If you would like to visit our meeting, you are welcome to join us at the Theatrette, Chancery Level of the RACV Club. There is no charge for attending the meeting.
If you would like a more general discussion about attending a Rotary meeting, please contact the club secretary at rotaryclubcentralmelbourne@gmail.com
The meeting will commence at 7:40am and conclude no later than 8:30. Members and guests are invited to stay for coffee or breakfast in the club Bistro following the meeting.
Gordon Conochie: The world's longest serving prime minister & Cambodia's pursuit of democracy
Gordon will reveal how Cambodia's prime minister, the world’s longest serving prime minister, nearly lost power, regained control and has held on for longer than any other. He’ll also discuss democracy in Asia and the battle between the West and China.
Gordon Conochie is an adjunct research fellow at La Trobe University and the author of A Tiger Rules the Mountain - Cambodia's Pursuit of Democracy, which was a pick of the week in The Australian and Canberra Times. It has been praised by Gareth Evans (former Australian Foreign Minister) as "intriguing and enriching". You can find out more about the book, published in 2023 by Monash University, at its website: https://atigerrules.com/
Gordon was born in Scotland, where he worked as a journalist and has master's degrees in politics and international relations. He lived in Cambodia for nearly three years where he predominantly worked on education strategy and policy, working closely with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and the World Bank and Cambodian charities. After leaving to work in the health sector in Australia, Gordon continued to return to Cambodia to interview people for A Tiger Rules the Mountain. Gordon also now works in Aboriginal health policy.
Meeting opened by President Michelle who introduced Guest Speaker, Janette Etherington.
Chair, Puja Ganguli overcame the Zoom link, which we have all wrestled with from time to time, to take over from Michelle during Janette’s presentation.
Interplast was founded in 1983. The objective was and is to change lives for the better in Pacific and Asian countries where some services just don’t exist. This is achieved through surgical procedures and practical training of locals. Thus both patients and trainees benefit. Funding comes from Australian Government, Rotary Districts, corporate and private donors. Medical specialists provide services on a voluntary basis.
Janette’s presentation included many actual examples.
Gladi, in Laos who had a 3kg benign tumour removed,
Rockson, Pacific Islander who had very severe cleft lip and palate repaired using a bone graft of one of Rockson’s ribs,
James from PNG with very severe burns. In this case, COVID intervened in 2020 but was defeated by Interplast use of remote training and webinars.
Dil in Nepal received surgery for badly broken leg. Not only was the leg saved, but probably Dil’s life.
These are typical examples of the many thousands of lives saved or repaired.
Post-COVID allowed a return to “normal” starting with trip number 145 to Fiji in 2022. Targets resumed their previous lifts, now looking to services in 20 countries and 80 hospitals
A truly wonderful Rotary project. No wonder Janette described her position as her “dream job”.
Chair, Puja introduced Subramanian, a visitor from Chennai, India. Subramanian explained that he is visiting Melbourne to see his daughter. He may attend our “in the flesh” meeting at RACV next week.
Announcements
Neville advised that sausage sizzles will happen – on Saturday at Bunnings Collingwood and on Sunday at Bunnings Port Melbourne. He also reported that the wedding of daughter Kat at Nev and Bec’s on Saturday went very well.
Kerrie announced that Emergency Service Community Award nominations open on March 1. Awards can go to both paid and volunteer emergency services agents and nominations can be made by friends, colleagues, family, community, Rotarians on https://resca.awardsplatform.com/ More information is on www.vic.rescawards.org.au/ or contact Kerrie Hicks or Neville Taylor.
Anne King reported that she has 16 members’ advise that they will join for the Friday dinner at the Bendigo District Conference. Any members wishing to add to that should contact Anne.
President Michelle praised Interplast as a really precious and effective Rotary project.She advised that a Club Strategy Meeting will be conducted at Anne King’s on March 2. Details to follow.
District 9800 has produced 42 peace fellows since the program began in 2002. This is more than any other district in the world – a record of which we can all be proud. We are keen to maintain it.
Changes to the selection process this year mean that it is quite likely that candidates may contact your Rotary Club out of the blue. This is because they are now being asked to contact a local club to learn about Rotary and to seek guidance and mentoring during the application process.
If this happens, I urge you to contact me so that I, or someone from the district selection committee, can guide your club and the applicant through the process. Applications close on May 15.
As President of Rotary Melbourne, I am pleased to inform you that most recent former Australian Ambassador to the USA, The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, will be delivering the prestigious 2024 Angus Mitchell Oration. Given global flashpoints in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia and the expertise of our speaker, the oration will be highly informative and topical.
In attendance will be leading members of our business, diplomatic, charitable and Rotary community. The previous oration was delivered last year by former Prime Minister The Hon John Howard OM AC. The event was sold out well in advance.
Please save the date in your calendar as we expect this event will also sell out quickly. We expect booking to open on 24 January via our website.
I look forward to seeing you at the Angus Mitchell Oration.
Due to a strong demand for household goods by the support agencies who are working with the Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network (RIMERN), there is an immediate need for small electrical appliances e.g. toasters, kettles, microwaves, irons, fans, heaters and televisions to restock the warehouse.
If your family or friends have one or more of these items that you are able to donate, please contact Rohan Williams at rdwrcm@gmail.com to arrange for collection.
Thank you to Tom Callander, Peter & Sue Duras and Elias Lebbos who have recently donated items to RIMERN and Alan Seale and Roger Thornton who are currently making small furniture items.
