The Presidential Year's 1974 - 1983

 

 

 

  • HUBERT BURROWS (1974 – 1975)
  • IRON & STEEL INDUSTRY • PROJECT ENGINEER
  • Inducted 1965

District Governor     Allan Geddes                     Club Service:     George Burns
Secretary:                 Marcel Benson                   Community Service: Mike Calway
Treasurer:                 Doug Gorrell                       International Service: Reg. Bird
Sergeant:                  George Reynolds               Vocational Service: Bill Upfold

A Word About The President
Hubert joined the club in 1965 and immediately made his mark by being voted onto the Board in 1966/67, he also worked on the programme that year. He continued to serve on Board and Committees until President 1974/75, then in 1976 he moved to Sydney and joined the Manly Club. Hubert worked at John Lysaghts Springhill Works as a Project Engineer. During his time at the club, unfortunately nothing is left of Hubert’s history within the club to provide information for this document.  Discussions with George Reynolds, Harvey Chesterfield-Evans and Ron King did not reveal any further details.  Hubert was very popular and a good quality President.

International Service
Ron King was very busy during the year as District Governor’s representative.

Vocational Service

Charter member Arthur Cratchley a member of our club was a great photographer, and in 1974 Rotary Club of Wollongong asked Arthur to photograph the “Belmore Basin” area for their bulleting cover - shown below is that bulletin cover.



 
  • WILLIAM (Bill) FANCOURT (1975 – 1976) PHF
  • PUBLIC AFFAIRS • INDUSTRIAL
  • Inducted 1969

District Governor     Ron Coleman (MBE)    Club Service:                 John Aldridge
Secretary:                 Tom Robertson             Community Service:     George Burns
Treasurer:                 George Reynolds         International Service:   Col. Campbell
Sergeant:                   John Woods                 Vocational Service:        Ken Barnes

A Word About The President
Bill has been one of the long time stalwarts of the club, always there to put a shoulder to the wheel, and his contribution to club Rotary year after year is a model for all Rotarians to aspire to. Bill’s witticisms and retorts at meetings are legend and brought much mirth to those present. His support to many outside agencies such as the Illawarra Crippled Children’s Society, Salvation Army and International House etc., makes him well known and esteemed throughout the Illawarra. Detailed below are many excerpts from Bill’s Bulletin.

Club Service
John Chaplin inducted by President Bill on 31st July 1975.
George announced that the Club has been committed to raise $3000 to complete the Therapeutic Pool at Para Meadows School. Olympic swimmers will take part in a Swim-a-Thon to be held on 18th September. A Committee has been formed and members will be approached to support this project.

Forward Programme - 6August 1975 -
August 13             Alderman Frank Arkell, Lord Mayor of Wollongong, will talk on a subject of his own choosing
August 20            Short Night, followed by Board Meeting
August 27            Ron Black, Public Relations Officer of Royal Blind Society
September 3      George Wood, Club Member, will talk on his trip to Indonesia
September 10    Geoff Kemp of Kemp’s Caravans – talk and slides on      caravanning trends

A fellowship weekend was held at Bundanoon, 1st weekend of November 1975.
President Bill reported on the District Governor’s Institute meeting. Theme “Bringing back to members the basis of Rotary”. The working bees at Mangerton Park and O’Brien’s Road, planted 76 trees.
Ken Barnes did some quick flashbacks into Club History for October 1967 – first Hillview raised $360. 1969 – Harvey Chesterfield-Evans spoke on Road Safety with disastrous results. 1971 saw the induction of Tom Robertson. Ed Klein was made an honorary member in 1972.

This week: Brian Aggio of the Volunteer Coast Guard will be our Guest Speaker
November 12    King Bond, Chairman of World Community Service for      District 275.
November 19    Short Meeting and Board Meeting
November 26    Ian Pike, local Stipendiary Magistrate
November 22    Bus trip to “Gypsy”. Four seats left – please contact Arthur     Booth.
December 5      Bus trip to “Messiah” at Sydney Opera House. Tickets      including fare$5.00. Contact Arthur Cratchley.
April 7                Club Assembly. Several matters needed urgent attention. Give some consideration to the questions of new memberships, new     finance projects and new service projects.
April 14               Bert Wilson SM, spoke on a summary of the “Family Law      Bill”
April 21               Short Meeting and Board Meeting
April 28               Ian McPhail, President of the Real Estate Institute spoke on the “Need for High Rise to spread to Suburbs”
The Spike Milligan Show - Saturday April 3rd. There may be a seat or two left. Enquire from Arthur Booth. It would be a shame to miss out in both ways, both you and the Club, if you wanted to go, could go but did not know.

Brian Hedley precluded all club members from taking part in the forthcoming car rally by suggesting that it was to be an intelligence test not a rally test. Seriously fellows, Brian indicated that there would be no rough roads and travel would proceed at a leisurely pace. Remember the date – May 2nd – Family Outing finishing at Cordeaux Dam where a barbecue will be held.

George Burns reminded the fellows of the Wollongong Rotaract change-over night to be held at the Grange Golf Club on Friday 21st May. The evening starts at 7.30 and the cost is $6.50 per head. George would like an indication of members wishing to attend.

May 5  Family Night - Mike Con will show a film and speak on      Underwater Photography.
May 12  A Road Safety Film, “You Just Don’t Realise” will be shown.     Members are invited to bring guests to this meeting.
May 19  Owing to School Holidays the proposed Parameadows visit has     been postponed. The venue for this meeting will be announced     soon. John McKenzie is hoping for a speaker from within the     club for this meeting.
May 26  Short night followed by Board Meeting.
An epitaph upon last weeks Job Talk by Dr. Harvey indicates he was born in Korea educated a failure and is currently in a rut: The following lines occurred to the editor as he listened to the strict  three minutes -
“Up gets thrice blessed Harvey with economy of words;
He told a life long legend and everybody heard.
He received influence oriental, perhaps withheld a while,
Machine guns interested shortly, now he is back to real ‘Knife’  style”
 
Community Service
The Scout Camp working bee organised by George Burns was carried out on 13 and 14 September.
It was reported that the project to provide two wheel chairs, one for the Crippled Children’s Association and the second for Handicapped children, was finalised and duly handed over to the delight of those two organisations.
Rotary Information - Darwin Cyclone Relief. - Australian Rotarians contributed over $275,000 to this appeal. On 5th June 1975 when a cheque for $250,000 was presented to the Chairman of the Darwin Rotary Trust, John McGregor, there was a standing ovation in recognition of Rotary’s solidarity and concern. From this fund, units for the aged will be constructed and youth group facilities will be restored.
Aid to Wollongong Branch of Crippled Children:  A special committee has been formed to produce a film to aid this special cause. Rob Champion was spear headed the gift of the necessary film materials.
Another successful Hillview was held in February 1976 – much fellowship ensued.
Guest Speaker – Bill Jones. Bill outlined the growth of Clay Pigeon Shooting as a sport in Australia. Young people are encouraged to join to learn safety rules for firearms. Newer Olympic type ranges will assist Australian reps in future Olympic Games. Bob Webb displayed sporting guns and demonstrated a cartridge re-loading machine.

International Service
A glimpse at “The Ecology” by Rotarian Thor Heyerdahl:
An intense interest in South Seas anthropology led the Norwegian-born explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, to sail those seas himself in primitive rafts designed to duplicate earlier voyages along the same routes. Thor Heyerdahl is an honorary Rotarian in Larvik, the town of his birth. In the following, extracted from the Rotarian for May 1975, he compares two voyages - one in 1947, the other in 1969.
“The kind of ocean I had hoped to see again in 1969 was the crystal clear, unpolluted world of salt water I had experienced in 1947. Then not a single trace of human activity was seen for 101 days. Throughout the Kon-Tiki voyage, we tugged a fine-meshed net behind the raft to collect pelagic plankton for food and scientific research. A seabird’s feather was once found in the net, but no refuse or discharge of human origin.
In 1969 we had no sooner seen the African coast sink behind the skyline before we found ourselves in water thickly polluted by floating oil and small asphalt-like oil clots. I myself climbed the mast to scout for ships, as I was convinced we were near an oil tanker that has just cleaned its bilges before we arrived. There was not a vessel to be seen. Later we were to sail into similarly thickly polluted areas and although we passed through seemingly clean water for days and weeks in between, there was hardly a day we didn’t notice the gummy clots of black tar-like oil which ranged in size from an average potato down to that of a pea or smaller”.
Closer to Home - It is alleged that the River Derwent is the most polluted river in the world in terms of mercury level in the silt bed. It is further alleged that natural recovery would take 500 years if no further pollution takes place.  T.D.T. 5-8-75.
 
Guest Speaker - Kath Hanson, Secretary of International Women’s Year Committee. Kath gave an outstanding talk on her work. If you missed this one, you were the loser. The main theme was that though most women are happy there is a significant number of oppressed women in the community who need help. Kath spoke of the difficulties in promoting enthusiasm for this much needed work.
Judy Calway, Rotaryanne’s President, announced that the Christmas Party for Rotaryannes will be held at her home, 18 Acacia Street Gwynneville, on Tuesday, 18th November. Tickets are $3 each.
A duplicator has been received by a school on St Lucia Island in the West Indies. The club is negotiating the gift of paper through an American club because of high freight costs from Australia. March 1976.
Italian Earthquake Appeal - A resolution from the floor of the meeting to the effect that final action be deferred was carried. The resolution called for a report from the Board on the state collection to be made. The resolution resulted from a letter on the subject from D.G. Ron Coleman
Meeting of Board of Directors of RI was held in January 19-25, 1976 at Evanston Illinois, made the following suggestions about membership.
Club Membership evaluation principles:
What is your club’s image in the community?
Is your club membership truly representative of business and professional activity in your community?
Is your club striving to bring in the leading representative of these occupations?
Tonight at our Club, there are four inductions. This shows promise after some losses.
Tight International Control - This above meeting also reaffirmed that “Current policies with respect to organisation and administration are sound”. Nevertheless Alex Darling has a point for Club vitality when he speaks of the place of the floor membership as being important in decision making.
While Club Assembly does provide the important place for opinion expressions and is generally fairly satisfactory (unless through membership apathy) there are times when it doesn’t.

Vocational Service
Vocational Service Awards -  31 March 1976
These have now been announced by the Board. The Junior Awardees are Christine Carrick and Susan (surname next week), and the Senior Awardees, Father Michael Bach and Miss Musgrove from Legacy House. Their personal gifts will be a suitably inscribed pen and a letter of confirmation and credential. The Club award will be $150 each for donation to a charity of their choice. Congratulations to all.
Presentation of above awards to be made at the Family night on May 5th. There will be other special guests including the parents of the junior awardees.

 
  • CAPT. MICHAEL (Mike) CALWAY (1976 – 1977) 
  • PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTATION
  • Inducted 1970

District Governor     Jack Oxham                             Club Service:                 Arthur Booth
Secretary:                 John Guy/Lloyd Thomas       Community Service:     Brian Hedley
Treasurer:                 Col Campbell                         International Service    John Aldridge
Sergeant:                 Arthur Crathley                         Vocational Service:        George Burns

A Word About The President
Mike Calway was a most gregarious fellow who presided over a very successful year ably supported by a very active Board.  His meetings were lively and a pleasure to attend.  One of the major events held during the year was “The Great Swimathon” held at Arthur Booths home and was a rip roaring success.  Mike managed to uphold all avenues of service despite a very busy year which resulted in one of the best fellowship years produced by any President.

Club Service

A man struck a match to see if his petrol tank was empty – it wasn’t.  Another man patted a strange dog to see if it was affectionate – it wasn’t.  Still another man speeded up the beat a train to the crossing – he didn’t.  Then there was the fellow who looked into the muzzle of a gun to see if it was loaded – it was.  But the prize idiot was the fellow who thought he could be a Rotarian by simply joining the club and paying his dues.  He could not!

The fellows welcomed their new sergeant-at-arms photographer, Arthur Cratchley, who complained of being unaware of events as a natural consequence of hiding under black in dark rooms.  Anyway, the session was held and the charge of 20c per fellow was positive and not negative. The fellows can be sure of further exposure.

The editor’s shorthand failed to keep pace with events of the club assembly, but in retrospect, the following may be a reasonable synopsis:

The inaugural act of President Mike’s first meeting was the unfurling of the heraldry depicting the first class club and its third class members.  Naturally there ensured a class debate on the merits and demerits of the format of the bulletin.  First class status was regained however when Len Arthur rose to his feet with a prayer for law and order, which was immediately answered.
Quite clear nevertheless was the fellows’ interest in the several projects outlined for further development by the committees concerned, with a view to their later adoption by the Board.
Prominent among these were the Swimathon and the evergreen “Hillview” as fundraising ventures further involvement in the four avenues of service, particularly where fellowship might be enhanced, and the collective potential of the fellows brought to bear on community needs.
Rotary Beatitudes:

1 September 1976Blessed is the Rotarian who changes his eating-place each meeting, for he shall make more friends.  Blessed is the Rotarian who creates wholesome conversation at the table, for people will desire to sit with him.  Blessed is the Rotarian who does not blow smoke in his neighbour’s face, for his seatmate may not smoke.  Blessed is the Rotarian who can take a little kidding, for he is a good sport.  Blessed is the Rotarian who has more than
just business or professional interest in the Club, for he will last longer.  Blessed is the Rotarian who carries his enthusiasm and friendship away from the dinner table to use it in the ways of life, for he will not be called a hypocrite.  Blessed is the Rotarian who knows how to stop when he makes a speech for his is an unusual man.

