Bulletin #017 - 23 October 2026

Howdy Pardners...

President Wayne “The Duke” welcomed all and reminded us “Is it Beneficial to all Concerned?” – quite pertinent to shopping and today’s speaker. The Duke then reminded us that...

23 Oct National TV Talk Show Host Birthday in honour of Johnny Carson, and

24 Oct World End Polio Day – wear your red T shirt tomorrow!

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Wayne D : Still need a President for next year – No President – no club! Please see him after meeting if interested.

Ian K : Membership committee meeting after breakfast; Vocational visit to Narrogin this week for OffTraq. Eno and Astrid already there

Gorby : Visit to Government House 5^th November. Names needed to submit and ID on the day. 19 starters so far, lunch at “The Lucky Shag” afterwards. Gorby & Sana becoming Host family for RYE student Felipe. Help requested with activities for him please.

Diana G : Walking for RFDS this weekend, please join her 6:30AM. Saturday - Dome Café Deep Water Point. Sunday - Mr Walker Mend St Jetty.

 

Stan Perron Award – Tiffany Kwong

Congratulations to Tiffany Kwong, Diana and Eugene’s daughter. This award is presented by Scarborough Rotary Club to a deserving Year 12 student at a Government High School which is linked to Rotary. 

Tiffany had been the President of the Rossmoyne SHS Interact Club.

 The Stan Perron Award goes to a student who makes a significant contribution to the school community service and who emulates the elements of Rotary’s Four Way Test.

 

Guest Speaker : Natasha Atkinson, CEO Fremantle Markets

Growing up on a farm in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt, Natasha Atkinson (middle) developed an early appreciation for hard work, community and the importance of supporting local businesses.

Today, Natasha is the Chief Executive Officer of Fremantle Markets, one of Western Australia’s most iconic tourism destinations, where she combines her passion for people,

entrepreneurship and creating vibrant community spaces.

Her entrepreneurial interests extend back to the Wheatbelt, where she owns and operates

Wheatbelt Luxury Escapes, a boutique accommodation business in York. She is also Chairperson of York Racing Inc., where she is passionate about revitalising Australia's first provincial racecourse and building its future as a destination for racing, tourism and community events.

Natasha is also Vice Chair of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of Destination Perth.

Throughout her career, Natasha has been driven by a belief in the power of fresh ideas, collaboration and community spirit to create opportunities and bring places to life.

Natasha attributes a rural upbringing with establishing a “fix what you break” problem-solving mentality and shaping her leadership approach. Her first “management” role on the family farm was an emu that wouldn’t sit and establishing a zoo-keeper checklist

Managing Café Moka in Merredin, at age 24, highlighted the difference between theoretical business ownership and execution, underscoring the necessity of pre-agreed exit clauses in partnerships. Initial rejection for the Fremantle Markets CEO role allowed her to build expertise in Adelaide, at the Mount Claremont Farmers Market, positioning her strongly when the opportunity resurfaced.

Developing Wheatbelt Luxury Escapes in York (with her “city-boy” husband) has been a dream come true. Chairing the York Racecourse reflects her commitment to regional storytelling, multi-purpose community spaces, and securing funding through Destination Perth.

 

Natasha outlined the history of

Fremantle Markets from its 1897 construction through its 1970s disrepair, its 1975 reopening under tender by John Murdoch and Wayne Donaldson, the current leasehold relationship with the City of Fremantle, and the eight-year campaign to secure a 20-year lease extension.

On her role as CEO, Natasha reflected markets must maintain a distinct, unambiguous identity (e.g., arts, swap meet, or farmers market) driven by passionate leadership to thrive over failed generic models.

Administrative burdens of safety, electrical tagging, and risk compliance across hundreds of transient vendors are managed efficiently using CRM workflows and an AI assistant named “Lexi.”

The success of Fremantle Markets belongs to the operating business and tenant community, distinct from the physical historic shell leased from the council.

Lessons learned from her experiences:

• be prepared to have a go,
• learn from your mistakes,
• setbacks can often take you somewhere better,
• people and relationships matter,
• success doesn’t always look like you expect. 

Fines

• Wayne D For getting it right…
• Anyone who remembers UN launched in 1946
• Any iPod owner or GPS user
• Joy her shirt was too LOUD!
• All those who are fans of Snow Leopard Day/Johnny Carson Day/Crocs Day/horror movies/“Dumbo” movie watchers/cricketers/Freo Market shoppers/Global Champagne Day

Winner of Heads and Tails

David Rowell’s sister Christine grabbed the grog - and well deserved after coming all the way from the Southern Highlands NSW to sample a good drop!

