#24 - 20 December 2024

 The Year that was!

Special festive greetings from President Kelly who couldn't be with us today due to being down South with his family. No cause for distress, Kelly is fine but his aging parents need him more than we do.

So you're stuck with me!

Christmas is a very special time of the year and bring plenty of Joy, Laughter and Tears - with memories of those who should be with us and who can't be for one reason or another.

However as we celebrate this festive season, let's be grateful for things past, present and forthcoming, as we look towards a better, brighter, safer and healthy 2025 for all of us 

As we look back on our accomplishments let’s celebrate our successes.

We’ve donated thousands of volunteer hours to Rotary local projects.

This year was the 6^th BulldustNBack which saw us reach $500,000 plus in total for our charities mainly kids with cancer and youth mental health.     

We were awarded a Presidential Citation for achieving our Club goals and successes (no mean feat!)

Dial A Santa has been a Mill Point project since 2015. In the last ten years it has raised more than $195,000 which has gone to youth projects. The greatest number of events was in 2021 with 122 visits over the Christmas period as well as the pro bono visits to the community.

    Our 6 years contribution to PICYS - thanks to Rick - has seen us deliver 30-50 frozen meals a month – that’s about 2,500-4,000 over the years we have been involved (by my calculation).

    The Sewing Sisters have allowed 100s of young women to attend school or work through their feminine hygiene project over the last 6 and a half years and raised in excess of $3,500.

    We’ve cooked meals for countless parents at Ronald McDonald House.

    Eye Tested 1841 Sri Lankans and prescribed spectacles for them allowing them to provide for their families.

    Collaborated with RCs of Como and Moora in a fresh water project in Bali which brought fresh water to remote villages benefitting 150 families, nearly 1000 people on 4 villages.

    Sponsored young people at RYLA, RYPEN, NYSF and Camp Opportunity.

    We have also had some memorable vocational visits, and enjoyed each other's company at regular coffee catch ups, tours and best of all 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' - so we have a lot to be thankful for, to look back on and be proud of who we are and what we do for and in our Community.

   Guest Speaker - Michelle Blakeley, MyHome

Michelle is an Architect and Director of architecture practice,

Michelle Blakeley, Architect.

She was a mature-aged architect student who moved from a career as Creative Director and Director in advertising and marketing in Perth and Sydney, to pursue her childhood dream to be an architect.

Michelle graduated with First Class Honours from University of

Western Australia and has gone on to design and manage projects which have won Australian Institute of Architects awards for pubic buildings, urban design, sustainable design and heritage.

In her practice, she focuses on using design to create affordable housing with the belief that lower cost, compact housing does not mean compromising quality, comfort and joyful living spaces. As well as residential projects for private clients, she works on low-income social housing projects. She also teaches a Master’s design studio at UWA.

Michelle last spoke to the club in early 2023, when the North Fremantle (Congon Street) “My Home” project was under construction. This was followed by a later member Vocational visit, shortly before project completion.

 “My Home” started six years ago because, as Michelle put it, “the Government wasn’t doing anything to house people who were homeless….” So they decided to do something and, being an architect, it seemed appropriate to design and build houses.  In WA the Government was putting money into short term housing, for people up to about a 30 day period. The other option the Government was putting money into is housing for a smaller percentage of people incapable of living independently, often because of severe mental health or other health issues. This is “Common Ground” with onsite support 24 hours a day.

The third group are homeless - often domestic violence, abuse, addiction problems, death of a partner etc. For what ever reason they can’t afford a mortgage or to pay rent they end up sleeping in cars, “couch surfing” or homeless groups. These are the people My Home focussed on, they just need homes more than anything else. Their traumas often means they have problems readjusting and fitting back into the community. Support Services for these people are very little use if they don’t have a house, it’s only a “bandaid fix”.

My Home worked on a PPP (Private Public Partnership) model. They would go to the Government or Church to get land on a “Peppercorn Lease” (no pay). They would then go to the private sector big Corporations (such as Woodside, Mindaroo, the Perron Group) to ask for reasonable sums of money. The third thing would be to go to the Community Housing NFP organisations to manage the social housing and tenants for My Home. This would then free them up to go on and build more housing.

