Bulletin #012 - 18 September

Howdy Pardners...

A riotous welcome to President Wayne who reminded us of the 4 Way Test and that in this day in...

• 1977 the 'US Voyager' took the first photograph of the moon and the earth together and
• Today is International Equal Pay Day 

 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Rick - food for PICYS (and not just spag bol please) still needed
• Angus - Fundraising committee meeting after breakfast
• Veronica - Shelterbox is seeking volunteers to join the Shelterbox team; Attadale RC's Fremantle Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert on Sunday (see events page)
• Brian J - Speaker program is now full up to end of December except for our Christmas meeting so seeking a Christmas theme speaker
• Owen - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is on tomorrow night. You will receive a phone call between 3.30 and 4.30 to tell you 'where to go'. Remember to pay your host $25 each and take wine, chocolates, flowers whatever you would take if you were invited to dinner.
• Gorby - Vocational visit to the Perkins Institute is on next Friday.
• Eunice - Free workshops on AI and Scammers 19-25 October. See events for more details.
• Ian - Offtraq list is still circulating and whilst we have 9 people from the Club helping out we need more. Info session on Sunday 2pm at the Empire Bar. 

 

Guest Speaker : Anne Curran, CEO St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies)

Ann Curran is the CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society WA, known as Vinnies WA. She has spent more than 20 years working with and in communities across the health and community services sectors, including the past eight years with Vinnies WA, first as the CFO and more recently as the CEO.

Ann was raised in an Irish family outside a small village in County Kildare and emigrated to Australia in the late 1980s.

Ann believes deeply that how we respond to the most marginalised and vulnerable people in our communities is a true measure of our collective health and wellbeing. She believes we are interconnected, and that we have far more in common with one another than we have differences.

Ann delivered a comprehensive presentation on homelessness in Western Australia and the organisation’s multifaceted response. She challenged common stereotypes, highlighting data that show homelessness predominantly affects women, families, and even employed individuals. Key drivers include family and domestic violence, financial hardship, and housing affordability stress.

The St Vincent de Paul Society in WA has served the community for 160 years and celebrated its 160th birthday in November 2025. The organisation is known lovingly as "Vinnies", a community-given nickname reflecting trust and care.

Homelessness doesn’t always look homeless:

• 50% of clients were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• On any given day in WA 5,070 adults are homeless
• 2,856 unaccompanied children/young people presented to a specialist service in WA
• 75% experienced homelessness before the age of 25
• Almost 3x as many females as males (12-24 years old)
•  Life expectancy of person experiencing homelessness 46 years (versus 83 years)

Her presentation outlined Vinnies’ specialist services:

• Tom Fisher House for the chronically homeless (a specialist low-barrier service on Beaufort Street for adults chronically homeless for over six months. It provides dignified accommodation with 12 private bedrooms for seven-night stays).

• Wanjoo Bidi for transitional housing (meaning “the welcome place", serving a large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Located in the former Murray Hotel. Transitional housing with 33 large rooms for people who have been street-present or need social/affordable housing).

• Youth-focused Passages and Compass programmes:

• Passages Youth Engagement Hubs. A collaboration between Vinnies and Rotary, with hubs in Perth and Peel. Drop-in centres for young people aged 12 to 25.

• Compass Program. Intensive case management for Passages youth ready to move forward. It supports reconnection with family and finding work, assisting a smaller cohort (20–30 young people) but achieves transformative outcomes.

Community support, philanthropy, fundraising (including the CEO Sleepout) and volunteering are essential to sustain these services. The core message: homelessness is a community issue requiring a collective, community-led response.

CEO Sleepout

• Annual fundraising event at Perth Zoo; open to more than CEOs.
• Participants sleep outside with minimal comforts (e.g., cardboard, basic soup) to gain insight into the physical and emotional impact of a night unsheltered without attempting to replicate homelessness.
• In 2026, about 140 people participated in 1.3-degree weather.

How you can help:

SHOW UP – Take part in the CEO Sleepout

• Or encourage a CEO you know to participate

GIVE – Donate. Fundraise. Dollar-match

• Donate to Vinnies Homelessness Services
• Philanthropic or corporate donation
• Nominate Vinnies as a beneficiary

Ann’s presentation can be viewed at:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1E-7qHQb_PkkpF5fFFeJsoJkJ1UlsO_PB?rtpof=true&usp=drive_fs

 

One Fine(s) Day...