Attendance

31 attendees in all, including guest speaker Natasha Atkinson and visitor Christine.

Club Duties

30 October   

Sargeant        Angus Florence

Attendance    Kim Paine, Sriyani De Souza

Welcome        Brian Adams

Host               Brian Johnson

Club Dress    Mike Collett, Angus Florence

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

6 November  

Sargeant        Mike Collett

Attendance    Ross Smith, Warren McCamey

Welcome       Howard Nelson

Host               Kelly Gillen

Club Dress    Angus Florence, Ken PIttman

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

Future Guest Speakers

Mill Point Guest Speakers 2026 - 2027   October 2                      Patrick Morrison - Wrecks of the Swan River 9                      Rob Storey - Rob's Long Walk Home 16                    Jen Merrigan - Have A Go News 23                    Natasha Atkinson - CEO Fremantle Markets 30                    Laura Lilly - Blades of Oary November 6                      Felipé Alves Mizobuchi RYE; Club Forum 13                    Ry Beaver - Wildlife Photos & Citizen Science 20                    Mark Horwood/Gordon Smith - GHC Timor Leste 27                    Tim McDonald - The "Y "(YMCA) WA December 4                     Mill Point In-House/AGM 11                    Tracey Hicks - Spina Bifida - Journey & Books 18                    Stephen Blake - Harry Perkins Institute 25                    It's Christmas! - No Meeting  January 2027 1                      No Meeting 8                      Club Picnic 15                    Samgiita Hope - Dementia with Dignity 22 29 February 5                    Mill Point In-House/AGM 12 19 26 March 5                    Mill Point In-House/AGM 12 19 26 April 2                    Mill Point In-House/AGM 9 16 23                ANZAC 30 May 7                    Mill Point In-House/AGM 14 21                    Unsung Heroes 28 June 4                    Mill Point In-House/AGM 11

Upcoming Events

FREE AI seminars - Book now!

 

*****

1 November - 80 Years of Northam Rotary

Come visit the home of blue skies, white swans and hot air balloons and celebrate Northam turning 80 years old at a special lunch at the Rec Centre, Northam!

 5 November - Government House Visit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***** 

2027 District Events!

 

 

Bulletin #016 - 16 October 2026

Howdy Pardners...

President Wayne (aka The Duke)opened the meeting with a few "yahoo's" and posed that the 4 Way Test for today - 'Is It The Truth' could be aimed at news givers - BUT acknowledged the good work of Have A Go News! 

Reminder - that the new member list has been sent out by Brian, please check details and if incorrect let us know asap.

It appears that new members are working on assumed knowledge so the Board will be preparing a brochure on the club protocols, committees and roles in Mill Point. 

This day in history...

1978 Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century, as well as the third longest-serving pope in history, after St. Peter and Pius IX. Mama Mia? Diavolo! (check out the translation!)

It's also World Food Day - celebrating a range of international and global food throughout 2026,  spanning popular global treats, culinary milestones, and awareness campaigns of nutrition and multiculturalism since 1945. Fits in well with Pickles (he meant PICYS!)
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• The Duke - received a $200 donation from ex-member Ross Stewart
• Jill Dawson - Wine offer of 25% discount on Wise Wine premium collection to mark 100 years of Rotary - scroll down to see order sheet under Events
•  BJ - Great vocational visit to Perkins Institute with excellent presentation, so good in fact they will be our guest speakers at our Christmas meeting.
• Angus - Fundraising committee meeting after breakfast.
• Kelly - Ride the Train to End Polio reminder for 24 October. If you can't ride the train then wear your red T-Shirt all day - walking, talking, shopping, gardening, picking up kids etc - to create awareness that we are 99.8% free of Polio in the world.
• Carole - Some tickets still available for "Pick Your Poison" at the Old Mill Theatre. Pay by EFT or via the square.
• Lorrie - reminder Offtraq next weekend so she will be missing in action as she motors through the outback. Still time to donate to Lorrie's car. 

Vocational Visit – Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research

Last Friday, fifteen members and

partners enjoyed a very interesting tour of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, followed by lunch at Zamia Café in Kings Park.

They were treated to a tour of the many workshops and laboratories, as well as given a very informative audiovisual presentation by guide Steven Blake (pictured). He outlined the story behind the Institute’s founding and detailed many of the ground-breaking research projects that it has conducted right here in WA.

Steven has very kindly accepted an invitation to be Guest Speaker at our Xmas meeting with partners.

Guest Speaker :  Jen Merigan - Have A Go News!

Jen is the Managing Editor of Have a Go News, second-generation leader of the publication and an advocate for healthy aging, media accessibility and policy reform for mature Western Australians. 

