Venue:                        Castello's Cucina

 

 

Guests:                        Rtn Heather Kilsby, plus Rob's assistants Eukabeth & Lucy

 

Attendance:                23 members  4 guests

President John welcomed our guests with a well delivered Anzac Day invocation theme. He asked members to respond promptly to his invitation to nominate the Committees on which they wish to serve next year.....membership and public image need help. The Solomon Islands' project is expected to be wrapped up soon.

Paul Duke introduced Cathy who had been a Parkside GP for much of her working life. In the medical field she has a special interest in prevention, mental health and women's health. She has served on a number of State Government committees, including family doctor reviews and is on the board of the SA Post Graduate Medical Education Association. Her 'outside interests' include family, friends, fitness, food and hiking.

 

Cathy explained that she was shanghaied into this little adventure by Bob Mullins with whom she was having a chat at the Thrift Shop and he discovered she was a former RYE student, It all began back in 1974 when she was a year 12 student at Walford and was invited by a Rotarian friend of her father to apply. Which she did, and won a spot. 3 months of training intermingled with exams followed. This gave her the opportunity to understand the protocols, requirements, risks, and opportunities plus meet with former RYE students and other students heading for North America. She flew out after a big send off  to join RC Waterdown (near Ontario) in Canada on 15 January 1975 for 12 months. Her mentor and initial host family lived on the shore of Lake Ontario near Hamilton. 6 other families took their turn at hosting. Memories include the splendid lake setting, the rural experience, well structured programs of learning and fun, and the not to be forgotten PANCAKES AND MAPLE SYRUP......to die for.....but not helpful weight wise. Initially she was enrolled in the local high school where she also did cheer-leading, badminton and euchre. There was a monthly meeting of exchange students. Rotary meetings each week involved numerous speeches about Australia and much travel. Scenic highlights included Niagara Falls, Canadian West Coast, the Rockies and Quebec. 

After 4 months of high school Cathy elected to study at a nursing school to test whether medicine, among her various career options, would be worth pursuing.....and it was. Cathy described the spectacular Canadian seasons: winter with its snow blanket, skiing, ice skating, ice sailing and curling; spring with its fabulous flowers and gathering of maple syrup; summer with sunshine and the best of holidays in shacks...heaven; fall (autumn) with its beautiful colours. It was an action packed year - the transition was abrupt but at least she arrived back to sunshine in Adelaide. In 1976 she became a first year med student and Haydn Bailey was in her class.

36 years was spent in her Parkside practice, only retiring 2 years ago. During that time overseas trips took her back to Ontario, and she has hosted 4 club members here. Other than her ongoing medical interests she is involved in coastal revegetation on the Yorke Peninsula and Dark Sky at Carrickalinga.

And what did the RYE do for Cathy:

'The luckiest of people'

Cathy was applauded for her address and many questions followed.

 

President John spoilt the party by asking if anyone could repeat the core values of Rotary. Of course we all knew what they were - diversity, friendship, integrity, service and leadership.

President John announced that the Thrift Shop had revenue of $2229 last week.....excellent. On Saturday, Christina will be doing Vera's afternoon shift at the shop and Jerry will be doing Jason's. The highlight of the night came when the editor purloined the filthy lucre. Wendy and Heather also did well.

 

Nice work of President John to finish on time after telling an old Irish joke.

FUNERAL OF ALEX JONSON

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