View email in your browser Rotary Club of Melbourne www.rotaryclubofmelbourne.org.au Meeting No 4802 in the Club’s 98th year THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER Major General Michael Jeffery AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC, (Retd) Major General Jeffery was born in Wiluna, Western Australia in 1937 and educated at Kent Street High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He graduated into Infantry and served operationally in Malaya, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam, where he was awarded the Military Cross and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After command of all combat elements of the Army from platoon to division – including the Special Air Service Regiment – he retired in 1993 to assume the appointment of Governor of Western Australia, which he held for almost seven years. His major interests during his tenure were in youth affairs, education, environment and the family. For his services to the State he was appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and a Citizen of Western Australia. On his retirement as Governor in 2000 he established in Perth, a not for profit strategic research institute – Future Directions International (FDI) – whose objective is to examine longer term issues facing Australia. On 20 December 2000 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology by Curtin University. On 11 August 2003 he was sworn in as the twenty-fourth Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, serving in that capacity until 5 September 2008. Upon his retirement as Governor-General, he accepted Chairmanship of FDI and Soils for Life, along with patronages of a number of other not-for-profit organisations. He was appointed the National Advocate for Soil Health in 2003 by Prime Minister Gillard, where his objective is to ensure a food secure nation, by encouraging farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural landscape management practices. Major General Jeffery is a Companion of the Order of Logohu (PNG), a Knight of St John, a Citizen of Western Australia, a Paul Harris Fellow and an honorary life member of the Returned and Services League. He and his wife Marlena have four children and ten grandchildren. General Jeffery enjoys golf, cricket, fishing, reading and music. UPCOMING SPEAKERS 17 Jul Professor Catherine Crock AM Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, School of Psychology Deakin University 24 Jul D9800 Governor Grant Hocking 31 Jul Captain James Nixon, Former A380 Pilot Next Evening Meeting 30 Jul Molina Asthana, Principal of Swarup Asthana Lawyers LAST WEEK'S MEETING PROFESSOR MARGARET HELLARD AM Peter Clark chaired the meeting and has written the follow synopsis: "At the first meeting of the new Rotary year, Professor Margaret Hellard from the Burnet Institute introduced the Club to Hepatitis, a disease caused by viruses, of which the two most serious types are Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Both are controllable nowadays and the World Health Organization has set a goal of eliminating them by 2030. Hepatitis B is controlled by immunization and all children born in Australia receive the vaccination at birth. Margaret observed that it would be very desirable if the vaccine was available to children in the Pacific Islands Immunization Project. Drugs are now available to cure Hepatitis C and so there is a real prospect of reducing the disease burden Globally and here in Australia, where Liver disease costs more than Heart or Kidney disease. Margaret introduced Frank Carlus, the President of Hepatitis Victoria. Frank described his experience of living with Hepatitis C as a migrant from Spain. His mother and sister also suffered the disease and his sister died from it. Frank suffered many years of liver failure before he had a liver transplant which saved his life – but he still carried the Hepatitis C virus, which was damaging his new liver. The availability of new treatment using Direct Acting Antiviral drugs , has stopped the disease and he is now able to live a fairly normal life. Members could have heard a pin drop in the room as Frank told his story." Thanks Peter! The current challenge is to raise community awareness of the treatments now available for Hepatitis B and C , as Margaret put it, “to start the conversation” - and maintain it. The Club has started the Rotary conversation. At its next meeting, the Board will consider a project to promote Hepatitis Awareness to over 30 Clubs in this Rotary year in Victoria, by arranging presentations similar to those we received last Wednesday from Margaret and Frank. If we can do this effectively, we aim to spread the model to other Clubs in Australia and overseas." MEMBERS VISITED THE VAN Editor even got our delightful, smiling Tony - Concierge at the Sofitel, to visit the Van with Alan Trumble and attendant Kiko Chan. President Kevin's lovely wife Lisa gave some support to PP Quin Scalzo. Peter Clark was all smiles and created some terrific energy visiting the Van! CLUB EVENTS & NEWS DISTRICT 9800 