Bulletin for the week of 6 July 2021
Reporter Peter Duras
President Elias opened his first zoom meeting for the Rotary year with a welcome to country and to our guests:
Rotarian Paul Jensen from Brisbane and originally South Africa
Sonia Dhillon, a potential new member
Daryl McGrath and Grant Clifton, guests of Peter Duras
In the Chair Mary Voice introduced Guest Speaker Perry Crosswhite, AM: a 3-time Australian Olympic Basketballer, long-term highly respected CEO of Commonwealth Games Australia, and one of very few sports administrators to be inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame. Perry’s topic was “The Future of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games”
The current pandemic has caused the first-ever postponement of an Olympic or Commonwealth Games. Since they were revived in 1896 the Olympics have been cancelled 3 times due to War, 1916 (Berlin),1940 (Tokyo), and 1944 (London). They have however come under repeated pressure from political manipulation and boycotts, amateur v professional wrangles, doping, terrorism, climate extremes , delays in preparation (eg Melbourne) and gigantism: becoming too big ,complex and expensive. The Sochi Winter Olympics cost a mind-blowing $21 billion.
Not surprisingly recent years have seen the number of candidate cities, both Olympic and Commonwealth drop away rapidly. Paris and Los Angeles able to raffle the 2024 and 2028 spots. (Reporter’s comment: Brisbane had no competition for the 2032 Olympics.). There is no city chosen yet for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This trend has forced the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to seriously reframe the future . This includes a review of sustainability, promotion of safety and clean sport ,inclusion (eg. including refugee teams), and other steps to make the Games more relevant to the broader community , athletes and the young, plus reducing the size, complexity and cost of future Games. Paris 2024 will aim at 1000 less athletes and officials, while Los Angeles will have no new permanent venues.
Perry then highlighted some of the problems faced by the Comm Games . Starting with 205 competitors in 1930 , the number had grown to 6500 by the recent Gold Coast Games. In Brisbane the security bill rose from an estimated $2 million.
In Delhi building activity fell behind badly, with some structures barely finished when the Games began. There was an ever-present terrorist threat. All this was overcome by hard work, resilience and good will. Perry’s main message was a reminder that the Games are for the athletes, who overcome many obstacles to take part. As long as the top athletes are attracted to the Games they will remain relevant and survive.
Announcements.
Rob Hines thanked the many volunteers who have filled the rosters for the sausage sizzles at Collingwood and Port Melbourne this weekend.
Alan Seale announced that the RCM donation of refurbished oxygen extractors for Port Moresby is now taking place. This is being done in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Lae.
Member Birthdays
Sean Car 6th July
Roy Garrett 6th July
Hon Member Lorraine Meehan 10th July
Stuart Ellis AM 12th July
Partner Birthdays
Raylee Ilott, John’s partner 10th July
Brenda La Rondie, Gerard Hogan’s partner 12th July
Wedding Anniversaries
Nil
Date Joined Rotary
Alison Chan 11th July 2017 4 years
Rotary Inquisition with a Twist
Roles were reversed when Allan Driver interviewed Brett Jones this week.
And what a life this man is leading! Growing up on the coast North of Auckland he enjoyed bringing in huge hauls of fresh flounder with his father.
After military service and a stint at AMP he commenced a diverse and highly successful career in the police force. This included teaching and developing several police manuals. He was involved in the Waitangi mediation before leaving the police force to operate a number of private enterprises at the same time. For over 15 years he has "wheeled and dealed" in real estate, buying renovating, renting out and selling properties. And while all this is going on Brett continues to pick up a variety of tertiary qualifications. He is currently completing a fine arts degree.
Elias closed the meeting with a request to members that they contact him if they wish to change committees or join a second committee.
