I was pleased to be offered the naming rights to the Mornington Golf Club Pro Am, held on Monday 24 February. The Trainee Pro of the Club [and this is not unique to MGC] must run an event once during their tenure. It is for other trainees [who must play at least 40 times per Year, and undertake also theory training and be tested. In addition, at these weekly events, each trainee plays with an ‘amateur’ [see example, below] .
The naming rights are much sought - after, and due to my long - standing Membership..... or, my account at the Pro Shop .... coupled with our ‘ROTARY Brand’, it was offered to our Club. (Last Year a sports and fitness centre obtained naming rights). It is just something the Mornington Golf Club does well.
Entry fees paid by RCME Members are being paid into our account. $420.00 We can put this money to good use. I saw that we had a player each from Rosebud - Rye and Mount Martha too.
Given the mix of players, Pro, and those from various nearby golf clubs, from a promotional aspect we did well. David and Grace Rew were however in two minds about the speech I gave.
Thank you to our Members / partners who gave up their Monday.
Da Prez.
A typical Rotary Mount Eliza golfer, with his trusty putter.
District Governor Elect Mark Humphries
A couple of weeks back I was sitting in a room with about 25 other people. It was a mixed group of people from all over the globe. I sat down and Tazeem sat next to me, I had had the privilege of speaking with Tazeem several times over the previous week, he was a true inspiration. Tazeem lives in Pakistan, in fact he lives right on the boarder of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is on the front line of the recent Polio outbreaks. Shortly after we sat down and started chatting again, another gent sat close to us, we started chatting, where Ndukwe come from Nigeria. What was the significance of these 2 people?
Ndukwe was very happy and proud of his country, why, because they were now Polio free! Yes they have gone 3 years without a case. Tazeem on the other hand was fighting against an outbreak. Tazeem is wanting the sample to achieve the same goal for his country.
Just recently a Rotary delegation to Pakistan took place, many high powered people from various organisations and governments were present. Pakistan acknowledged it had face some challenges, but now considers the eradication of Polio amongst its highest priorities.
Rotary promised the children of this world that we would eradicate Polio, a promise we will keep. Bill & Melinda Gates foundation are on board for another 3 years with their 2 for 1 matching grants. We must double our efforts, we need to support the Polio eradication program.
We were delighted to have three visitors from Peninsula Health attend our meeting this week.
In introducing the visitors, Chair for the evening Bernie Edwards commented on the relationship between our Club and Frankston Hospital.
Our guests were:
- Colleen White, Director of Women's, Children & Adolescent Health;
- Dr Efe Obudu, Acting Director of Clinical Services; and
- Mike Miller, Fundraising Director.
Both Colleen and Efe addressed the meeting as guest speakers. Colleen outlined the close relationship between the RC Mt Eliza and Peninsula Health/ Frankston Hospital pointing out that over the years our Club has contributed around $40,000 to purchase much needed equipment for the Hospital including beds, cots, incubators and other specialist equipment.
Colleen has extensive experience as a midwife and nursing administrator in Victoria especially with Monash Health and Casey Hospital. She has been with Peninsula Health for two years.
Efe, who has been with the organisation for four years, outlined his international experience in obstetrics and gynaecology in Africa, the UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
Both speakers spoke with passion on issues affecting pregnant mothers, newborn babies, children and adolescents.
Following their presentation the panel answered a number of questions about their work and the work of Peninsula Health.
Chair Bernie, Mike Miller, Colleen White, Efe Obudu and President Ross
Earlier this year our Club had a visiting Rotarian John Stevens, from the Rotary Club of Dunstable Downs in the UK.
At our dinner meeting this week, on behalf of John, Rotarian John Horscroft, presented President Ross with a banner from the Rotary Club of Dunstable Downs.
Rotary is one large global family and members who are travelling are encouraged to consider taking the opportunity to visit other Rotary Clubs as part of their itinerary.
Rotarian John presents the RC Dunstable Downs banner to President Ross
Coriander: It is the last resort of the scandal chef; along with chilli and Nutella and other fake foods.
I’d wager very few of our population are aware of this; trendy Chardonnay - sipping chefs have for some time foisted coriander upon us. Along with lemon grass, curry leaves and chilli, etcetera.
These ingredients ... to use the word loosely, were all, all, all, meant to be cooked; never ever served as a garnish. Ask the 67.7 million citizens of a Thailand.
The reasons? I hear you ask! Well, you see, as the Welsh say at the beginning of every answer; first, one never sees the Thai people eating uncooked coriander. [See Chardonnay - sipping chefs, above].
Second, and the prime reason that all of the above plants and derivatives were never meant, and should never, be eaten uncooked is ..... their pungent ‘taste’ was employed IN COOKING, to disguise the taste of the putrid ‘meat’ and offal that the local had to eat.
(Did you know, it is legal to eat road kill in The Southern States of the USA? But I digress).
The above - named ‘ingredients’ contain, in their makeup, matter that can be detrimental to our health.
Oh, rhubarb is another candidate for an early demise; its leaves are toxic. The CIA and Russians used it as a poison. I don’t eat rhubarb, so it is academic.