RECOGNITIONS We were thrilled to accept two District Recognitions in two categories at District 9800 Changeover lunch: Youth Service – Mobile Interactive Face Washing Station/Eliminate Trachoma and Club Service – Membership - Membership Engagement. REPORT FROM MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR This Recognition was for our Rotary Melbourne Membership Engagement. Mandi writes: "As a Rotary Club that attracts business and community leaders, we understand our responsibility to ensure the way we attract, engage and activate our Members is both professional and in keeping with community expectations. We've introduced several new initiatives to improve engagement throughout the entire membership cycle. Here's a snapshot: Collateral focused on the value proposition of membership; Mentoring program for new Members; Club Code of Conduct; Member Survey to uncover talents and causes of interest; 180 degree feedback with our Corporate Members; Engagement of high-profile Members in manor club projects and events; Offering exit interviews to all resigning Members and supporting their transition to a new club (where applicable). Some fantastic results: New Members - 25% are aged 40 or under and 52% are women; 119 Members participated in the Survey; 25% of new Members are taking on leadership positions in 2020-21! A huge thanks to Membership "stars": Ian Evans Mary Barry Peter Rogers Aristea Talantis-Skinner Peter Dakin Michael Selth John Shaw Mark Pinoli for their support and leadership throughout 2018-2019." ONLY A FEW SEATS LEFT! Come From Away is based on the true story of the time when the isolated community of Gander, Newfoundland, played host to the world. What started as an average day in a small town turned into an international sleepover, when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip on September 11, 2001. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travellers with music and the recognition that we’re all part of a global family. This is a story of community, kindness and humanity. The production is currently playing on Broadway, London. Toronto and a North American tour, with Australia being the fifth Company. $50 Per ticket, 2 ticket maximum (non-tax deductible contribution to the RCM Foundation) along with an undertaking to post comments about Come From Away on one or more of your preferred Rotary Melbourne social media platforms. Date/Time: Tuesday 16 July at 7pm. (performance runs for 100 minutes – no interval.) Venue: Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition St, Melbourne. Post show drinks hosted by Rodney Rigby in the Dress Circle Foyer. Rotary Members will meet Claude Elliot (former Mayor of Gander and former President of the Rotary Club of Gander) and Dermot Flynn (former Mayor of Appleton) both of whom characters in the performance are based on. This will be a great evening of musical theatre and fellowship. Tickets are strictly limited to 60, and will be available on a first come first served basis. If you would like to attend, please book IMMEDIATELY!! Bookings https://www.trybooking.com/BDKTF WATCH THIS SPACE! Guess what is being prepared for Sunday, 6 October? YES! AROUND THE BAY - diarise and watch for the role you can play in this annual event. MOLINA ASTHANA (B.Com, LLB, LLM) Molina Swarup Asthana is the Principal of Swarup Asthana Lawyers, practicing in commercial law. She was a Principal Solicitor with the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) for over 10 years and had been primarily working on Major Projects for the State of Victoria. She has broad-based commercial and litigation experience and localised expertise in mergers and acquisitions. Molina's areas of expertise include commercial law, tendering and procurement and contract management. Her previous Australian experience includes working in top tier firms Minter Ellison (Mergers & Acquisitions) and Clayton Utz (Banking & Finance). She also has significant experience in the Indian jurisdiction having practiced in the Supreme Court, with law firms in the commercial area and also as an in-house counsel of a big conglomerate. Whilst practicing in India she was involved in a number of Public Interest Litigations that were reported in the national newspapers. Molina has been consulted on the drafting of the privacy laws in India and has been acknowledged as an expert in the report accompanying the draft Indian Financial Consumer Protection Code, for her assistance in the drafting of the legislation. Molina has been working on creating a link between the Indian and Australian legal communities. She has accompanied Trade Missions to India and has made submissions to DFAT on legal services in the Australia India FTA at their behest and she speaks at various forums both in India and Australia on the regulation of legal markets and FTAs. She has received awards from multiple organisations for her work as a solicitor, including the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence for Service Delivery Community Service 2014 and for 2016 (as Victorian Convenor of the Asian Australian Alliance).