The Fremantle project is now complete with 18 homes for older women from many backgrounds. It has become their “forever home”.  LD Total, under then Director Michael “Gorby” Gottschalk completed landscaping. All furnishings have been supplied by Rotary WA under an MOU. Many other groups have come together (such as the Soroptimists) to provide Welcome and Under Sink packs.  As Michelle observed, they are done by women, so are very practical…..

Many lessons were learned along the way. Getting the land is easy, but raising funding is often difficult and dealing with the government takes a long time. There are lots of contracts and agreements to be negotiated and Community Housing Providers don’t always provide support services. However, people take notice when there is evidence of success….

Other lessons for the housing itself are that the pre-fab construction and verandahs are great, although the initial 31 square metres is too small. The ideal size was found to be about 37 square meters. Solar panels and batteries mean no power bills for the residents. It was also found boundary fences were needed to “keep the nosey people out”….

Further upcoming projects are:

2025 CARLISLE (24 Homes)

Six for older women and eighteen for mothers and newborn babies.

It was found new mothers must have a fixed address to be allowed to take their baby home from Hospital!

Planning approval has been gained. My Home has a $1 million donation from the Stan Perron Foundation and is talking to the State government for the rest of the funding.

2025 ALBANY (12 Homes)

A builder has been engaged and is onsite at the moment. These are a mix 1-2 of bedrooms.

Albany, Margaret River and the SW has a terrible housing problem because all the properties are rented out for holiday accommodation at premium prices. 

 2025 MANDURAH (18 Homes)

These will be on Salvation Army land and the Salvos will be the Community Housing Provider managing the properties and tenants.

 2025 QUAIRADING (8 Homes)

Quairading has a large indigenous population. These will be specifically designed for them taking into account their cultural and extended family needs. They will have a covered deck area between the living area and three bedrooms to sleep additional family members.

The residents will be able to move within the houses to account for the six seasons in the Aboriginal calendar, as well as lots of trees and outdoor seating.

It’s going to be a very busy year and we are definitely inviting Rotary to join us. 

Michelle’s presentation can be viewed at:

millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>BLAKELEY Michelle – My Home

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Rick:

• Parking volunteers for Australia Day/Citizenship event on 26 Jan down at the foreshore 6am - 11am - if you can spare two and half hours for this great fundraising event please sign the circulating sheet or contact Rick.

Astrid:

• Christmas invitation from Jaclyn - Drinks and nibble at her shop Merry-Go-Round today 10am - 4pm

Dianna:

• Volunteers wanted to provide lunch for Camp Opportunity on 20 January at the Zoo. Please contact Dianna or Astrid.
  

Gorby:

• Thanked Rick and Mandy who substitute for Gorby in picking up and delivering the bread on Wednesdays. Gorby's calculation of retail cost of the loads picked up each week would be approx $600-$700 per week!

Vale Eric Atkins

Former member and Honorary member Eric Atkins, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning at Aegis Aged Care in Kingsley. Our condolences have been sent to the family who have asked for anyone with a story or anecdote to tell about Eric and his time in Rotary to get in touch with his children Glenys, Janet and Rex at humpkins5@hotmail.com.

A funeral notice will be placed in Saturday's paper and the funeral will be held in early January.

A Fine(s) Christmas Session

Big crowd here today!

Nothing a fines-person likes more than fining a lot of people.

There’s a lot of people and a lot of words associated with the Christmas Story.

So, let’s look at a few, the rules of the game is to contribute $1 for each letter.

 

3 letter names associated with Christmas:

Joy, Jew, Cow, Dog, Cate, Ice, Men (as in wise)

• $3 for Joy, Ian, Lyn, Kim, Ken, Vic.
  

 

4 letters 

Mary, Mark, Luke, John, Baby, Snow, Star, Wise (as in men), Lamb, Gold,  Gift.

• $4 if your name is Alan, John, Mark, Mike, Phil, Rick, Ross, Owen.

