The President runs amok...
P1 opened the meeting to thunderous applause (and laughter) - as he abbreviated his way through the Four Way Test and then proceeded to test the members on his chairmanship! After much prompting P1 welcomed visitors and returned to his script!
Who Am I? - Bassem Helou, Dr eunice Sari & Peggy Leung
In his opening remarks, Brian commented on their very impressive professional CVs – “If I was a Boss, I would hire them all now….” Although all were interviewed progressively with the same questions, a short summary will be provided for each member.
Bassem was born in Syria, in a classic village family.
Bassem credited his growing up to being “I’m not a city boy, I’m a village boy”. Life was not very sophisticated then, but when he moved to Lebanon and started travelling and working for big multi-national companies, his life started becoming sophisticated. He related the anecdote of not seeing an electric toaster until his honeymoon….
Bassem studied Business Administration and then worked in retail and hospitality. He worked up to being a “Mystery Shopper” for a very large chain in Lebanon. He is married to Yusra.
Bassem is now a Project manager with Swiss Contact, a European NFP version of the United Nations. They get donations from the Swiss government to implement humanitarian projects to help communities in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine. Previously he had been with a German NFP and before that the American University in Beruit.
Hobbies arehiking, playing tennis and playing chess - and also a very good cook (with an ambition to one day open a restaurant).
Indonesia is a very populous country - about 250 million people, 17,000 islands, 700 languages and very diverse. Eunice’s family was actually Chinese heritage, but in the past they couldn’t say they were Chinese.
Not speaking Chinese and being Christian was like a “double dip” of being a minority. Growing up, there was not a good relationship between the local people, the government and the Chinese people. Eunice recalled having to change her name and have a different ID number. This shaped her to become a very inclusive person and to fight for inclusivity and diversity.
Eunice came to Australia when she was 30. She had moved initially to seven different countries, from the age of nineteen, with her husband. Australia was by accident, having been one of the countries she considered too close. After time in the US and Europe, an opportunity came at short notice to complete her PhD in Australia (despite having a baby due in one week…)
Eunice and husband Josh have two children (we have met Hanna-Grace, who we supported through NYSF).
Eunice has a long CV and is now an Adjunct Professor at the School of Computer Science & Engineering (UNSW). She specialises in UX, which stands for User Experience. It is about a lot of different aspects, for example helping people with poor eyesight interface with a mobile phone App. It is not just limited to technology. As another example, this room – how can we make people feel more welcome, how can we organise the tables to meet people’s needs?
She enjoys hiking and cooking. (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner…?)
Hong Kong was colonised by the British for 150 years, and Peggy could definitely see the differences before and after the changeover.
Peggy and her two sisters were raised by her single Mum, so they didn’t have a lot of resources. She recalled wondering what life was like outside Hong Kong. One day her mother asked “would you like to come to Australia?”
She had some bad experiences in her first Home Stay, mainly to not speaking a word of English. Her second family was much nicer and helped her with her English. Peggy retold being asked by her host mother “how are you going?” to which she replied “I’m coming home by bus….”
Peggy is now a qualified CPA with Master of Accounting. She works as the Manager of Financial Accounting with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. She decided to become an accountant about ten years ago when she was doing some data entry at Racing and Wagering. She loves working with numbers (to our Treasurer’s delight…)
She also enjoys hiking (a common theme…) and cycling, as well as being a great believer in “healthy body/heathy mind”.
In his concluding remarks, Brian thanked Peggy, Bassem and Eunice. As well as being very professionally qualified people, they have brough a lot of experience to the club and they are great people too. They have really increased the value and Fellowship of our club and lowered the average age significantly….
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
P1 (Gerry):
- Visit and assistance at SOS with Angus during the week. Still looking for volunteers for half day on Wednesday. Contact Gerry for further details if you can help 0438 642 738.
Jenny:
- The Sewing Sisters are embarking on a new project with Lorrie's brother Don, at his hostel in Tanzania. This entails training of the process in making the feminine hygiene kits. Don is looking for second hand sewing machines pedal or electric. Contact Lorrie for details 0421 183 879.
Brian J:
- Dr Sarath, the speaker from last week has offered 50% of each sale of his book to Mill Point.
Garrick:
- RYPEN applications are now open for 14-17 year olds and looking for nominations from Club members.
Kelly:
- Thanks to everyone who helped out at the Tree Planting last weekend. Please contact Kelly if interested in similar project in Sorrento on 14 August 0419 941 629.
- "Ride the Train to End Polio"or just wear the red T-shirt (all day) on Friday 24 October. This is an awareness campaign and District is looking for as many people as possible to ride the trains between 8am - 6pm, then gathering in Yagan Square for a mass photo. The Council House will be lit up RED that day.
Rick:
- Met with Andrew Hall CEO of PICYS last week and was told they had increased capacity by 25 beds. PICYS are still in need of meals so Rick will collect any donations in a fortnight's time at the club meeting.
- Community Service meeting after breakfast.
He Fin(es)ally got there...
Owen the 'Orrible (we love you really) took to the podium to pilfer the pennies for pecadillo's.
- David R : Now Barrow Island is de-commissined it may be time to decommission you too?
- Gerry : escaping to warmer climes on the say so of his missus who told Gerry to 'warm up'; also for forgetting to ask for guests this morning AND for his little 'accident'.
- All Guest Speakers: Bassem - the one who smiles. Eunice - Good victory, Peggy - the Pearl or the Child of the light.
- Alison for wearing a beanie which looked like either her T-cosy or a 'rabbit with one ear' on her head this morning.
- Warren: borrowed a book off Veronica 5 years ago and only returning it today.
- Geoff L: Can't remember where he gets his coffee from, and battling the elusive buses to travel 2 stops!
- Gorby: The Dockers, need we say more?
- Astrid: having a birthday exactly six months before Christmas ensuring a continuity of presents throughout the year.
- Garrick: Asked to stand up to button up his coat (the reply was expletive!)
- All those who don't know what music album was released this day in 1980 (it was ACDC) so everyone paid up.
Winner of Heads and Tails
Short, Sharp and Sweet, two tails then two heads and NO winner. Booze went back into the cache!
Attendance
33 attendees in all, including guest speakers Bassem, Eunice and Peggy and visitors Don Gray and PHF awardee Charlie Burnett.
