Friday, 5 October 2018

Rotary Club of Maleny Bulletin for 17th October 2018

"THE RANGE"  Vol. 60 No.8
WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2018

THIS WEEK'S MEETING
Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm for Guest Speaker Sue Potter on the River School.

APOLOGIES AND MEALS
RSVP to Bernice before noon on Tuesday 16th. Please ensure that your meal order is lodged by 6:45pm at the meeting.

DUTY ROSTERS                
                          17th Oct        7th Nov         21st Nov           
Duty Officer      Michael G      Greg W         Ric T        
Assist DO         Sherryl G       Laurelle O     Rick V     
Registration      Lionel T         Chris R-S      Bernice McL     
Fellowship        Andy S           Chris B         Malcolm B

SAUSAGE SIZZLE ROSTER
20th October
Malcolm Baker (Leader)  Phillip Stark  Keith Rogers

3rd November
Lionel Tilley  (Leader)  Greg Williams  Andy Schouteten

17th November
Roly Neiper  (Leader)  Chris Ross-Smith  Chris Brooker

CLUB ORGANISATION
Details of the make up of the currrent Board and Committees can be found at the end of this bulletin.

MEETING OF 3RD OCTOBER
Vice President Michael Gregory welcomed 20 Rotarians to the meeting, including Peter Russell, visiting Rotarian from Goondiwindi. He firstly called for a one minute silence to remember and acknowledge our dear departed colleague, Rtn David Fraser, who died on 26 September. Details of the funeral on 4 October were shared and car pooling arrangements determined.

Our speaker, Vince Carberry, a former teacher in Maleny and an expert Croquet player, and his wife, as well as Rotary partner Cilla Vickers (another croquet expert) were also warmly welcomed.

Rtn Chris Ross Smith briefed members on the arrangements for the joint initiative with The Maleny Singers for the Club’s promised support for the upcoming celebratory production of the Marriage of Figaro on 9/10 and 11 November. Tickets were now on sale, and members were allocated raffle tickets to sell.

Chris sought volunteers to act as ushers and bar tenders etc. for the opera performances and he reminded the Club that the recipients of the funds raised by the raffle and the Opera would be shared between the Blackall Range Care Group and Life Flight.

Chris Brooker then briefed members on the significant volunteer effort needed to support the planned arrangements on 11 November to uniquely replicate the Victory Parade held in Maleny 100 years ago to acknowledge the end of the First World War. As a direct descendant of an armed forces participant in the original parade, Rtn Bill Hankinson would ride his white steed at the front of the parade. Chris reported that 92 school children would participate in the parade, as well as horses from the Light Horse Brigade.

Other business included:
a)    Notification that the “Everest” bike ride had been postponed because of likely inclement weather.
b)    Lionel and Paulette had removed the display of photographs from the Calendar competition.
c)    Bernice reminded members that the formal opening of the shaded seating (which the Club donated to) for the netball court at the High School would take place on 19 October at 2pm.
d)    Lionel won the sweep, the funds from which supported the Club, and the Polio Plus Pig was circulated for donations.
e)    The sergeant extracted his usual fines from transgressors.

Duty Officer, Jim Atkinson, warmly introduced our speaker, Vince Carberry, former primary school teacher and Deputy Head in Maleny who shared a video and his detailed knowledge and devotion to the game of Croquet. He was responsible for starting the Croquet Club in Maleny in July 1993 on his retirement.

Members marveled that the game likely dated back to the 13th century and it was recorded that King Charles I likely played the game. History suggests that it possibly started in France then spread to Ireland, England and Scotland.

It first appeared in Australia in 1866 and over the years had become very popular. There were now 270 clubs nationally and 8 clubs on the Sunshine Coast.

Variations of the game can be played as croquet, ricochet, gate ball or golf croquet and it is growing in popularity with men and women of all ages because it is absorbing, social and not so physically stressful that peak fitness is required. At one time it had been recognised as an Olympic sport though not currently. One of the best coaches in Australia started playing the game as a 12 year old.

