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Presidents Report
 
Wollundry Rotary
10 December 2019 
Presidents report week no 24
 
  • The Rotaract Trivia night was held on Friday December 6. Congratulations to Michael Knight for organising a table. Apparently we only had seven and performed admirably, 
  • Our Food and Wine golf team finished in 4th position of the Navigate event. The comp starts again in the second week in January
  • the Xmas function was an outstanding success. A big thanks to Adrian and Rachel for all their effort. If you have not paid the $10 per head please do so today. Adrian has the details of those who have not paid
  • Our last Food & Wine committee meeting for this year was held last night. Things are progressing well under the guidance of Andrew Puckeridge.  
  • Only one more meeting before a two week break. Our 1st meeting in January will be Tuesday 7. 
 
We need an additional Bulletin Editor. We have four and would like an additional person to share the workPlease give this matter serious consideration. Peter MacKinnon has offered to help but has done so for some years and would like a break. You do not need high powered computer skills
Pykie
10 December  2019
Our Meeting
 
Pyke was in the chair, couldn't find the microphone, but dropped the vocal chords down two octaves, and we all stopped to listen.
No grace today, in lieu we observed a short period of reflection on two recent tragedies - Measles killing children in Samoa, and deaths from the volcano in New Zealand. The Loyal Toast followed.
 
There was considerable delay before we welcomed visitors and guests to the meeting, and it was "full ahead" after that. Darren Wallace reported on RYPEN, Peter Clucas called for extras to see "Ford V Ferrari", an update on Paul Murray was provided, and Gall Bladders reported as superfluous. Kevin Moffat, who resigned from our club a few years ago, is also dealing with health issues. His son, Richard, has opened the Wine Bar / Coffee Shop in Fitzmaurice Street, and is a source of updates.
 
Rob Nicholson continues to source oysters from the south coast for Christmas delivery. There was conjecture that this year they would be "smoked Oysters"
Mark Hillis was rostered as Sergeant, and that's a whole new story.
 
 
Guest Speaker
 
 
John Ferguson introduced our Guest Speaker, Peter Moll from Albury, and a member of Albury Rotary Club. The background briefing was extensive, as you would expect from an acquaintance of 38 years. Peter's dad came from Holland after service in world war two, and established an air charter company in 1967.
 
Peter provided the background and history of a famous incident that occurred in Albury in 1934 - during an air race from England to Melbourne. To commemorate the centenary of establishment of Melbourne, the city mayor initiated the race, and a wealthy confectioner, Sir McPherson Robertson (He made cherry ripes) put up 143 000 pounds. It's very hard to locate the symbol for pounds on modern keyboards - you must imagine that it's there!!!!!
 
The race attracted various types of aircraft, from custom made, De Havilland comets, a DC2, the subject of our story, Boeing 247D,  and flimsy fabric coated single seaters. There were 64 entries, just 20 started, and about half finished, up to six months later.
 
The plane that landed in Albury in October 1934, was a stock standard DC2, built by Boeing in America. It had been recently delivered to the Dutch airline KLM. The airline was already flying scheduled services to Indonesia, and the race flight operated as a commercial route, with passengers, freight and mail.
 
The basic rules were: no limit to the size of aircraft or power, no limit to crew size, and no pilot to join aircraft after it left England. Aircraft had to carry three days' rations per crew member, floats, smoke signals, and efficient instruments. There were prizes for the outright fastest aircraft, and for the best performance on a handicap formula by any aircraft finishing within 16 days.
 
The race route to Melbourne had compulsory stops at Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin, Charleville and Melbourne, but competitors could stop at any other airport. There were retirements, crashes and deaths, but the experience of the Dutch aircraft in Albury is now folklore.
 
