Guest Speaker: Richard Venus - Sir Charles Todd 1826 - 1910
President Jason introduced Richard, a heritologist, who has made a study of the remarkable Charles Todd. Charles was an electrical engineer who had a grand vision achieved through working in the finest of detail. He is best known as the person who installed the Overland Telegraph Line (completed 1872) of 3200km from Darwin to Port Augusta. The line comprised sticks, fencing wire, insulators, batteries and relay stations. Todd inspected every pole during the construction.....the project management was unprecedented. Richard would argue that his achievements stretched well beyond this.
As a callow youth of 15, Todd was employed at Greenwich to provide data for a global positioning system, by linking time difference from GMT. Combining geography with meteorology, trigonometric charts were produced for the then dominant British navy. He became self trained in astronomy and meteorology. He also had the advantage of working under astronomer and mathematician George Airy who was accredited as establishing Greenwich as the prime meridian and for his planetary orbit discoveries. In 1854 Todd was appointed as head of South Australia's astronomical, meteorological and electric telegraph department. Upon completion of the telegraph he set up networks of volunteers and telegraph operators to provide weather reports. In 1879 he produced a weather map, the first of its kind, and informed that wind and weather moved from West to East...previously thought to be the opposite direction. In 1869 he was also made head of the Postal Department, the only profitable one on the continent.
For his services Todd was knighted with the KGMG and numerous other awards including one for astronomy.
Richard was thanked by acclamation.
Spot
Christina Way received her first payment of $42.20 from the postage stamps collection with proceeds to those suffering from PTSD.
Finale
There needs to be another Royal Commission! Last week Jason won the cash and Trevor the chocolates....this week it was the other way round! To make it worse, Trevor has won a prize (3 firsts) in each of the last 4 weeks. Figure out the odds of that happening! Christina was happy that her grand-daughter was crawling forwards but saddened by the loss of her dog. Rhonda had caught up with a Rotarian from Lobethal with whom she liaised during the last Group Study Exchange and whose house had been destroyed by fire. He needs some help replacing his decimated wine cellar and maybe we could help with a bottle or two. Valerie had had an animated discussion on a QE2 cruise recently during a meeting organised for service clubs.....the main topic was membership.
The meeting closed opportunely.
LOCK IN 15 FEBRUARY AS YOUR ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT
Jerry has given you a choice
1. An Evening Under the Stars by the Unley Road Association
2. A Quiz Night by our daughter club Prospect
ROTARY NEWS
Suspended until blogs improve
Our Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 11 February 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Richard Morrall Summertown CFS
Chair: Valerie Bonython..........Set-up, Welcome and Apologies: Leonie Kewen and John Kikkert
Tuesday 18 February 2020 6 for 6.30pm at Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Jonathon Robran Operation Flinders
Chair; Bob Mills..........Set-up, Welcome and Apologies: Stephen Baker and John Kikkert
Wednesday 26 February 2020 6.40 for 7.00pm at Clarence Park Bowls Club [please eat beforehand]
Annual Bowl Tournament with RC Mitcham
Bowling commences 7pm sharp.....followed by supper about 8.30pm Cost $15 each
Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Vera Holt on 0417 892 624 or email to unley.secretary@rotaryclub.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: 1 February 2020
Early: Vera Holt & Jerry Casburn | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 8 February 2020
Early: Greg Mcleod & Virginia Cossid | Late: Wendy Andrews & Heather Kilsby
Week 3: 15 February 2020
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Pam Trimmer & Ken Haines
Week 4: 22 February 2020
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Rhonda Hoare & Jason Booth
Week 5: 29 February 2020
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Jerry Casburn & Reno Elms
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Pam Trimmer (T) 8293 2612; (M) 0415 238 333; e-mail: pamela.trimmer@bigpond.com
Bunnings Mile End Barbeque
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Next Date: Monday 17 February
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
The next Mitre 10 BBQ (first Saturday of each month) will be on 7 March
The Tale End.……
And other things matter as well
A woman is sipping on a glass of wine, whilst sitting on the patio with her husband
and she says "I love you so much, I don't know how I could live without you"
Her husband asks "Is that you, or the wine talking"?
She replies "Its me talking to the wine".
John Peacham introduced Chris who was born in Adelaide and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. He took up employment with Dow Chemical and remained in Melbourne until returning to Adelaide in 2018. Chris was a member of the Rotary Club of Altona where he twice was President, ran the International Committee for a number of years, served on his District's Vision Committee, received the RI President's Encouragement Award and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He is married to Deb, and has two children and 4 grandchildren.