Having told the tale of the unfortunate ruin of the newly planted croquet lawn a few years ago as a consequence of Rtn Laurelle’s horse leaping the fence, Vince confirmed that the current risk to the quality of the lawn was a bandicoot and a visiting ibis. Finally, Vince encouraged the Club to think of having a day of croquet and mentioned that the Lions Club were planning one such event for themselves on Sunday, 6 October.

Assistant Duty Officer, Angela Griffin, thanked Vince for his informative and interesting talk and, in noting that croquet could be traced back to the 13th century, posed the question as to what the sporting legacy of the 21st century might be. Vince was presented with one of the Club’s reusable shopping bags, and the 2019 Calendar and Club booklets for note taking.

FUTURE MEETINGS & EVENTS
24th October
Masonic Hall at 5:30pm for Club Assembly.

31st October
Vocational Night - TBA

7th November
Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm with Guest Speaker Brad Solomon of Life Flight.

9-11 November
Marriage of Figaro performances.

11th November
Centenary of 1918 Victory Parade.

14th November
Board Meeting at the Masonic Hall.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FOR OCTOBER
26th Rick and Cilla

BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER
12th Gloria Rogers  14th Keith Rogers  16th Kerry Neiper  28th Bernice McLennan  30th Andy Schouteten

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THE STORY OF BLUEY - THE RETIRED CATTLE DOG

WE pensioned off old Blue the dog
when old age got him down
We sent him for company
to old Grandma in the town

But while Granny was elated
Blue still craved the great out doors
and he would roam the town exploring
while old granny did the chores

So it was this Sunday morning
Blue was fossicking about
through the paddocks near the township
on his normal daily scout

When a canine gourmet odour
overpowered his sense of smell
though his eyesight had diminished
his old sniffer still worked well

and the sense of his excitement
was reposed down by the creek
where a sheep had met his maker
for the best part of a week

For its woolly corpse was spreading
and the air was far from fresh
from this rancid flyblown carcass
with its seething greenish flesh

It was a dogs idea of heaven
and old Blue, he rubbed and rolled
till he ponged just like the sheep did
and with ecstasy extolled

Then an idea formed within him
as he gave a gentle tug
and he found the carcass followed
like a matted lumpy rug

He would take it home for later
it should last a week or two
if he stored it in his kennel
he could keep his prize from view

So he gripped the carcass firmly
proudly into town he went
but his load proved fairly heavy
and old Blues energy soon spent

And the only shade on offer
was the building with the bell
and he dragged his prize towards
with its flies and feral smell

Then the dog and sheep both rested
in the front porch of the church
old Blue looked up the gangway
at the parson on his perch

He was revving up the faithful
to repent to save their worth
and said satan was the culprit
for all the rotten things on earth

And he roared of fire and brimstone
and redemption for the throng
up the aisle came satans presence
in this godforsaken pong

And they all cried "Hallelujah"
and they fell as one to pray
but by now old Blue was rested
and he hadn't time to stay

He proceeded up the roadway
with the woolly corpse in tow
with a shortcut through the nursing home
the quickest way to go

Where the matron, in a panic
counted heads in mortal fright
with a smell like that they'd surely lost
a patient through the night

And the members at the bowls club
lowered all their flags half mast
doffed their hats in silence
for the funeral going past

But old Blue lugged his prize on homewards
travelling past the bowling club
till he took a breather under
the verandah of the pub

There old boozing Bill was resting
sleeping off the night before
to wait the Sunday session
when they opened up the door

When the stench awoke his slumber
which was highly on the nose
and he thought his pickled body
had begun to decompose

And he missed the Sunday session
when he ran home to his wife
to proclaim the shock announcement
he was off the booze for life

Meanwhile Blue could see Gran's gateway
at the far end of the street
so he started up the pavement
with his ripe and tasty treat

But there was movement in the backstreets
as the town dogs sniffed in deep
they broke chains and climbed high fences
for a piece of Blue's dead sheep

And Blue felt the road vibrating
from the stamp of canine feet
as this pack of thirty mongrels
came advancing up the street