 

5 letters

Jesus, Herod, Angel, Hoard, Roman, Myrrh.

• $5 for  Angus, Brian, David, Diana, Geoff, Jenny, Kelly, Lydia, Peggy, Peter, Scott, Wayne.

6 letters

Joseph, Father (as in Christmas), Manger, Cradle, Jewish, Donkey (as in stable), Israel.

• $6 (or pay in instalments) from  Alison, Andrew, Astrid, Howard (and Nelson who should pay double), Jaclyn, Lorrie, Regina, Tricia, Warren 

 

7 letters

Michael (as in Archangel), Baptist, Parable, Sabbath

• $7 each (or ask for a loan) from Michael, Dietmar, Garrick 

8 letters

Nativity, Nazareth, Shepherd

• $8 (or two instalments of $4) from Margaret(s), Raelene, Veronica.
  

NOTE: The longest word associated with Christmas is Frankincense!

Winner of Heads and Tails and Christmas Raffle

A Head and Tail; two Tails; two Heads, one Tail and the winner was Ross Smith - well done and thanks to Margaret and Lyn Metcalf for supplying the tipple! 

Catherine Roussett won a $100 gift voucher to Next Door restaurant and a $50 Coles Voucher,  whilst Margaret Hyatt won the vintage bottle of Champagne donated by ex-RCMP member Ross Stewart.

Attendance

58 attendees in all, including guest speaker Michelle Blakeley, visiting Rotarians Bill Boekman (Wongan Hills) and Rasina Chai (RC of Miri Oil), and visitors Jenny Collett, Robyn Conway, Katrina Duke, Siew Ng, Rhonda Kremmer, Hannah Lawrance, Brooke McCamey, Rona McGann, Mandy Sneeuwjagt, Pam Boekman, Phillip Kurniawan Pandu, Margaret Evans, Catherine Rousett, Peter Matthews, Graham Nixon, Kerry Hardwick, Judi Hurst, Lynne McCamey, Wendy Longshaw, Sue Rowell, and Gabi Lukayska

 

Bulletin #23 : 13 December 2024

President Kelly was warmly welcomed by Sergeant Angus Florence with a few whoop, whoops, thunderous applause then deadly silence as he launched in to the AGM.

The AGM ran smoothly with all reports being accepted. Most Director positions on the Board for 2025-2026 are filled except for:

• President Elect/Club Service
• Community/Fundraising
• Membership
  

President Kelly urged members to consider volunteering for these roles and there is plenty of assistance from previous directors..

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Angela Doyle 

• Thanked everyone for their assistance with Phil during her recent visit to Sydney.

Phil Doyle 

• In his 'right of reply' announced the perfect ploy for 'slave labour' (pretend you're ill and you can get all the help you need even though they may need constant supervision!).

Veronica

• Received a big Thank You to the club, from Global Hand Charity for topping up their contributions at the BulldustNBack.
• Australian Rotary Health named Mill Point in their dispatches for the healthy donation from the BulldustNBack.
• At the Rotary Youth Exchange outbound student briefing, Veronica caught up with Superintendent Paul Daley, ex member of RCMP who sent a big hello and offered to be a guest speaker about his new role in police aviation.
• Membership meeting after breakfast.
  

 Rick

• Community/Fundraising meeting after breakfast
• Thank you for all your PICYS meals; next week is the last week before the Christmas break.

Haim Ozchakir 

• More mentors needed for his program "Mentor it Forward" - please if you can spare the time, the rewards are great. See Haim after the meeting.

Scott

• 15% o Mill Point Rotarians have signed up for the Centurion program. At $100 per year this is a great way to contribute to RI Funds which we get back in District and Global Grants. Wouldn't it be AWESOME if Mill Point reached 100%? That's less than 20 cups of coffee a year or 4 bottles of reasonably priced wine! See Scott for details on how YOU can become a Centurion! #ProudRotarians.
  

Lew

• Follow up on behalf of Brennan Fyans our guest speaker 2 weeks ago from Racing WA. Three events coming up 31 Jan (Owners meeting), 9 Feb (visit to Training facility) and 15 Feb Pinjara Races.
  

