Guests: Patty Ascough, Beverley Baker, Bill Baxter, Roslyn Brown, Linda Byron, BrionyCasburn, Karen Forrest, Jill Hill, Roger Hoare and Milo Merrett, Linda Matthews, Maria Mills, Kathy Needs, David Short, Astrid Sorrell, Rowena Barbosa and Rob's Assistants Joanne and Faith
Attendance: 29 members 18 guests
Welcome
In the hallowed domain of Kooyonga Golf Course, Ross Smith, splendidly attired as usual, opened proceedings and declared that the evening would be run smoothly and expeditiously......which he achieved......it was a very busy night at the office.
Chris Davis rendered the toast to Rotary International. His theme of vision, initiative and leadership displayed by Paul Harris and his business colleagues at the outset in 2005 has been a hallmark of Rotary ever since. The over 30,000 clubs and $1m plus members world wide continue to deliver humanitarian (notably the eradication of polio), community, youth, environment and leadership programs to the benefit of so many. There is collective satisfaction and enjoyment from being a Rotarian and making a difference. Let us toast Rotary International! and we did.
Bob Mullins in his response highlighted the giving of service and fellowship.
Now for one of the highlights of the night - Jerry Casburn - who has been to hell and back with serious medical issues over the last year. He paid tribute to Briony who has given unstinting support - every day. He thanked members for their visits and well wishes. His time with Unley Rotary has been great. We all wish him the very best.
Inductions
President John announced there would be 2 inductions, namely Astrid Sorrell and Patty Ascough.
Astrid Sorrell was introduced by proposer Christina Way. Astrid is a lover of sport, performing in netball and softball at State level. Her employment included National Pharmacies, as a franchisee, and a vocational trainer. 17 years was spent in Whyalla TAFE et al helping kids from difficult backgrounds improve their self esteem and personal development, enabling them to gain employment. She also achieved a Diploma in Community Service and Certificate in Aged Care. Her family includes 2 children and one grandchild.
Astrid is to join the New Generation (Youth) Committee directed by Marie, Valerie will be her mentor, and her occupational designation - Workplace Trainer and Assessor
Patty Ascough was introduced by proposer Virginia Cossid. In 2002 Patty left Thunder Bay in Canada and came to Brisbane with husband Graham (mining appointment) and her 2 sons. In 2007 Graham brought the family to Adelaide with a new job. Patty has had a range of vocations including merchandising, real estate, superannuation, compliance, and executive assistant.....retiring in 2023. Loves playing golf at Kooyonga (second to Mt Osmond as the best course in the State) and theatre (particularly musicals), and has 2 grandchildren.
Patty is to join the Vocational Committee directed by Chris Davis, be mentored by John Peacham, and carry the designation of Executive Assistant.
Chris, Patty, Astrid and Marie
Both Astrid and Patty have joined Rotary to give back to the community. After induction by President John, they were enthusiastically welcomed into the club.
With all this sporting prowess joining the club, maybe it is time to scrap the annual lawn bowls grudge match with RC Mitcham and get into something more serious.
President's Report 2024/25
John's aim at the beginning of his term in 2023/24 (which stretched into 2024/25) was to deliver good projects, enjoyment and fun. Having watched John and Jerry achieve so much with their double terms, particularly in their second, the editor kinda thinks that one year terms are often akin to peddling with trainer wheels......
Achievements have included growth in club membership of 9, progress on strategic projects, maintaining the Thrift Shop with the great volunteers, delivering POOTY and the Teacher Awards, fixing Calperum, the Music Awards, Nepal with its eyesight and other projects, Cambodia and much more. Special thanks to Vivienne for her management of the Thrift Shop and Virginia on membership. [Why did he forget the record cremation of snags?]
Paul Harris Fellow Awards
President John selected 4 people worthy (one absent) of receiving the PHF blue sapphire for oustanding contribution to the club and district:
Chris Davis for his stewardship of POOTY (SA Police Officer of the Year) increasing its prestige and standing with the Police Commissioner, and the inauguration of local Teacher Awards, which was a great success
Greg McLeod for his service and contributions which have earnt him 5 blue saphhire pins
Geoff Hill, the oldest member of the club who joined Burnside Rotary on 2 May 1975, transferred to Unley in July 1977, Chair and member of numerous committees, Club President 2001/2, PHF 2005.....50 years of Rotary service.
Please note the halos
John thanked members for their support over the last 2 years.
Secretary Greg McLeod presented John with a gift (good for the beach) of appreciation for him having steered the club constantly and competently for the last 2 years, and filling the gaps left when Jerry became ill. Patsy rewarded Linda for her support of John during his presidency,
Presidential Induction 2025/26
John formally inducted Rhonda Hoare as the incoming President. Rhonda accepted with humility and reflected on John's oustanding contribution to the club, nurturing team work and achieving much. John was presented with the Presidential plaque made by Bob Mills; the President's Board was also on display with his name inserted.....only 10 spots left. The editor thought that it had disappeared to heat someone on a cold night.
John was toasted, as distinct from roasted, to the discordant rendition of He's a Jolly Goood.....
Rhonda presented her Board:
IPP - John Peacham
Secretary - Greg McLeod
Treasurer - Brenton Judge
Club Services Director - Stephen Baker
Vocational Director - Chris Davis
Absent were Commmunity Services Director Vivienne Wood and International Director Paul Duke.