On the last leg, Charlville to Melbourne, the Uiver ran into thunderstorms, and didn't get lost - just temporarily unsure of their position. From Albury they flew east, then west, it got dark, until some locals realised that they were race entrants, flashed ALBURY in morse code with street lights, and lit a runway at the racecourse with car headlights.
The crew landed the DC2 on the soggy Albury racecourse, and managed to bog the Uiver. Next day the locals dragged the plane out of the bog, unloaded the baggage, and with a skeleton crew and minimum weight, took off for Melbourne, and managed to land for second place in the race - or first on handicap. 
 
The Dutch Government were very appreciative of the Albury community for this action, and have an ongoing relationship with the city.
 
The original "Uiver" returned to Europe, resumed service with KLM but crashed with loss of life just months later in Syria. A DC2 - obviously not the original, was located for restoration at Bankstown airport in Sydney. 
 
This aircraft was moved to Albury and restored by a community group, and then mounted on two poles at Albury airport. It deteriorated over time, was removed and stored. The Council lost interest, and tried to sell the plane.
 
But..........there was a Dutchman in the community, and he was an aviator.
Peter Moll became involved and a new restoration is underway. That was the focus of Peter's talk to us today.
 
 
 
 
Secretary's Report
Secretary’s Report for Meeting  No. 24  -  10th December 2019
Next Week’s Meeting  No. 25  -  17th December 2019  (Ladies' Day)
Reminders:
  • Next Board Meeting :  Monday 16th December, 5:30am
  • Oysters :  place orders with Rob Nicholson this week (for delivery 20th Dec.)
  • No Club meetings :  Tuesdays 24th and 31st December
  • Social Event :  Yachting weekend in Sydney :  14-15th February 2020
Responsibilities:       Please,
×        Find a Replacement if any of your rostered duties cannot be fulfilled.
×        Register an Apology by Monday 4pm if you are going to be absent from the next meeting.
×        Register a Makeup for a meeting absence whenever you can.
The Trivia Night
 
The Wagga Wagga Rotaract club held their annual Trivia night on Friday Dec 8th.
 
The Wollundry 1st VIII  - there were tables of 8 - acquitted themselves well at answering questions, but missed the point of the function. It was primarily about raising money, and correct answers could be purchased in a manner that a corruption commission would investigate. Other activities, not related to intimate knowledge of science, music or movies were rewarded with "bonus points" and diluted our purely knowledge driven efforts.
 
We didn't win!!!!!!!!!!
 
We did have our photo taken though.
 
Christmas Party
 
 
Adrian and Rachael Whiting hosted the Wollundry Christmas Party at their property  "Spenlo" just south of Uranquinty. The setting was idyllic - on lush lawn, under shady trees and with the setting sun retreating behind the ridge of the house roof, relaxing came easily.
 
 
Not all club members could make it to the party, so condolences to those that couldn't get there!!!!
Hillis analysis of Christmas.
 
Mark Hillis took the parade, and administered the discipline that was appropriate for the season.
Christmas Party grinches were obvious targets, and failure to show up on Sunday created a debit. 
A similar failure to get involved in the Rotaract Trivia night created a requirement to pay up - so the coins rattled around in the fine box.
Neil Pinto went pale at the thought - becoming a vegan.
Shane Carroll, we learned, had achieved a masters degree in Languages, but his fluent Portuguese may not cut it in Lisbon.
Mark and Shane packed up the Christmas party gear on Monday morning. Adrian warned about his puppies - Mark found "two demented hounds, one could be saddled, the other a wolfhound / shetland cross"
 
There is no doubt that Christmas has become burdened with myths, legends, music, folklore and all sorts of variations on the theme. Mark analysed these as they differed around the world.
December 25 does not get a mention in the Bible.
Santa Claus in red and white, only since 1930 in Coca Cola corporate colours.
In Austria, Krampus reigns, he is horned and hooved and punishes naughty children by dragging them to hell. 
Mark quoted an authoritative book "The Physics of Christmas, Aerodynamics of Reindeer and thermodynamics of Turkeys." Apparently Rudolph's red nose is probably the result of a parasitic infection of the respiratory system.
 