A bus trip to see Winifred Attwell and Barry Crocker occurred on 24 October 1976 was enjoyed by all.
Das Balgi inducted by President Mike 15 September.
Change-over Night: 30th June 1977 
We saw Skipper Mike bring his ship to safe anchorage to an accompaniment of excellent fellowship and a most pleasant dinner, all in keeping with the best traditions of our Club and Renown Court.  Among our visitors and guests were Past President Hugh Burrows and Shirley and our honorary member Edward Klein.

Highlight of the evening, prior to Mike’s handing over of office to incoming President Ken Barnes was the presentation of plaques to our local media representatives, Mr. John Martin of WIN 4, Mr. .John Richardson of “The Mercury” and to Mr Leon Bailey in absentia for 2WL.
President Mike ably expressed on behalf of the fellows the club’s indebtedness and appreciation for the co-operation and services rendered by our local media, a fact most instrumental in the success of our two major projects, namely the “Swimathon” and “Hillview”. Speaking of “Hillview” it was gratifying to see Edward Klein able to visit us following his earlier disablement in the year.  The further endorsement of Edward’s honorary membership was popularly acclaimed.  Edward again presented the proceeds of the “Hillview” tower through the hands of President Mike to the Illawarra Crippled Children’s Society.  Our Club Guest for the evening, Mr. Chalmers, President of the Society, received this cheque plus a further thousand dollars from our own project fund.  In addition, our Rotaryannes manifested their interest and support with a donation for the supply of curtains for one of the children’s wards.  Gracious acknowledgement for the continued assistance was made both by Mr. Chalmers and by our own Bob Henderson.

The Treasurer and Directors’ reports were tabled disclosing in detail the activities and an achievement of Mike’s most successful year.  Someone said there was a tear in Mike’ Irish eyes as he handed over his regalia to Ken after voicing his appreciation to his office bearers and in particular to Judy for her understanding and support.
(An additional $500.00 has been set aside for special requirements at the Crippled Children’s Hospital Community Service).
The Big Parameadows Deal: $5000 – for weekend.  In an attempt to raise $5,000 to finalise the building of the Therapeutic Pool at Parameadows School for handicapped, there are big things afoot.

 
  • Mr. George Burns, President Mike Calway, Principal of Parameadows School and Bill Fancourt looking over the plans for the Therapeutic pool.

Friday 17 September – Fashion Parade and Dinner Dance 7.30 p.m. – Whitehall  Tickets $9.00 a single. This gives us a full fashion parade by Pat Franks and Blacks the tailors, a four-course dinner and dancing as well to excellent music.

Guest Speaker:  Mr. Justice Kirby.  The joint meeting last week 23 March 1976  with our three sister Rotary Clubs produced an aggregate of fellows united in their appreciation of the talk by our Guest Speaker.
The excellence of his rendition, illuminated many facets of the work of the Law Reform Commission, dealing particularly with proposed amendments relating to right and privacy of the individual.
Our speaker’s warmth and precision of expression revealed the high degree of intellect and dedication he has brought to bear in his office as Chairman of the Commission.
The “grass roots” nature of the reforms being studied and evaluated for possible enactment undoubtedly impressed his listeners.  It is certain that a consensus of opinions of the fellows present, would have acknowledged an address too good to miss, plus the conviction that the taskforce headed by Kirby J. renders the likelihood of timely and appropriate reforms most auspicious.

Community Service
A progressive dinner was held  on March 19
“Hillview” Report:  It was sad to hear that Honorary Member Edwin Klein has battled near crippling injury to both knees due partly to building an imposing archway at the entrance to Hillview, so once again through his stirling effort acknowledged by President Mike was also evidence by the sunburnt field workers and the untiring guides, caterers, stall holders who combined their efforts for yet another success.
“Hillview” itself was a little brown in appearance due to lack of rain, and there is perhaps some danger that a succession of “Hillviews” may be producing similar symptoms among the stalwarts who have annually contributed mightily to its success. However, many of this week’s visitors, canvassed for an opinion, still expressed delight and satisfaction with the interest and spectacle of “Hillview”, and the queues waiting for the busy guides plus a net of some $4,000 give a very tangible assurance of the sustained public interest.

Our thanks and deep appreciation must again be expressed to Edwin Klein for the continued availability of this fine venue for our fundraising, and to the members of the Historical Society, who strove to prepare “Hillview” for this inspection in Edwin Klein’s absence.  In lighter vein, Edwin’s temporary absence has prompted the following:

From The Caretaker or The Ghost Of “Hillview”
“In Eddie Klein’s absence, it’s me now in charge
Of historic “Hillview”, the Governors’ ménage.
Ed as you knows  laid up for a spell,
How it all happened – ‘tis me that can tell!
Ed saw a tree just spoiling the view,
Sat on a limb and sawed it in two.
This is an error, to which mortals seem prone,
Ed did a Bill Fancourt went down like a stone!
No harm came to me in my ephemeral state,
I just drifted down, but Ed couldn’t wait.
Other tales I could tell of happenings here,
Some worth a laugh and some worth a tear;
But there just isn’t time for any more verse –
My shadows yet dogged with one major curse –
It’s followed me here in life’s aftermath

Now I gotta go fill it – that great ruddy bath!”

Achievement: 22 September 1976. The word best sums up the unqualified success that was the Swimathon and the entertainment of the Disco Night and Dinner Dance.
The financial gain figures reached the.  What can be certain however, is that the fellows of West Wollongong Club have again, through imagination and initiative, brought a most worthy project to fruition and accomplishment, not only through the involvement of the fellows, but also by co-opting support from a considerable cross section of the community. 
The coming into being of the Para Meadows Therapeutic Pool will bring not only immediate but also long lasting benefits of which the fellows may be proud.
Strange that the only short coming reported was the effort of President Mike (him being a Sea Captain too,) who although decked out like King Neptune the 2nd, disgraced the club by swimming last in a field of two.  The temptation to work on him will be hard to resist, and he shouldn’t venture within pushing distance of a pool for some time.

Perhaps there should be no bouquets in a club effort such as this, but two stalwarts who must be listed as outstanding organisers of the venture are of course Arthur Booth, without whom the project would not eventuated, and the precision of George Burns who has  the knack of thinking of everything  or so it seems.

Mention must surely be made of our efficient lap recorder who not only kept the pulse but charmed the female competitors with his poolside manner, - Dr John of course.
With the Swimathon 1976 now history, the temptation to enumerate other approaching club challenges will be resisted for the time being until the fellows have showered and gained second wind so to speak.

International Service
Change of District Number 1 September 1976. Board of R.I. have adopted a plan to rationalise District identification due to the increased number of clubs in various districts. As from July 1st 1977 District 275 (ours) becomes District 975). We didn’t change much.  Information last week Districts 270 and 275 have been regrouped to form three districts 270-271-275.  Ours is much the same with Kiama as the cut off point.
Olympian Mark Kerry addressed a ladies night at the Club on 9 September and spoke about the Montreal Olympics and was looking forward to competing at the Moscow 1980 events.

Vocational Service
Vocational Service awards were presented to Gail Dean and Mavis Tobin and Steven Dein for “Service above Self” (8 June 1977).  Tom Robertson and George Burns carried out the presentation.
Editorial (quotation) – Maybe mildly controversial but I am sure Roger Kee would have approved.
“Business Morality”

“Businessmen should develop practices in advance and conduct business in an ethical manner. Businessmen who do otherwise are themselves undermining the whole enterprise system. They are giving the interventionists the very excuse they are looking for to advocate ever increasing direct control over business operations, and they are eroding the defences of intelligent politicians seeking to resist excessive intervention.
They very great responsibility that business has is to lift the standard of business morality to beyond the requirements of the law.  The law is after all only a codification of the settled morality of the community.  It is important to remember that this is so, and therefore good practice must be above and beyond and in front of the law, because ultimately that will become the settled morality and become embodied in the law as time goes by”
E.S Owens
Chairman, Hill Samuel Aust.

 
  • KENNETH (Ken) BARNES (1977 – 1978) (Deceased)
  • PLUMBING SERVICE • SERVICES 1977 – 1978
  • (Inducted 1970)

District Governor:      Alex Mitchell CBE             Club Service:                     Arthur Booth
Secretary:                   Lloyd Thomas                   Community Service:       John Chaplin
Treasurer:                   Col Campbell                   International Service:     Len Arthur
Sergeant:                     Tom Robertson               Vocational Service:         Brian Hedley

A Word About The President

Ken was a model of the Genuine Rotarian. Not only did he have an excellent year as President but he was a strength to all Presidents throughout his Rotary life.  He was also a fountain of the Clubs past history and was often called upon to recount his experiences. Included here is all that is available of Ken’s year as President.

Club Service
Club Members enjoyed an evening at Her Majesty’s Theatre to view “Chorus Line” after supporting at “The Taiping” Restaurant. 
The Club’s Christmas Party was held at “Don Camillo’s”
The Board regrets the need to increase the dinner fees to $3.50.
PP Alan Hoy resigns due to a move to Sydney with his employment.
100% attendance Jack Guest motored from Kurrimine Beach in North Queensland to Cairns to maintain his 100% at the conclusion of the meeting he drove the 85 miles back to base – “Devotion”.

Programme:
Sept 7   Stephen Mutch -    “GLIDING”
Sept 10 & 11   Working bee Scout Camp, Mt Keira.
Sept 14   World Understanding Week, speaker Eric Polgate.
Sept 28   Tom Ward, “The Rag Trade”

The Family Night: - Our friend “the chimp” captured the hearts of all during the filming of “The Barefoot Executive”.  The potential of “monkey business” is always impressive and incalculable but yet is not like to become the fifth avenue of Rotary Service.
Our District Governor is to be our guest. The District Governor’s visit although an annual formality in Rotary’s organisation and procedure, is nevertheless an evergreen and revitalizing experience.  It brings to each club in turn an insight into the acumen and personal qualities of the Rotarian deemed worthy of the District Governor’s mantle and with it an assessment of the likely impact or influence from his year of office on our current Rotary year.
His task is acknowledged an onerous one, and this year’s bearer of the title, Alex, is assured of our appreciation of his visit and our earnest attention to the points he may make in his assessment of our Club’s functioning and effectiveness.
In order that Alex may be acquainted with the motivation, objectives, and programming envisaged for this year’s club activities, a précis of the nominal decisions reached at the recent committees forum is appended:-

Existing Commitments -Crippled Children
General - A.B.C. Concerts Scout Camp Mangerton Park
Activities - “Hillview” Antique Auction Air Show Progressive, Dinner Trans Lake Illawarra, Seafood Olympics and Swimathon/Boatathon
Large Projects:
Special care nursery at Wollongong Hospital Renal Clinic at Wollongong
Renal Clinic
Wollongong Hospital Hostel for handicapped children
Ripple bed for Wollongong Hospital
Swimming pool for Baringa
Lifeline
Monitoring equipment for operating theatre
Pre-school for disadvantaged children
Physical Work:
Car drives for people at Diment Towers
Stabilizing (and beautifying) banks of Byarong Creek, Figtree Rhododendron Park Visits and necessaries for lonely and aged
General Areas for Support 
Art Gallery
Music Scholarship
Para-Meadows
Conservatorium of Music
Greenacres
Foremost of all these in President Ken’s objectives is our immediate attention to membership.

Community Service

Mike Calway announced that he still had bottles of “that Vintage Port” for sale at $3 bottle or $35 dozen.
The Club Rotaryannes held a cake stall at The Piccadilly Shopping Centre and had a profitable morning.
The Board approved the purchase of a ‘Ripple bed’ for the Wollongong Hospital.
Once again, a working bee was held at the Mt Keira Scout Camp 10-11 September 1977.
The Crippled Children Working Bee Reports to hand tell of stalwarts – George Burns, George Woods, Col Campbell, Bob Henderson, Ken Barnes, being confronted with rocks of typical characteristics (seven-eights below the surface).  They called for reinforcements by way of Ken’s ditch digger and Ken’s daughter Miss Barnes.  Leaks suggest that from then on the ditch digger and Miss Barnes worked assiduously watched by tea drinking Rotarians.

International Service

Invitation to the Rotary Foundation Week by the President of Rotary International:
    13 – 19 November, 1977

Dear Fellow Rotarians.   The decision to institute a Rotary-sponsored program which would more closely bind together peoples of all nations was made in 1917. However it wasn’t until 1947 that the Rotary Foundation was launched with Graduate Fellowship awards to 18 young college people to study abroad for a year.  The Foundation has become one of the proudest accomplishments of Rotary. Now 30 years later, during the Rotary year 1977-78, 1,300 young men and women will be involved in seven programs of work and study throughout the worked.
 
The benefits of such an enterprise are enormous, not only to those selected to be recipients of awards, but also to Rotarians who sponsor and entertain the young people who travel to their countries. However, most gratifying to Rotary is that the programs of The Rotary Foundation are accomplishing the goals of international understanding as envisioned by the early leaders of Rotary.
The outstanding success of these programs can be measured by the time, talent and contributions given unstintingly by Rotarians worldwide.  An idea is only as good as the support it is given.
This year, as we together serve to unite mankind, may we rededicate ourselves to the work of the Foundation by participating wholeheartedly in The Rotary Foundation Week of 13-19 November.  This is the week to learn more about the Foundation through a review of materials, which will be sent to you, invite award recipients in your area to share their experiences with your Club and re-evaluate your Club’s support of The Rotary Foundation.

