The 'Maverick' is back!
Brian opened the meeting and advised President Veronica, our new “Jet Setter”, is in New Zealand in her role as DGN 2025-2026.
Sgt Mike read out the birthdays and anniversaries 🎂 🍷
Brian welcomed visiting Rotarian Di Allen (Como RC) again, guests Mandy Sneeuwjagt and Rob Hubbard (Tricia).
Host Gerry McGann introduced, guest speaker John Longley AM.
As Gorby is in Malaysia, the table rotation was clockwise from the head table (to the vocal dismay of Joy and Lyn on the last table…).
Announcements:
Community : Friday 23 Feb is 'Wear a Rotary Shirt Day'. Members are encouraged to wear their Rotary shirts to the meeting that day. It is also World Rotary Day, and an invitation was sent to all Rotarians from the District Governor, to a get-together on the South Perth Foreshore (Coode St Food Trucks) from 6 PM. Again, wear your Rotary shirt!
PICYS meals. Rick thanked everyone for their contributions, and respectfully advised that more meals are still required.
Club Service : Club Birthday Friday 15 March. RSVP to Raelene.george@rapallo.com.au.
Rotary Action Day. Saturday 13 April. Sheet going around for International dinner Expressions of Interest to make up RCMP tables of 10.
International : Global Hands - sale of surplus donated camping gear at half price!
Fundraising : Angus/Scott gave an update on Dietmar, who is in hospital being treated for low blood pressure.
It's a Fine (s) today with Wayne the Elder:
Kim P for her shoes.
Warren for “faking” Lyn’s broken arm!
Tricia for being the “token” female on Head table
John Longley for coming so often...
Board for contacting members out of hours (“Right to Disconnect”) legislation.
Members for having nothing else to do.
Guest Speaker - John Longley, AM - “The First Fleet – a new back story”
John Longley has been involved with sailing and the sea almost all of his life. He started sailing as a young boy in dinghies on the Swan River, graduating to ocean racing in Australia and later on in Europe and America, including the Transatlantic race.
John Longley has been involved with sailing and the sea almost all of his life. He started sailing as a young boy in dinghies on the Swan River, graduating to ocean racing in Australia and later on in Europe and America, including the Transatlantic race.
This led to a long involvement with the America's Cup, which saw him sailing as a crew member in five consecutive America's Cup campaigns from 1974 to 1987 including as a member of the crew on AUSTRALIA II during its historic win.
John was later contracted by Bond Corporation to initiate the Endeavour Replica Project. He continued to manage the project until December 1990 when Bond Corporation decided it could no longer proceed. At this stage, John and several members of the project staff continued to operate the project on a volunteer basis while seeking new support. The remaining funds were successfully raised and ENDEAVOUR was launched on 9th December 1993. The ship has been an outstanding success, proving herself both at sea and as an international standard exhibit in Australia and New Zealand.
John was later contracted by Bond Corporation to initiate the Endeavour Replica Project. He continued to manage the project until December 1990 when Bond Corporation decided it could no longer proceed. At this stage, John and several members of the project staff continued to operate the project on a volunteer basis while seeking new support. The remaining funds were successfully raised and ENDEAVOUR was launched on 9th December 1993. The ship has been an outstanding success, proving herself both at sea and as an international standard exhibit in Australia and New Zealand.
His many other roles have included:
- CEO of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce
- Event Director for the ISAF World Sailing Championships
- Chair of the Duyfken Foundation that owns and operates the replica of the Duyfken (the ship that made the first recorded European landing on the Australian mainland in 1606)
- Chair of the Perth Regional Tourism Organisation
In 1984 John was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to
yachting.
In his address to the Club, John noted it was good to be back. He said, as a sailor, “sailing
and maritime history come together”. In 1788 the first Fleet was the first ever sailing race, a “Sydney to Hobart” between the British and the French….
The First Fleet, Australia’s first yacht race.
The “race” came about because England wanted to be rid of some convicts. It all began after the Endeavour reached Australia in 1780. Captain Cook and Joseph Banks had explored Botany Bay and Port Jackson (four nautical miles north).
The 1776-1781 the American Revolution stopped transport of British convicts to America. Joseph Banks saw the potential to send convicts to Australia despite opposition from the powerful Alexander Dalrymple. Through American explorer John Ledyard, Banks learned of French plans to expand their Pacific influence.
In 1786 Banks met with British Prime Minister William Pitt. After a 30-hour Cabinet meeting, a decision was made to send a fleet to Botany Bay. This plan was signed off by King George III in record time!
Meanwhile King Louis VXI of France sent an envoy,
via a nine-month odyssey, to the French fleet in Petropavlovsk in Russia. Capt Jean François de Galaup de Lapérouse was given new orders to prepare for a voyage to Australia.
The race was on….
On 13 May 1787 the British First Fleet left Portsmouth.
On 30 September 1787 the French Fleet departed Petropavlovsk.
On 18 January 1788 the first British ships arrived in Botany Bay, followed by the
remainder of the fleet over the next two days.
On 23 January 1788 the French fleet arrived off Botany Bay. A ferocious gale prevented the French entering the harbour. The British had won the “race” by five days!
On 26 January 1788, with much jostling of ships, the French entered Botany Bay as the British relocated north to Port Jackson (the modern day site of the Sydney Opera House. On 7 February 1788 Captain Arthur Philip raised the British flag and became Governor Philip of NSW.
John postulated - "What if...?"
• Captain Cook/The Admiralty had not kept secret the true nature of Port Jackson
• John Ledyard had not had dinner with Banks on the 17th August 1786
• Lapérouse had not flipped his plan
• Lapérouse had followed orders and not gone off searching for Inca Plata and Inca Oro
• John Hunter had not gone South after Phillip left him
• The gale had not driven Lapérouse offshore on the 24th January 1788
• Etc etc etc
Further reading:
John’s full PowerPoint can be viewed at:
millpointrotaryclub.org.au
millpointrotaryclub.org.au
Members only
Google Drive
Guest Speaker Presentations