But he wasn't into sharing
so he sought a quick escape
and he spied a nearby building
with a door that stood agape

Through this door he sought asylum
but his presence caused a shriek
for he'd chosen the local deli
that was run by Nick the Greek

And Blue shot beneath a table
where the sheep and he could hide
but the dog pack was relentless
and they followed him inside

Now the table Blue had chosen
was a double booked mistake
with the law enforcement sergeant
sipping coffee on his break

And the sergeant sat bolt upright
with a dog between his feet
and his eyes began to water
from the dead decaying meat

Then the sarge leapt up in horror
but in his haste he slipped and fell
falling down amongst Blue's mutton
with it's all embracing smell

And he lay somewhat bewildered
in the gore, flat on his back
when the mongrel pack descended
in a frenzied dog attack

With first thought self- preservation
from the rows of teeth he faced
the sarge fumbled for his pistol
in it's holster at his waist

There were muffled bangs and yelping
as random shots rang out
and the whine of bouncing bullets
off the brickwork all about

As he blasted in a panic
from beneath the blood and gore
a front window and the drink fridge
were both added to the score

And the cappuccino maker
copped a mortal wound and died
hissing steam, it levitated
falling frothing on it's side

And Nick the Greek, the owner
grabbed a shotgun in his fright
blasting into the confusion
of the frantic canine fight

At short range it wasn't pretty
dogs were plastered on the wall
there was laminex in splinters
clouds of dog hair covered all

Then the smoke detector whistled
with the gunsmoke in the air
which set off the sprinkler system
and a siren gave a blare

And the echoes still were ringing
when beneath the dying heap
there emerged old Blue, still dragging
at the remnants of his sheep

It's head was gone and several legs
but it hadn't lost it's smell
in the armistice that followed
Blue decided not to dwell

He leapt the fence at Grandma's
for his feet had sprouted wings
pure adrenalin propelled him
fleeing dogs and guns and things

Now old Gran had influenza
and had lost her sense of smell
with Blues sheep in the garden
that was probably just as well

And she looked out from her front fence
at the town in disarray
at the ambulance, police cars
and the rspca as well

Then the fire brigade rushed past her
flashing lights of rosy hue
and she hugged the old dog tightly
he'd protect her would old Blue

You just stay here like a good dog
Grandma told him with a frown
" 'cause you've no idea the trouble
you can get into in town"

MALENY ROTARY CLUB EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR 2018-2019
BOARD MEMBERS
 President  -   Alan Wilson
Vice President  - Michael Gregory
Secretary  - Bernice McLennan
Treasurer  -  Jim Atkinson
Vocational - Ric Townsend
Club Admininstration / Membership - Philip Stark  
International/Foundation - Angela Griffin/ CL Claridge
Community Relations/Youth - Greg Williams
Service Projects - Rick Vickers/Chris Ross-Smith
 
Other Roles
Guest Speakers  - Michael Gregory                                          
Bulletin Editor - Keith Rogers

MALENY ROTARY CLUB COMMITTEES   
1.Grants Committee            2.RAWCS - Ebenezer Zambia 
Confidential                         Angela Griffin
                                            CL Claridge
                                            Jim Atkinson
3.RAWCS-Nepal               
Chris Ross-Smith                4.Show Committee
Jim Atkinson                        Bernice McLennan
CL Claridge                         John McLennan
               
5.Social Committee             6.Calendar Committee
Phillip Stark                         Lionel Tilley
Roly Neiper                          Rick Vickers
                                            Jeff Cornfoot 
7.High School Project         Jim Atkinson  
Chris Brooker                         
Jeff Cornfoot                        
Greg Williams               

8.Membership/                     9.Qld Australian Cross Country Athletics Title
USC Project Committee       Rick Vickers
Phillip Stark                          Greg Williams
CL Claridge                           Chris Brooker
Angela Griffin
Roly Nieper                          10.Plan for Maleny Education Support Fund
Chris Ross-Smith                  Angela Griffin
                                              CL Claridge
                                               Roly Nieper   
                                               Jeff Cornfoot 
 

 







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