Pocket Rocket Jenny McLean hot on the topic of immigration today, reminding us what a melting pot of multiculturalism we are...

• All migrants to Oz
• Anyone who is/have been involved with Health, Agriculture, Education and/or Construction
• Those who have contributed to boosting the population (e.g. parents, grandparents, etc)
• Electric vehicle drives because us petrol-heads are fed up of sponsoring your quiet service life 
• New research being conducted on rats that can be trained to detect contaminated soil - so all those with rats in their rafters, pantry, garage etc., 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Admiral Adams won the toss and doesn't he look admirable!

Attendance

39 attendees in all, including guest speaker Anne Curran, visiting Rotarian Bill Boekmann and visitor (and fellow CEO sleepout mate of Eunice) Emily Choo.

Club Duties

25 September   

Sargeant        Angus Florence

Attendance    Lorrie Gray, Warren McCamey

Welcome       Eunice Sari

Host               Wayne Muller

Club Dress    Mike Collett, Angus Florence

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

2 October   

Sargeant        Mike Collett

Attendance    Margaret Hyatt, Jessica Murray

Welcome       Lydia Wong

Host               Brian Adams

Club Dress    Angus Florence, Ken Pittman

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

9 October   

Sargeant            Mike Collett

Attendance      Ian Kremmer, Peggy Leung

Welcome         Howard Nelson

Host                 David Rowell

Club Dress        Mike Collett, Angus Florence

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

16 October   

Sargeant        Mike Collett

Attendance    

Welcome       

Host               Astrid Mitchell

Club Dress    

Birthdays

Anniversaries

23 October   

Sargeant        Mike Collett

Attendance    

Welcome     

Host               Alison Thair

Club Dress    

Birthdays

Anniversaries

 

 

Future Guest Speakers

Mill Point Guest Speakers 2026 - 2027   September 4                      Celina Chen - The Silk Road (China) 11                    David Blair - Science for Remote Youth 18                    Ann Curran - CEO Vinnies Youth Mentoring 25                    Jim Walker - The Freemasons October 2                      Patrick Morrison - Wrecks of the Swan River 9                      Rob Storey - Rob's Long Walk Home 16                    Jen Merigan - Have A Go News 23                    Natasha Atkinson - CEO Fremantle Markets 30                    Luara Lilly - Blades of Oary November 6                      RYE Student and 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 18 25                    It's Christmas! - No Meeting  January 2027 1                      No Meeting 8                      Club Picnic 15                    Samjiita 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

 20 September - Spring Concert

 

 *****

 FREE AI seminars

 

*****

 

22- 24 October - Offtraq is ON!

*****

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!

 

 

 

 

Bulletin #011 - 11 September 2026

Howdy Pardners...

President Wayne Duke opened the meeting by reminding us of The Four Way Test #4- “Will it be BENIFICIAL to all concerned?”

The Rotary International monthly theme for September 2026 is Basic Education and Literacy Month.

Today in 2001:

The 25th anniversary of 9/11, where hijacked airliners were flown into New York's Twin Tower, with over 3,000 people killed.  

 

Induction of New members

Alison Thair conducted the Induction formalities for our two newest members, Elizabeth Adamson and Eno Budo.

Elizabeth has relocated to South Perth from a farm in Toodyay, where she and her late husband had been very involved with Rotary. Her Classification is “Farming” and she will join the International Committee. Elizabeth's Mentor is Ian Kremmer.

Eno is originally from Albania before moving to Australia and lists his interests as running marathons and tennis. His Classification is “Water Solutions” and he will join the Community Committee. 
Eno's Mentor is fellow Toastmaster Dietmar Mazanetz.

      L to R: Dietmar, Carole, President Wayne, Eno, Ian, Elizabeth, Lorrie

 

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Carole O : Ronald MacDonald House Dinner Sunday 01 November, seeking cooks. Second Old Mill Theatre play Wednesday 18 November. “Pick Your Poison”, $30pp, slight excess on group price will go to our charities.

Owen F :  “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” next Saturday 19 September. More details to follow next Friday…

Ian K : OffTraq 22-25 October, more volunteers requested.

Kelly G : Club Service Committee meeting after breakfast.

Garrick M : Our outbound RYE Makynli has changed schools in France (new Host family). Inbound RYE Felipé loves soccer. Another Host family will be needed from April onwards. Youth Committee meeting after breakfast.

Guest Speaker - Professor David Blair AO – Einstein’s Science for Children

Professor David Blair is a physicist and professor at the University of Western Australia and Director of the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre.