W. Jack Davis,
President, Rotary International

The Club hosted GSE Team Members from Rotary district 669 Ohio U.S.A.
Vocational Service
Guest Speaker – Ian Chapman. Ian was critical of the trends he sees in Education.  Ian now serving as Headmaster of “TIGS” impressed the fellows with his insight into the trends or innovations he has witnessed in the last decade.  One object of his criticism was the degree of experimentation (often without objectivity) that has thrown the examination system into disarray without apparent benefit to pupils of our secondary schools or to a society endeavouring to receive them into productive occupations. Ian’s conviction is that the education system must encourage and demand high standards from students capable of them, and that their higher attainments be clearly certified as such when achieved. He deplored the belief that a lowering of standards may somehow be equated with equality of opportunity. Other points of Ian’s criticism were:
Students (even those aspiring to tertiary education) were no longer well grounded in basics. Those parents in many cases were abdicating their responsibilities with regard to instruction of their own children, and teaching was no longer regarded as a true vocation by many aspiring to teach.

In regard to the latter, Ian saw a remedy in the issuing of annual contracts to teachers and academics, a degree of efficiency being the criteria for re-admission.
Question time ran out before the fellows were all answered, but was obvious that the listeners were very much in accord with the points made by our speaker.  Geoff Brinson ably responded with the vote of thanks.

 
  • MARCEL BENSON PHF  (1978 – 1979)
  • ELECTRITY SERVICE • DISTRIBUTION
  • Inducted 1972

District Governor:  Michael Zantiotis     Club Service:                     Alan Crapp/Hilton King
Secretary:              John Aldridge            Community Service:        Arthur Booth
Treasurer:              Col Campbell           International Service:     Brian Hedley
Sergeant:                Bill Fancourt             Vocational Service:         Tudor McKay

A Word About The President

After more that 30 years in the Club at 100% attendance, Marcel is regarded as one of the elder statesman of the Club. His contributions year after year to the functioning and well being is always of a high standard and welcomed by his fellow members.  Marcel has served in all avenues of service and his advice is always sought when a serious decision is needed that affects the Club.  He is the first person to help when called on to do so. Marcel’s year as President was most productive with all avenues of service very active. In particular a heavy community service programme was carried out which resulted in a great fellowship year.

Club Service
Club fees will remain at $40.00 per year.
Tom Lambert inducted by President Marcel on 12th July 1978.
Bill Glossop was inducted by President Marcel on 23rd May 1979.
Angus Johnstone was re-inducted by President Marcel on 27th September, 1978.
Albert Chapman was inducted by President Marcel on 30th November 1979.
Stephen Mutch inducted by President Marcel 25th January 1978.
Club Car Rally and picnic May 6th 1979.  Navigation not speed was the key to winning.
Stan Cantor was inducted by President elect John Chaplin 4th April 1979.
Reach Out” proceeded in directions other than the rostrum of the Rotary Club of West Wollongong, due to the non-appearance of our scheduled speaker, so Stephen Mutch obligingly filled the vacuum thus created at short notice.  Stephen expanded an erstwhile three-minute job talk into an interesting resume of his experiences to date in the field of his present livelihood, mechanical engineering and recreational interest in gliding.

Stephen was born at Cootamundra apparently under a lucky star, contrary to modern legend he thinks: life was meant to be easy”.  Easy for Stephen, that is, because Tom Robertson in his vote of thanks revealed that Stephen’s sojourn with a list of industrial concerns unhappily coincided with their financial embarrassment if not insolvency. The most notable example being the Sydney section of the British Motors Corporation which faced economics disaster after Stephen’ association with them!
Tom proceeded to deplore Stephen’s professed interest in forsaking the field of engineering for that of economics (“It has greater scope and status”, says Stephen) Tom says he is dangerous enough as it is!
Reach Out” proceeded in directions other than the rostrum of the Rotary Club of West Wollongong, due to the non-appearance of our scheduled speaker.
Pam Ayers sound alike. The following prose appeared in the Bulletin dated 18 April 1979:
The following has been appended as a summing up with apologies to Pam Ayers, Tom Ward and others:

“Its gotta be easy” Stephen said –
As he put gliders wings to a feather bed
And off to a life of ease he sped.
Only once in flight did he digress –
Spent six poor years at A.I.S.
He gave this matter contemplation
Then sought a better destination
Result the Leyland Corporation!
Here he plied the many lurks
Which caused a spanner in the works
With early scent of sure demise
In his glider off he flies.
Nest, Lysaghts he would light upon
Wiley “Robbo” waved him on
One Mutch too mutch our “Robbo” said
So off to Westonport instead.
Now in engineering he sees his error
To economics he’d spread his terror
At head of cartel of Canberra!
Meanwhile why the verse and fuss?
Look out Col Campbell he’s here with us!

All those mentioned were members of the Club.
A progressive dinner was held Saturday 21st April 1979.  It started at Das Balgi’s then to Ron Jackson’s ending up at Atis Strazdins beautiful home $6/hd.
Club members travelled to Sydney for a dinner/show to see the “Two Ronnie’s” on 27th July 1979.
The Club celebrated the 15 anniversary on 23rd May 1979 with many past members attending Alan Reid, Arthur Booth, and Ken Barnes entertained the Club with stories from the past.

Community Service
Sgt at arms fined all with proceeds $75 going to Salvation Army’s Don Skinner for the Red Shield appeal.
Rotaryanne’s, partners of Rotarians have formed a group to aid Rotary projects – Bev Benson and other Rotaryanne’s held a cake stall at the Piccadilly Centre Friday 30th September 1978 and a wine tasting happened at Judy  Galway’s home October 6th. 
At the head of the list of the New Year’s tasks and recurrent challenges, was“Hillview” (Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th February).  “Hillview” remains the backbone and major source of the club’s project income.  The financial wherewithal for our participation in community service hinges directly on the success or failure of its outcome.
“Hillview” has been consistently successful for ten years or more but each year’s success has been proportional to the enthusiasm and effort that can only come from all-out participation.  The danger of continued success is that it fosters complacency, and further,
to the belief that inspiration and preparation may safely be left to someone else, particularly the tried and proved workhorses of past years.
Our project in fact is in continual need of fresh initiatives and new ideas in order that Edwin Klein’s most generous offer of repeated inspection may continue to be an attraction maintaining extensive regional interest and consequent attendance.
Hillview: this year was organised by a Committee consisting of John Chaplin, John Aldridge, Brian Hedley and Neil Iceton and the Committee had the co-operation of George Burns and Mike Calway.  It was found that “Hillview” worked very satisfactorily under this arrangement and it helped to relieve a very heavy organisational burden.
We were given the usual generous assistance by Wollongong Rotaract Club and this year, for the first time, assistance came from members of the junior Council.
(Ref. “Hillview” Herpetology).  It is now traditional for a snake to appear before the dignitaries of the Rotary Club of West Wollongong at “Hillview” time.  Last year’s appearance (vide Bulletin 15/2/1978) was in honour of St. Patrick’s representative (Mike Calway), this years presentation was in honour of St. George, (George Burns).
The factuality of this years manifestation was attested to, by one, Noel Watt who is a teetotaller. Our news roundsman reports that the snake was stunned or stoned (writing not clear) when St. George fittingly emptied a bottle of West Wollongong vintage port over the reptile.  Hissing gave way to hiccing, and the day being the Sabbath, St. George intoned from the Book of Proverbs – “look not thou upon the wine when it is red, at the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder”.  By this time the snake was cross-eyed. No doubt there is a lesson to be learned from the episode, but for further elucidation, over to Len Arthur.

Program:
January 31  “Bush Fire Fighting” – speaker Warren Robertson.
February 4 (Sunday) working bee at “Hillview”.
February 7 Club Assembly.
February 14 “Young Achievement”, speaker Howard Jenkins.
February 21 Short meeting.
February 28 “The Wollongong Conservatorium” – speaker James Powell.
March 29 Ladies Night, a speaker from the State Cancer Council will    present film and discussion on the subject of cancer.
“Byarong Creek” - Wollongong was adopted by the Club as project to maintain. A tree planting working bee was held 19th March 1979.
The Nareena Home for the aged had the benefit of a Club working bee to clean up the grounds. The workers being Arthur Booth, Daryl Booth, Stan Cantor, Bob Henderson, Noel Watt, Stephen Mutch, John Crakenthorp and George Reynolds.

International Service
(Excerpt from the District Governor’s Monthly letter) “Reach out to serve Mankind” is the message from our world President Clem.  He would like us to promote this theme during the next twelve months.
In order to stimulate continuing interest from Rotarians, you will need to bring new vitality to your club. Since Rotary Clubs stay in the same rut of complacency and routine for many years.  We all have an opportunity to make Rotary live during this particular twelve months.  We can do this by demonstrating enthusiasm and exuberance in Rotary matters.  The same projects year after year and the same ritualistic approach to Rotary meetings often cause a diminishing interest in the club members.  All clubs can stand a new approach.  Some clubs need to breathe a new life into their organisation – a new look – an improvement.  Some clubs need to accept a new challenge or a new project, and not be afraid of controversy, and if need be, dare to be different.  Rotary must offer a challenge and an exciting and purposeful programme to stimulate and attract members, who will ultimately develop as Rotary leaders”.
A combined meeting with the Wollongong Rotaract Club.  Acting President John Chaplin thanked the Rotaract members for their continued assistance for helping at “Hillview”.
RYLA – Denis Wann and Rodney Williams attended Ryla at Stanwell Tops.
A secondary school scholarship was awarded to Mirjana Stojanovic a member of the “Junior  Council” who also assisted at Hillview.
Frank Sironic – a Club fellow – his struggle:” Refugees in Australia”.  Frank prefaced his talk to us by distinguishing between the terms “refugee” and “migrant”.  The latter remains free to return to his country of origin but the former may only do so at the risk of a practical demonstration of displeasure from the regime in control of his former homeland.  It has always been difficult for the splendidly isolated and mostly unfettered “Aussie” to comprehend the virulence of such animosity.
A dictionary defines “refugee” “as one who flees to a place of safety to escape persecution”.  The year 1947 saw Frank arrive in Paris undoubtedly with this status having fled from Yugoslavia by way of Italy in an effort to escape from a decade of oppression and imprisonment.
Frank’s homeland was the province of Istria in Yugoslavia, which was the scene of bitter conflict in World War II and suffered the alternative subjugation by both Nazi and Communist forces. Having been captured by the German army in 1943, Frank was subjected to 2 years imprisonment in the concentration camp of Dachau, notorious for its brutality and deprivation of human rights.
He was released from Dachau upon its capture by American forces, but on return to Yugoslavia found himself regarded as an enemy by the regime which had fought its way to control.
The purported “democratic” complexion of this regime was such that opponents or critics however mild disappeared overnight.  Frank’s first attempt to escape was abortive and resulted in further imprisonment.  His second attempt was successful and he was able to reach Paris.
It was here that the option of proceeding to Australia presented itself to Frank and his expectant wife.  Their first sight of Australia was their arrival by sea to Fremantle.  Frank’s first meal on arrival was an Australian version of the beef sausage, which scared him into a belief that here was a new kind of purgatory.
However, his pilgrimage prospered from here on and he and his wife proceeded by way of Bonegilla in Victoria to Cringila where Frank obtained a job at the steelworks.
A spin off from Frank’s traumatic existence was his acquisition of an ability and indeed fluency in five European languages.  This ability has gained him his present job as an interpreter with the Commonwealth Bank.  Frank and his family now hold Australian citizenship and look forward to a future quite benign in comparison to the dark and terrifying years 1937-47.
The main project undertaken this year by the International Service Committee was to work with the UDIPI Rotary Club in India.  We have been most successful in this regard, and the whole Club should feel proud to be involved in such a worthwhile project. Together with the UDIPI Club we have been able to assist our adopted village.

