Castello's Cucina, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA
President Ken Haines
NEXT WEEK IS COMMITTEE CONSULTATIONS
Last Meeting
Venue: Castello's Cucina, Living Choice
Guest David Linley
Guests: Kate Porter, Garry Taylor
Attendance: 24 members 3 guests
Opening
Chris David opened the meeting and President Ken welcomed guests. Events next weekend include District training for incoming Presidents on Saturday 1 April and District Assembly on Sunday 2 April
Guest Speaker: Dr David Linley - Biodiversity in the Black Forest of the Adelaide Plains
Chris Davis Introduced David who operates the Black Forest Conservancy. which aims to combat the loss of bio-diversity in plant species on the Adelaide Plains.
The Black Forest at the time of first settlement extended over 50 square kilometres, bounded by the River Torrens, Adelaide Hills, St Marys and Mile End. The soil is dark loam clay and dominant tree species was grey-trunked eucalyptus; there was a range of other gum trees and over 300 different plant types. It was a rich and diverse habitat which had been managed sustainably by first nation's people for 40,000 years...... until the arrival of Governor Hindmarsh in 1836. Within 50 years almost all of the land had been cleared for agricultural pursuits and urbanisation. Small creeks and watercourses which maintained soil moisture in the forest were drained and filled in.
Most of the 300+ plant species have disappeared completely. David developed a passion for bringing back original plant life. He studied the texts of authors like Bushman, Kraehenbuehl and Birkinshaw who had searched old records and written extensively. His back yard is full of 'old' plants. One such is the calocephalus citreus which attracts Australian Painted Lady Butterflies. Another he showed was the gardenia pinnatifida. Each month at the Fullarton Farmers Market he and his wife sell their plants with a description of their attributes and a message of condemnation for the destruction of the forest. Adaptation to the urban environment, like keeping them in hanging pots, helps with marketing.
His ability to expand the understanding and propagation of these plants is hampered by scarcity of resources and people who share his passion but is hopeful that the Australian Plant Society can take up the cudgels.
David was warmly thanked for his contribution.
Spots.............a disease outbreak
Jerry Casburn has organised a quiz night with RC Edwardstown on Tuesday 18 April and new recruit Garry Taylor will be the quiz master. Jerry would also like our club to support a RC Seaford quiz night on 28 April at a cost of $15pp, tables of 8 and proceeds to their Africa project.
Secretary Greg McLeod announced that Rhonda Hoare had filled the vacancy of New Generations director for 2023/24......which we all applauded.
Valerie Bonython is a Shelter Box ambassador and pointed to the video being shown on its website about aid being provided to Turkey following the devastating earthquake. A competition/award has been launched with plaques for contributions being made over 3 years - Bronze for $1000, Silver for $3000 and Gold for $5000.
Paul Duke announced that ROMAC [Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children] is now up and running with the first patient from the Solomons booked for treatment, followed by one from Timor Leste. Rotarians will be asked to look after accompanying parents. Paul is pleased that Brendan and Bronwyn Kenny are part of the ROMAC Committee.
Brendan Kenny reported on the 4 weeks he and Bronwyn recently spent in Nepal. For the first two weeks they helped in a hospital with other Rotarians about 40 kilometres from Katmandu providing support for patients undergoing dental, eye and teeth surgery. They then joined Jason Booth and his team near the western border with India - the eyes of 8253 people were examined, 4,933 pairs of glasses were issued and 323 patients were referred for cataract surgery. WOW - OUTSTANDING! John Kikkert was presented with a plaque to recognise his contribution. There is an endless list of areas where help would be welcomed in Nepal. Photo below shows Brendan presenting our club pennant to President of RC Central Banke in Nepal with Jason in the background.
Rhonda Hoare extolled the virtues of the District Assembly being held next Sunday. It is all to do with gaining a greater understanding of Rotary; learning about roles, responsibilities and governance; gaining greater appreciation of District projects and programs; mixing with other clubs and examining opportunities for collaboration. Next year we need to tackle involvement of club members earlier. Our Youth Music Awards are being launched for the third year with the finals on Saturday 24June. We have already received great sponsorship. Please take posters and share with family, friends, and schools known to you.
