The end of August has brought some of the worst weather we have seen this year. Apart from soggy gardens and water covered roads some of us are faced with last minute repairs from storms and extensive clean up of gardens. Oh, the fun of living with climate change!!
Our club remains busy and members have many exciting plans. We are working through a programme of Peace Bell tours and Warrick is preparing the documentation to train a fresh cohort of tour guides. Monica and I are preparing brochures and other Rotary material for our display at the Radford College twilight fair in November.
Next meeting will be the first for Spring and Eric will take the Chair. September brings the annual Peace Day commemorations and final preparations for the Candle festival I will be away for 3 weeks from the 22nd however I expect all the preparations will be completed before then.
Finally, it was great to see Astrida home and safe from her Mongolian adventure. However our cheering was short lived as we learned she incurred a nasty injury which would put any hardy Rotarian. We wish you a speedy recovery Astrida! We are here to help.
Next week, an interesting talk about Blood Transfusions. See you all there.
PP Bill
Last week’s Speaker
Last Thursday we were entertained and enlightened about the role of Wattle in Australia’s relatively short history. Warrick and Pat Wright put together a slideshow of the highlights over 200 years of celebrations leading to the current situation where wattle is our legislated national flower and it is embedded in our currency designs, medals, stamps, and official commemorations. Indeed the late Queen Elizabeth wore a magnificent wattle themed diamond broach during her many state occasions Some of the interesting topics touched on in their talk;
.there are over 1000 varieties of wattle in Australia
.wattle and daub huts were the first accommodation built in the colony
.wattle gum (414) is a frequently used food ingredient, and used to be the foundation of jelly beans!
.wattle tanin was the main treatment in the early leather industry
.black wood acacia is a popular furniture raw material
.wattle themed crockery had a long history in Australia
.Hazel Hawke in in 1988 announced that the wattle had been legislated the national flower of Australia.
An amazing talk, and one we wont forget. Thank you for attending. Thank you Juris for the vote of thanks. Thanks also to Russell for arranging another excellent speaker.
PP Bill
Add text here
Pat introducing the story of our wattle.
Where it all started - the wattle and daub hut was the basis of the start of our reliance on wattle.
Introducing the Wattle - is it spring?
Coming up:
Date:
Chair:
Guest:
Member to propose Toast to Rotary, introduce guest, Thank, Write Up for Bulletin
4th September
Eric
Dr Richard Pembury – Blood Transfusions
John
11th September
Eric is away
Michelle Jenkins : Walking in the Alps to beat PTSD
Juris
18th September
Eric or Warrick
Social Meeting: Regatta Point Café.
Visit Exhibition – Bill to talk on “Growing up in Canberra from 1958 – population 41,000”
Keith
25th September
Eric or Warrick
Dr Mark Lax The history of Coffee in the world.
Juris, Ross
Also coming up:
The Candle Festival at Canberra Nara Peace Park is fast approaching on Saturday 25th October. Make a note in your diary as we will need all hands-on deck to help with the sale of millions of Ninga Sausages, Beer, Wine and Sake, and Taiyaki pancakes from about 3.00pm to 9.30pm.