Firstly by providing its first mechanical pump for the village well:
Secondly by building a brick bus shelter in the village square which has now been named West Wollongong Square.
Also providing hurricane lanterns for the homes, as there is no electricity;
We also gave material to be used for making clothing for the villagers.
To provide these benefits we have sent $500 to the UDIPI Club.  Since that time we have forwarded a further $500 and we are awaiting a reply from the Club President as to the uses to which this money has been put.  It is hoped by this year’s committee that this can be made an ongoing project, which the incoming committee will adopt.
Das Balgi was thanked for the help he has given to get this project under way by President Marcel Benson and for the enthusiasm he has provided.
International Youth Project: - The Club has agreed to host a Youth Exchange Student from Valby, Denmark, Soren Ivarsson, during 1979-80. Tudor and Lillian Mackay are host parents.
Vocational Service.
Guest Speaker - Ron McCreeth.  Ron McCreeth who is the Area Manager Customer Services for Telecom outlined some of the services offered by Telecom to its customer.  Fortunately, the strike by Telecom’s employees had just finished and it was again possible to visualise that Telecom could offer some services.
Telecom was created when, in 1975, Australia Post and Telecom were made into separate entities.  As a part of the break up Telecom was itself decentralised and there is now much more local autonomy.
Among the recent innovations have been touch phones, new telex services, reduced basic charges, cheaper Sunday and late night rates.  In future we can look forward to the Telefinder (a beeper system) and fully mobile phones for cars rather than the radiophones, which are in use today.
Mr.McCreeth made the somewhat startling statement that about one third of all public telephones are out of order at any one time.  In order to combat vandalism on this scale the new CT3 phones are being installed.
By November, all telephone accounts will be processed by A.D.P. system, which will provide more detail of charges, and by mid 1980, it will be possible to provide details of every call charged.
In its innovative approach to technological change, Telecom has become a leader in the field of optical fibres, which will ultimately replace co-axial cables.  In Australia Telecom has a monopoly, which gives it a much freer hand in the way in which it does things.
There is no doubt that it is technically very advanced in some areas but the questions asked indicated that not everyone is happy with some of the attitudes which would  not be present if Telecom had to operate in a competitive arena.
Worth mentioning: The District conference was held on the Cruise ship MV Fairstar for 1979.  Keynote address by R.I. President Personal Rep, Herbert A. Pigmans. Sir William McMahon spoke on “Productivity”.
Ron Ross, WIN4 Sports announcer was awarded a Vocational Service Award for his rehabilitation work associated with the “Keelong Remand Centre”.  Len Bland also awarded a Vocational Service Certificate for his long and fruitful association with The Wollongong Sheltered Workshop.

 
  • JOHN CHAPLIN P.H.F., O.A.M. (1979 – 1980)
  • STEEL INDUSTRY • LAW
  • 1979 – 1980 (Inducted 1975)

District Governor   King Bond           Club Service:                     Brian Hedley
Secretary:               John Aldridge     Community Service:        Rob Champion
Treasurer:               Col Campbell     International Service:     Hilton King
Sergeant:                 Len Arthur           Vocational Service:         Bob Henderson

A Word About The President

John Chaplin has been a great strength to the well being of this Club, his continued contributions to each Presidential year is warmly received by all those who sought advice.  His wit is a wonder to behold as those who attempt to test him soon find out.  He has served on many District Committee’s and is always called upon to help the Club determine its position on Rotary International procedures and changes.  He can be proud of his contribution to the community not only through the Club, but also through service to many organisations in the community.

Club Service
Don Friend held the attendance chair during the year and helped the Club be inside the first 10 Clubs in District attendance.
George Reynolds produced an excellent Club Bulletin which all enjoyed.
Steven Mutch produced some excellent speakers as Programme Chairman.
Len Arthur as Sgt-at-arms produced an abundance of deputies who kept everyone on their toes.
Mike Calway and his committee provided the Club with a very entertaining Christmas party, “capped” by a one-act comedy.
Tudor MacKay announced that he had received a letter and several cards from our Exchange Student Sarah Coxsedge.  He said that she had visited Leningrad and had been travelling extensively.  She spoke highly of her visit to Russia and of the people that she met.
President John announced that we had been invited to the preview of an art exhibition at the Long Gallery in the University of Wollongong on May 26th.  It is an exhibition of works by numerous up and coming artists.
President John inducted David Whitelaw and Hans Van Der Doe.
As the above completes a report of last weeks meeting, the Editor has taken this opportunity to insert a contribution by John Chaplin:

The world fish-eating championships were recently held in Fife, Scotland.  In the grand final the British Champion, Jim Hicks, who came from Fife, met the European Champion, Sven, from Norway.  The fish chosen to be eaten in the Championships this year was tench. Early in the finals, the British Champion bit hard on a bone, loosened one of his teeth and had to retire.  The European Champion went on to an easy victory by eating his way through nine whole fish. This famous victory was reported in the press under the headline
“One Tooth Free For Fife’s Hicks, Sven Ate Nine Tench”.
 
Community Service
“Hillview” was again the focus of the year with everyone participating enjoying the hard work immensely not to mention the great fellowship.
Anything Goes: A TV oriented mass entertainment show mainly held out doors was called “Anything Goes”. The public participated in various “events” which were usually hilariously entertaining for the audience.  Most events were teams competing against one another.  One of the most popular events related to a very large above ground swimming pool in which participating teams performed various races but having to e.g. paddle a rubber tyre or push a balloon from one end of the pool to the other end.
The event was held at the Wollongong Showground. One job was to fill the portable swimming pool in preparation for the evening’s show. About 2 hours before the show was to start the pool which took all day to fill, burst. Everyone thought that the whole thing had to be abandoned, but Rotary not to be denied, called in the ‘Fire Brigade” who after repairs were made managed to refill just in time. The show was a great success and the Rotary Club of West Wollongong was given 50% of the gate takings which amounted to 4 figures.  To gauge the popularity of the show it filled the showground grandstand.
“Parameadows School for handicapped children needed considerable work, a study was undertaken to establish the requirements for an extension of the ‘Hamburger Hut’ to form a rehabilitation farm for disadvantaged youth.

The 3H Programme. The Club members each donated $15.00 to the World Community Service Programme.
Other areas of Community Service where the club was active was The Illawarra Society for Crippled Children, The Wollongong Gallery, The ABC Concerts, Legacy and the Red Shield Appeal.
The new Wollongong Probus Club. Wollongong and West Wollongong Clubs combined to form and support a new Probus club to service Illawarra, President John was appointed the DG’s Special Representative to help form the new club.

International Service
Report from Udupi, India from Professor G. Raghurath Rai, President of RC Udupi, Manipal.
“Dear Dr. Balgi, I have your letter dated 24/10/79 addressed to Sri Vijaynath Bhat. I hope by now have received my letter dated 22/9/79 wherein I have mentioned important projects undertaken by us this
Rotary year:
Establishing a Health Centre at Pernankila, our adopted village, for which we have to deposit 25,000 rupees with the government, which will than establish a centre.
Establishing a Child Care Centre at Manipal to look after babies and young children of working women, estimated cost 50,000 rupees
Holding an Eye Camp at Udupi – estimate 25,000 rupees.
Constructing two bus shelters in Herga village at estimate of 20,000 rupees.
An amount of $1,000 was donated to the Rotary Club of UDIPI, India.  The money was to be spent on the erection of bus shelters within the village confines Das Balgi has organised the Project.
$172 was raised for International Service during a bus trip to see the “Two Ronnies” concert in Sydney, two shirts donated by Frank Issa and Tom Ward.
Funds were also raised for International Service by a Factory Clothing sale at the “Midford Factory” Kembla Grange, kindly organised and sponsored by Frank Issa.  The sum raised was $2,809.
Neil Preston. The club’s nominee went to District 620 in Louisiana with the GSE team.
Kampuchean Appeal $4,000 was raised and forwarded to the Rotary Club of Chantaburi.  The funds are to be distributed to very needy people.  Arthur Booth organised the project.
Soren Invarsson of Denmark was the club’s incoming exchange student who proved to be a very likeable and popular lad.  Tudor MacKay, George Reynolds and Ian Chapman hosted Soren during his stay in Australia.
The GSE team from Scandinavia visited the Club and provided an entertaining evening organised by Steven Mutch.

Youth Service
The club maintained a mutually profitable relationship with Wollongong Rotaract Club. They gave us much assistance particularly at “Hillview” and we were able to make a donation of $300 to them. We have continued our Secondary School Scholarship Grant to Mirjana Stojanovic and were pleased to nominate David Brinson and Stuart Reid to attend the RYLA Seminar.  We also make a donation towards the expenses of Danielle Woodward in attending the Canoeing Championships in New Zealand.

Vocational Service

In an effort to increase interest in Vocational Service activities were undertaken by the introduction of guest speakers from the District Vocational Service Committee and the Vocational Guidance Bureau of NSW and by articles in the Club bulletin. Job Talks were provided by Club members throughout the year and were very popular.
In co-ordination with the Illawarra Careers Co-ordinating Committee led to a club project to conduct mock interviews for school leavers to assist in improving skills to help them secure employment.  During work on this project it was suggested by one school, the “Work Experience” students should be paid award wages. However, the lesson learned here was that “Work Experience” is part of the education programme and pay and awards are not applicable.
Vocational Service Award was presented to 90-year-old A. Parsons, Funeral Director. Mr Parsons still operated his family business.

 
  • GEORGE REYNOLDS (1980 – 1981)
  • HORTICULTURE & NURSERIES DISTRIBUTING
  • CHARTER MEMBER
  • Inducted 1964

District Governor     Hal White             Club Service:                 Arthur Booth
Secretary:                 John Aldridge     Community Service:     Neil Iceton
Treasurer:                 Don Friend         International Service:   Mike Calway
Sergeant:                                                Vocational Service:      Stephen Mutch

A Word About The President

George was a tall quietly spoken man with a delightful personality who according to Harvey Chesterfield Evans presented a father figure to friends and the Club; He was also renowned as a superb Bulletin editor. George joined the Club as a charter member in 1964 and attended the inaugural dinner on 12 February 1964 prior to the Club being chartered.  George served as Charter Treasurer until June 1966, was International Service Director 66/67, Sgt at Arms 67/68, Director Club Service 67/68, Director Vocational Service 68/69, and again in 70/71.  He left the Club in 1972 but rejoined in 1974 then followed club’s offices until 1983.  He certainly qualifies as a Rotarian who epitomises the term, “Service above Self” and he was greatly missed when his time came to leave Rotary.

Club Service

Changeover Night speech by George Reynolds.
Members, guests and visitors totalling about 90 joined President George for the final meeting of the year. A most enjoyable night it was too.
Among the official guests were DG Hal White and Sonia.  The Presidents who served under him recently made Hal a Paul Harris Fellow.  It was very good to see Edwin Klein, our own Paul Harris Fellow and an Honorary Member of the club.  Edwin has had to miss recent Changeovers and  his attendance this evening was most welcome.
George’s fellow Presidents present were:-
Theo & Dia Arnts (Dapto)
Bruce Reiher and Sally (Wollongong)
Kerry Keane and Jeanette (Fairy Meadow)
John Bultitude and Betty (Port Kembla)
Ray Fenton and Betty (Corrimal)
Barry McBeath and Beverley (Unanderra)
We also welcomed Dr Ian Dunlop and his wife Josie on behalf of the Illawarra Society for Crippled Children and Mrs Valerie Alport on behalf of the Illawarra Mobile Toy Library.
Visiting Rotarians were Tony Morello and Len Hudson from Corrimal club and Barry and Jenny Perkins were guests of the club.
George announced that Arthur Cratchley a Charter Member of the club had been made an Honorary Member of the club joining Edwin Klein and becoming only the second Honorary Member in the club’s history.
In the second part of the evening George presented his report as retiring President which included a very interesting potted history of the Club and then handed the reins (and the collar) to President Tudor.
Tudor spoke of the Rotary Theme for 1981/82 – “World Understanding and Peace through Rotary” and how it was advanced by activities such as Youth.
Exchange and Group Study Exchange.  The Club has forged links with Denmark, Norway and the USA and will host Member of the Japanese SE team in September.  If one Club can achieve this, what can the more than 19,000 Rotary Clubs throughout the world achieve for World Understanding and Peace?
After introducing his Board Members to the Club, President Tudor performed his first official duty the induction of Barry Perkins as a new member of the Club.  Barry is the proprietor of Carpets International and his classification is Carpets Retailing.  His wife is Jenny. 
Tudor then asked PP George to make a presentation to Renown Court staff member Doreen Sharman whose service above self at the bar is so essential to the enjoyment of our meetings.
For the month of May 1981, the Club maintained an attendance rate of 77.16% and its progressive attendance rate for the 1980-81 year at that stage was 84.17% West Wollongong was seventh among the 49 Clubs in District 975.
Vocational Service Director Stephen Mutch took the floor to present the Club’s Vocational Service Award to Bob Henderson, giving the Club’s recognition to the untiring work given by Bob to the Illawarra Society for Crippled Children.  To go with a cheque for $100.00 to be given to him for his favourite Charity (guess which) and a splendid James Bond briefcase, Bob received the Club’s Vocational Service Certificate which carries the simple and effective statement that he has given “Service above self in his vocation”.
Community Service Director Neil Iceton made the presentation of a cheque for $2,000 to Dr Ian Dunlop on behalf of the Illawarra Society for Crippled Children.
In thanking the Club for the donation, Dr Dunlop said that the money would go towards furnishing a community home which would provide accommodation for five or six of the children and a House Mother who will care for them. The Housing Commission is helping to provide a normal residence where the children can develop as ordinary members of the community free from the need for continual help.
Neil then proceeded with the presentation of a cheque for $200.00 to Mrs Valerie Alport on behalf of the Mobile Toy Library – a most worthy recipient.
Then a particular pleasure for George was the presentation to Arthur Booth of his badge as a Senior Active Member of the Club.  Arthur came into the Club on 1st June 1966 and in the 15 years since has maintained 100% attendance with make-ups in some strange places.
Arthur is a very young 40 and the indications are that he is the youngest Senior Active at least in District 975 if not in Australia.
Tudor MacKay welcomed particularly Lene Veierod, our Exchange Student, who returns home in the very near future.  Ian Chapman spoke glowingly of Lene with a knowledge coming from close contact while she has been here.
Ian presented Lene with a wristwatch as a memento of the club after which she showed her skill as a pianist with a stirring piece composed to honour the Norwegian Resistance Movement during World War II.
 