Gerry Gerlach knew all about the Dutch Christmas tradition - Sinta Claws comes from Spain, with black faced helpers who take naughty children back to Spain - and that's punishment in the Dutch winter???
In Germany, Burmo was advised, finding a spider at Christmas was good fortune, perhaps not a funnel web.
 
An analysis of facebook data has proven that the most likely time to break up relationships was two weeks before Christmas. That makes sense, and we can add that on Christmas day the rate of marriage failures goes way down.
 
Clucie and Puck were forewarned - in Japan, Shinto and Buddist strongholds, Christmas poultry is in short supply, but the best substitute will be KFC.
 
 
 
 
 

Bulletin Dec 10th 2019

 

Next Meeting. No. 25

17th December 2019

Fellowship :   
Greeting visitors

Phil McIntosh


Reception
Helps Treasurer 

Tim McMullen


Furniture : 
Setup & pack away

Paul Milde

Rotary Information:
none

Speaker

Father Paddy Sykes, Christmas Message

Bulletin Editor

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dec 17       Doug Sutton (for Paul Murray)

Jan 14, 21              P Murray

Jan 28 Feb 4, 11     D Sutton

Sergeants

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17th December  -  David Hodge
 
 
 Market Rosters
 
WOLLUNDRY SATURDAY MARKETS
 
 
Swapping - Members are reminded that it is the individual's responsibility to organise a swap. One of the best ways to do that is to check whether you are rostered on well ahead of time and contact someone who is on a market further down the track to arrange a swap.
 

Dec 14th

OIC -  Phil McIntosh.

Team (6:30am) -  David Benn, Craig Bromley (for Ward Gaitor), Phil Burgess, Ken Cook, John Egan (for Michael Knight), Graeme Obst, Wal Paton (for Paul Murray), Ric Priest, Andrew Puckeridge (for Steve McCoy), Jeremy Riethmuller, Ken Taylor, David Wishart

Trailers (6:15am)  -  David Benn, Craig Bromley, Ric Priest, Wal Paton

BBQ  -  Wal Paton

 

Feb 18th 2020

OIC -  John Ireland

Team -  Darren Wallace (for Craig Bromley), Doug Conkey, Greg Conkey, Peter Crozier, John Flynn, John Ferguson, Tim Hutchings, John Hawkins, John Mason, Peter MacKinnon,  Paul Milde

Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bob Willis
December 1
 
Graham Burmeister
December 1
 
John Mason
December 8
 
Jonty Shuter
December 29
 
Spouse Birthdays
Judy
December 6
 
Pam
December 9
 
Norma
December 18
 
Gina
December 27
 
Anniversaries
Peter Mackinnon
Angie
December 7
 
John Ireland
Isabel
December 27
 
Gerry Gerlach
Angie
December 30
 
Join Date
Tim Hutchings
December 12, 2017
2 years
 
Greg Conkey OAM
December 13, 1993
26 years
 
Peter Clucas
December 14, 1999
20 years
 
Peter Green
December 16, 2014
5 years
 
Pykie Pyke
December 18, 2012
7 years
 
Graeme Obst
December 19, 2017
2 years
 

VISITORS:

Judy Ferguson.

Peter Wilesmith.

Guest of David Benn

CLUB GUESTS:

Pieter Moll - guest speaker.

Member Albury Rotary Club.

Dr Ian Graham

Emily Graham

MAKE UPS:

David Byfield F & W

Steve McCoy. F & W

Nich Leawood. F & W

Craig Bromley. F & W

Craig Bromley, Yenda


APOLOGIES:

Ken Cook

Frank Fuller

Ward Gaiter

John Hawkins

David Hodge

Pat Ingram

John Ireland

Raoul Mascherenas

John Mason

Paul Murray

Graeme Obst

Robert Pearson

Jonty Shuter

David Wishart

 

 

Bulletin Editor
Michael Knight