Jeff Anderson – Underwater Photography

 

Jeff is Past President of the Narrogin and EWA Rotary Clubs and recently became a Paul Harris Fellow under the EWA Club. He has joined our Dial-a-Santa team this year.

 

Jeff retired last year after 47 years in Main Roads Western Australia, building and maintaining roads and bridges from Kununurra to Albany and all points in-between.

 

He began diving at age 17 with the WA Underwater Explorers Club at Woodman’s Point Groyne. The Club had an old compressor with lines out to a small jetty. Diving was via hose and hookah system. More sophisticated tanks, regulators and buoyancy compensators came later. Initially diving was an adventure to see what was below the 70% of the earth crust covered in water.

 

At 21 his first serious underwater camera arrived, a Nikonus 1, an underwater version designed and built by Nikon. Work and married life intervened so for some time very few frames were recorded. It was in the late 1990s and early 2000 that returning to Perth provided renewed opportunities. Jeff purchased a series of cameras, some of which whetted his appetite. He was starting to get images that

at least showed others the underwater world.

 

All along he was trying to get better, until 2014 he purchased his current rig a Nikon 7100 housed in a Nauticam housing with two Inon flash units. Jeff was often away on a journey that took his dive group from WA into Indonesia, chasing more variety in clear warm waters. They have been back almost every year to different drive resorts scattered across Indonesia.

 

Jeff is self-taught and classes himself as a serious amateur but nowhere as good as some in this state. He is a member of West Australia Underwater Photography Society.

 

Jeff started his presentation showing his photo of a clownfish, we might know it as “Nemo”. There are thirty different types of Nemos. They duck and dart around a lot and an underwater photographer has to try to capture them in a still frame. They don’t very often stop and look at you, when they do you have to snap them….

With President Kelly’s assistance, Jeff showcased his camera. They weigh about ten kilos, but in the water doesn’t weight anything, it’s neutral. There is some friction when swimming with it, so it has some floats to stabilise it. When you leave the surface you start to lose colours, so to illuminate the subject you have to have some white light. On the edge of the camera, there are a couple of flashes. It is a matter of getting everything synchronised and getting close to your subject.

 

Today’s camera was rigged for Macro photos, i.e. close up. It is a conventional “buy on the street” camera that sits inside a special housing, which protects it from the water and the pressure. The housing is produced for a USA company called Nauticam, but built in China.

 

Every item on the camera has an individual knob and to activate the flash unit there is a fibreoptic cable (electrical ones were susceptible to corrosion). The camera is protected in the housing by “O” rings and can just slide out. Every camera has an individual housing. This can be a problem as newer cameras with better technology come out every couple of years….auto zoom and tracking.

 

The lenses can be changed in about twenty minutes and the unit set up for travel in about half an hour. The camera is neutral in the water, but he still puts a little carry around his arm so it doesn’t disappear. It has a handle on it, you get in the water without it and hand the camera up before getting out.

 

Jeff then showed a video of a recent dive trip and some of his photos. As he observed, Indonesia is a centre of biodiversity and attracts many divers from around the world with many underwater national parks. One of the parks Jeff often goes to is located at Minado where there are always turtles to be seen swimming. This one pictured is having a bit of a rest….

 

In conclusion, Jeff noted on every dive trip he would take about five or six hundred photos and come home with about half a dozen that are useful! However nowadays, there are some very good post-technology processing with lightroom and photoshop and a software company called Topaz that sharpens things up. Some of his photos haven’t been through that process so can get a lot better over time.

 

Host Margaret Walton thanked Jeff for his presentation and presented the customary glasses.

Another Fine(s) Mess the President got into...