Vocational Service
Guest speaker David McNiece – Taxation Consultant. The club was given an insight into income tax and the Taxation Department’s philosophy and approach. Tax is a real problem to most of us, and it is doubtful that we rested any more easily after David’s talk.
There has been a real change in the Department’s position over the last three years.  Prior to that, they were working largely by hand in crosschecking tax returns so that if you were caught out, it was mainly bad luck.  However about three years ago, in an unexpected legacy from the Labour years, the universal information compiled in the context of Medibank was adapted to the Taxation computer.
Suddenly, all of the honest information people gave when they thought they were going to get something became available to the taxman.  This allowed him to check people by reference to single and married name, changed addresses, age and similar information. That way almost overnight, he was given much greater information for crosschecking.
At the same time, the Field Audit and investigation Section was developed.  Combine the two and (one assumes, unless you retain a tax consultant) all of your sins become grist for the taxman’s mill.
Our speaker instanced the following:-
In 1977, the Department estimated that its Sydney Office was saving $14,000 per week on disallowed claims.
The average age of the person who does the primary assessment of your return is 19.
That assessor has to process 400 returns each day (and remember that he/she is a public servant).
The assessment is done by reference to standards i.e., if you do not conform to the expected, your claim is disallowed.
80% of taxpayers accept the fact that their claim has been disallowed without appealing.
If you do appeal, your appeal is referred to the same 19 year old before going any further.
Overall things are against us.  The adage is that nothing is certain but death and taxes.  After our speaker it is perhaps hard to isolate the difference.
The real message we were given was the importance of keeping records to substantiate claims for deductions. Without records all is lost, with records (and, I suspect, a good accountant) there is yet hope.
Donations to the charitable activities of Rotary (e.g., the Rotary Foundation) are tax deductible.
Our speaker was introduced by Jim Hall and, taking just about his last opportunity to speak out without being restrained, President George moved the vote of thanks.
The clubs Vocational Service Award went to Richard and Val Smith.

Community Service
Mt Keira Scout Camp. Club members had a great weekend up at the Mt Keira Scout Camp building a wooden bridge.
‘Hillview” A wonderful year was had at the “Hillview” weekend by all concerned. Joan Lamerton, conducted tours of the old NSW Governor’s retreat with visitors coming back year after year hearing different versions of the history of the buildings and one ‘old wagg’ suggested that we were inventing history to make things “interesting”. Of course Bill Fancourt was the “Guru” of organising the dining room with century old silver and china on a lace tablecloth and we can only guess as to the stories Bill managed to spin. George Burns together with John Chaplin, John Aldridge, Neil Iceton, Tom Ward, Mike Calway and many others who managed the overall project not to mention all the “Rotaryannes” and friends who toiled in the kitchen, tearoom and stalls.
George Reynolds and Edwin Klein had the unenviable job of getting the garden into shape and would you believe placing name plates on each plant and tree type on the estate.
Harvey Chesterfield-Evans invented “The Embassy” where all (male) members found a “retreat” in the grounds of the estate. Rumour has it that liquor was “available” on this “hallowed” ground but Harvey said it was only rumours.
(Unfortunately, no further information is available from George or Harvey to fill in the blanks).


We’re all ‘up in the air’ at “Hillveiw”

 
  • TUDOR MACKAY PHF Sapphire Pin (1981 – 1982)
  • CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
  • Inducted 1976

District Governor:        John Wright            Club Service:                  Brian Davis
Secretary:                     John Aldridge         Community Service:     Brian Hedley
Treasurer:                     Noel Watt                International Service:   Joe Phelan
Sergeant:                       Marcel Benson      Vocational Service:       Arthur Booth

A Word About The President

When you think of Tudor, you think "youth", Tudor has a great affinity with young people, besides promoting, caring and looking after their well-being, establishing long-term acquaintances among them, acting as father and mentor to them, Tudor has without doubt been the largest influence on the development of Rotary International Youth Exchange within the club and District 9750. His influence in youth exchange has spread to other districts throughout the world and raised the standard of youth exchanges, procedures and quality of the parties and quality of the participants.
He sometimes uses smoke and mirrors to get the results that he thinks are right and he is certainly a magician how he keeps youth alive and well right across the district.
He is a dedicated Rotarian who accepts all the accolades that come his way - an example for all.

Club Service

At the first meeting of the year Club Assembly, President Tudor reported that the DG wanted emphasis on fellowship and activities involving membership.
New members recently inducted into the club are Jim Hall, Barry Perkins and Ron Pedersen.
Club membership fees will be $60 for 1981-1982.
The sergeant through Mike Calway fined Tudor for his damp damper, Harvey for his hat and George Burns for his passion wine after a trip to the Hunter Valley.
An important matter - the "Music Committee" under club service has been a bit thin on the ground, usual notes like Q natural and Z sharp have been heard, therefore:
We will recite Rotary Grace.
Toast the Queen.
If you want to sing, a volunteer will be required to play the piano or sing in tune.
19th August 1981 - President Tudor inducted two new members, Les Graham and Morrie Kelly
Brian Hedley reintroduced the "Wine Raffle" each week, Joe Phelan and Arthur Booth had all the luck
Stephen Mutch said of the car rally, it’s a "Motorised expedition to a picnic"
Mike Calway has headed off to Goulburn to run his restaurant with Judy
Club attendance is 86.7% - 4th in the District
Brian Davis announced a theatre party to see "Hold on to your Privates" on Saturday 14th November
Dinner fees for the year will be $8 each (50 cents to Renown Court)
Norm Sadd sadly has resigned from the club due to business time constraints
 
Arthur Cratchley has been honoured as the clubs second Honorary member in acknowledgement of his service to the club. The award was made by President Tudor to Arthur at his home
A feature of Tudor's year was weekly Bulletin input from the Board - informing all
Guest Speaker – Dr. Ian Bowmaker.  Dr Ian Bowmaker masterminded an audiovisual Program on the development of the Snowy Mountains area
Ian is presently Senior Medical Officer at AIS. He studied Medicine at Sydney University and then went into practice in Kembla Street as a General Practitioner. He felt the lure of the good life and the hustle and bustle of private practice to take up Occupational Medicine
Ian has a particular interest in amateur radio and is a member the Arcadians Theatre Group. He is, with President-Elect Harvey and Brian Hedley a member of a group which retreats annually to the Illawarra Alpine Club's hut at Smiggins Holes to partake of their beneficial medicine (usually to excess).  Ian’s presentation arose from retreats over a number of years supported by some earlier slides taken by his father. The slide was accompanied by a recorded narration prepared by our speaker. The description was backed by a most appropriate sound track, Schubert's Trout Quintet.

The slides covered the major developments in the Snowy area over period from 1957 to 1979. The areas were taken separately and the slides had been arranged to demonstrate the progression from construction to completion of earthworks and then to formation of the lakes. Some of the areas were:
- Encumbene Dam and Old and New Adaminaby
- Tantangara Reservoir
- Cabramurra
- Tumut Pond Dam Kiandra
- Talbingo, Blowering Dam
- Khancoban
- Guthega Dam & Island Bend
As John Aldridge said “one Dam thing after another”
There were also some most interesting slides of the general area including the flags of the nations whose peoples were involved in the development.

Club News

Cost of Insurance per member is $3.50 per annum.
A night out by all at Parmy's woolshed is reported to be more popular than the district conference.
14th April 1982 Tudor inducted Neil McCloskey as a member.
12th May 2002 Bob Sukor was inducted as a member by Tudor; Bob was formerly a member of the Rotary Club of Newcastle.

Community Service
The Club continued to support the Red Shield appeal with a $50 donation
Brian Hedley indicated that the next Scout camp ‘working bee’ will be the preparation of a bush track to Mt. Keira and the planting of Illawarra flame trees on the escarpment.
George Burns had brought forward a need for the blind bowlers, with whom he maintains contact, they require a new bowling mat to replace the much worn second-hand one they have been using, $350.00 was allocated.

Brian Hedley has asked club members to prepare 50 Christmas parcels for distribution to needy families at Christmas

Short Night. Dominated by the Hillview weekend. President Tudor thanked all the fellows for their support for the weekend. The result was "reasonably good" despite the besetting vicissitudes. The Club's particular thanks to Edwin Klein, Dale Woodward, Joan Lamerton Mike and Judy Calway, Susan Jeandrevin and the many other people who helped.

Noel Watt circulated a preliminary “Hillview” statement the total amount raised should be in excess of $4,000 which fully justifies the work involved

There was a suggestion that the Embassy area, which is one of the most pleasant places at Hillview, should be opened up with picnic tables and chairs where people could sit down to eat and relax. If the barbecue was extended to provide steaks, ate, this could provide a focus at which people could enjoy the atmosphere of Hillview. No doubt, a satisfactory venue could be found for the relocated Embassy, it was reported that Harvey choked on his scotch.

The Sgt-at-Arms, Albert Chapman and Marcel Benson raised a large amount with their penalties. Not many members escaped their barbs (well fuelled by inside information from impeccable sources). There was time for a short post-mortem on the weekend. Some matters raised:

George Reynolds made a special mention of Frank & Emilia Sironic's cevapcicci stall, which was a great success. Caterer George Burns thought the idea could be extended, using, e.g., that renowned Chef, Dr Das Balgi.

Goolam Ganey suggested that it would be of value to have a PA system in the quadrangle to refer people to particular attractions.
With the mantle of experience to aid him, Marcel Benson suggested that there be signs in the car park directing people to the proper way out.

President-Elect Harvey proposed that when cars arrived, they should be given, in addition to the Hillview brochure, a map of the area and a list of the various attractions. A supplementary idea was a large scale plan mounted at the car park gate. These suggestions were well endorsed and are particularly commended to next year's organisers.

Ian Chapman noted the absence of young people and suggested that a band could be considered.
Jim Hall asked whether there could be a better education system for guides. It was generally felt that knowledge would diminish the imagination presently shown.

International Service
District Governor John Wright visited the club on 29th July.
A combined meeting with Wollongong RC to hear the addresses of the members of the GSE team from Yokohama on 8th September 2001.

In an effort to increase funds for International Service the Board put forward the following action - Raffle useful objects (like wine) - hold a progressive dinner - hold a 200 club.

Mr. Neil Jones has been selected by the district to join the GSE team to Tokyo. Neil is an electrical engineer with John Lysaghts (Australia).

Sabu Ishii a GSE scholar from district 259 pointed out that there are 160 teams being sponsored at a cost of $2 million. The program is a direct application of RI understanding and peace through Rotary.

Jim Boom, a Rotary foundation scholar from Kansas USA addressed the club on his career and his hometown Kinman USA. Jim is doing his MBA at the University of NSW and hopes to have a career in publishing a small newspaper.

Sharad Tamhane spoke to the club at length on a birth control programme in Bombay India; the club has decided to support this programme.

Vocational Service
Guest Speaker – Goolam Ganey. Goolam Ganey gave a Job Talk on South Africa Goolam was formally introduced by Das Balgi
His "blackground" (to use Das’s words) told us that Goolam was born in Shirshi, Ratnagiri, Bombay, India, but went to South Africa at the age of four. He was there during his school days, but returned to India to the University of Lucknow where he received his medical education and the degrees of M.B., B.S.
He then went to England where he first obtained the post-graduate qualification of M.R.C.O.G. and then practised for five years. He then returned to South Africa and was for seven years attached to the second biggest hospital in the world in Durban.

Goolam came to Australia in 1978 with his wife Indira who is also a Gynaecologist, and now practises in Crown Street.

During his address Goolam pointed out the total population is about 24.5 million. There are: 4 million whites, 17 million Africans, 2.5 million coloured and 765 000 Indians
The country occupies about one quarter of the African continent, but the policy of apartheid means that about 19 million of the South African population are obliged to live on 14% of the total area. The Homelands are mainly located in the north-eastern parts of the country - part of the area being the Transkei.

This means that the rest of the population occupies 86% of the country. Most of these are white. More than half the white population speak Afrikaans and are Dutch in origin. The remainder speak English and are originally of British stock.

Like most catch phrases, apartheid has many interpretations separate races, separate development, apart-hate, and such, but the clear emphasis is separation. Goolam stressed that that separation has been with the country since the first settlement in 1652.

However, apartheid did not become official Government policy until 1948. When it did non-whites lost the vote and white power became entrenched. From then on the democratic alternative to apartheid disappeared.

In 1950, the Group Areas Act became law. This was the legislation which established the homeland areas - to which non-whites were forcibly removed; 19 million of them. Removal was reinforced by destruction of the homes formerly occupied. For example, after 61 000 non-whites were removed from an area known as District 6 in Capetown to another area only 20 miles away, bulldozers moved in and the whole area was levelled.

Any person removed to a homeland area automatically lost South African citizenship. Africans must at all times carry identification Papers. Movement is seriously restricted. Loss of citizenship means 1055 of entitlement to a passport, so that emigration becomes at least difficult and, in most cases, impossible.
Vocational service night was observed as part of the Rotary Calendar Year and Director Arthur Booth introduced the Club speakers, Albert Chapman ,Col Campbell and at short notice, Sharad Tamhane and George Burns.
Albert Chapman - Senior Active - Albert joined Rotary in 1953 and is presently Chief Engineer at Illawarra County Council.

