Rotary Club of Maleny Bulletin for 17th February 2016

"THE RANGE"  Vol. 57 No. 17

WEDNESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2016

THIS WEEK'S MEETING
Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm with Guest Speaker Gustavo Cerqueira on Biotechnology.

APOLOGIES
Apologies to Bernice before noon on Tuesday.

DUTY ROSTERS
                            17 Feb            2nd Mar           16th Mar                 
Duty Officer         Phillip S         Mike G             Roly N                          
Assist DO            Alan W           Angela G         Chris R-S                   
Registration        Malcolm B      Andy S             Bernice McL
Fellowship          Jeff C              Roly N             John McL
          
SAUSAGE SIZZLE ROSTER
27th February
John & Bernice McLennan (Leader)  Chris Brooker

12th March
Keith Rogers (Leader)  Angela Griffin  Jeff Cornfoot

MEETING OF 3RD FEBRUARY

President Jeff welcomed members and guests to the meeting. He passed around a certificate issued by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, acknowledging that the Club had been a nominee in the Community Group section of the 2016 Australia Day Awards. While the Club didn’t win, the nominee certificate was very impressive and much appreciated.

 
Other events and business discussed included:
• Alan W. was congratulated on finally getting the container of donated books and computers delivered to Popondetta in PNG. Well done Alan.
• The RSVP for The Rotary Foundation Million Dollar Dinner to be held on Sunday 27 Feb 2016, has been extended to Sun 14 February.
• The annual district RYPEN (the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) camp is to be held at Coolum from 6-8 March 2016. This camp targets 14-17 year olds with the potential to improve their leadership skills. Interested candidates are sought for the club to nominate.
• Nominations from motivated senior school students are also sought for the national Adventure in Citizenship week to be held in Canberra later in the year.
• Rick V. updated the club on MCSR (Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve) matters. The council has endorsed the go-ahead for the significant improvements planned for the Education/Discovery Centre. This will require the temporary closure of the existing centre and cafe while the work is carried out. Temporary facilities will be used during construction. It is hoped that the project will be completed by the end of the year.
• Jim A. reminded members about the payment of Club dues.
• Rick T. updated the club on the shopping bag project. The manufactured bags have not been delivered yet. The Maleny newsagency has agreed to sell the bags, plus the IGA has indicated interest as well. Rick also alerted members of an opportunity to participate in a working bee every Tuesday morning 8-10am at the Historical Village.

Guest Speaker:

Terry Day gave a detailed and thought provoking presentation on the urgent need for Australia to become a leader and innovator in manufacturing. Terry is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). He lamented the fact that Australia has begun to slide economically, in part due to an inept or careless loss of talent, plus sliding coal, iron ore and commodities sales. His mantra was Australia must manufacture and export. But manufacture what? Terry’s powerpoint presentation used statistics, videos, quotes from official documents, research data, and numerous specific examples to illustrate that a body of knowledge exists that could be exploited commercially for national economic gain.

Terry proceeded to give us a physics lesson on vorticity. Explaining with appropriate illustrations and examples many ‘vortices” such as the trailing edge vortex, starting vortex, bound vortex, and diffusion vortex. One specific example he expanded on was how the vorticity concept enabled superior performance of the Stelth pump. The Stelth pump outperforms conventional pumps because it employs vorticity and space flight technology. These pumps could now be manufactured in Australia. Other specific examples given using the vorticity concept, were a vacuum cleaner which used a high suction principle, blowing air rather than sucking; a salon hairdryer; a novel bladeless ceiling fan and a wind turbine. Terry also described research projects in association with the University of Adelaide, and said that the government has told Australian universities that now they should change from “publish or perish” to “commercialise or perish”. He passed around an innovative pump valve that was long lasting, efficient, and could be produced cheaply. The whole presentation was peppered with lots of technical jargon that had those with backgrounds in engineering, mechanical, or manufacturing or similar, leaning forward in their chairs.

Terry reinforced that the time for Australian innovation in manufacturing is now. He said the challenge is navigating the Government’s current Innovation and Manufacturing initiative through the bureaucracies and manufacturing sector, that is, turning the “can’t do” into the “can do” country. He said we need products to be made in Australia rather than China. It is therefore imperative for the government to Support Innovation and Support Manufacturing and Export. With the discussion that ensued, it seemed that everyone in the audience very much agreed.

FUTURE MEETINGS & EVENTS
24th February
Masonic Hall at 5:50 for 6:00pm Project Meeting with cheese and biscuits.

2nd March
Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm with Guest Speaker Dale Jacobson on Why Antarctia?

9th March
Board Meeting at the Masonic Hall.

16th March
Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm with Guest Speaker Pia Boschetti on Pearl Farming.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FOR FEBRUARY
1st Malcolm and Nancy

BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY
18th Jeff Cornfoot  28th Marlene Hankinson

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THERE ARE REPORTS THAT SOME TEACHERS ARE TAKING TO DRINK - CAN WE REALLY BLAME THEM?