Vivienne Wood sorted a replacement for Robyn at the Thrift Shop on Saturday. 90 bags of summer gear were sold at the Thrift Shop.
Rajat Nagpal filled vacancies for the Multiple Births Festival.
Finale
Greg again won the filthy lucre and Paul scored the chocolates. President Ken reminded Board members of the meeting at Jerry's tomorrow night.
Rotary Members in Turkey collect and transport emergency supplies for people impacted by the earthquake, including food and water, toys, heaters, hygienic supplies, and clothing.
There are times when events in the world leave you speechless. As I watched the news from Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquakes there, I found myself in disbelief and despair as, day after day, the number of casualties and missing grew. I have friends who live very close to the epicenter, and I have not heard from them. I hold out hope that I will.
My friendships go back decades to when we were teenagers, living in Paris, and our parents were working in France as expatriates. After our parents decided to return to our countries of origin, we stayed in contact loosely through phone and mail.
Through these infrequent contacts, we discovered we still had a common interest in our business pursuits. In Serbia, we use leftover organic agricultural produce and convert it into energy. In their countries, they grow plantations of almonds and other nuts whose shells have a high caloric value. Their fruit factories represent potential organic waste for converting.
During business trips that also served as reunions, I had the opportunity to stay with families in Malatya, Adıyaman and Gaziantep. In 2018, I lived in their houses and learned about their traditions. My hosts held fruit from their plantations and proudly gave me more than I could carry. Those same friendly hands prepared and shared food. We ate lunch on the floor, as is the custom in these remote areas, but we had a roof over our heads. I am filled with anxiety wondering if those roofs are still there. I want to believe that the generously sharing hands are still OK, even if the roofs are gone.
Nikola Božić, governor of District 2483 (Serbia & Montenegro), made an appeal to clubs in our district to give to The Rotary Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund. Our club is also working with other clubs to create a mobile clinic, and many of us are planning cultural events in the upcoming year to raise money for those affected by the earthquakes.
The Serbian Government has chosen our city of Čačak to be the “First Capital of Culture in Serbia in 2023,”and many cultural programs will be sponsored and held here. As an entrepreneur and president of the Association of Business Women, I am helping organize cultural activities for various special days. On one of these days, we will screen a film about Mileva Marić, Albert Einstein’s wife and the mother of his two sons. Simultaneously, one of our female artists, Marina Bukvicki, will perform pantomime and paint three large pictures on stage. We will later auction her artworks to benefit earthquake survivors.
In addition, we will hold a symposium for women entrepreneurs on the topics of mental health and empowering girls and women, in collaboration with the Association of Business Women, the Committee for Mental Health, and the Committee for the Empowerment of Girls and Women in District 2483.
The natural disasters in Turkey and Syria leave us numb. I hope to hear from my friends soon. But we, as Rotary members, can all stand in solidarity with these communities as they seek to recover. Please consider how you can contribute to the many relief efforts being organized by Rotary members or clubs, and consider a gift to the Rotary Foundation Disaster Response Fund.
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix!
Would have been Friday 7 April 2023 - but now Friday 5 May 2023
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 4 April 2023 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina, Living Choice
Event: Committee Consultations
Attendance and welcome: Trevor McGuirk & David Middleton
Tuesday 11 April 2023 6 for 6.30pm Castello's Cucina, Living Choice
Guest Speaker: TBA
Attendance and welcome: Bob Mills & Bob Mullins
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 22 April 2023
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jerry Casburn (Jason Booth) & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 29 April 2023
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood@ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 8.30am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next one is Saturday 1 April 2023
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Chris Davis Introduced David who operates the Black Forest Conservancy. which aims to combat the loss of bio-diversity in plant species on the Adelaide Plains.