Albert began his working career as an apprentice with what was the Bulli Shire Council. He progressed in his chosen field in electrical work and apart from two years spent at A.I.S., has been involved in the local government scene, Blacktown Shire, Northern Rivers Country Council and now Illawarra County Council.
The I.C.C. employs 1093 people and with an annual turnover of some $129,000,000 purchases power from the Electricity Commission of NSW, provides reticulation network and substations and sells power to the consumers, as far south as Eden. Albert spoke about safety to the public as a first consideration in emergencies followed by restoration of services and stewardship of finance at all times.
Albert’s main concern in his vocation as Chief Engineer is Engineering management.

Col Campbell - Hydraulic Engineering - Col joined Rotary in 1973 and is presently Works Manager at Vernier Engineering Pty Ltd.
Col began work as an apprentice fitter and machinist at Australia Iron & Steel, Port Kembla. In 1948, he transferred to the then very small firm Vernier Engineering and continued in his trade. From a small complement of four, the company now employs about 90ninety people. During the intervening years he became a leading hand, workshop foreman estimator, then works manager, and has served 32 years with the company.

Hydraulic equipment manufacture and maintenance has been a major field of engineering followed. A substantial amount of hydraulic pumps and valves were supplied as original equipment to the flat products division of A.I.S. and to B.H.P. Whyalla and other firms.
In recent years, major advances have been made in the design and manufacture of hydraulic equipped machines for industry, agriculture, shipping, mining and commerce. Much use has been made particularly in the coal mining industry and Vernier has been involved over the years.

The firm is also active in general engineering and recently extended activities into the manufacture of Roof Bolting machines and Diesel Man Transport Cars for this industry. Col continues his daily routine in this environment.

Sharad Tamhane - Medical Practioner, Ear Nose and Throat - Shared joined Rotary in 1980. Sharad says his full title should include Physician and Surgeon. A great proportion of his time is spent in just talking to patients about all manner of things, which spring from their medical need. His role as physician is widely utilised.

One of the miracles of modern medicine is that of Microsurgery and this was first pioneered by Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons and is now common practice. Shared receives great gratification from his involvement in common practice work particularly from operations on the ear. Allowing people to hear again or to hear better gives him great pleasure as communication between people leads to better understanding.

Long training and a rigorous programme of study is required to reach the standard necessary to be efficient and skilled but the reward is in meeting people, talking with them and being able to help in their daily lives.

George Burns - Senior Active - George joined Rotary in 1969 as Grocery Wholesale. George worked for 45forty-five years with the firm Davis & Penny in the wholesale grocery trade, participated in the growth of the firm from two partners and then extending to 12twelve branches in NSW with an annual turnover of $70,000,000. Davis & Penny was taken over by H.G. Campbell and then by David Holdings.
Visit to Metal Manufactures 1 December 1981

On the 1st December 1981. The Club was the guest of Metal Manufactures Limited (and, in particular, of John Aldridge), to a Dinner Meeting and a Grand Tour of the Works.

We were fortunate to have as guides, in addition to John, PP Reg Whitton (Port Kembla) ,PP Ken Knaggs (Fairy Meadow) and Gordon Harman who was formerly a member of this Club. They looked after us very well and the evening was most enjoyable.

Reg is Assistant General Manager of Metal Manufacturers. He is a Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Port Kembla. He is also a Member of the District 9715 Education Planning Committee, which has the responsibility of organising the District Assembly and such other training activities as the District Governor may require.

Reg told us that MM had started in Port Kembla in 1917. It has grown to be a very modern tube, cable and wire factory. It is most unusual to find a tube mill operating on the same site as a cable/ wire mill, but MM has successfully combined them at Port Kembla.

The Plant produces 70 000 tonnes of copper product per annum, 53 000 tonnes being cable and wire and 17 000 tonnes of tubing. About 18 000 tonnes of aluminium product is processed.

MM employs 1 100 people and its numbers are increasing. Its dominant shareholder is British Insulated Callendar's Cables, which was its original shareholder, and the minority share holding of 34% is held by CRA. (This latter has occurred in the last 12twelve months following a re-arrangement of the shares held in the North Broken Hill and Broken Hill South Companies (in neither of whom does BHP have an interest).

Guest Speaker – Les Graham. Les Graham told us about the current and projected developments at the Coal Loader. Les has the control of the State Rail Authority's activities in the area.
On the existing Loader, coal is received from Kembla Coal & Coke (about 2.3 million tonnes  per annum), Austen & Butta and Clutha. Coal handled by rail leaves the main south line at Coniston and travels through a balloon loop to the unloading area. The unloader is operated by the Maritime Services Board. The present system is inefficient - the unloading is stop-start, the curves in the loop require six different sets of traffic lights and in all, it takes about an hour to turn a train around. Ships of 60 000 to 70 000 tonnes can be served. At present each train drops 1 400 tonnes of coal (about the equivalent of 60 road trucks).
Stage 2 of the Loader will provide much greater capacity. The coal trucks will be unloaded on the move (at 2 knit). The unloader will be able to handle up to 32 coal trucks and the overall turn-around time will be reduced to 20 minutes. The equipment will handle 3 000 tonnes/hour from trains hauling trucks with the equivalent of 180 road truckloads of coal.

Overall, Stage 2 will be much bigger. It envisages new rail links: from Maroon to the Inner Harbour and from Douglas Park to Helensburgh together with use of the Moss Vale line.

With Stage 2 the harbour will be dredged to allow banning of 110 000 tonne ships two at a time. Stage 1 will be completed by September 1982 and Stage 2 is programmed to be fully operative by 1985. (This includes all of the rail conversion, with associated locos and new rolling stock).
In summary, therefore, Stage 2 will involve more stacks, more trains and the simultaneous operation of two loaders. With the stacks and the attendant problem of wind borne dust, Les said that when the coal is unloaded, it will be sprayed with an agglomeration agent; when it goes into stockpile it is sprayed with water which reacts with the agent to bind the coal together.

Additionally, the roads will be kept clean, the coal elevator will be enclosed and rail truck washing facilities will be in use. The Loader handles 14 different varieties of coal, which must all be kept discrete and accounted for. These include steaming coal for the power and cement industries and coking coal for the steel industry. The biggest customer is Japan followed by Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

The whole future of the operation of the unloader is predicated upon some resolution of the wholly unsatisfactory industrial relations position at Port Kembla (and throughout Australia). Unless some long-term solution can be found, our customers will go elsewhere for supplies (including Borneo). The tug dispute and its kin present very real dangers to the future. Lea suggests that there are too many Unions - between the extraction of the coal in the mine and the time when it leaves the country 23 Unions are involved with it. The SEA itself has 26 Unions among its employees.

Despite many emotional statements about the community problems posed by the Coal Loader there is a general lack of factual knowledge of just what is involved. Although the questions indicated the feeling that a real concern about the magnitude of the operation was, perhaps, justified, Les, in his talk, gave us a clear idea of what is planned so that Members can reach an informed view of the project.
Job Talk: Arthur Cratchley. - Arthur traced the origins of his obsession with photography back to 1934 when he met his first Kodak folding camera. He started to experiment with various focal lengths and in no time he was hooked.

In 1935 he started as chief cook and bottle washer with a new commercial studio which was just opening in Sydney and stayed there until the beginning of the war when he went to AIS.
Arthur stayed with AIS until 1951 when he and Joyce started their own business as Arthur Cratchley and Associates. In a very fair division of responsibility, Arthur took the photographs and Joyce took the money. He photographed anything and everything, even a wedding or two, which, Arthur said, he detested.
With growing success, he was able to specialise in commercial photography and had many clients in industry and among Government departments. Arthur's particular favourite is aerial photography and he has been on more than 2 500 flights. He has a special fondness for ships.

There have been many changes in the world of photography over the years and more recently technical advances are coming with increasing rapidity. By 1975 Kodak were spending more than $500 million per year on R.& D. In some areas the speed of development however, led to a decline in quality, so that, for example, some films in use today will ultimately fade.

Arthur's photography has been recognised by the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York, and was included in a US Kodak Travelling Exhibition. He particularly remembers his involvement as photographer for the District Conference when it was co-hosted by West Wollongong and Wollongong Clubs.
In all, Arthur has enjoyed his job and would do it all again with appropriate judicious changes.

Job Talk: - Neil Preston Neil is an Electrical Engineer, having graduated from the University of NSW. He has worked with the Illawarra County Council for 17 years and is now Consumers and Project Engineer in the Distribution Division. In all, the ICC employs 29 engineers.

Neil works mainly with power at 11 kv or less - projects such as shops, factories, warehouses, homes and home units. He is concerned with installation rules and the administration of the supply, including safety (through the SAA wiring rules). He also is concerned with the determination of tariffs and the safety of switchboards.

In summary, Neil's charter is the supervision of the supply of power to the people of the area.
Neil also spoke briefly on his experience as a Member of the District 975 Group Study Exchange Team, which visited Louisiana last year. After an extensive training programme, Neil spent six and half weeks in the USA staying with 11 families and with other Members of the Team he spoke to 23 Rotary Clubs on various aspects of Australia. As a part of the programme of learning about the receiving District, the Team visited more than 50 factories, government and local government establishments.

Guest Speaker: Dr Ken McKinnon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, Dr. McKinnon was introduced by President-Elect Harvey. Ken has the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psycho-Linguistics from Harvard University. He has held posts at Adelaide and Queensland Universities and immediately before coming to the University of Wollongong as its second Vice-Chancellor, was Chairman of the Australian Schools Commission in Canberra.

Dr. McKinnon spoke of a number of matters relating to Education He said that he was not speaking to a positive topic but, rather, would put his thoughts on a catch-all theme of "What's on my Mind".
Ken used as an index of interest in education, comparative amounts spent on research and development. In Australia, the private sector spends about a quarter of the amount spent, say, in the US (on a pro rata basis) - the US spends between 2.6% and 3% of private turnover on R & D as against 0.6% in Australia. Patents suggest another index. Of about

14, 500 letters patent granted in Australia in 1979, a mere 5.5% were granted to Australian nationals.
These indicators, Ken said, demonstrate the consequences of a failure by Government to invest in Education. The most recent statistic shows that 6.3% of the G.D.P. is spent on education. The political colour of the Government is not relevant in this context; neither of the parties in Government in the past decade has faced up to the need to invest in the future through education.

In Australia, there are a declining proportion of young people between 17 and 21 in higher education. Five years ago, it was 19%, today it is 14.5%. There is a fall in absolute terms, if the percentage had been maintained, there would be more than 50 000 additional young people at institutions of higher education. The top countries in the world in involvement in higher education are United States, Japan, West Germany and Switzerland, Canada is close, but Australia is bad. These countries also spend the highest amounts on R & D and, relatively, their highest number of patents.

Post secondary education is becoming increasingly important, blue collar jobs are disappearing, and at an increasing rate; and even the middle ground of employment is falling away. People become mere tenders of machines or they must go to the other extreme and bring skilled technical abilities to their work. More and more, the mechanical skills of people are being replaced by industrial robots.

The traditional bottom rung jobs are becoming rarer and rarer. These jobs, which absorbed significant numbers of young people in the 17-21 age groups, are increasingly, just not there. The penalty for lack of education is the inability to get to today's bottom rung.

In a sharp difference from other countries in South East Asia - e.g. Japan and Singapore, Australia has not geared itself to the employ- consequences of higher technology. Here in Australia: - (a) our Managers have no dedicated interest in technological development, and (b) our education system is not producing people with the necessary, skills to pursue research and development.

Those who control our education system must also be alive to the need to serve the community. Education needs to produce relevant results. The mineral boom of some years ago demonstrated a serious shortage of skilled geologists. The tertiary institutions geared up to meet it but the timing was out of phase. By the time the people were trained the demand had fallen away. There are similar examples in other disciplines.

Additionally, tertiary institutions must round out the education of their students. Little is achieved by producing an engineer who is appropriately skilled in his chosen field but who cannot adjust to the social or commercial consequences of what he would desirably choose to do.
Australia needs innovative and enterprising people to maintain its position as a middle level power. It can only do this by being prepared to maintain an appropriate investment in the education of its people.
The questions which followed this thought provoking talk were as wide ranging as the subject matter, but there were two particularly interesting matters raised:

Guest Speaker – Joe Phelan. Joe was born in Kempsey and after attending Kempsey High School escaped to Sydney for his tertiary education at the Law School at Sydney University.
He worked in a number of Public Service Departments in Sydney until he came to Wollongong with the Public Solicitor's Office. In Wollongong Joe Pursued an interest in the NSW Marriage Guidance Council and, with a few others, worked to ensure the continuation of the Council's operations in Wollongong. He became the local President and then a Member of the NSW Executive in 1970. He was elected Vice President in 1974 and was the NSW President two years later and remained so for three years.
While all this was going on, Joe was called to the Bar in 1971 and has practised since then from his Chambers in Wollongong.

Joe spoke about his recent trip to Borneo. The trip itself was an extension to a Club Med holiday Joe had enjoyed in Malaysia,

Youth Service
Current overseas exchange student Andrew Newhouse sent a letter to the club and said that he had met our incoming exchange student Susan Jeandrovin from Ohio, USA.
Exchange student Lene Veierod visited the club for the last time on 15th July and will return home on the 17th July.