He emigrated to Australia from the UK with his family in 1950. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Australia in 1968 and a PhD from the University of East Anglia in 1973.

Professor Blair works on methods for the detection of gravitational waves. Among his projects:

• During the 1990s he set up the Gingin Gravitational Wave Research Centre.
•  In 2014 he led the Einstein-First Project which aims to introduce Einsteinian Physics at an early age.

Professor Blair was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours, in recognition of his:

"distinguished service to physics, to precision measurement science, to gravitational wave research and to scientific education"

 Professor David Blair presented on the Einstein First education initiative, which aims to integrate Einsteinian physics into school curricula from Year 3 to Year 10. He outlined shortcomings in traditional 19th-century science education as an illustration with light:

• students are still taught the wave-only model,
•  whereas modern science recognizes light as photons (quanta), a concept central to fibre-optic internet and other technologies.

He recounted the origins of Einstein First, including initial skepticism from assessors, subsequent Australian Research Council funding and the development of an eight-year program culminating in two capstone modules:

• The Climate Cruise Adventure and
• The Greatest Story Ever Told (the scientific history of the universe).

Professors Blair’s experience shows children readily grasp Einsteinian ideas when presented clearly, challenging the notion that such concepts require university-level study. Adults often perceive these topics as requiring genius, but he emphasized that the difficulty lies in outdated teaching approaches, not inherent complexity.

 

He highlighted historical milestones, including a pivotal 1922 UWA-led experiment confirming curved space, and discussed gravitational wave detection and the role of the Gingin Gravitational Wave Research Centre and Gravity Discovery Centre, which educates 20,000 students annually. 

 

Professor Blair also described recent global interest - after a conference in May, in Italy sponsored by the Templeton Foundation, he was invited to apply for funding to scale the program worldwide.

Professor Blair and colleagues convinced the state government to include this content in the Year 10 curriculum, launched in 2026.

He has written several books, available online through UWA Publishing: 

• “Uncovering Einstein’s New Universe” 
• “Where is Everybody” 
• “Starstream”

Two PDF versions Professor Blair’s presentation are available at:

SUMMARY : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GQ2OZfMe_Mi9aQTaxdFhw82csu4ImRPb&usp=drive_fs

TRANSCRIPT: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aeTSrhJSk6m8NnDMki4dSNYvEGIO6wtp&usp=drive_fs

Fines - Wayne Muller (short due to time constraints)

• “Penny” from new members Elizabeth and Eno.
• Trump Game -True/False about whether Trump actually said it?
• “Show me someone with no ego and I’ll show you a big loser”          (True)
• “Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN polls in the election” (True)

Attendance

37 attendees in all, including guest speaker Professor David Blair, visiting Rotarian Jill Mathwin (Kojonup), soon-to-be-members Eno Budo and  Elizabeth Adamson, and visitor Anne Maie Mazanetz.

Bulletin #010 4 September 2026

He's baaaack...

The Duke welcomed everyone and thanked Michael “Gorby” Gottschalk, Carole O’Brien and Garrick McCamey for standing in while he and “First Lady” Katrina were in China. He commented China was Ni Hao Ding Hao, meaning “very good” in Chinese.

The Four Way Test Tip #3 “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?” was very much on display with the people of China. Just don’t visit in their Summer!

Today in history 1998: 

• Google founded by Stamford Uni students Larry Page and Serey Brin, 
• National Wildlife Day, and 
• National Ladies Mums Day (bet you haven't heard of that one!)

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Ian K : Volunteers requested for OffTraq 22-25 October; Sign-up sheet circulating, list of activities on back.

Brian J : First Friday meeting of each month will be for “In House” club proceedings.

No external speaker.

Carole O : Next Ronald MacDonald House Dinner Sunday 01 November. Ten volunteers needed 2:45-7:30PM to cook for children and families.

Wayne M : Volunteers requested to make sandwiches for OffTraq lunch on the Saturday.

f you can help, please see Wayne after meeting.

Owen F : “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” Saturday 19^th September.

Rick S : Men’s Dinner - Next Wednesday 09 September 6:00PM. Asian Delight Restaurant, corner Salsbury Ave and Canning Highway. Names to Ken please.

Wayne D : Board meeting last night. The printed Membership Directory costs over $600, so PDF version will be sufficient to satisfy most people. Show of hands please, how many people read Bulletin? Veronica advises website analytics only showing 6-7 “hits” per week.

