This week we had a joint meeting at All Seasons with Bendigo Strathdale with some 60 odd Rotarians and partners in attendance. Thank you to all our members (and partners) whom were able to make the evening and support this event - a wonderful atmosphere, and great to mix with other clubs on occasions - should be more of it!.

Our guest speaker, Robin DeCrespiney captivated the audience with an enthralling presentation, on firstly why she took on this project - it was actually going to be a film script project.

Robin then brought home the enormous difficulties, the challenges and life or death decisions faced by Ali Al Jenabi as his life unfolded - I must confess as Robin recounting Ali’s story I almost shedd a tear when reflecting and placing oneself in his position. It was understandable why Robin was so passionate about this subject.

No Guest Speaker Summary this week - get hold of the book and read it yourself!

FossickerThe

PRESIDENT ELECT’S REPORT

Weekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bendigo Inc. - Chartered 30th July 1925 - District 9800

Editor: Noel Hobley noelhobley@bigpond.com - Distribution: The Terrace theterrace@phs.org.auCorrespondence: PO Box 131, Bendigo, 3552

PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER PASTPRESIDENT Brian Figg Kaye Graves Wayne Smith Wayne Smith

BOARDMEMBERS:President Elect - Tom SeddonClub Service - Garry GunnellCommunity Service - Libby HughesInternational Service - Valerie Barker

Vocational Service - John KrakowiakNew Generations - Phil WestRotary Foundation - Hugh Wheeler

No. 42568 - Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - A002977L

RC Bendigo President Brian Figg, guest speaker Robin

DeCrespiney and RC Bendigo Strathdale President Greg

Penno at Tuesday’s meeting.

ROTARYBUSINESSArtShowCommitteeGraeme Clarke on behalf of the Art Show Committee proudly presented a cheque to past President Wayne Smith for $18,000.00 being proceeds from the 2012 Rotary Easter art Show. Thank you to the committee and club members/partners for your enormous effort and whom again made this a successful event - our major fundraiser underpinning numerous club projects.

OperationCleftRotaryClubofBendigoGolfDaySet for Friday evening/night of 26 October 2012 (a near full moon and better night balls!) - Glenn Reilly to share more later.

ProbusClubofSandhurst25th Anniversary function on Wednesday 3 October 2012 – as sponsor club, club members welcome to attend at $10 per head. I am unable to attend due to business commitments - I hope to arrange a stand in representative.

ClusterPresidentsMeeting - Sunday 16/9 the main discussions points

Exploring the possibility of starting two new clubs in the district - a Young Rotarians Club targeting the 20-40 year old demographic, but with a different forum and format to the existing clubs, and a new club at Heathcote. A steering committee with representatives from Goldfields Cluster Clubs and support of District has been formed. Our Club will be invited to comment/put forward ideas.

Combined Rotary Clubs of Bendigo - joint meeting scheduled Wednesday 13 February 2013.

Backyard Blitz at Charlton - 3 buses have been organised (in kind) for free travel for any Rotarians / Partners wishing to travel to Charlton on either the Saturday or Sunday of weekend 27/28 October.

Rotarians at Work Day - Sunday 21 April 2013, each Club to identify a visible community project. District have arranged with Bunnings free donation of goods to undertake any painting/maintenance as part of this day. Thinking caps on!.

Next week we are back to our home, the Bendigo Club, with our guest speaker Karen Quinlan from the Bendigo Art Gallery - should be a ripper.

Enjoy your week.

President Brian Figg.

COMING UP

25-Sep Karen Quinlan Bendigo Art GalleryFashion as Art, Exhibitions, and the new Gallery Extension

2-Oct Wayne Smith TreasurerSilverpot to Samoa: RCBs finances, explained

9-Oct Zsofia Szabo Hungary Incoming Exchange Student

16-Oct David Lloyd, Manager The Capital Our new theatre and what it means for cultural programming in Bendigo

23-Oct Bendigo Youth Choir (TBC)

30-Oct Vocational Day History of RC Bendigo Club Projects

6-Nov PEACE Inc speaker from Sweden TBC

13-Nov TBA

20-Nov The Great Debate Glenn Reilly (c), Larrie Winzar & Ian Coates v. Ted Rankins (c), Val Barker & Peter Reading

That Bendigo should be drinking recycled water

Anniversaries September 25 to October 1

BIRTHDAYS: Nil

ROTARY INDUCTIONS:

Des Samson Sept. 28

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:

Nil

WEBSITE: Click to visit District 9800 newsletters and videos

ROSTER SEPTEMBER 25 OCTOBER 2 OCTOBER 9Chairman B. Ackerman N/A N/ASergeant at Arms N. Hobley N. Bannan N. BannanCorporals J. Gallagher

K. GilchristM. HorneL. Hughes

J. GallagherF. Lean

Cashiers D. CoiaN. Cox

D. WattsB. McMahon

M. HughesR. Paulsen

Regalia J. Mahoney J. Mahoney B. PennaReception T. Dobeli

B. DohertyB. GrayG. Gunnell

J. KrakowiakD. Ionescu

Grace B. Figg A. Hampton W. JohansonFour Way Test J. Flood N. Hobley N. Kilby

A Notice for Chairman - To assist the President and as a courtesy to guest speakers, when the president calls for visiting Rotarians and guests to be introduced, the Chairman for the day is asked, please, to stand and introduce the guest speaker by name with the comment that he/she will be more formally introduced later in the meeting.