• First up was President Kelly for announcing the Fines Master and mot the Fines MISTRESS. Jenny was adamant she was a Mistress...too much information Jenny?
• All Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and X fans - when Meta had an outage at 5.30pm on Tuesday 12 December, your frustrations were palpable so pay up!
• As well Channel 7 news listeners who would have heard (if they were awake) that Meta crashed at 5.30am not pm - wrong again!
• You've all heard of Surging Global Tourism and that Aviation is responsible for 50% of environmental issues, with 20 countries being responsible - USA ranked 12th, UK ranked 15th, Australia ranked 8th and NZ ranked 10th - all those contributing in the past or near future let's have a dollar from you.
• Mr McCamey and Moving Mansions - trying to get rid of his nuts and bolts...ahem! Good luck with that!
• Wayne the younger who dressed as Santa whilst sauntering down George's Terrace, waving to all the office workers hanging out of their windows. Not only did he get a hero's welcome but a tour of one of the buildings - not bad for the little man in red!
• Rotarians who have been conspicuous by their absence - John Tidman and Peter Dowling, pay up!
• Kim Payne - tch, tch, taking a call during the AGM - naughty naughty!
• Phil Doyle bought the box - naming Warren McCamey for stepping in at the last minute when a sudden MRI appointment turned up.
  

Attendance

39 attendees in all, including guest speaker Jeff Anderson, and visitors Angelan Doyle, Haim Ozchakir, Ishay Katx and Peter Matthews.

#22 Bulletin 6 December 2024

President Kelly

President Kelly reminded us that yesterday wa International Volunteer Day and had received this message from Rotary International which he read out.

"Rotarians in our region and across the globe are united in purpose, and on this International Volunteer Day, we celebrate every act of service, kindness and generosity. 

From addressing global challenges to supporting individuals and communities in need, volunteers breathe life into the spirit of human solidarity, driven by compassion adn commitment.

You are at the heart of change for good and better, and our communities can always count on you! Thank you."

“Town Hall” Charter Members – Vic, Rick and Owen

 

Mill Point Rotary Club was chartered on 11^th March 1987.

 

Host and Interviewer Brian Johnson (far left) introduced our three remaining active Charter Members (L to R) Vic Stoyanoff, Rick Sneeuwjagt and Owen Ferguson. Brian also acknowledged Honorary Member Sid Jessup (Charter President).

 

Vic Stoyanoff              Rotary 47 years/Mill Point 37 years

Rick Sneeuwjagt        Rotary 43 years/Mill Point 37 years

Owen Ferguson          Mill Point 37 years

 

Vic is our most senior, so let's start with you…You were born 1937, migrant parents from Bulgaria. What was it like growing up in Perth in the war years? For you, your parents?

• I was only two when the war started, so don’t have much memory of that.
• Because my parents were Bulgarian, that was part of the “Axis” group. They were offered the option of internment camp or going to Manjimup to grow tobacco for the war effort. So, they chose Manjimup.

 

Rick was born Melbourne 1946, one of the first baby boomers! Your father was Dutch-Indonesian, you have fantastic story about the Sneeuwjagt name…tell us!

• Actually pronounced “snare-yuct”.   “Sneeuw” means “snow” and “jagt” means to “hunt” or “the driven snow”. It was the name given to my Great Grandfather who was left on the doorstep of an orphanage in Amsterdam. When they opened the door, it looked like a snow drift and hence the name.
• He served in the army and served in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), where my Grandfather, Father and all my siblings were born.

You spent your first 10 years Indonesia. Growing up in Indonesia, are you bilingual?

• Knew how to ask for food…I grew up speaking Dutch and didn’t learn English until moving to Melbourne at age 10.

Owen you were born in Perth 1953, so you're the youngster…the name Ferguson is from Scots-Gaelic “Macfhearghus”, patranomic form of Fergus which translates as “son of the angry one”…surely not…? What are your childhood memories?

• Probably correct…no English blood, basically Scottish, Celtic, Scandinavian, bit of Spanish and one-sixteenth Jewish from Balkan Jews (you’re not related to Gorby…?!)
• Second of five growing up, fortunate that Gough Whitlam came along when I needed tertiary education.

You graduated at UWA as a dentist, married engineer Bev, worked 3 years in Port Hedland, then backpacked Europe for 18 months…any good stories (you’ll admit to?)

• Backpacked in days of Eurail Pass, booked cheap hotels at railway stations. I did work for a while in London because we ran out of money. Good time, had a lot of good food and good wine.