Members of the Wollongong Rotaract club visited the club to foster interest in Rotary and Rotaract. Visiting students were school captains from Wollongong High, Smiths Hill and Keira Boys. RYLA nominations Sandra Coates, Jennifer Brand and Ron Marshall came to the club on 6th February 1982.
Footnote:  Tudor has been a major strength behind Youth Service both at district and club level. His efforts has made district 9750 become one of the strongest districts throughout the Rotary world. He has also been the strength behind the clubs Baby Capsule Fitting Service.
 

 
  • DR. HARVEY CHESTERFIELD-EVANS, PHF
  • (1982 – 1983)
  • MEDICINE GENERAL PRACTICE
  • CHARTER MEMBER (1964), HONORARY MEMBER (2002)

District Governor:     Lyn Knight            Club Service:                    Brian Davis
Secretary:                 Steven Mutch        Community Service:        Brian Hedley
Treasurer:                 Noel Watt              International Service:     Joe Phelan
Sergeant:                                                  Vocational Service:         John Aldridge

A Word About The President

Harvey has been known to be contrary, controversial, contemptuous, forthright and many other sins of character, but these traits pale into significance with his other side, Harvey is a most caring, charming and delightful person who would go out of his way to assist anyone who needs his advice or help.  As one of only two charter members remaining with the club after 40 years of history, he exemplifies the very character of this club and is held in the highest esteem by the club and those all those  who have taken the time to get to know the person.

Harvey’s really still a kid at heart. Even today, his wit is legendary and his knowledge is boundless and when he reminisces bout the “Hillview” days his eyes light up in pleasure of the memories.
Let us have Harvey tell us how the club came about in his own words:-
I was born in Korea.  I got interested in surgery because I could fix things. The local doctor in Hokuchin, Korea which is now in the northern half of Korea, was my hero and I decided when I was 13years old  that I would become a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.  It took until 1955 to accomplish that.  In my final return to Australia in 1956 there was an opening in Port Kembla where they wanted a surgeon in a group practice so I came down here to join the partnership.  In 1962 I left Port Kembla and set up in Wollongong in purely a consultancy practice. I was approached in 1964 to become a charter member of a Rotary club. In those days I used to practice up near the hospital and I forget now who approached me, but I felt very honoured to be asked. 

I missed the actual Charter Night as I was committed to a school trip at my son’s school in Moss Vale.  We were to help take a tour of 16 boys through Central Australia and the Northern Territory. Consequently, I was at a corroboree on the Daly River on Charter Night and I was very sorry to have missed it.
We started with 28 members and Elwyn McKay was a reasonable chap and fine fellow. He had been in the airforce.  There was a protocol in those days and everyone used to sing and on the tables were little songbooks. It was an absolute joke because we were supposed to get up and sing happy songs, maybe even Auld Lange Syne.It was a form of fellowship where we all got up and sang, now, a) we couldn’t sing very well and, b) it delayed the meeting and, c) everybody hated it, so after a while we sort of said “well heck,” why do we have to sing? So we got rid of the book and the singing and that was the first cut.

They also had this ridiculous arrangement, which was only a silly habit, but no one was allowed to have any alcohol at the table. Well now, I did break this rule at a very early stage.

The President’s Report: - This Rotary Year has been one of continuing progress. We have served Rotary, we have served the Community, we have built bridges of friendship and, in doing all these things, and we have enjoyed ourselves.
 
Club thanks are due to PP Tudor Mackay for his enthusiasm and continued activity in the field of Youth Exchange. To the host families we also say thank you. The ladies night of ‘Yayo Matsuyama’s talk and farewell was a particularly enjoyable occasion,

To those able to be involved I feel it would be agreed that fellowship through community service has been a strong feature this year, whether at the Scout Camp, the Midford sale, or the painting done at the nursing borne, “Olunda”, and the Pioneer Hall for the Pensioners Association, thank you Brian Hedley. Our three combined meetings with Port Kembla, Bulli and Wollongong Clubs were mutually enjoyable.

 “Hillview’ was as successful as ever from a fellowship point of view but due to rain and economic factors not as financially rewarding as we would have hoped. Our percentage from the Midford sale greatly helped the situation. 

Our special thanks go to George Burns and George Reynolds for their organising of the “Hillview”’ weekend. To the many friends of the Club we say thank you for your help.



The secret hideaway for tired workers at “Hillview” – the Embassy.

Club Service
Friday 27th May – Two busloads of Rotarians and friends visit the circus in Sydney.
3rd June - A black tie dinner dance was held on 5th Anniversary of the Wollongong Art Gallery.
19th April – Combined meeting with Bulli for their Annual Anzac night. The Guest Speaker was Sir Laurie Justice Francis, High Commission for New Zealand.
Brian Davis organised an outing on the “Pittwater Princess” in Sydney Harbour.
“The Service Booth:” Heard that Barry Perkins went to Arthur Booth and ordered 12 ‘Sale’ signs.
“Be ready in 3 days”, said Arthur, “cost will be $150”
“But last month”, said Barry, “you did 12 similar signs for only $50”.
“A yes, “said Arthur, “but you see this is my SALE month and I’m selling everything at very advantageous prices”
“But how can three times the price be advantageous?” said Barry
“It is to me!” said Arthur.
“The Power Behind the Man ” Babs and Brian Davis.
Babs Kosemakin says, “that was the name she was born with so why should she change it just because she is married to Brian Davis?”
From this, you will gather that Babs is somewhat of a champion of women’s rights, for example in her early days she decided to study accountancy and was the only female in the class of what was then considered as almost an exclusive male preserve.
Later on, she completed an Art course at the Wollongong Tech. and subsequently became an Art Teacher with TAFE at Stanwell Park.  She has entered her paintings in numerous competitions throughout the State and has achieved a high degree of success.  Her major win was in the 1974 competition run by the Autistic Children’s Association for which the first prize was a trip for two to Fiji.
Babs is currently 2/3 way through a Bachelor of Arts Degree Course at Wollongong University majoring in Drama and Psychology.  Babs and Brian have three children (Christine 23, Stephen 21 and Greg 19), and an English setter dog (very spoilt) and a cat (Heinz type.)
VALE: - PP Vic Evans, the clubs president in 1973 -74 passed away on 3rd March 1983. He was a great member of the club and is missed by all those who had the pleasure of his company.
16th February 1983 – Two members resigned Dick Evans and Bob Suker both moving to Newcastle.   Two new members inducted were George Parianos and Ken Burton-Batty.
“The Big Debate” The Bulletin is at a loss to know how to report on “The Big Debate”. A factual recount of what was said by each speaker would not do justice to the pleasure it provided those present. A written recount would add nothing to the memories of those members and their guests who participated in the experience; nor could it convey the delightful humour of the debate to those members who were unable to attend.  For example, how can one report by written words the nuances conveyed to the audience by the way the first member of the Government spoke of having been familiar with the Chairman! Equally, it is not possible to convey – by written statement – how the enthusiasm for the case he was presenting caused Dr Das Balgi to re-write medical science and speak of women having children three or four times a year.
The Bulletin therefore asks to be excused from providing a full report, and to be allowed instead to simply express an opinion.  The debate made for a most enjoyable Ladies Night.  It allowed  the members and their Rotaryannes to enjoy the evening in a way that was both stimulating and light hearted.  It is to be hoped that another such evening is held in the not too distant future.

Community Service
Harvey on “Hillview”  - reminiscing
President Harvey opened last week’s meeting with perhaps a touch of more emotion than is usual.  Said Harvey, talking of his arrival at Hillview the previous Saturday morning. It was the first time I had seen Hillview in fog! I tell you at 8.15am I walked around the grounds in anguish!” Then cheering up Harvey said: “The fellowship, however, was as good as ever.”
Despite the fog, “Hillview” had produced approximately $4000 for the club after expenses.
There used to be a chap in our club Noel Lambert.  His wife would on a period costume and she would describe all the beautiful furniture in the dining room. This enormous polished table that seated 20, candelabra beautifully polished, wine glasses of every sort. We used to set it all out and she used to describe it in her gracious way to all the visitors.
“The Embassy”   I invented a thing called “The Embassy” because we would work hard up there and had nowhere for any of us to go rest. There was an old garden shed up at the back of the stables, so I set up a sign “The Embassy” only Rotary members and friends and family knew where to go.  Everyone used to come up and put their eskies there and it was somewhere we could go and relax in between cooking and all the things that went on.
John Crakanthorp, (he and Barbara she was a skilful potter,) used to drag all this stuff up in a trailer full of pottery using a 120Y Datsun.  I used to sometimes follow him up Macquarie Pass and to make sure he made it.  Hillview was a wonderful spot.  In later years, instead of coming back to Wollongong, we used to go out to the Bundanoon hotel.  It was a wonderful little spot with nice dinners and they had a bald headed chap up there that would play the piano as long as there was a jug of beer on top of it. For a couple of years we stayed at Raneleigh House just at the top of Macquarie Pass. Time was running out on “Hillview”.
Joe Phelan received a letter from the Solomon Islands Government thanking District 9750 for sending 17 cartons of books.
Joe also mentioned a new project to collect tools for New Guinea – all tools required by the end of March.
Brian Hedley announced the “Christmas Hampers Appeal” – food given to churches to provide food for needy families in the district.
The “Midford Sale” sponsored by Frank Isa’s company was a great success as reported by Brian Hedley. This is a weekend when club members pose as sales assistants and security at the sale of clothing. The gross takings were $43,000 with $2,000 going to the club for their efforts.
A working bee was carried out to assist the Olunda (Saint Andrews Nursing Home) on Mount Ousley.  The nursing home thanked the club members for providing the working bee to assist with the maintenance of the home.
Brian Hedley spoke briefly of-the “Illawarra Society for Crippled Children”. Brian advised that members of the Club can if they wish place advertisements in the Illawarra Society for Crippled Children’ Supplement. Any member wishing to do so should contact either Neil McLoskey or Jan Smith at Cram House.
Brian next spoke of two “working bees” which members are being asked to take part in. The first working bee is to assist the Boy Scouts with the development and maintenance of their Scout Cap area. The bee is to be held at the Scout Camp on Saturday 18th end Sunday 19th September. The work it is planned to undertake includes reshaping of the Camp’s road and painting. Lastly, Brian reminded the. Club of the Lord Mayors Christmas Appeal and of the need or others to contribute to the Appeal between now and the 18th December 1982. This appeal is separate from the Club’s own Christmas Hamper Appeal.  Members are asked to contribute to both appeals.
Pioneer Hall was finally repainted, Brian Hedley and Arthur Booth using spray guns.
International Service
Brian Hedley presented to the Club on 25th August 1982, a booklet and Turkish postage stamp that had recently been sent to the club the President of the Ankara Rotary Club of Turkey. In his letter, the President of the Ankara Rotary Club suggested that the stamp be auctioned and the moneys raised sent to a charity supported by the West Wollongong Club.  This Brian did and Goolam Ganey purchased the stamp for $10 – after a round of intense bidding.

Youth Service
Guest Speaker – Helen McLean (Rotary Exchange. The Rotary Club of West Wollongong nominated Helen McLean for a Rotary Student Exchange Award.  She was selected and spent her year in South Africa, being hosted by the Rotary Club of Randburb, a suburb of Johannesburg. She told us of some of here experiences and showed slides taken on the two major trips organised for the Exchange students.  These were firstly down the ‘Garden Route’ to Capetown and then a trip through East and Northern Transvaal.
During her year, Helen was able to experience some of the differences in the White Society as she attended an ‘English’ school for six months and an Afrikaans High School for the other six months.  However, Apartheid being an integral part of everyday existence in South Africa, she was unable to get very close to the true native culture on a personal basis
Since her return, Helen has been active as secretary in the formation of the first District 975 Rotex Club, an organisation of Past Exchange Students who get together for social occasions and more particularly to help with the integration and assimilation of incoming Exchangees.
Guest Speaker - Tania Zack. Tudor Mackay introduced Tania to the Club. Tania Zack has been in Australia from her native South Africa for almost a year and returns home on the 4th January 1983.
Tania began her talk by stating, “South Africa has a lot more to it than Goldmines”.
Tania said, South Africa consists of four provinces — Transvaal, Orange Free State Natal and Cape Province, it is a very dry country with rainfall occurring mainly in summer. The rainfall decreases from east to west. Much of the country is used for sheep and cattle grazing.
The backbone of the economy, though, is mining. Gold mining in particular is of importance to the South African economy. South Africa has approximately 41% of the world’s known gold reserves. Next in importance are diamonds and gemstones. After mining, Tania said is Manufacturing Industry in terms of importance to the economy. South Africa has a relatively wide based Manufacturing sector, which includes the world’s largest plant for producing oil from coal.
The population of South Africa consists of about 16½ million “Blacks”, 4½ million “Whites” and several million “Coloureds” which includes nearly a million Indians. There are nine major ethnic groups amongst the “Blacks”. The “Blacks” migrated down from the north hundreds of years ago. At this point in her talk, Tania showed some very interesting slides.
Tania explained that it is currently the policy of the South African Government to establish small independent Black states. These states the South African Government maintains are for providing Black people with their own homelands, and are fully independent states.
White people first came to South Africa in 1652 and were Dutch. Today, South Africa has two official languages — English and Afrikaans. Afrikaans is a language derived from the Dutch language and is spoken by approximately 60% of South Africa’s White population. The country has much to offer the tourist; the main tourist spots including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kruger National Park (complete with albino Lions) and Capetown with its beautiful Table Mountains.
Tania ended her vary interesting talk by saying with obvious pride and enthusiasm: “I think South Africa is the world in one country”.

