RCM Breakfast Meeting Report – 12 July 2022
1. President Rohan Williams opened the meeting with the “welcome to country” ceremony and invited Chair Neville John to propose a toast to rotary.
2. Rohan welcomed members in attendance (17 in total), guest speaker Stuart Harrison and (for the last time as guest) Amir.
3. Rohan formally inducted Amir (representing the Tertiary Education sector) and Neville bestowed his Rotary member pin, formally welcoming Amir to the RCM fold. Amir will be allocated to the Youth Services Committee and his mentor will be Rhys Williams. Amir thanked Rohan, Neville and the Club for accepting him as a member; he pointed out that the principles of the organisation resonated deeply with him, will drive him and enhance his contributions.
4. Neville then introduced Stuart Harrison to present to us “Being Open: The return to the city”. Stuart duly acknowledged what always was and always will be the lands belonging to Kulin Nation, upon which we convened.
RMIT/University of Western Australia-trained, Stuart has been living in Melbourne since 1996. Having hosted two seasons of the TV series “Restoration Australia”, Stuart described the notion of “open design” and “open construction” by showcasing several examples of work that invites people to experience the once “closed” spaces at various locations dotted across the Melbourne CBD and its suburbs:
a) Nature eco walk in St Kilda
b) Crisis housing for women
c) Melbourne Holocaust Museum
d) Glenroy community hub
e) Victorian family violence memorial
f) La Mama theatre
These and many other examples and other references can be explored on the “Open House Melbourne” website (openhousemelbourne.org), in addition to numerous events planned for the weekend of 30 th /31 st July – the first since 2019 where in-person attendance will be available. Open House Melbourne was founded 17 years ago and is led by Fleur Watson, its executive director and chief curator.
Why is it important to be open? Because it helps shape perceptions about good design and promotes advocacy through exposure and experience: “bringing people in”. Stuart reminded attendees about various events taking place on that weekend and listed on the OHM website.
5. Questions:
a) Suvam Ganguli: what is the expected response from the public?
2. Rohan welcomed members in attendance (17 in total), guest speaker Stuart Harrison and (for the last time as guest) Amir.
3. Rohan formally inducted Amir (representing the Tertiary Education sector) and Neville bestowed his Rotary member pin, formally welcoming Amir to the RCM fold. Amir will be allocated to the Youth Services Committee and his mentor will be Rhys Williams. Amir thanked Rohan, Neville and the Club for accepting him as a member; he pointed out that the principles of the organisation resonated deeply with him, will drive him and enhance his contributions.
4. Neville then introduced Stuart Harrison to present to us “Being Open: The return to the city”. Stuart duly acknowledged what always was and always will be the lands belonging to Kulin Nation, upon which we convened.
RMIT/University of Western Australia-trained, Stuart has been living in Melbourne since 1996. Having hosted two seasons of the TV series “Restoration Australia”, Stuart described the notion of “open design” and “open construction” by showcasing several examples of work that invites people to experience the once “closed” spaces at various locations dotted across the Melbourne CBD and its suburbs:
a) Nature eco walk in St Kilda
b) Crisis housing for women
c) Melbourne Holocaust Museum
d) Glenroy community hub
e) Victorian family violence memorial
f) La Mama theatre
These and many other examples and other references can be explored on the “Open House Melbourne” website (openhousemelbourne.org), in addition to numerous events planned for the weekend of 30 th /31 st July – the first since 2019 where in-person attendance will be available. Open House Melbourne was founded 17 years ago and is led by Fleur Watson, its executive director and chief curator.
Why is it important to be open? Because it helps shape perceptions about good design and promotes advocacy through exposure and experience: “bringing people in”. Stuart reminded attendees about various events taking place on that weekend and listed on the OHM website.
5. Questions:
a) Suvam Ganguli: what is the expected response from the public?
SH: There is increased enthusiasm as evidenced by encouraging early ticketed event sales.
b) Neil Salvano: (observation) He has an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia travelling through the RMIT precinct (around Queensberry & Swanston Streets), once upon a time.
SH: There has been massive redevelopment during the last 20+ years supported by funding in excess of $200MIL.
c) Neville John: Which location is your favourite?
SH: As a master work of urban design, Federation Square stands out.
6. Announcements:
a) Ignacio Inchausti - A plea to RCM members, colleagues, friends and other Rotarians to seek options for billeting David Rosenberg from Germany as our in-bound NGSE participant, who will be here from end-August to October 2022. We need to reciprocate in light of our out-bound participants who have already found host families. Please contact Alan Seale URGENTLY if you are able to act as hosts to David.
b) Kevin Love: Reminded us about the up-coming tree-planting event at Phillip Island on 23rd July.
c)Neville John thanked all volunteers who braved the first winter morning fog and a very, very crisp morning to volunteer at Collingwood Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on the weekend. Neville also thanks Neil Salvano for his tireless work as quartermaster, visiting various retailers to collect all the food and accessories required to make the SS a success.
d) Suvam Gangulli provided a demo of the replacement booking systems: Humanitix (it attracted various queries and concerns, to be addressed separately).
b) Neil Salvano: (observation) He has an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia travelling through the RMIT precinct (around Queensberry & Swanston Streets), once upon a time.
SH: There has been massive redevelopment during the last 20+ years supported by funding in excess of $200MIL.
c) Neville John: Which location is your favourite?
SH: As a master work of urban design, Federation Square stands out.
6. Announcements:
a) Ignacio Inchausti - A plea to RCM members, colleagues, friends and other Rotarians to seek options for billeting David Rosenberg from Germany as our in-bound NGSE participant, who will be here from end-August to October 2022. We need to reciprocate in light of our out-bound participants who have already found host families. Please contact Alan Seale URGENTLY if you are able to act as hosts to David.
b) Kevin Love: Reminded us about the up-coming tree-planting event at Phillip Island on 23rd July.
c)Neville John thanked all volunteers who braved the first winter morning fog and a very, very crisp morning to volunteer at Collingwood Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on the weekend. Neville also thanks Neil Salvano for his tireless work as quartermaster, visiting various retailers to collect all the food and accessories required to make the SS a success.
d) Suvam Gangulli provided a demo of the replacement booking systems: Humanitix (it attracted various queries and concerns, to be addressed separately).