 

Guest Speaker : Celina Chen - The Silk Road

Celina started as an English-speaking tour guide in China in 2001. She now runs her own travel company based in WA.

With a background in both tourism and international Chinese language education, Celina has a strong interest in Chinese history and culture. She is also the founder of the Real China Cultural Society.

Celina aims to present China through thematic “threads” like tea, porcelain, or ethnic groups to provide a deeper and more connected understanding of China. She challenged common knowledge by revealing that the term “Silk Road” was only coined in 1877.

As her presentation is condensed from a much longer version, Celina engaged the audience by allowing them to choose discussion topics. The selected topics were:

• the enduring mystery of Marco Polo’s travels to China,
• the sacrifices of Chinese princesses sent along the Silk Road for diplomatic purposes,
• the monumental 1900 discovery of the Dunhuang Mogao manuscript cave.

Her presentation concluded with a poignant reading of a 2,000-year-old letter from a Sogdian woman, emphasizing that the Silk Road was not just about grand civilizations but also about the real, personal lives and stories of ordinary people.

The Silk Road is a network of routes rather than a single road, stretching from Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an, the capital of the Han Empire and home of the Terracotta Warriors) through Central Asia to Europe (the Roman Empire) starting two thousand years ago.

Marco Polo’s Travels

There is an ongoing debate about whether Marco Polo actually traveled to China.

Arguments for his travels: His book, The Travels of Marco Polo, described Chinese cities, cultures, and specific details like paper money (which didn’t exist in Venice then) and the government’s salt tax in great detail. 

Arguments against his travels: 

He never mentioned iconic things like the Great Wall or tea.

A search of the Yuan Dynasty’s detailed official documents found no mention of the name “Marco Polo.”

However, Celina suggested he might have used a Mongolian name. Her conclusion is that he probably visited China, but perhaps not for the 17 years he claimed.

The Role of Women on the Silk Road

Many women on the Silk Road lived lives of waiting for their husbands, fathers, or children to return.

Chinese princesses played an important diplomatic role and were sometimes sent to marry rulers in distant regions to forge political alliances and build connections between cultures.

The story of Princess Jieyou from the Han Dynasty (2,000 years ago) was highlighted. She was sent 3,000 km from Xi’an to the Western Regions, a journey of two to three months.

Despite the hardship of being sent so far from home, Jieyou embraced the new culture, learned the language, and participated in diplomatic affairs with her husband, helping to maintain decades of stability, which was crucial for the newly opened Silk Road. Her name, Jieyou (解忧), means “relieve sorrow.”

The Dunhuang Manuscript Cave

In 1900, a Taoist monk discovered a sealed cave in Dunhuang containing 60,000 ancient manuscripts. The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang contain over 700 caves, 40,000 square meters of wall paintings, and 2,000 painted sculptures created over a thousand years.

A real love letter, buried for 2,000 years, was found. It was written by a Sogdian lady.

The Sogdians were an Iranian-speaking people from Central Asia who became some of the most important merchants on the Silk Road. They established trading communities along the routes, creating an extensive commercial network between China and Central Asia.

The letter is addressed to her husband, expressing her sorrow and desperation as she waits for him for years in a distant land, feeling abandoned and “worse off than a dog or a pig.”

Celina used this story to illustrate that the Silk Road was about the real, ordinary, and often painful lives of individuals.

Celina uses these cultural “threads” in designing small-group journeys, connecting stories with the places where they actually happened. The small-group format also allows for more personal cultural experiences, such as visiting local families, sharing tea, and interacting with local people.

A Fine(s) Collection 

Anyone interested in “Great Outdoors” or been to Zoo.

Owen F $1 for every tooth extracted. 

Anyone who’s had tooth extracted, has implants, plates or false teeth.

Dockers Supporters who went to game last night.

Rugby Supporters. 

Pilot’s Brian J and Ken P for the low flypast in South Africa.

Wayne D on his return from China, guest speaker picked just for you.

Deputies “Gorby”, Carole O and Garrick M – watch this space!

Mark J Visitor of the week.

  
Winner of Heads and Tails

...and the lovely Astrid won the wine of the day beating everyone tails down or heads up!

Attendance

39 attendees in all, including guest speaker Celine Chen and friend Ping, visiting Rotarian (and RYE host) Jeff Anderson, Rotary Youth Exchange student Felipé Alves Mizobuchi and visitors Mark Jones (ex member), Estelle Hayler, Elizabeth Anderson and Jill Mathwin.