Extracts from an address by Dr. Peter Rousch - The theme: The problems Australia has got itself into because of Australians’ attitudes about education.
Peter indicated that he saw problems arising for Australia and Australians in the future because of our recent attitudes to education. He provided a brief historical background to the development of the Education industry in Australia.
The original purpose of education was to ensure widespread Christian salvation by teaching people how to read the bible. Australia was one of the first countries in the world to accept the principle of Universal Education;
Post World War 11 an education revolution occurred in the developed countries — universal secondary schooling and increasing participation in tertiary education institutions became a fact.
This revolution continued, Peter said, in USA, Canada, Japan, the Soviet Union and Western Europe with the exception of Britain. In Australia, however, the revolution stopped around 1975. At a time of increasing complexity and competitiveness in the world, community Australian education stood still. In a real sense, however, because the “Advanced Worlds” was continuing to push ahead this meant Australia was slipping backwards.
Peter illustrated the point he was making by showing the results of a 1980 O.E.C.D. Survey. This survey of full time school enrolments (of 15 to 19 year olds) ranked Australia in only 14th position out of 23 nations surveyed. Further, in working class areas the number of 15-19 year olds obtaining full-time education is only about 15%, which percentage is significantly lower than the percentage required to keep Australia in 14th place.
Internationally, Peter said, Australia is ceasing to be intellectually competitive.  We are losing the essential pre-conditions and for both personal competence and for employment in the modern environment as it is developing.
Compared to US. Canada and Japan, Australia has an unusually high number of young people at work. 60% Australian 15-19 year olds in the workforce but for Japan, by contrast, it is only 24%.
Australia has 11.7% of 17-22 year olds in full time education whilst Canada has 15% Japan 18% and the USA 23%. At age 17, 88% of Japanese are at school whilst for Australia the figure is only 31%
The Exchange Student overseas is Susan Alleyn who’s letter was read out by Tudor MacKay
Louise Drinkwater our next outward Exchange Student, has written to Tudor from Sweden.
Incoming Exchange Student Anna Maria Ohlsen from Sweden will be coming to Australia in August.
Stan Cantor introduced this year’s RYLA entrants Simon Whiteman and Graeme Hush as two of three candidates going this year from 5 – 12th February.
Mr. Gil Shaw a Rotary Foundation Scholar, addressed the club on his year at the University of NSW studying Law.  Gil’s home is in Arizona USA.

Vocational Service
Guest Speaker - Peter Watkins - Trade Union History. Frank Issa who is a clothing manufacturer (Midford) introduced Peter Watkins. Frank has had “business dealings”, concerning industrial relations matters with Peter over the last fifteen years and thus has come to know Peter and respect him. One of reasons why this was so was because Pete had proved himself as a Trade Union official who could work intelligently and co-operatively with all concerned, including management, to get the best real results for his Union’s members.
Peter began his talk by giving a quick run down on recent industrial relations history. Peter said:
“The record year for working days lost due to industrial disputation in Australia was 1974 when 6.3 million working days were lost. You will recall that 1974 was a pre-indexation period. The number of working days lost in the years following was halved and then in 1977 dropped to a low of 1.6 million working days lost. It has to be agreed that since then there has been a series of increases with an annual loss of approximately 3.5 million working days.
An analysis of the three major workforce states of NSW, Victoria, and Queensland since 1974 show a strange pattern that clearly indicates that industrial disputation cannot be attributed to any one political power in Government.
The Bureau of Statistics, analysing the causes of industrial disputation shows that the largest cause is “Managerial Policy” which accounts for 38.6% of all disputes. “Wages” is the second largest cause being responsible for 27.8% of all disputes. These two categories are by far the largest causes of disputation, with “Physical Working Conditions” the third largest cause accounting for only 17.1%. The Bureau lists” Managerial Policy” causes as a wide range of Personnel practices from ages, retrenchments, discipline etc. to production practices.
The year 1982 was one of seemingly endless strikes mainly in vital industries that did affect nearly all Australians either directly or indirectly, and the lead up to that strike explosion which reached its peak, just before Christmas was I believe an aftermath of the Federal Arbitration Commissions abandonment of Indexation
The Commission earlier that year-abandoned indexation. They said the system was unworkable, The Federal Government and employers hounded it to minimise indexation increases while the unions defied the commission both ways, demanding full indexation while using industrial muscle on the job. Yet the original idea of indexation was to eliminate strikes.
Neil Preston gave a talk on his “tour” to Louisiana USA with the Group Study Exchange trip in 1982.
Presentation of Vocational Award - Lincoln Webb.
To provide members with some basic information about Lincoln, John Aldridge explained that Lincoln was born in the West Indies, received tertiary education at University in Birmingham, England, has been an actor and jazz singer; and today is the proprietor of the South Coast Fitness Centre
Lincoln had, free of any charge, provided Physical Training and Education to the disabled children of Greenacres and certain other schools for disabled children. It was for this reason his having used his vocation to give service to the community John said, that Lincoln had been selected for the Award
Finally referring to the Award he had just been presented with, Lincoln concluded his talk by saying “the money will go back to Greenacres”.
Judging by the clapping given it appeared Lincoln Webb was a very popular choice for the Vocational Award.
A Rotary Foundation Scholar Kathy Pankiewicz from St. Joseph, Missouri, USA gave the club a discourse on her homeland and her textile design business
Job Talk - John Crakanthorp. John commenced his talk with a brief introduction in which he gave certain details of his personal background.
John was born in Manly and educated at a school in North Sydney. On completion of school education John worked as a clerk with a General Insurance company. The insurance company was very interested with John and wanted him to develop a career with them. John, however, decided he wanted a career in medicine and not in insurance and  went on to study medicine at Sydney University. After graduation John worked at several of Sydney’s major hospitals. Finally John came to Wollongong and continued his career as a General Practitioner.
John said “General Practice is a little different to when he  first came to Wollongong when II had access to the Hospital and its facilities and I  could do minor surgery, today however, the G.P. is forced to consult even when he is capable of performing the required medical tasks himself.
It is consequently better economic sense if the G.P. treats the patient to the extent, which it is possible for him to do so. John said if the G.P. acts now only as a counsellor as medical care becomes more costly for both the patient and the community.
In addition to the matter of cost, John made it clear that there is another aspect to the current trend, which is reducing the G.P.’s role of Doctor treating patient which concerns him.  John said: “I feel this is a bad thing; I am losing capability”.  Obviously, John believes the G.P.’s role of treating the patient should be retained at a high level, so that medical capability remains with “the Doctor of first contact”.
John concluded his talk with a brief consideration of the size and composition of the ideal G.P.’s practice.  John said a husband and wife practice, as that of Das Balgi’s, may well be ideal. Equally, however, John sees merit in a “Group Practice”.
Guest Speaker -John Clark: A combined meeting with Wollongong Club heard , John Clark, General Manager AIS, who spoke on the topic, “Managing through the Economic Downturn.”
In summary, John’s speech made the following points:—
In 1981 BHP’s steel production was 5 million tonnes per year. It is now down to 3 million.
In 1981 AIS employed 20,500 people, now it is 14,500.
In 1981 steel division profit was $105 million but the loss for the first quarter of 1983 in the steel division was $53 million.
In Australia, steel is a virtual monopoly with domestic competition increasingly coming from imports and substitutes, AIS have exported to the Middle East, the West Pacific area, South America and West Coast USA.
There is at present 150 million tonnes excess steelmaking capacity in the world, BHP has a total steelmaking capacity of 7 million tonnes. Productive capacities can only be varied in large chunks, so it is not easy to cope with demand variations. Even though the Steel Division is making a cash loss, it is against BHP Corporate policy to subsidise it from other Divisions. To stop cash loss, the plan is to attack markets overseas to increase revenue and decrease expenses
In marketing: BHP is promoting Steel against competitive products, maintaining R&D for special steels for gas lines, oilrigs, tinplate, reo, rod and encouraging development of computer technology, as well as  pressing for Government, support on restricting imported Steel.
The majority of overseas producers are in some way subsidised by their Governments to make and sell steel for reasons other than making a profit. Only in Australia and USA is there no Government assistance
If the market is being distorted by an overseas Government then there is very little the Australian Government can do to assist in the short term.
Arguments for Government tariff assistance are not receiving much support. In a recession it is difficult for a Government to give assistance as this raises screams from downstream industries that are denied access to “cheap imported steel”.
The market is very inelastic in the short term so requests for protection are really to ensure the survival of the Steel Industry.
Because of the lumpy nature of plant production capacity it is difficult to reduce fixed costs.
To cover fixed costs the company must plan to meet fully the domestic market of about two million tonnes. This generally results in surplus capacity, which it can aim to sell on the export market at marginal cost.
The Japanese steel industry is operating at 60% of its capacity; USA 45-50%, Europe 60% and Australia 70%. Therefore, potentially there is a very large tonnage competing for the small available export market.
Other methods of reducing costs are lower, stock levels, higher yields, energy efficiency programs, reduced manning and higher productivity.
The cost of labour represents 40-45% of the cost of steel. In the last 18 months, 6,000 employees have left the workforce of whom 5000 have been voluntary.
By asking for volunteers you tend to get the wrong people going, and union policy of last on-first off tends to mean that recently trained graduates in high technology skills are the ones to go. Government has said that the Steel Industry will not disappear. What is needed now is a “Consensus” on how to attack, productivity, profits and unemployment. The long-term future looks promising because of certain advantages unique to Australia: Our energy costs are lower than any other Steel Industries. Our raw material costs are lower or equal to any other. BUT our Labour costs are higher than most other countries other than USA. Our fixed costs are also high.
Nevertheless, the total effect is that our variable costs of steel manufacture are overall equal to or less than any other country and if we can find ways to minimise our fixed costs we will be in a very favourable position when recovery occurs.
The Lord Mayor Frank Arkell proposed a vote of thanks.
Job Talk - Neil Iceton. Neil Iceton, El Milko Supremo, gave a necessarily watered down talk of his many duties and wide areas of responsibility as Area Manager for Dairy Farmers Co-operative. Neil’s area covers virtually the whole of the Leisure Coast, from Helensburgh to the Far South Coast. All Milk and dairy products distributed by the Co-op are produced within this area, milk from Jamberoo (50%), Albion Park (25%) and the balance from the Dapto/Bega area.
The Co-op processes about 500,000 litres of milk a week, with a sales value of around $260,000. Milk sales are split 56% cartons, 44% bottles.
Neil has 11 dairy farms under-his direct control, and liaises with many other independents supplying milk to the Co-Op and he is responsible for servicing 110 milk runs, who in turn supply shops and homes. He has a staff of 73 and he sees the move by major stores and supermarkets to get supplies direct from the Co-Op as a threat to the viability of many vendors and hopes that it will be resisted.
An Electric Car - Neil Preston is test-driving a Suzuki Electric Car for the ICC. He is impressed with it economy, but finds its maximum range of 200 ft a bit restricting as that was the longest extension lead the Council had.
Guest Speaker - Frank Arkell. Les Graham introduced Frank. Points made by Les in his introduction included, Frank Arkell was first elected an Alderman for Ward 5 back in December 1965.Frank was Deputy Mayor for 12 months in 1969.
With the advent of the designation “Lord Mayor” being applicable to Wollongong Council, Frank was elected as the first Lord Mayor of the City of Wollongong in September 1974.
Subsequently, Frank has been re-elected Lord Mayor on two occasions, September 1977 and September 1980.
Frank was born in Port Kembla and educated at the Christian Brothers College here in Wollongong. Besides local government Frank has been prominent in the business world for many years. (This last point caused a few people to have a chuckle)
Les continued by pointing out that the Arkell family have now been associated with the Illawarra region for about 135 years. Frank’s great grandfather first came out to Australia from “dear old Ireland”.
After explaining that he believed it was very important that the local government always be very visible, Frank went on to speak of the uniqueness of Wollongong. Said Frank, “as you hove about (the city) you get an understanding of that uniqueness”, elaborating Frank explained, “Immediately after the War people from all over the world came to our city as refugees. Today there is over 76 national groups in the City of Wollongong.”
The City has an Anglo-Celtic base added to which has been a small French component and a large Italian element. The Italians started coming back in the 1880’s from Piedmont to build the railways. Today the Italians are the largest national group with the Yugoslavians being the largest of the recently arrived national groups. We welcomed all these people into our city. There were no riots there was no jealousy “Great Workers - Great People.”
It was in such a way the Frank explained how he saw the uniqueness of Wollongong. A unique city today because it has wide ethnic base with its citizens working constructively side by side to build great industries.
Today the Wollongong council has a turnover of $54 million. “More people should stand for Council.”
There has in the recent past been emphasis on a cleaner, greener city of Wollongong and “there have been major changes in the last eight years” you have achieved these.
Things have changed from the point of view of the City’s culture, there is the Art Gallery which was the old Council Chambers and now we are looking at a Civic Centre with a Performing Art Centre. Cost $7 – 8 million.
The young people of the City of Wollongong have tremendous talent. ‘We have pride in our City but we do not say it often enough. You have to wear it on your lapel.”