Patsy and Valerie were thanked for staging this event.
Rhonda believes the centrepieces for 2025 should be peace in the world and support for our marvelous young people. Our RI theme is Unite together for good.
Rhonda asked her grandson Milo Merrett, who is 13, to give his perspective about peace.
Milo accompanied Rhonda and Roger to Japan. They delivered the paper peace cranes made by Unley Primary School students to the Hiroshima Memorial. In the museum there, Milo was struck by the photos from that fateful day on 5 August 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped. The massive mushroom cloud, the photos of the landscape before and after the blast, and the hospital wards with the dying and severely injured. This cannot be allowed to happen again! The world is again in a dangerous place. May peace prevail!
To which we all agreed with applause.
Finale
MC Ross thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 8.35pm....remarkable
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Final day of 2025 Rotary International Convention highlighted current and future Rotary leaders
By Etelka Lehockzy
The 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada, concluded in a spirit of fellowship and rejuvenation. Addressing the event’s closing general session, Rotary International President Stephanie A. Urchick urged members to recognize the power of their relationships.
“Rotary’s most powerful asset has always been you, our members. But we are only as strong as the people who stand beside us,” she said. “We talk a lot about goals and strategy. But without friendship, without encouragement, none of it takes hold. Rotary works because we belong here. … This is our community, and it matters.”
The session also featured Rotary’s future leaders. President-elect Francesco Arezzo described his commitment to the 2025-26 presidential message, Unite for Good.
“It means involving all members, but not only members, in our service. It means involving partner organizations … local administrations, other voluntary associations. In short, it means ‘expand our reach,’” said Arezzo, who was selected earlier this month as the next president. “Let us create one great shared dream that unites us, that excites us, that changes the world and changes our lives, too.”
Attendees spent the morning exploring various ways to maximize their impact. One breakout session, The Amazing Peace Race, explored how clubs can incorporate the eight Pillars of Positive Peace into their projects. The session Literacy Alive focused on the success of an initiative to build early reading skills in children in Belize.
A particularly crowded session was hosted by the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery, which fights human trafficking around the world. Earlier in the week, the action group had unveiled a permanent peace pole in downtown Calgary. The breakout session featured Cheryl Perera, founder and president of the Canadian nonprofit OneChild and a nominee for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. She told how she — seeking a way to fight child trafficking while still a teenager — served as a decoy for a government sting operation in Sri Lanka.
“I wanted to get an insider’s look into the child sex trade,” she said. “I contacted [someone in] the government branch that was tasked with protecting children and asked if there was any way I could watch an undercover operation happen. He said, ‘Yes, actually, you can play the decoy.’”
Perera aided in the capture and arrest of a perpetrator. The experience cemented her commitment to the issue and was part of what led her to found OneChild, which mobilizes children and teens to raise awareness about child trafficking.
In the House of Friendship exhibition hall, it was impossible to miss a 20-foot-tall tipi sponsored by Rotary District 5360 (parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada). The tipi was equipped with numerous learning tools to inform visitors about the concerns of Indigenous peoples.
“We’re very proud as a district to sponsor this exhibit, but we also don’t want it to be the last,” said Rotary member Cam Stewart, a 2023 Rotary People of Action honoree. “We [want] to help Rotarians around the world do more work with their Indigenous populations.”
As the convention’s final day drew to a close, Bryn Styles, chair of the 2025 Calgary Convention Committee, reflected on the success of the event.
“Everybody has told me how much they like the venue,” Styles said. “This building is just beautiful — warm and welcoming. And people love Calgary. I’ve just gotten rave reviews.”
Many attendees were already looking forward to upcoming gatherings. The chair of the 2026 Taipei Convention Committee, Andreas von Möller, enthusiastically invited attendees to the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan.
“The 34,000 Rotary members of Taiwan invite you to explore and truly experience the culture, impressive countryside, National Theater, and beautiful temples throughout the city,” he said. “The 2026 convention will provide an experience that will remain with you for the rest of your life.”
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix - Next one is Friday 4 July 2025
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 8 July 2025 6 for 6.30pm La Scala Restaurant
Event: Club consultations
Welcoming team: Stephen Baker & Judy Barton
Tuesday 15 July 2025 6 for 6.30pm La Scala Restaurant
Event: TBA
Welcoming team: Stephen Baker & Judy Barton
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 5 July 2025
Early: Stephen Baker (Haydn Baillie) & John Peacham | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Holt & Rhonda Hoare
Week 4: 26 July 2025
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Vera-Ann Stacy
Week 5: 30 August 2025
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood@ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 8.30am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next scheduled is Saturday 5 July 2025
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
John formally inducted Rhonda Hoare as the incoming President. Rhonda accepted with humility and reflected on John's oustanding contribution to the club, nurturing team work and achieving much. John was presented with the Presidential plaque made by Bob Mills; the President's Board was also on display with his name inserted.....only 10 spots left. The editor thought that it had disappeared to heat someone on a cold night.
Rhonda asked her grandson Milo Merrett, who is 13, to give his perspective about peace.
The session also featured Rotary’s future leaders. President-elect Francesco Arezzo 
