Anne Du Vé and Lois Kingston from the Country Women s Association were our guest speakers.

Transcription

1 Bulletin Volume 84 No.34 March Rotary Club of Sale Rotary District 9820 Incorporated Last Meeting Celebrating Women Monday March 18 Anne Du Vé and Lois Kingston from the Country Women s Association were our guest speakers. Member s, partners and guests met for an evening to celebrate women in Rotary and in the wider community. Ladies attending were each given a small package containing chocolates as they entered. We were joined by Alwyn Ryan our first and only woman President, Daniel s parents, Theo and Sandra Smolenaars (Sandra is also a member of the CWA) and guest Jenni Henderson. Ann and Lois both spoke to us about the CWA which is a remarkable women s organisation. Lois dealt with the history of the CWA and we were most interested to learn that it commenced the same year as our Club began (1928) and also began locally that year. Lois mentioned many highlights and achievements that have occurred over the years. In earlier times the CWA helped in the foundation of Bush Nursing Hospitals. The CWA assisted in many ways during the war years and has been involved in almost every aspect of the community since then. Ann spoke to us about things that the CWA does today and also how it has reinvented itself over the years. Like Rotary, the CWA has many avenues of service. Today the CWA helps with many things including: Traveller s Aid, hospital visits, the United Nations Association, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Cystic Fibrosis support, providing scholarships and assisting when disasters happen. The Association is held in such high esteem by government that it is often asked for advice on important community issues. In return the Association often lobbies government on matters of concern to members. The CWA is actively involved in arts and crafts and has a choir, based in Melbourne. With a reputation for cooking, it is no surprise that the Association operates a successful catering service. The State headquarters of the CWA is a beautiful Victorian home in Lansell Road, Toorak, which also operates as accommodation for members and friends. It transpired, during question time, that the local group of the Country Women s Association was a major supporter of the Five Star Project, which is a lovely link with our Rotary Club. After their visit this week Anne Du Vé sent a beautiful CWA card thanking me for asking them to speak at our Club. (The card had a recipe for making scones on it!) D2

2 David and Christine also made a short presentation about honouring women. Some of the points they made: Women have made many contributions to our world far beyond the important roles of mother and homemaker. They have continued to achieve great things so that today we have a woman as Governor General and as Prime Minister, something earlier generations would not have dreamt of. We might even think that celebrating International Women s Day unnecessary in a country like Australia where gender equality is so evident. However: Billions of women around the world do not have the freedom and equality that we have. There are still things in our own society that diminish women. For every Marie Curie, Madeleine Albright, Aung Suu Kyi or Quentin Bryce there are thousands of unknown women working unbelievably hard to achieve great things for their children. In a society obsessed with fame it is often the real heroes we fail to acknowledge. In our country, women work very hard at their career as well as running a home and looking after their children. In many places overseas the daily grind that women face is unimaginable.

3 David concluded It is my firm belief that the hand that rocks the cradle does rule the world. it s just that a lot of men haven t noticed. At the conclusion of the evening, each lady was given a beautiful, cellophane wrapped Lily flower and buds to take home. (Flowers, chocolates and raffle prize donated by David and Christine) K1 Margaret Vitlin Clearly the most important person at our Women s Evening was Margaret who has recently undergone bypass surgery. This was her first meeting back at Rotary. Naturally, Margaret was asked to draw the winning raffle ticket and in a strange quirk of fate drew her own ticket. Everyone was happy that she won the prize of ladies gifts. Next Meeting Monday March 25 6:30pm Tara home of David and Judy Tulloch Redbank Road Stratford BBQ meats and salads are provided but bring your own refreshments and a sweet to share. There will be a display of century-old horse drawn vehicles and music by Ron and May Kyne of KwikSilva Band. The night will feature the presentation of the Williamson-Rotary Equestrian Bursary. How to get there: From Sale travel to Stratford and, shortly after entering the township, turn right into Macalister Street the first main street on the right. Follow this road out of the township do not deviate it becomes Redbank Road and after 2.8 km you will see Tara on your right just after the Knob Nature Reserve.

4 Relay for Life this weekend Saturday March 23 2 pm Sunday 24 10am Sale Greyhound Track For information or in case of difficulties contact Adrian Rijs See Mandy Garrard for a foot massage. A piece of art on the topic of women and children to brighten your day... detail from The three ages of a woman Gustav Klimt 1905

5 The road ahead Saturday March 23 Sunday March 24 Monday March 25 Monday April 1 Monday April 8 Monday April 15 Monday April 22 Saturday May 4 Monday May 20 Relay for life At Tara the home of David and Judy Tulloch Stratford Presentation of the Williamson-Rotary equestrian bursary Easter Monday no meeting The School of St Jude in Tanzania Margaret Vitlin Club Night Neville Gibbons OAM Anzac Day A night at Laurels DG Elect Tim Moore pays us a visit