You were a private practice Dentist until retirement 2009?

• Forced on me earlier than planned. I had lost fine function in my right hand and nobody wants a dentist with the shakes! 
• Fortunately, Reg Willis was an insurance broker and he had set me up with some insurance until I was 65.

 

RRick you moved to Melbourne. Studied to be Forester at Melbourne Uni and at ANU, did your Masters in Fire Research at U of Seattle Washington. It brought you to WA where you met “love of my life” Mandy and you stayed to write the manual on fire behaviour. What were the highlights of that time?

• As a kid driving through the Dandenongs with my mother I would ask who looked after the trees? That was when I decided I wanted to be a Forester. After graduating and coming to WA, there was a big fire (“Boorara fire”) caused by a lack of scrub burning. 
• After the review it was decided I would take over the research, despite being a “lowly” Forester. That was the start of my love for fire management/forest management, which has been my life for the last forty years.
• In Pemberton I met a twelve year old lady, my future wife…

 

VVic you qualified as a Pharmacist in 1959 and went on a working holiday in UK & Europe in ‘60s. You and Owen did similar travel, but you did it single…"wink"

• Don’t know about the wink, wink, nudge, nudge…We had an arrangement where our registration would be honoured in the UK, so I worked there in several pharmacies.
• In between jobs I would take time off and would tour Europe with some friends in a Mini. Basically the grand tour of Europe.

 

You then married Helen, raised three daughters and ran several Pharmacies, retiring in 2008.

• Helen happened to be a Pharmacist as well, so we met professionally. We got married and started our business in Merredin,  17 or 18 years. With the girls boarding in Perth for High School, we bought a business in Perth for many years. Unfortunately Helen developed early onset Alzheimers and I sold the businesses, spending the next few years looking after her.

 

Vic when you joined Rotary in 1977, it was ten years before women were admitted. What was Rotary of 1977 like?

• Being a country town, it was relatively small. Initially I was in Apex and at 40 you had to leave. They immediately said ”come to Rotary” and I was inducted that day as a visitor! Being small, we had a couple of portfolios all the way through. We did a lot of physical work, fundraising, collecting newspapers for recycling, baling hay even collecting disused railway sleepers for a Perth garden centre.

 

You were also a charter member of Mill Point in 1987. Tell us about it.

• I was approached by a couple of clubs – a lunch club and an evening club. I couldn’t do that with my business. The DG approached me, along with Sid Jessup, to set up a breakfast club. We recruited around and ended up with about 25-26 potential members, so went ahead with forming a club.

 

(It was appropriate at this stage to acknowledge the late Frank Rousset, who was also a charter member)

 

Rick you joined Manjimup in 1981, then Mill Point in 1987. How would you characterise Country v City Rotary then?

• A lot of similarities to what Vic was saying. I was in Apex as well. Getting “too old”, I was approached to join Rotary and really enjoyed the evening sessions. We would often go until about 10 at night playing carpet bowls…

• Most of us worked those days, there were very few retirees. We were the “make up” club.

Would you describe a particular “golden” period for Rotary?

• Rotary has been a fantastic family for me and allowed me to meet different people other than work. This club is very loyal, we look after each other and are genuinely interested in what your life is.

Owen you started with Mill Point in 1987. You didn’t have any prior time in Rotary or Service clubs?What drew you to Mill Point and what do you see as the highlights?

• I was initially approached to join Como. With one kid, and one on the way, I couldn’t do evenings or lunch time. I was approached by Ray Backhouse, who said I’m joining and you can be at work by 9 o’clock… I’d run out of excuses by that stage…it was the best thing I have ever done.
• You meet interesting people and, as Rick said, you always want to do something.
• As Sid Jessup said, you meet like-minded people you implicitly trust and become friends.
• (Owen then acknowledged many past members, too many anecdotes to relate here….)

