
Rob Jackson
Judy Jackson
April 8
 
Brian Dunkley
Carol Dunkley
April 19
 
Peter Schoner
Karen Schoner
April 22
 
Join Date
Ian Armstrong
April 1, 1979
39 years
 
John Lynch
April 1, 1992
26 years
 
Rob McQuade
April 1, 1992
26 years
 
Dick Tregear
April 10, 1968
50 years
 
Janette Etherington
April 16, 2014
4 years
 
James Tan
April 28, 2004
14 years
 
2017 - 2018 Board
 
  
   
President
Philip Maxwell
President Elect
Janette Etherington
Secretary
Judith Eadon
Treasurer
Russell Warmington
Past President
David Hatcher
   
Community Service
Ian Armstrong
International Service Lesley Arnolda
Vocational Service Gabby Knaepple
Youth Service Kevin Thomas
   
Membership Neil Ibbott
Rotary Foundation Sue Cross
Fundraising Bob Davis
 
   
Collections
 
Items Project Contacts
Small soaps Days for Girls Judith
Toiletries Women shelters Judith
Stamps Trachoma 2020 Neil
Foreign Coins UNICEF Cashier
 
 
WHAT ARE THE SIX AREAS OF FOCUS?
 
  1. Peace and conflict prevention / resolution
  2. Disease prevention and treatment
  3. Water and sanitation
  4. Maternal and child health
  5. Basic education and literacy
  6. Economic and community development
 
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION – CONTINUING TO EMPOWER ROTARIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS THE “GOOD WE DO IN THE WORLD.”
ClubRunner
President Phil's Message

Let’s we forget

 
When I was young I had one goal, and that was to join the RAAF as a jet fighter pilot. I knew all the planes and could recite details from the Observers Book of Aircraft ad nauseum. I joined the Australian Air League at nine years old and passionately attended the parades and competitions. We were honour guards at the Anzac Day celebrations at the Ferntree Gully RSL. ( PHOTO: Ferntree Gully Squadron, Australian Air League, about 1963, I am at the bottom left)
I could never understand the reason for reciting “Let’s we forget” after hearing the Last Post. I thought we were there to remember our fallen heroes and not to forget them. It was explained to me that the invocation is LEST and not LET’S. 
 
At school ,we were regaled with stories of that disastrous Gallipoli campaign when Australia was said to have become a nation. It always struck me as weird that we celebrated a crushing defeat by the Turks who were defending their home from invaders. Why were we hearing about a brave man and his donkey when a quiet reserve army officer, John Monash, turned the tide on the Western Front and saved hundreds of thousands of men from slaughter.
 
I personally believe that we became a nation on the Kokoda Track and not at Gallipoli. In New Guinea we faced an undefeated Japanese juggernaut that had rolled unopposed across the Pacific. Our untrained troops, led by Australian officers, turned the tide and saved both Port Moresby and ultimately Australia.
 
My father, Jack Maxwell, enlisted at Omeo on 29th January 1942 and was mobilised at Caulfield Racecourse on 12th February 1942. Three days after being mobilised, Singapore fell and a week later Darwin was raided for the first time. He left a wife, who was five months pregnant, to do his part in defending the country. He was an excellent shot with a .303 rifle and had won a number of competitions with the Camberwell Rifle Club. To avoid being sent as a sniper, he deliberately failed his marksmanship test and served as a transport driver instead.
 
He worked between Catherine in the NT and the rail head at Terowie in SA carrying equipment essential to our defence effort. On a brief leave in late 1943, my elder sister was conceived. He then went to Atherton in QLD for jungle training and then to Moratai, Tarakan and Borneo before being demobilised on the 10th January 1946. He served for a month short of four years, 1429 days, with 283 days overseas in the Pacific. (PHOTO: Borneo 1945, Dad is bottom left)
 
Did Dad want to spend that time away from his beloved Julia and children? No, he did not. Did he believe that it was his duty to do what he did for his country? Yes, I am sure that he did. When he died in 1958 he was the Vice-President of the Omeo RSL, he marched annually with his fellow veterans and was proud of the part that he had played in defending of our nation.
 
So, on Anzac Day take a moment to remember all those that did their part in defending this great country so that we can be free to lead our life today.
 
Lest we forget!
 
Phil Maxwell
Open House at the Armstrongs
Posted by Ian Armstrong
 
There will be no meeting on Wednesday due to the ANZAC DAY Public Holiday.
 
However Ian Armstrong will have just passed a SIGNIFICANT milestone the day before. To celebrate, Ian and Maria will host an Open House at their home in Clifton Hill from 12 noon onwards till late. As a courtesy, please let Ian or Maria if you will be attending.
Volunteer Forum Report
Posted by John Lynch
57 Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests attended the "Volunteering with Rotary" Forum last week at the Whitehorse Civic Centre. 11 guests came along to discover more about Rotary and what we do. 
 
The Host was PDG David Tolstrup and the panel comprised of:
President David Winter (M.A.S.H.) who spoke about his volunteering outside Rotary and providing employment for the disabled in his busy bakery
Rotarian Mark Balla (Box Hill Central) who told us about his charity "We Can't Wait" which builds toilets in Indian schools for young girls
Incoming District Rotaract Representative Kai-Xing Goh from the Whitehorse Rotaract Club told us how Rotary's youth programs helped her gain experience and confidence.
 
Our own Bruce Atkinson moderated the Panel Discussion and Ian Armstrong accepted all the donated foodstuffs on behalf of Eastern Emergency Relief Network.
 
Post Anzac Day Presentation - 2 May
Posted by Harvey Lane
Carol Rosenhain is a Melbourne writer and historian. Educated at Monash University and was Head of the English Faculty at Genazzano College.
Her most recent publication The Man Who Shared the Nation's Grief James Malcolm Lean MBE & The Great War Letters, is the subject of her talk.
 
Carol is a keen researcher and traveller with a penchant for all places of historical connection with the Australian military. This is one of series of her publications and you are guaranteed an educational and entertaining evening.
 
Partners and friends are welcome.
Whitehorse Rotaract Giant Monopoly