This year Have a Go News celebrates its 35^th Anniversary.

It a family story, being founded by her parents, the late Judith Treby and Quentin Smythe.

At one stage, there were three generations of her family working at the paper. Her daughter Tahlia joined them after graduating in journalism, media, public relations and marketing.

Jen credits Tahlia with completing a major update of the back-end systems and helped bring them firmly into the twenty first century. Tahlia is now an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, working in public affairs.

Independent community print media remains vital and trusted by mature audiences, even as Have a Go News expands into digital content and podcasts to capture deeper human stories. Have a Go News has a very active Facebook and Instagram pages with nearly thirty thousand followers, and they also have a regular television commercial on Channel Nine Perth.

In July, as part of the anniversary celebrations, they launched their newest venture, the Have a Go Cafe podcast. It began with with Engelbert Humperdinck and has included Miriam Margoyles, Susie Quattro and recently Li Cunxin (author of Mao’s Last Dancer).

The newspaper is available through shopping centres, supermarkets, libraries, community and recreation centres, retirement villages, and many other outlets throughout the state. They’re constantly looking for new outlets and encouraging more people to subscribe digitally.

Healthy aging is driven by active social connection, volunteering, and maintaining a sense of purpose - beyond viewing aging solely through medical or aged care lenses.

Demographic projections show rapid growth in Western Australia’s aging population, requiring proactive, coordinated government planning across housing, health, transport, and community infrastructure.

Mainstream media often sidelines or stereotypes older demographics, underscoring the need for dedicated platforms that celebrate their ongoing contributions and achievements.

Mature readers value physical print for trustworthy, accessible information without the overwhelm or scam risks common online.

Purpose and community engagement are directly linked to longevity and well-being, demonstrating that age is no barrier to creative and social endeavors. Government and commercial institutions should move away from viewing older demographics as a burden and invest in preventive healthy aging strategies.

Cross-generational family involvement and multimedia adaptation have helped Have a Go News remain resilient, being funded entirely by advertising. Since the pandemic, they have faced rising newsprint, printing, and distribution costs, while Google and Meta absorb an enormous share of advertising spending.

Looking back on what this newspaper has given her, Jen observed one of the greatest lessons is the importance of believing in community, sharing stories, building friendships, developing relations, and being consistent enough that people know you will still be there when they need you.

A Fine(s) Time for all...

• WA is in trouble with lack of aged care facilities; longer waiting times at emergency depts, insufficient equipment in medical facilities - all due to our aging population - so all you 'old' people - pay up!
• Graduates of the three Universities - an amalgamation is taking shape - BUT will it be CUWAM, WACDOCH, or MURCUWA - best bet is Cook University - however whichever Uni you went to - let's have a dollar!
• Departure tax for Qantas Flyers - you will need tropical strength travel insurance as you fly high with traveling bed bugs being reported on flights out of Perth.
• Egg consumers levy - from those supporting the 'Egg Cartel'  and their anti-competitive behaviour in managing supply! What an egg-cellent idea and that's no yolk!
• Fans of Vin Rouge (red wine) or Fromage au Français (French cheese) - better stock up for Christmas or you'll be 'sans fromage' (without cheese) as it all went in the bin this week following an unprecedented attack on refrigeration systems - ooh la la!
• Last but not least the Duke - who doesn't know his Pickles from his PICYS! 

Winner of Heads and Tails

No winners today! 

Attendance

37 attendees in all, including guest speaker Jen Merigan, visiting Rotarians Bill Boekmann (Wongan Hills RC), Jill Dawson (Perth RC) and visitors Don Gray (Lorries brother).

Bulletin #015 - 9 October 2026

 

Howdy Pardners and yee-ha!

Amidst a sea of top-hats, toques, stetsons, mortarboards, pork-pies, flatcaps, bobcaps, curly wigs, glitteratti, beanies, bowlers and boaters a rousing welcome was given to our esteemed President Wayne!

The Duke reminded us that in everything we do and say we must always be mindful of the 4 Way Test tenet 'is it fair to all concerned' and what occured on this day in history... 

1992  a space rock the size of a bowling ball fell out of space and crash landed on a woman's Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, New York.

Today is Mouldy Cheese Day and Curious Events Day (the mind boggles!) 
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Angus: Bricktober volunteers needed for bump in tonight, Saturday and Sunday shifts and bump out Sunday. List circulating.
• Ian: Mentor program expression of interest list circulating.
• Veronica: 24 October is International Polio Day, if you can't ride the train then please wear your red T-shirt to create awareness and/or contribute to the Mill Point MyCause page https://www.mycause.com.au/page/406459/mill-point-rotary; Nepal Disaster appeal has raised in excess of $75,000 to date - thank you to the club and individuals who contributed; DG for 2028-2029 applications are still open, please consider nominating for this terrific position.
• Rick: Will be collecting frozen meals for PICYS not next week but the week after. All contributions welcome. 