 

Folks, these three esteemed gentlemen have a combined total of 127 years as Rotarians. That is a fantastic contribution to the community and Rotary and exemplifies “Service above Self”, although Owen you definitely suit “Fellowship with Purpose”…

           

 

 

 

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Brian

• Club Service meeting after breakfast

Rick

• Have received agreement from City of South Perth for Australia Day Parking.
• Community/Fundraising meeting next week after breakfast.
  

Veronica:

• Thank you letter received from 12 Buckets for donation from BNB. Also requesting help for their Telethon Community Cinema evenings  - see events page for details 
• Club photo will be taken after breakfast on 20 December - put your best Chrissie togs on!
• Global Hand Charity are seeking helpers to sort out spectacles on Wednesday 5.30pm at Captivate in Kitchener Avenue, Burswood.

Gorby

• Wongan Hills vocational visit 4/5 February. RSVP mjgwaconsulting@gmail.com if interested.

Michelle

• Anne-Marie has hurt her back; John Hardwick unable to attend meetings; Jeff Longshaw receiving treatment; David Rowell has torn two tendons - our best wishes to you all for a speedy recovery. 
• Phil Doyle roster completed - thank you to everyone who volunteered.

A Fine(s) Day to discover your discrepancies

Veronica - bought enough tickets so must be psychic - pay up!

Grandparents - who are responsible for transporting grandkids to and from events

Lew Thomas - something in common by owning a horse

Ian K - 2 weeks ago was acting sargent and did a s**t job -forgot notes, was ill-prepared and was absent the week after (guilt?) AND we do not accept you did it on purpose so you wouldn't be asked again.

Michelle Lovkis = embodies well for a beautiful name followed by love and our giver of TLC when we need it. Everyone pay up - you might need her one day!

Brian (x 2) = High and Noble - well it does fit one of them!

Peter = Rock or stone - very apt for Mr Dowling.

Brian J lack of quality assurance adding Peter Doyle instead of Phil Doyle in directory.

Wayne (x2) = derived from occupation as a wagon maker - one has a wagon to pull the other needs a wagon for his pearls of wisdom!

Scott = whilst it is from Scotland, it's pretty certain that they only have 30 June not 31?

Raelene = Hebrew origin from a 'ewe'?

Kelly = Irish origin of 'WAR' - not our Kelly!

Michael = Masculine hebrew name (yes) meaning GOD (noo!)

Kim = Vietnamese origin meaning Golden, Beauty, Grace and Strength (got this one right!

Winner of Heads and Tails

Guest tosser this week no other than Rick who tossed two heads, two tails, two more tails then one of each - Lucky Lew Thomas won the wine two weeks in a row!

Attendance

32 attendees in all, including visiting Rotarian Bill Boekman. 

 

 

Bulletin #21 - 29 November 2024

 

President

After a rousing applause President Kelly opened the meeting followed by Acting Sergeant Angus who told us who was celebrating their Anniversaries this week. The list was soooooooo long, this poor scribe could not keep up (check Duties page if you really want to know, send a card/present or commiserate!!)

Guest Speaker: Brennan Fyans "Own The Dream"

Brennan Fyans has a diverse work experience in the horse racing industry. Brennan has worked at Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) since 2018, holding various roles including Racing Marketing Manager and Ownership & Participation Coordinator.

Prior to that, he was an Assistant Thoroughbred Judge and Ownership Coordinator at the same organisation. Brennan also worked as a Stablehand and Strapper at Wagg Racing from 2014 to 2022.

 

In 2019, he was selected as the Australian representative for the annual General Study Program conducted by The Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book. Brennan has also held positions at Perth Racing, The New York Racing Association, Churchill Downs Racetrack, and Darley. Brennan's experience in the industry spans from grooming horses to coordinating equine programs and marketing activities.

 

Brennan attended Curtin University from 2014 to 2018, where he pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a focus on Public Relations (as a student of Veronica Lawrance…).

 

Brennan thanked Veronica for her introduction and confessed she had been “one of my favourite teachers at Curtin University….” 

 

His nickname through school had been “Horse Boy”, dreaming of being a jockey but not staying the same height ruled that out! 4 AM starts six days a week, working in and mucking out stables wasn’t really the career in life he wanted. So, he said it was “from shovels to lectures”.

