Good evening everyone, to our Club of the three f's! Fun, Fellowship and Friendship. Tonight we have royalty, well I think so! guests Sean and Carol Hogan - District 5050, Vancouver, BC. Celeste Mergens - Washington State, Tiffany Larson - Arizona and our Cec Barrett from Piarere. Peter understands everyone has read the latest Rotary Down Under, and the editorial by Rotary International President Ian Riseley. The Diversity/Unity Challenge. Rotary is a massive and massively complex organisation. 1.2 million members,35,633 clubs in nearly every country of the world. Rotary is by design, a decentralised organisation, intended to enable Rotarian and each Rotary Club to serve in the ways that suit them best. Rotary; Making a Difference.
Matamata Rotarian Fred Barrett, was our guest speaker.
Fred introduced to the lectern by Rotarian Lyn Dobbe. His topic is about how one rifle shot by a Norwegian prevented Hitler's war machine producing a nuclear bomb in WW2.
In the early 1960's, Fred worked his passage on a cargo ship from New Zealand to Norway, for a 12 month Rotary experience. ( He drove back...yes drove back home to NZ most of the way , and that is another story!). Immersed into the way of life and language, he happened to have a ordinary looking guy pointed out to him, who was revered as a National Hero. Fred wanted to know more. Germany occupied Norway with 380000 soldiers, and disregarded the Geneva Convention with retaliation for Norwegian resistance to their presence. Unfortunately the German scientist's realised they had hit jackpot, with a heavy water manufacture hydro power station. This extra hydrogen isotope heavy water, that requires significant amounts of electrical energy to produce; that with the Uranium availability in occupied Europe....... is the to basic requirements for a nuclear bomb! Norwegian intelligence sent back reports to British intelligence of the deep interest of the Nazi's at this power station, but unaware of why. The importance of destroying that power station heavy water producing ability, became number one priority. Norwegians with intimate geographical knowledge of Telemark area.In Operation Grouse, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) successfully placed four Norwegian nationals as an advance team in the region of the Hardanger Plateau above the plant in October 1942. The unsuccessful Operation Freshman was mounted the following month by British paratroopers; they were to rendezvous with the Norwegians of Operation Grouse and proceed to Vemork. This attempt failed when the military gliders crashed short of their destination, as did one of the tugs, a Handley Page Halifax bomber. The other Halifax returned to base, but all the other participants were killed in the crashes or captured, interrogated, and executed by the Gestapo.In February 1943, a team of SOE-trained Norwegian commandos succeeded in destroying the production facility with a second attempt, Operation Gunnerside. Operation Gunnerside was later evaluated by SOE as the most successful act of sabotage in all of World War II These actions were followed by Allied bombing raids. The Germans elected to cease operation and remove the remaining heavy water to Germany. Norwegian resistance forces sank the ferry, SF Hydro, on Lake Tinn, preventing the heavy water from being removed. Back to that one rifle shot that led to the heavy water plant being totally destroyed 1942 and 1943. The first four Special Operations team, got parachuted way off the intended drop zone. So isolated and therefore little food, combined with a late Rheindeer migration made them so close to starvation and little strength, that the one and only opportunity was for one shot at distance that secured the initial nutrition that led to their survival; then to rendezvous with 6 fresh commandoes to gain access to the plant and complete the raid. They placed explosive charges on the heavy water electrolysis chambers and destroyed them. Knut Haugeland, the person pointed out to Fred, was one of many brave men involved in all these events; so as not to let Germany produce an atomic bomb in the early 1940's. To this very day, the people of Norway, provide a huge Christmas Tree for Trafalgar Square ,London in memory of the support of the British people during WW2. Murray Wills thanked Fred for such an captivating presentation, "on what might have been", and with an obvious affinity with Norway and its people..
Owen Farmilo. Tree planting preparation under way by Matamata -Piako District Council on Stanley Farm Lane. So in about three weeks, working bee for tree plantings and a bit of bark to spread around. Date and time and gear required will be advised to members in due course.
Michelle T. unable to do FLU jabs this year, please make own arrangements for the influenza vaccination.
Michelle Tanner, is also acting Club Secretary, plus doing the Club bulletin while Stew is away in June.
Clean up Matamata. Sunday 10th June. School kids 'cleaning up the town' Participants meeting at Bedford Park for area's to allotted. Perhaps we should be supporting our kids , with this initiative. More update on meet up time and no doubt in our printed media.
David Hulme, Starting to set up District Conference venue from 8.30am Friday.
Members who have offered to help, see you then.
David suggests attendees bring a raincoat, but hopefully they will not be needed.