   

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Update

 

Felipé visited The Royal Show with Wayne & Katrina Duke. 

 

He had an enjoyable day, including getting to meet the “Long Arm of the Law”….

 

 Guest Speaker - Rob Storey's 'Long Walk Home'

Rob is a 65 year-old retired Financial Adviser. He is married and the father of 3 adult children. Rob was a former Board Member and Chair of Muscular Dystrophy WA, now Neuromuscular WA. He is still an active volunteer with Neuromuscular WA as well as a Volunteer Firefighter.

At 40 Rob, although not a runner, signed up for the City to Surf as motivation to “get off his butt and exercise/train”. Entering events and targeting goals as motivation to maintain some level of fitness he continued with completion of a marathon, Ironman, hiking the Kokoda track and an end-to-end Bibbulmun Track.

 

This culminated in a fundraising walk from Melbourne to Perth, raising awareness and funds for Neuromuscular WA.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 30 inherited genetic conditions that cause progressive weakness, breakdown, and wasting of skeletal muscles over time. Rob related the storey of his neighbour’s three children with the condition, progressing to wheelchairs and with none reaching their thirties. 

Neuromuscular WA is the only specialist organisation in Western Australia dedicated to supporting people living with neuromuscular conditions. Unlike many health charities, it receives no ongoing operational funding from the State or Federal Government, meaning vital services are only possible thanks to the generosity of the community. The Perth-based charity provides personalised support, advocacy, equipment assistance, education, peer connection and community programs, helping hundreds of individuals and families across Western Australia live with greater independence, confidence and connection. 

Rob’s 4,000 kilometre walk from Melbourne to Perth raised over $67,000 for Neuromuscular WA. Despite a hip replacement before the walk, severe weather, injuries, and close calls with traffic, he persevered through physical and mental challenges. His motivation was driven by a cause he and his family have supported for over 20 years.

The walk required meticulous planning, managed by Rob’s wife Louise, including route mapping, food and water access, coordinating rest days around family commitments, and adapting to unforeseen circumstances such as injuries and a last-minute change of the starting city. He completed the walk in 81 days, averaging 46 km per day. Walking 46 km a day reduced dietary worries. He started with protein shakes and simple meals but eventually needed five meals a day plus snacks as his body burned through fat reserves. He consumed protein bars, hydrolytes, rice, and pasta. At one point, a large apple turnover provided the sugar boost needed to finish a day’s walk, experiencing the normal aches and pains expected at his age but has no significant long-term injuries from the walk. Whilst not a natural athlete, once he sets his mind on an endurance goal, Rob has never failed, and his commitment to finishing helped him push through the toughest days.

Rob is planning his next challenge – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his children.

A transcript of Rob’s talk can be viewed at:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oxsiYfhTnJ_AMYo8POSkV1SPEw4pECKw&usp=drive_fs

A Fine(s) Picker of Pockets, Wayne the Elder.

• Hats missing in action - if you're not wearing one pay up!
• President Wayne for denigrating mouldy cheese!
• Geoff L the birthday boy
• Property owners who have one of the 10m houses in Australia unoccupied, or is one of the 10% holders (of 15m) empty bedrooms.
• If the earth moved for you when the Port Hedland earth tremors struck

Winner of Heads and Tails

Bob the Builder (aka Angus Florence)  grabbed the grog after a heady win! Thanks to Owen Ferguson for supplying a very nice bottle of wine!

Attendance

31attendees in all, including guest speaker Rob Storey, visiting Rotarian (and host father) Geoff Anderson,  and visitors Sue Rowell, John Palmer and Felipé Alves Mizobuchi (RYE student).

Bulletin #014 - 2 October 2026

Howdy Pardners...

The Duke was most warmly welcomed by all and reminded us of today's 4 Way Test tenet - Is It Fair To All Concerned - and one by which we should all observe, every day.  In history today...

