Rotary Central Melbourne Face-to-Face meeting 20th April 2021
Therese – Welcome to the meeting and acknowledgement to country
Tom – A toast to Rotary in reference to the Duke of Edinburgh
Guests: Roxanne Fabiano (HerSpace executive officer) invited by Francesco Fedele
No visiting Rotarians
Announcements:
Neville Taylor provided an update on the Foundation Committee. The Paul Harris breakfast had 180 attendees. Through work of our club, we have earned over 32,000 credit points.
We are looking at strengthening as a greater peace building club, and working on becoming environmentally sustained and to become a Rotary Carbon Footprint Club
Positive work with VicPol, the Incubate Foundation and Red Cross.
Anthony was offered a Human Rights Scholarship to Oxford University! Massive congratulations to those involved.
Rob Hines – District grant approval for Cambodia. May 2nd Fundraiser for dementia Australia. Thank you for the incredible response from rotary members.
Peter Duras – Distributed 1600 items to charities from Caprice’s generous donations. Over $90,000 worth of merchandise donated now.
The latest port Melbourne sausage sizzle raised $1400! Thank you to all involved.
Tom Callander – A reminder for all members to check on their Working With Children Checks as some may have expired.
Member Birthdays
Herb Greenwood 21st April
Neil Salvano 26th April
Wedding Anniversaries
Rohan and Sue Williams 20th April 1996 25 years
Hon Member Geoff Fairhall and Anne 24th April 1965 56 years
Date Joined Rotary
Rob Hines 22nd April 2014
Guest Speaker
Russell Rolls: Regenerative agriculture - dirt can save the world
Degradation by human beings of the capacity of the landscape to absorb carbon dioxide is the major cause of the current climate change. We must use nature’s own remedy - by drawing down carbon from the atmosphere back into our soils. Our future is governed by how well we manage to regenerate the Earth’s soil carbon sponge.
Regenerative agriculture is the solution.
Russell holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. After an initial career in the aircraft industry, he has spent the past 35 years associated with the international resources engineering industry.
Russell joined Rotary Central Melbourne in 2008. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of South Yarra from 1996 to 2008.
Russell spoke about the importance of maintaining oxygen content on planet Earth and that it was important to (contentiously) point out that fossil fuel emissions were a contributing factor but not the main cause. 50x carbon emitted by humans over two centuries were part of the problem, but not the main problem. This had my full, undivided attention and made me forget about the lack of a cooked breakfast at the RACV. Russell spoke about the difficulties with renewable power sources – in particular the importance of base load power using renewables and batteries and getting a balance between dispatchable and intermittent sources.
Russell spoke about how this subject is also heavily politicised.
It is important that we address the other major problematic players – land clearing (c’mon Brazil…keep the amazon!), aggressive farming and the use of chemical fertilizers.
Some suggestions to address the issues are planned and controlled grazing and low or zero tutelage and allowing pastures to regenerate.
Emissions reductions are deeply troubling. One of the issues is the financial impact decisions have on farmers. If they change the way they’ve been taught to farm for generations and this change results in them losing a harvest, it can be devastating.
Introduction to the Wentworth group. The Wentworth Group is dedicated to water and land policy reform to protect Australia’s critical environments. We are composed of eminent scientists who are a trusted source of independent, non-government advice on issues related to water and land policy. We focus on solution-based policy reforms, which are of significant national interest.
The talk was concluded with questions.
President announcements:
Therese Robinson – Dates for your diary. 1st – 2nd may District Conference. The following events will be available: The Essendon Fields Showcase (live and in-person) – bring the family and friends; The multi District Conference from 11 am-1 pm (Via Zoom).
The peace Symposium on the 24th April.
There will be further announcements on help and donations for both NSW and Timor-Leste floods.
100year celebration lunch on Wednesday 21st at the Sofitel
Doug Robertson – Update from Ben McWilliam, who is our 2021 Silk Miller Scholar, that he is enjoying the course so far and has already began applying principles he is learning to his work. He will come in and speak to our club in the future. Very appreciative and glad to have Ben as our Scholar and Doug for his continued hard work.
Thank you to Roxanne for attending our meeting.
The next face-to-face meeting will be on the 11th May.
Meeting Adjourned.
Jeff Shaw and Christina Karvonidis: Give a Care - Your Life. Your Choice.
