Brief Notes from Mat

The Screed

Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Moss Vale 25 September 2013

THIS WEEK: Our guest speaker on Wednesday night is John Flockton. John is a forensic psychologist who works at the Super Max (super maximum security) at Goulburn Gaol. This will be a good night for partners and friends to attend for yet another informative session. Partners and friends can also take the opportunity to wish Mike Walker and Julie all the best for their move to the Newcastle area as this will be their last meeting.

BRIEF NOTES FROM MAT LAST WEEK: Rob Shakeshaft was a really interesting guest speaker, and had our members listening intently to his talk about the pharmaceutical activities in Australia, being a popular local pharmacist in Moss Vale for the last decade. He revealed that he first became aware of Rotary when he was selected as a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) candidate 25 years ago! He gave us some of his biographical background, and mentioned that after completing his education at the University of Sydney he has worked in Ashfield as well as one and a half years in the UK. He made the point that we are much better off here in Australia. Rob then explained how the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) works, pointing out that the biggest customer is the Aus- tralian Government. The Government contributes between $1000 and $4000 for some drugs so that Australians only have to pay a maximum of $36.10 or $5.90 for pensioners. Mind you, this means that the government can dictate the mark ups, so that makes life more difficult for pharmacists. Rob explained why generic drugs are the equivalent of the brand names, and can help limit the huge cost of the PBS, so all Rotarians should go for the generics from now on! Rob made the point that we should get to know our local pharmacist as a person who is able to give sound advice (doctors do one semester of Pharmacology in their degrees, pharmacists study it for four years), and we can trust them. Our members asked some good questions of Rob, and Malcolm Webber gave the vote of thanks and a Rotary pen.

LOFTY’S KITCHEN! Lofty gave us a detailed account of the recent fire that he had in his kitchen, resulting from poor electrical work leading to some condensation causing a short circuit and fire in a kitchen appliance cabinet. By the sounds of it, Lofty was lucky that his whole house didn’t burn down. The amount of reconstruction work in his house has been substantial, especially the clean up after the grinding of floors. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Lofty, and I’m glad you can now live in your home again instead of a motel.

KIM’S KITCHEN! A big thank you to Kim Smith again for providing excellent small cakes to have with our postprandial libations and beverages.

KIM REPLACES MIKE: Kim has agreed to take over from Mike Walker as our treasurer so that the club will be able to continue to proceed smoothly after this week. Mike mentioned that there was $500 in interest from the Sam Airey Trust so that should make the International Director happy.

OTHER NEWS: Steve Newton has submitted his resignation as the Community Service Director so there is a va- cancy on the Board.

Shelterbox: Kevin spoke about the need for thousands of these in Syria as a result of the enorm- ous refugee problem there and in neighbouring countries, countries that are prepared to provide humanitarian assistance for millions of displaced people. He will propose to the Board that we dig deep and purchase at least one. Geoff Tassell spoke strongly in support but there was a quiet re- sponse from members (the Screed editor will second Kevin’s proposal as he had the wonderful opportunity to travel in Syria in 2010 and was most impressed with the people, the history and the culture).

Friends of Rotary: This has been adopted by the Board and the information about it emailed to all members. Phil Driscoll is hopeful that this approach will lead in due course to more people wanting to become Rotary members.

Show Society: Geoff Knapman mentioned that the Show Society would like our assistance on the 19th of October for a major event at the Showground. Members will be asked to staff the gates and hold buckets for large sums of money to be donated. It should be a great day as well, with vintage vehicles, sideshows, food stalls etc. Mark the date in your calendar.

NEXT WEEK: Our meeting on 2 October is our ‘Club Meeting’. We won’t have any guest speak- ers and it is the opportunity for members to talk with each other and to contribute good ideas for further improvements to our club. MAT

SIXTY SECONDS WITH LOFTY YORK 1) Where were you born? Leicester, UK

2) What was your first job? Paper boy, age 9

3) What was/is your favourite job? Company manager

4) Your best holiday, excluding your honeymoon/s? Family holiday at Malaga Lakes

5) Who, born last century inspires you? My mother

6) Who makes you laugh? Funny jokes

7) What do you for fun? Fiddling with mechanical things (old cars)

8) What personal accomplishment are you most proud of? My first Paul Harris

9) How did you join Rotary? I was invited

10) What special talent do you have? Age

11)Your special event in Rotary so far? Ten year involvement with UTW

The 4-Way Test: Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? (The graphic below could well complement the 4-Way Test!) Rotary Club of Moss Vale Dinner Program, 2 October – Dec 2013

Month Date Program/Speaker Contact Oct. 2013 2 Oct Club meeting Mat Vocational 8 Oct Board meeting Mat 9 Oct Bruce Schubert, psychologist Kevin 11-13 Oct District Conference, Merimbula 16 Oct Phil Roberts – Rural Education Jim 19 Oct Moss Vale Showground Geoff K 23 Oct Dist conf report or dream cricket Mat 30 Oct Social Night – International Kevin/Deborah

Nov 2013 6 Nov Ross Bull - Highlands School Kevin Foundation 12 Nov Board meeting Mat 13 Nov Kim Smith – behind the badge Jerry 20 Nov Joan Eberle – Anglicare Alan 27 Nov Whisky tasting Kevin/Jim

Dec 2013 4 Dec Annual General Meeting Mat Family 10 Dec Board meeting Mat 11 Dec Behind the Badge, David Fullerton 18 Dec Xmas Party Club Plans for 2014: First meeting for New Year, 15 January. BBQ at the Golf Club 22 January, Kevin Worthington – Around the Courts Vocational Visit to Moss Vale High in February Golf Day 21 March (Moss Vale Holden are providing a car for the hole-in-one again) UTW 6/7 and 28 May. ROTARY INFORMATION: http://www.rotaryd9710.org.au/ http://www.rotary.org.au. http://www.mossvalerotary.com/ IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS President: Mat Froome Secretary: Geoff Tassell Treasurer: Mike Walker Attendance: Kevin Worthington Service Hours: Alison Grant Club website: http://www.mossvalerotary.com/ Email secretary: [email protected] Office Bearers 2013-2014: President Mat Froome Past President Peter Hammon President Elect Jerry Smith Secretary Geoff Tassell Treasurer Kim Smith Club Admin Jim McAlpine Community Service vacant Internat/Foundation Kevin Worthington Vocational Kim Newton Youth John Balding Membership Phil Driscoll Publicity David Fullerton Member Welfare David McKew Club Records Dick Marshall Sergeant Jerry Smith Screed Editor Jim McAlpine Service hours Alison Grant

Jim McAlpine - editor