February - Peace Building and Conflict Prevention Month
fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, improve the health of mothers and children, support education, and help grow local economies directly building the optimal conditions for peaceful societies.
Guest Speaker - the Hon Richard Court AC
Richard Court was elected to the Western Australia Legislative Assembly in 1982. He served as Premier and Treasurer of Western Australia from 1993-2001.
In 2003, Mr Court was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to Western Australia and the community, particularly the Indigenous community, and in the areas of child health research, cultural heritage and economic development through negotiating major resource projects.
In 2008, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan conferred honours bestowing the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star for exceptional contributions to the expansion of Australia-Japan relations, strengthening economic ties between Australia and Japan and also to the exchange between Hyogo Prefecture and Western Australia. He was appointed Australian Ambassador to Japan 2017-2020.
Mr Court has held a number of senior positions and directorships in private and public companies, including GRD Limited, IOH Limited, National Hire Group Limited, Westrac, Resource Investment Strategy Consultants, the Anglican Diocesan trustees and the Olympic Team Appeal for Western Australia. He is currently a Director of BCI Minerals Ltd. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia.
In his address to the Club, Mr Court started by thanking Rotary for its important work serving the community. He spoke of watching the World Windsurfing Competition on the Swan River and reflecting on the wonderful place we live.
Starting in business, he took the lessons learned from his company Court Marine into politics. A surfboard with a sail in the middle had been received from the eastern states with a comment it “couldn’t work….” Mr Court went to Sydney to find out about becoming a distributor. After receiving a sales guarantee and “surfie type” representative to give lessons and sponsorship from Coca Cola, sales rapidly exceeded supply! The message that served him well then, also served him in politics “keep an open mind and listen to other views”.
Mr Court then spoke of going to China on invitation, following a visit from their Vice Premier. The Chinese were interested in a WA supply of Liquid National Gas (LNG). Despite much negativity here and the view Korea was the market, he persisted and made a number of low-key visits to meet with the right people and advance the project. The result was WA winning the tender to supply LNG to China. Again, he reiterated the lesson “keep an open mind and go there”.
Mr Court also spoke of his opinion that people in Australia are becoming complacent, relying too much on the resources sector and are focussing how to spend revenue and are exceeding debt levels. Stating "You get the best Government in the worst times and the worst Government in the best times” who are not providing the best value for money, he cited examples of how Indonesia had dealt decisively to increase investment in their nickel sector and had how Japan had recovered from their nuclear energy disaster.
Australia is too dependent on overseas supply of oil and stockpiles in the US and Mr Court spoke briefly on his view that there was complacency in Defence and our reliance on expensive tanks and F-35s. A fleet of Hilux vehicles with rocket launchers and drones have shown the changed nature of conflict. In response to a question, he warned of the “transactional nature” of a possible future President Trump. Japan and Europe have previously experienced being told they weren’t paying enough and we need to be more prepared for the future.
In conclusion Mr Court said he was confident Middle Australia could detect the “BS” and change can occur.
Singapore Beckons!
NOW is the time to book your place at the RI Convention in Singapore!
A great line up of speakers in the most vibrant and exciting cosmopolitan city of the world.
All RI events take place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre or National Stadium unless otherwise indicated.
Attendance
55 attendees in all, comprising - 27 members; 10 guests including guest speaker: Richard Court, Jim Walker, Rob Hubbard, Vaughan and Julie Emery, Karen McGrath, Katrina Duke, Don Gray, Heike Davey and Mandy Sneeuwjagt; and 5 visiting Rotarians: Bill Boekman, Rod Lane, Tim Davey and Dianne Allen.
