Bulletin #014 - 2 October 2026

Howdy Pardners...

The Duke was most warmly welcomed by all and reminded us of today's 4 Way Test tenet - Is It Fair To All Concerned - and one by which we should all observe, every day.  In history today...

1869 Mahatma Ghandi was born, Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule.

1950 Charles M Schultz created the first Peanuts comic strip featuring Charlie Brown and  'Snoopy' made his first appearance in the strip on October 4, just two days after the strip's debut. You can find Peanut characters on Uniqlo t-shirts.
 
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements

• Angus: Volunteers wanted for Bricktober 10 & 11 October at Curtin Stadium to help on the Merchandise stall. The Club will receive some of the proceeds, contact Angus on 0450 498 098.
• Ian K: Mentor It Forward needs mentors, sign up sheet is circulating, contact Ian on 0419 896 305.
• Astrid: Offtraq needs 'bag packing' assistance on Tuesday 20 October 1pm for 2 hours, please call Astrid on 0402 900 088 if you can help.
• Gorby: Vocational tour to the Perkins Institute today, meet at Zamia café at 9.15am to car pool to site. Trip to Government House planned for 5 November but need 20 people to confirm. Will need names, addresses, emails and phone numbers for security reasons, to book contact Gorby 0417 935 504.
• Kelly: Hat Day next Friday, wear fun, creative, or eye-catching hats to "lift the lid" on mental illness, sparking conversations about mental health and reducing stigma without forcing individuals to share personal struggles - all proceeds to Cancer.
• Garrick (aka Karen): Disappointed that members are not assisting with activities for our Rotary Youth Exchange student Felipé who has now been with us for 8 weeks. Felipé will be hosted by Gorby and Sana in 2 weeks time so even more assistance is needed. Please contact Garrick on 0418 112 994
• Eunice: Reminder AI events are free (scroll down to events page) please book via the link. Invitation from Anne Curran (Vinnies) to visit site on 24 November. More details to follow.

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Update

Felipé has spent a few days in Rottnest

with his current Host Family, Jeff & Heather and their extended family. He enjoyed riding around the whole island on an electric bike and a spot of fishing where he caught a big squid. In a couple of weeks, Felipe will move in with Gorby & Zana.

Makynli is enjoying her new Host Family and school whilst also taking in the sights of Poitier and Les Journees Du Partrimione.

Guest Speaker : Patrick Morrison - Shipwrecks in the Swan River

Patrick is a Maritime Archaeologist and is the Assistant Curator Maritime Heritage at the Western Australia Museum.

He is an expert in underwater photogrammetry for archaeology and has recorded significant shipwrecks with the WA Museum including Trial 1622, Batavia 1629 and Zeewijk 1727. He is a qualified Commercial and Technical Diver.

Patrick also co-discovered the oldest shipwreck in the Swan River.

 

Australia's maritime history extends back at least 65,000 years with deliberate, boat-based ocean crossings. Patrick highlighted a significant gap in current shipwreck legislation: while a federal law protects anything over 75 years old in the ocean, Western Australia's state law only protects wrecks dating before 1900, leaving World War I and II sites in state waters unprotected.

Due to the severe lack of visibility in the tannin-stained Swan River, archaeologists rely heavily on new technologies. They repurpose public Department of Transport seabed mapping data to spot anomalies, and use underwater photogrammetry to stitch thousands of images into highly detailed 3D "digital twins" of wreck sites for office-based study.

Excavation is considered a last resort due to the high cost and effort of

perpetual conservation.

The WA Museum's database records roughly 1,800 wrecks, but only 391 have been physically located. Recent analysis of open-source data revealed over 40 potential new wreck sites in the Swan River.

Notable discoveries include Alfred Dearden’s 1882 limestone barge—the oldest known wreck in the river—and the suspected 1897 brick-carrying barge Jane.

Patrick outlined several upcoming tasks, including investigating the 40+ potential Swan River sites, using sub-bottom profiling to confirm the Jane barge, planning a targeted excavation of the 1882 barge ahead of the Swan River Colony's 200th anniversary, and advancing efforts to update protective legislation for 20th-century wrecks.

Patrick’s full PowerPoint is a very large file. A PDF version can be downloaded/viewed at:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tOaBJW0lCie8eClC11RjEn7vuh5IHft5&usp=drive_fs

One Fine(s) Lady...

• Groucho Marx and Sting fans - seen a film, sang a song - pay up!
• 'Peanuts' comic strip readers, fans of Snoopy or Charles M Schultz $1 please.
• Winners and losers, Dockers for the obvious, to the victor the spoiles so any Brisbane fans, and whilst we're at it any other Docker tragics. 
• Rugby followers - especially those who have connections with ACT. 
• Yesterday was International Coffee Day so caffeine addicts put $1 in the pot! 
• Gerry McG - for boosting the Greek economy instead of the Australian one.
• The late Eunice Sari, for being late and departure tax as you wing your way overseas
• David R - too many tickets in front of you so we'll relieve you of some.
• Eno - our newest member, because...well because I can! 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Visitor Jill Matthwin all the way from Kojonup won the wine and mighty pleased she was too!

Attendance

41 attendees in all, including excellent guest speaker Patrick Morrison, visiting Rotarian Jill Matthwin (Kojonup) and late visitor Alina Racu.

 

 

Important dates coming up - mark your diaries!