Members are reminded that if for any reason you are unable to fulfil the duty for which you are rostered it is your responsibility to arrange a replacement

If you were wondering we some of the familiar faces are, they’re abroad. Here are some pics from Joy Bruce.

We are enjoying lots of tapas, wine and warm weather!.

At right: Yes the only day it rained! We are on the most eastern spot of Spain at “The lighthouse at the end of the world” movie location which had Yul Bruner and Kirk Douglas. On our way to visit Dali ‘s house.

And below that: We are in Spain at the fishing village of Dali’ s house that he lived and painted in for over 40 years. In the house was his studio where he was working on his last 2 paintings.

Greetings from sunny Spain.

HEY ROTARIANS

How about putting Tuesday, 20th November, in your diary now and plan to take your partners out to dinner with the ladies of Inner Wheel on that night!

We would love you to join us at the Schweppes Centre Bistro for a fund-raising effort for our National Project - Cord Blood.

It’s simple – all you have to do is dine with us and our combined meal costs are totalled, and the Schweppes Centre returns half the total to our Club as a charitable donation to our cause. We think it’s

pretty good – no hard work, just enjoyment and fellowship with friends!

Partners of Inner Wheel members have no choice – sorry – you will be going anyway, but the more Rotarians who could join us the better... and ask your friends to come too.

You DO have friends don’t you?

Now we realise that it will be a Rotary lunch that day as well – we suggest you eat a light one, and splurge on Dinner that night!

I’ll be back in touch before then, for another reminder.... you can run, but you can’t hide!!

Gwen Rankins, President, Inner Wheel Club of Bendigo

GOLF NIGHT

Pencil in Friday night, October 26th for the next Rotary Golf Night. Having covered 116 cleft operations over the last 4 years this event is getting bigger and bigger, Glenn and his team will be looking for not only a couple of teams from within the club but will also be looking for helpers on the night. It is a lot of fun for all involved so pencil this in your diaries.

ROTARY LINKS

Link to District Governors Blog

Link to District 9800 Conference 2013

Link to Rotary International Home page

Link to Rotary Foundation

I would like to thank members of the Rotary Club of Bendigo for their support and

concern during my long illness.

Because I spent most of the time in St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Melbourne I

thought that I would have a very lonely time, however, due to your kindness this

was not so. I deeply appreciate the Club card and flowers and all the personal

messages and visits, both at St. John of God in Bendigo and in Melbourne. They

all gave an added quality to my life. The Hospital was amazed that I had so

many visitors, received so many cards, flowers and phone calls - and so was I. A

very special word of thanks to Rosalie Vanstan who kept me in touch with Club

activities. Her contact was wonderful because although I was very ill, I still felt that

I was not isolated and part of everything.

There have been many rumours circulating so I am advising people of the true

state of things. I never do things by halves and this episode in my life is no

exception. Unfortunately I have managed to develop a condition which is so rare

that the doctors have not treated it before. Finally, after many months, I have been

diagnosed as having Sjogrens/Lupus/Autoimmune Enteropathy. What this means

is that my autoimmune system is attacking my body and killing off good cells.

Because it is so rare the treatment has been experimental and I am very thankful

that I have responded to it so well. The treatment has been prednisolone (steroid)

and chemotherapy to completely shut down the immune system to allow my body

to heal. I am now being weaned off the high dosage of prednisolone down to a

maintenance dose of 5 mls. a day and have begun to use methotrexate - still in very

early days so I am not sure how I will tolerate it. To date it has been OK so I am

hopeful.

I am very relieved that I am getting stronger although it will take a very long time

before I am back to full health. I am still undergoing a strict regime of hydrotherapy,

gym and physiotherapy and I have not finished with doctors and hospitals - and I

may never be. However, for now, I am making slow, steady progress and gradually

easing my way back into everything - for which I am profoundly thankful. It is great

to be vertical, moving and out of hospital!!

I would like you all to know how much I appreciated your support and how much

it helped give me strength to keep fighting when things were bleak - and for a while

things were very bleak indeed.

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all.

Valerie.

Rotary District 9800 Group Study Exchange Farewell A joint project between the Hobsons Bay Cluster & the Port Phillip Cluster

RSCP: The Shepheards 9369 8358 by 24th September

Clubs to group book as per sheet attached. Cheques payable to: Rotary Club of Altona PO Box 138, Altona 3018

Or Direct Credit to Rotary Club of Altona BSB: 633-000 A/c: 117125468

Join us to Farewell our RD9800 team as they embark to RD1080 in the Cambridge-Norwich area in the UK Steven Bourke – sponsored by the Rotary Club of Central Melbourne Sunrise Kirsten Brewer – sponsored by the Rotary Club of Brighton North Virginia Loftus – sponsored by the Rotary Club of Camberwell Elizabeth Nuttall– sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bendigo Karen Lillywhite – sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chadstone- East Malvern Team Leader Julie Mason. Rotary Club of Wyndham

The Gamekeepers Secret Inn 1555 Melton Hwy, Rockbank.

Melways Map 353 A9 http://www.gamekeepers.com.au/

Date: 30th September 2012 Time: 12:30 for 1pm Cost: $25 ~ Nibbles/Finger food

Drinks at Bar prices

MEMBERS GOING - MORE PASSENGERS WELCOME

CONTACT BRIAN FIGG