1869 Mahatma Ghandi was born, Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule.

1950 Charles M Schultz created the first Peanuts comic strip featuring Charlie Brown and  'Snoopy' made his first appearance in the strip on October 4, just two days after the strip's debut. You can find Peanut characters on Uniqlo t-shirts.
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Angus: Volunteers wanted for Bricktober 10 & 11 October at Curtin Stadium to help on the Merchandise stall. The Club will receive some of the proceeds, contact Angus on 0450 498 098.
• Ian K: Mentor It Forward needs mentors, sign up sheet is circulating, contact Ian on 0419 896 305.
• Astrid: Offtraq needs 'bag packing' assistance on Tuesday 20 October 1pm for 2 hours, please call Astrid on 0402 900 088 if you can help.
• Gorby: Vocational tour to the Perkins Institute today, meet at Zamia café at 9.15am to car pool to site. Trip to Government House planned for 5 November but need 20 people to confirm. Will need names, addresses, emails and phone numbers for security reasons, to book contact Gorby 0417 935 504.
• Kelly: Hat Day next Friday, wear fun, creative, or eye-catching hats to "lift the lid" on mental illness, sparking conversations about mental health and reducing stigma without forcing individuals to share personal struggles - all proceeds to Cancer.
• Garrick (aka Karen): Disappointed that members are not assisting with activities for our Rotary Youth Exchange student Felipé who has now been with us for 8 weeks. Felipé will be hosted by Gorby and Sana in 2 weeks time so even more assistance is needed. Please contact Garrick on 0418 112 994
• Eunice: Reminder AI events are free (scroll down to events page) please book via the link. Invitation from Anne Curran (Vinnies) to visit site on 24 November. More details to follow.

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Update

Felipé has spent a few days in Rottnest

with his current Host Family, Jeff & Heather and their extended family. He enjoyed riding around the whole island on an electric bike and a spot of fishing where he caught a big squid. In a couple of weeks, Felipe will move in with Gorby & Zana.

Makynli is enjoying her new Host Family and school whilst also taking in the sights of Poitier and Les Journees Du Partrimione.

Guest Speaker : Patrick Morrison - Shipwrecks in the Swan River

Patrick is a Maritime Archaeologist and is the Assistant Curator Maritime Heritage at the Western Australia Museum.

He is an expert in underwater photogrammetry for archaeology and has recorded significant shipwrecks with the WA Museum including Trial 1622, Batavia 1629 and Zeewijk 1727. He is a qualified Commercial and Technical Diver.

Patrick also co-discovered the oldest shipwreck in the Swan River.

 

Australia's maritime history extends back at least 65,000 years with deliberate, boat-based ocean crossings. Patrick highlighted a significant gap in current shipwreck legislation: while a federal law protects anything over 75 years old in the ocean, Western Australia's state law only protects wrecks dating before 1900, leaving World War I and II sites in state waters unprotected.

Due to the severe lack of visibility in the tannin-stained Swan River, archaeologists rely heavily on new technologies. They repurpose public Department of Transport seabed mapping data to spot anomalies, and use underwater photogrammetry to stitch thousands of images into highly detailed 3D "digital twins" of wreck sites for office-based study.

Excavation is considered a last resort due to the high cost and effort of

perpetual conservation.

The WA Museum's database records roughly 1,800 wrecks, but only 391 have been physically located. Recent analysis of open-source data revealed over 40 potential new wreck sites in the Swan River.

Notable discoveries include Alfred Dearden’s 1882 limestone barge—the oldest known wreck in the river—and the suspected 1897 brick-carrying barge Jane.

Patrick outlined several upcoming tasks, including investigating the 40+ potential Swan River sites, using sub-bottom profiling to confirm the Jane barge, planning a targeted excavation of the 1882 barge ahead of the Swan River Colony's 200th anniversary, and advancing efforts to update protective legislation for 20th-century wrecks.

Patrick’s full PowerPoint is a very large file. A PDF version can be downloaded/viewed at:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tOaBJW0lCie8eClC11RjEn7vuh5IHft5&usp=drive_fs

One Fine(s) Lady...

• Groucho Marx and Sting fans - seen a film, sang a song - pay up!
• 'Peanuts' comic strip readers, fans of Snoopy or Charles M Schultz $1 please.
• Winners and losers, Dockers for the obvious, to the victor the spoiles so any Brisbane fans, and whilst we're at it any other Docker tragics. 
• Rugby followers - especially those who have connections with ACT. 
• Yesterday was International Coffee Day so caffeine addicts put $1 in the pot! 
• Gerry McG - for boosting the Greek economy instead of the Australian one.
• The late Eunice Sari, for being late and departure tax as you wing your way overseas
• David R - too many tickets in front of you so we'll relieve you of some.
• Eno - our newest member, because...well because I can! 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Visitor Jill Matthwin all the way from Kojonup won the wine and mighty pleased she was too!

Attendance

41 attendees in all, including excellent guest speaker Patrick Morrison, visiting Rotarian Jill Matthwin (Kojonup) and late visitor Alina Racu.

 

 

Important dates coming up - mark your diaries!