Howdy Pardners and yee-ha!
Amidst a sea of top-hats, toques, stetsons, mortarboards, pork-pies, flatcaps, bobcaps, curly wigs, glitteratti, beanies, bowlers and boaters a rousing welcome was given to our esteemed President Wayne!
The Duke reminded us that in everything we do and say we must always be mindful of the 4 Way Test tenet 'is it fair to all concerned' and what occured on this day in history...
1992 a space rock the size of a bowling ball fell out of space and crash landed on a woman's Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, New York.
Today is Mouldy Cheese Day and Curious Events Day (the mind boggles!)
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
- Angus: Bricktober volunteers needed for bump in tonight, Saturday and Sunday shifts and bump out Sunday. List circulating.
- Ian: Mentor program expression of interest list circulating.
- Veronica: 24 October is International Polio Day, if you can't ride the train then please wear your red T-shirt to create awareness and/or contribute to the Mill Point MyCause page https://www.mycause.com.au/page/406459/mill-point-rotary; Nepal Disaster appeal has raised in excess of $75,000 to date - thank you to the club and individuals who contributed; DG for 2028-2029 applications are still open, please consider nominating for this terrific position.
- Rick: Will be collecting frozen meals for PICYS not next week but the week after. All contributions welcome.
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Update
Felipé visited The Royal Show with Wayne & Katrina Duke.
He had an enjoyable day, including getting to meet the “Long Arm of the Law”….
Guest Speaker - Rob Storey's 'Long Walk Home'
At 40 Rob, although not a runner, signed up for the City to Surf as motivation to “get off his butt and exercise/train”. Entering events and targeting goals as motivation to maintain some level of fitness he continued with completion of a marathon, Ironman, hiking the Kokoda track and an end-to-end Bibbulmun Track.
This culminated in a fundraising walk from Melbourne to Perth, raising awareness and funds for Neuromuscular WA.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 30 inherited genetic conditions that cause progressive weakness, breakdown, and wasting of skeletal muscles over time. Rob related the storey of his neighbour’s three children with the condition, progressing to wheelchairs and with none reaching their thirties.
Neuromuscular WA is the only specialist organisation in Western Australia dedicated to supporting people living with neuromuscular conditions. Unlike many health charities, it receives no ongoing operational funding from the State or Federal Government, meaning vital services are only possible thanks to the generosity of the community. The Perth-based charity provides personalised support, advocacy, equipment assistance, education, peer connection and community programs, helping hundreds of individuals and families across Western Australia live with greater independence, confidence and connection.
Rob’s 4,000 kilometre walk from Melbourne to Perth raised over $67,000 for Neuromuscular WA. Despite a hip replacement before the walk, severe weather, injuries, and close calls with traffic, he persevered through physical and mental challenges. His motivation was driven by a cause he and his family have supported for over 20 years.
The walk required meticulous planning, managed by Rob’s wife Louise, including route mapping, food and water access, coordinating rest days around family commitments, and adapting to unforeseen circumstances such as injuries and a last-minute change of the starting city. He completed the walk in 81 days, averaging 46 km per day. Walking 46 km a day reduced dietary worries. He started with protein shakes and simple meals but eventually needed five meals a day plus snacks as his body burned through fat reserves. He consumed protein bars, hydrolytes, rice, and pasta. At one point, a large apple turnover provided the sugar boost needed to finish a day’s walk, experiencing the normal aches and pains expected at his age but has no significant long-term injuries from the walk. Whilst not a natural athlete, once he sets his mind on an endurance goal, Rob has never failed, and his commitment to finishing helped him push through the toughest days.
Rob is planning his next challenge – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his children.
A transcript of Rob’s talk can be viewed at:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oxsiYfhTnJ_AMYo8POSkV1SPEw4pECKw&usp=drive_fs
A Fine(s) Picker of Pockets, Wayne the Elder.
- Hats missing in action - if you're not wearing one pay up!
- President Wayne for denigrating mouldy cheese!
- Geoff L the birthday boy
- Property owners who have one of the 10m houses in Australia unoccupied, or is one of the 10% holders (of 15m) empty bedrooms.
- If the earth moved for you when the Port Hedland earth tremors struck
Winner of Heads and Tails
Attendance
31attendees in all, including guest speaker Rob Storey, visiting Rotarian (and host father) Geoff Anderson, and visitors Sue Rowell, John Palmer and Felipé Alves Mizobuchi (RYE student).
