Bulletin Volume 84 No 41 May 13 2013

Rotary Club of Sale Rotary District 9820 Incorporated

Last Meeting – May 13 – Ewen Ross at Large

A Remarkable Story

Members absent last Monday missed out on a most remarkable ‘job talk’ by Ewen Ross and I cannot begin to do it justice here.

Of Scots and English stock, Ewen was born, raised and lived his early years at Maungakakaramea (Rainbow Mountain) between Lake Taupo and Rotorua in the centre of the North Island of NZ. He is part of a large family and has continued that trend with five children and currently five grandchildren. He had a number of occupations in his early working life before he joined the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps.

We all knew that Ewen was a sailor and owned an historic racing yacht but what we did not know was the elite level at which he competed. He has done some very serious ocean racing around New Zealand and elsewhere, with a couple of Sydney to Hobart races thrown in for good measure.

Ewen’s army service was extraordinary. He saw service throughout Asia and the Western Pacific. He had a tour of duty in Hong Kong, served in the Middle East during the first Gulf War and was part of humanitarian aid efforts following tsunamis, cyclones and flooding in Bangladesh. That merely scratches the surface of Ewen’s remarkable experiences. He obviously found life at home in a headquarters too tame and left to pursue other adventures, which eventually led to Sale via WA. He left the NZ Army with the rank of Major.

Ewen’s contract with Wellington Shire finishes this month and we all hope that our Kiwi warrior sticks around.

Archon 1994 Sydney to Hobart

SV Yum Yum (1892)

Ewen closed his night with two well-known pieces that fit nicely with his Celtic and military background. They are always worth remembering.

Farewell

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back,

May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home, And may the hand of a friend always be near.

Reflection

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

For the Fallen - Laurence Binyon (1869–1943)

Club Matters

President Lyndon welcomed Don’s guest Kim McLaughlin, a Koori Engagement Officer with the Education Department. He made the following announcements:

Night at Laurels Lyndon thanked members for the wonderful efforts that led to raising around $35,000. He asked that all members email him with their thoughts on the evening, to help facilitate the improvement process for next year.

Changeover A lunchtime gathering at Sporting Legends on Sunday July 7. Directors are asked to start considering their reports, so that they reach Neil Ross in time for printing.

Go Youth Four volunteers from our club are required to help run the Go Youth camp in August.

Resignation Philip Davis, whose parliamentary duties have prevented him from attending meetings, has resigned and this has been accepted with regret.

Kim McLaughlin Kim spoke to us briefly on her role as a Koori Engagement Officer where her task is to bring a Koori perspective on education and to reengage people from 15 to 60 in education. Kim will be our guest speaker on Monday June 24.

Next meeting – Relish at the Gallery – May 20 – 6:15 pm

Tim Moore – District Governor elect

An opportunity to meet Tim before his formal visit as DG later in the year.

Chairperson Don Ripper Sergeant Daniel Smolenaars Apologies and guests by noon Monday Welcome Noel Langley 0438 881 163 Set up Keith Miller

RI President-elect Ron Burton will ask Rotarians to Engage Rotary, Change Lives in 2013-14

He unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2013 International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, the annual training event for incoming district governors. “If we really want to take Rotary service forward, then we must make sure that every single Rotarian has the same feeling about Rotary that each one of us here has today,” Burton said. “We need to make sure that every Rotarian has a meaningful role to play, that they’re all making a contribution, and that their contribution is valued.”

Ron D. Burton Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, USA

Ron Burton, the RI president-elect, retired as president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc. in 2007. He is a member of the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. A Rotarian since 1979, he has served as RI director, Rotary Foundation trustee vice chair, International Assembly moderator, committee chair, Permanent Fund national adviser, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, and aide to the president. Ron has received the RI Service Above Self Award and the Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and International Service Award for a Polio-Free World. He and his wife, Jetta, have two children and three grandchildren.

The road ahead…

Monday May 20 DG elect Tim Moore pays us a visit Monday May 27 Jeanette Gibson – a Sale Psychologist

Monday June 3 A return visit by Lifeline Gippsland – Dawn Gilbert

Monday June 10 Queen’s Birthday – no meeting

Monday June 17 Coronation Everest…

Monday June 24 Kim McLaughlin – Koori Engagement with Education

Sunday July 7 Changeover luncheon