The Royal Eye and Ear Cochlear Implant Clinic is the sole cochlear implant program in Victoria since 1982 and also provide support for Tasmania. We are a multidisciplinary team of audiologists, speech pathologist and ear nose and throat surgeons that aim to assist people who have a significant hearing loss in finding suitable options for improving their hearing.

Gabby O’Keefe is a paediatric and adult cochlear implant audiologist & Sandra Lee has a history of hearing aid rehabilitation prior to working with cochlear implants.

https://www.trybooking.com/BBZDO

You may be aware that RCM has been working closely with Victoria Police Legacy to forge a closer working relationship. This relationship builds and strengthens current relationships with VicPol.

We have provided a number of Police Legatees with the opportunity to participate in the Rotary RYPEN program and the club continues to support the Silk Miller Scholarship. The Police Leadership Mentoring program also continues to grow from strength to strength.

This year the Victoria Police Legacy's 2019 Charity Breakfast will be held at the MCG on Thursday 6th June 2019. Funds raised will support initiatives addressing mental health of Victoria Police employees and shared between Victoria Police Legacy and the Victoria Police Provident Fund's Mental Health Fund.

Victoria Policy Legacy continues to directly support families who suffer the most tragic consequences of mental health , and this breakfast is an important way to reduce the stigma of suicide and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I am looking to organize a table in support of this event. If you are interested in joining me, could you please let me know by email by Friday 17th May 2019 so I can make the booking. 

Opening and Toast

Chairperson, Alice Miller opened the meeting & toast to RI and welcomed members & guests, who were:

• Dr John Basarin OAM  - Guest Speaker - Rotary Club of Brighton

• Hatice Basarin  - Guest - Partner of Guest Speaker

• Balacan Baktc - Guest - Melbourne City Rotaract Club

Announcements

• Warwick – Reminder on Changeover – Friday 28th June at William Angliss Institute.

• Warwick – Reminder Sunday, 26th May is District Assembly, it would be great for all office bearers for next year to attend.

• Elias – The Club is Encouraging  a greater relationship with VicPol Legacy. There is Breakfast on 6 June, Guest Speaker is Dr Brendan Nelson, an email will come separately, please let Elias know if you would like to attend.

• Peter - Oh Kolkata! on 4 May - Reminder to those who haven’t let Peter know if they are coming.

President’s Announcements

• Thank you to directors who shared everything they are doing with their committees this year at the last meeting.

• RI Convention - 2023 Melbourne has been selected as the location. Expecting 20,000 delegates to attend. Running a parallel event for leaders in our community who are not Rotarians, but who are contributing to a better community and ensuring the economic benefit of the convention is distributed to those who need it most in our community. Alan and Neville J have brought this to our club to consider. There is a two half-day workshop to design what this program might look like. Many big names.

Guest Speaker – Dr John Basarin OAM – Friends of Gallipoli

• Bio: Dr John Basarin was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He trained as a chemical engineer and migrated to Australia in 1973. Apart from Melbourne, he has also lived and worked in Norway, the United States, Brazil, Germany and the UK, mainly in the offshore oil & gas business. As the founding Chairman of Friends of Gallipoli, Inc. a not-for-profit organisation, John has been instrumental in providing a unique opportunity to many young students to go to Gallipoli and attend ANZAC Day Dawn and Lone Pine Ceremonies since 2009.

• John went with his father to Gallipoli and was told that this was where the modern nation of Turkey was born and was fascinated to realize that emotionally Australians felt the same.

• John and Hatice have now written four books on Gallipoli and two of them have been printed in Turkish. Their final book is titled “Gallipoli the Invasion” and while provocative, was the most appropriate description.

• John detailed the history that led to the invasion at Gallipoli with the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of the British, French and German Empires and the importance of oil to this situation.

• Landing happened on 36 days later on 25 April 2015. Only 160 Turks were defending and 8,000 ANZACs landed at that time.

• Casualties of 9 months were immense with 250,000 Turks and over 200,000 allied deaths at the battle.

• As an Australian with Turkish heritage John has a unique perspective on this topic and described the strength of the relationship between Australian and Turkey stemming from this encounter as special and an example that should be held up as how friends can be made despite these circumstances.

Raffle Winners

• Malcolm Fielden

• Neville Taylor

• Neville John