Presidential Ponderings
President Kelly welcomed back the 'International Crew' - Raelene and Gerry - from the Sri Lankan eye project, Hannah Grace our NYSF student and David Tyler from his jet-setting journey! He also reminded us that today was International Backward Day which he said, summed up exactly how he felt this morning!
Guest Speaker - Peter Matthews "Two and a half years on"
A former (and soon to be again) member of Mill Point, and a RYLA student in 2022, Peter's passions lies in volunteering, marketing, helping people and social justice.
In 2021, Peter received a United Nations research grant and a New Colombo Plan scholarship to conduct a study on the Bhutanese energy grid. This was blocked by the Bhutanese government, and was instead passed as a postgraduate research scholar in the Department of Economics at the National University of Singapore throughout 2022.
In April 2022 Peter left Perth to embark on an amazing journey which would take him to 36 countries over 2 years and 5 months.
Peter spoke about the best 6 months of his life as a residential college student in Singapore, even though he was the victim of an initiation prank which included a coca cola and mintos shower!
Attending a Hindi conversation class Peter met a beautiful German girl - Gabrielle, dual student of NUS and Sciences Po in France. Well, love blossomed and Peter left Singapore temporarily to travel to the ancestral family CASTLE and meet her family, then during Spring break off to America and Mexico. Bhutan had fallen through, so Spring break was a 3-day party for all students.
Peter returned to acquit his scholarship and research, now in New Delhi, India, and was offered a job in Geneva after he completed his scholarship. This he declined as he and Gabrielle had made future plans to be together.
At this time he bought a bike and traveled from Delhi to Sikkim. Unfortunately he fractured his ankle whilst traveling uphill.
Unfortunately, the relationship with Gabrielle came to an end and Peter tried to rescind his decision on declining the job offer - to no avail. Devastated, Peter reached out to some mates who traveled to Sri Lanka to meet up with him and offer support.
Just before this, in West Bengal (India), Pete, suffering from sudden culture shock and homesickness, door knocked a house and asked for a hug, and was completely overwhelmed with kindness, staying a week with the family who practically adopted him. They even introduced him to a friend from the next village who gave Peter a $2 note which she had saved as a memento from her 1980s temporary employment visit to Singapore.
A reluctant return to Perth now sees Peter working as a senior management consultant at SAV - a charity that helps charities; and starting over as he sold everything in Australia and flew back with very few possessions (below).
Hopefully we will see more of Peter as he rebuilds his life here in Australia with our support.
Peter's full presentation (and gory photos) can be found at: millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>MATTHEWS Peter - Overseas Sabbatical
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
Raelene: Gave an excellent - if brief - summary of the Sri Lankan eye project which saw in excess of 2000 Sri Lankans receiving spectacles and treatment.
Ric: Thanked all those who helped with Australia Day parking raising $2000 for the club.
Scott: Congratulated the 19 members who have signed up as a Centurion and expressed his wish to increase that to 50% of club members. Please contact Scott for details.
Dianna: Looking resplendent in RED, announced it is Chinese New Year (year of the Snake) and pointed out the Fortune Cookies on each table which she had supplied - Gong hei fat choy!
Reminder: District Conference is on from 28-31 March and your support is valuable. Please see Events page for details.
The Fine(s) Line
- Wayne the Elder took to the podium amongst a rousing wall of slow clapping...
- Warren, Garrick and Brian who all profited in one way or another from selling houses.
- All those NOT going to Wongan Hills!
- Ian K for DeepSeeking and any other DS downloaders.
- Michelle L for winning the wine last week.
- All Presbytrians or Scots for selling King Charles I back to the UK in 1647 for 100,000 pounds only for him to be beheaded after 9 months negotiations.
Winner of Heads and Tails
After 2 x 2 Tails, 1 x H&T, and finally 1 x H - Wayne still hadn't won - and Gerry MGann pipped him at the post scoring the bottle of booze!
Attendance
34 attendees in all, including guest speaker Peter Matthews, and visitors Dr Imri Sari and Hannah Grace.