Alice Clothier. District Conference attendees. Please prepare, pack and wear a black top and black bottom clothing for the conference dinner theme. The final touch will be provided by our talented club artistic directors. 'ask no questions and you will not get lies, as to what that may be'.
Miranda Thomson also reiterated conference attendees to wear black clothes for the Dinner themed night function. "A Night at the Oscars"
Ineke Thissen Inner Wheel. Taking orders for the next entertainment discount book. Good savings value for a book cost of $65. ($13 goes to Inner Wheel). So contact Ineke asp, home phone 8886975 e thissens@xtra.co.nz Also available in digital form. Great savings proven, purchasing these books, and supports Inner Wheel.
David Wheadon, Festival of Music. Can my team be at the Matamata College Hall at 9.30am please. Plus can you wear your Rotary shirt. Two bands have cancelled, so the days timetable will be a bit shorter than anticipated.
faux pas'
Did not acknowledge Ineke Thissen , who was present as a guest last meeting.
Ineke was dropping off Entertainment books to members.
Mijn verontschuldigingen
(L) Our Club Champion for 'Days for Girls' Lisette Hulme with Tiffany Larson, Global Chapter Director 'Days for Girls' and the founder of 'Days for Girls'; Celeste Mergens
Sean and Carol Hogan. Sean was District Governor District 5050 2012/13.
Has kept a promise to attend our District 9930 Conference this weekend.
Celeste Mergens, finds it a great treat to be here and also is attending and presenting at District Conference. The impact and camaraderie of Rotarians worldwide is fantastic to be part of. Thank you Rotary Matamata, your Club alone has to date, gave dignity to 810 girls. People don't readily talk menstruation, but your amazing group has had girls dance, hug and cry over these kits. "Literally changed their lives". "I personally wish to thank you, on their behalf"
CLUB DUTY
22nd MAY
29th MAY
CLUB HOST
GARY MOORE
BRYCE SCOTT
RECEPTION
JOHN FERNYHOUGH
GORDON LUKIES
RECEPTION
KRISHAN NARAYANASAMI
ROBBIE PEARSON
BAR STEWARD
NATALIE van der GOES
DON STANLEY
BAR STEWARD
SHERYL ERTEL
MIKE STEINER
SPEAKER INTRO
DAVID WHEADON
BRIAN HUNTER
SPEAKER THANKS
LEO KINGSTON
CARL TOOKEY
TOP TABLE
TBA
BRIAN HUNTER
TOP TABLE
DAVID WHEADON
TBA
PARTING THOUGHT
WADE LINNELL
JANE BELTON
KITCHEN
TYRONE MAULLIN
FRED BARRETT
KITCHEN
HARRY DAVIESON
REXINE HAWES
Please note, the meeting 5th June is designated an ordinary meeting night with just a different venue; being Starfish building. So as per expectation, use the Apology / extra guest(s) answer phone. That contact detail as always, is at the bottom of this Bulletin.
Robert Stuart...Programme
May 22 Sheryn Clothier............ New Zealand Tree Crops
May 29 Helen Slattery.... Agricultural Contracting & recycling especially silage wrap
June 5 Dinner and presentation at Starfish......... note venue is Starfish
June 12 Lynne Joseph.. ERK,s Emergency Response Kits.
June 19 AGM
June 26 Rotary Change Over
July 3 First meeting of the new Rotary Term, for our new club officers
What are you smiling about, Krishnansami Narayanasami.
Today !5 years ago, May 2003, sold our Dental Practice in Malaysia and moved to New Zealand. That decision is still the best move I have ever made, that makes me smile. Also today, in my professional capacity attended Margaret Westlake in my surgery. She said, "with Rotarian Owen away, I had a peaceful restful weekend". That made me smile too.
“A Night at the Oscars” Conference Dinner theme
Alice Clothier, one of our talented 'artistic directors' for what Rotary Matamata Conference attendees will astound the Rotary World, and no doubt ourselves at 'The Night at the Oscars' themed evening function.
All Alice wants of Club members attending District Conference dinner, is to make sure that they have black clothing top and bottom, please.
David Wheadon has a team. lachie Duncan, Barry McKey, Don Stanley, Kevin Kent, John Fernyhough, with possible two more to confirm. Ten bands on stage during the day. Team has 2 shifts to cover 9am to 12pm -1pm to 3pm.Stage needs 3 people, doors 2 and runner 1. More members are welcome to assist . Contact David Wheadon ph 8885063 m 0274845445
DAVIDS TEAM NEED TO BE AT THE MATAMATA COLLEGE HALL BY 9.30AM ,SUNDAY MORNING PLEASE.