 

Before going on to talk about “Own the Dream”, Brennan gave some background to horse racing and ownership in Australia:

-       1 in every 245 Australians part-own a racehorse (about 10,000 in WA alone)

-       Australia is the world’s second largest thoroughbred industry

-       Australia has more racecourses than any other country

-       WA has 32 thoroughbred tracks

 

Without owners, there would be no racing. They support a sustainable and healthy industry. Ownership promotes participation at all levels across the industry (careers, membership, attendance). This brings us to “Own the Dream”, the ultimate racehorse ownership competition. It is run every year, leading into the February Yearling sales. It is completely free to attend and participate.

 

It designed for people who are interested in racehorse ownership, but have no idea how to go about it, how much does it cost, how long does it take to get horses to the track, how to  contact trainers…..

 

It is for teams of 4-8 (need to recruit friends) to register. There are three events which gives a great insight into racing and ownership. It can include current owners, so Lew will be right….

 

 

There are prizes to win - $20K, $15K, $10K & $1,500 consolation prizes, simply attend. The prizes are a voucher that can be put towards owning a race horse.

“What’s the Catch?” – Noe,  it's free, but it is run by Racing WA as their way to promote ownership.

 

What next? You want to get involved with a good trainer or syndicator. Own the Dream is the acquisition program, Owners Only is a social program for the 10,000 owners in Australia.

When you organise your team, make sure with the dates you can attend those three events.

All the information is on the website racingwa.com.au

 

In Q&A, Tricia asked about being part-owner of a horse, what are the ongoing costs, even if it doesn’t win? Brennan advised, as a “first timer” go small. He only owns 2.5% of one horse and it costs him about $60 per month. If you have 100%, in full training, it can be up to $4,000 per month. Buying a horse outright is a huge financial risk.

 

Lew spoke enthusiastically, as a part owner. The winnings are tax free and the costs non-deductable, unless you are in the business of buying/selling or professionally racing horses. It’s very easy, the money side is taken care of by the industry.

 

He equated the feeling as like being at the AFL Grand Final, whether you own 1% or 100%. A 1% owner gets just as excited at winning as a multi-millionaire 100% owner! You get to know the horses, they are lovely animals. They get in the starting gate and they just want to run, they know where the posts are. The ones with the heart really want to win.

 

Brennan has provided, for general interest, a link to a video on the Port Hedland races:

https://youtu.be/M-0NLx_tSgc

 

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

Michelle:

• Phil and Angela Doyle sent in their thanks to everyone who is helping out when Angela goes to Sydney.

Brian J:

• AGM is being held on 13 December prior to guest speaker. Please note that Nominations are open for Director positions for President Elect/Club Service and Community/Fundraising. All interested parties please contact Kelly, Veronica or Brian.
  
• Christmas meeting 20 December with guest speaker Michelle Blakely. REMEMBER to invite your partners!
• New Year picnic on Friday 3 January at Matilda bay - put in your diary now!

Rick:

• 2nd Wednesday dinner at 17 Banksia Street on 11 December. Pizza night 6pm BYO grog!

Margaret W:

• Dial A Santa has 60 booking to date with 14 SAntas and several Elves. Funds so far are in excess of $15,000
  

There's many a Fine(s) line taken...

Ian K - perfomance as sergeant last week amused many, he'll keep...

Veronica L - Attended RC of Como Monday night - seeking election as their President?

Any shareholders in Lithium companies? Your gain is my gain!

All Cricket fanatics/tragics.

All RCMP Board members - it's Black Friday and nary a sign of 50% off!

Ian W - visiting member, pay up! Too long between drinks breakfasts!

Brian A - no such thing as a short cut to miss traffic, they normally lead you to bigger (and longer) traffic issues!

Michelle L - Lost your badge?

Winner of Heads and Tails

Two heads, two heads and Lew Thomas

was the winner who very thoughtfully  presented his winning wine to our guest speaker!

Attendance

35 attendees in all, including guest speaker Brennan Fyans, and ex-Rotarian Peter Matthews visiting from Singapore.