Now for two brain - teasers:
1. How do you know if a vegan 🌱 is in a group at dinner? They always tell you.
2. How do you distinguish tourists in Mexico? They are the only ones who have been sucked into putting a wedge of lemon 🍋 in the neck of their Corona Cerveza.... A plot by the locals to show up Gringos as ‘Babosos’. Babosois a Spanish insult (the Latinos are really superb at slander). It means, literally, one who dribbles / slobbers. Rather fitting, given this is exactly what happens if one tries to drink beer from a bottle with a wedge of lemon wedged in it. Hard to look cool 😎 (as the liquid runs over your tattoos and onto your thongs). 😂
President Ross kindly organised for the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza to sponsor the ProAm for trainee golf professionals in Victoria, which was held at the Mornington Golf Club on Monday 24 February.
A number of our Club members played on the day. With perfectly calm weather, no rain and the course in excellent condition, a great day was enjoyed by all participants.
The day saw a stroke event for the professionals and stableford for amateurs. In addition there was a team event for each group of four players.
Following the event everyone enjoyed an excellent meal as the prize presentations were made. Somehow, President Ross and Sir Crackers managed to come second in the team event.
President, David and Grace enjoying a lovely meal during the presentation.
NB Apologies in advance to any member who owns or who has ever owned a Ford motor car (Ed.)
From the time that the Australian made Ford Falcon was introduced into our country in 1960 a great rivalry developed between owners of Ford and Holden cars.
Holden, having commenced delivering Australian made vehicles in 1948, had a 12 year start on gaining public support. By the late 1950s almost half of the cars on the road in Australia were Holdens.
The recently announced demise of Holden brought back some memories of Ford put downs in the 1970s, including:
Q. What's the difference between a Ford and a door to door salesman? A. You can shut the door on a door to door salesman.
Q. What do you call a Ford with 200,000 miles on the clock? A. A lie!
Q. How do you make a Ford go faster downhill? A. Turn off the engine.
Q. What do you call a person who buys a second-hand Ford? A. A scrap yard dealer.
Q. What did the Holden say to the Ford on the side of the road? A. Rust in peace!
Q. What do you call a Ford at the top of Arthur's Seat? A. A miracle.
The people who say that they would rather push a Ford than drive a Holden usually do.
And finally ...
Ford is just another four letter word.
Kindly note that no complaints about this article will be received (Ed).
At approximately twenty three square kilometres, Mt Eliza occupies a significant portion at the top of the Mornington Peninsula.
Our town is bordered by Kackeraboite Creek, Humphries Road, the Moorooduc Highway, Wooralla Drive, Oakbank Road, Manmangur Creek and Port Phillip Bay.
Mount Eliza was named the year following the founding of Melbourne in 1836 after Eliza Elliott, the wife of Captain William Hobson, a Royal Navy Officer based in Melbourne, who was to later become the first Governor of New Zealand (1839-41).
In the 19th Century Mt Eliza was a location for mainly holiday homes and many people from Melbourne and its more affluent suburbs of Toorak, South Yarra and Camberwell came here for their summer holidays.
The Post Office opened on 15 November 1920.
While there had always been a number of permanent residents and local farms, early in the 20th Century a larger number of people started to make Mt Eliza their permanent home.
A major housing boost occurred in 1924 with the opening of the Ranelagh Estate subdivision, designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony Griffin, in conjunction with the surveyors Tuxen and Moore.
The Griffins had originally come to Australia to work on the design and layout of the Nation's new capital, Canberra.
Daveys Bay was named after James Davey who constructed a jetty in the 1840s to ship his local produce to Melbourne.
Canadian Bay was named after three Canadians, Hodgins, McCurley and Jones, who owned and operated a local sawmill in the middle of the 19th Century.
The Daveys Bay Yacht Club was established in 1909 and Toorak College commenced offering educational opportunities for girls as an independent school in 1928.
The Canadian Bay Club was formed in 1958. One of the founding members was Sir Laurence Hartnett, the then Managing Director of General Motors Holden and the designer and developer of the first Holden car.
By the late 1950s the village shopping precinct was well established, although it has changed significantly over the years.
In 1958/59 the movie On the Beach, based on the Nevil Shute novel, was filmed in Mt Eliza and nearby Frankston.
It is suggested that Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins all stayed in Mt Eliza for several weeks while the Stanley Kramer directed film was made in Melbourne and at local bayside locales.
Today Mt Eliza has a population of 17,886 people (June 2016 Census) and is a thriving part of the greater Melbourne Metropolitan area. At the same time it still retains its seaside and local village charm.
Rotarian David Rew and his organising committee are working hard on planning the details of the Annual Rotary Club of Mt Eliza Golf Day, which is being held at the "Little Frankston" Golf Club (Golf Links Road Frankston) on Friday, 17 April 2020.
Sponsored by White Lady Funerals and with one of the beneficiaries being the charity Shine for Kids the format of the day will be both 18 or 9 holes Ambrose.
Registration and coffee will commence at 7.45 am and the 18 hole event will commence with a shotgun start at 8.30 am. The 9 hole event will have a 10.30 am shotgun start.
With lots of prizes, a succulent roast lunch, drinks (wine beer and soft drinks), novelty items and auction items, an outstanding day is assured.
The entry fee remains at $135 per player ($540 for a team of four).
Entry forms will shortly be available for distribution.
On Wednesday 15 April a Rotary Bushfire Appeal Dinner will be held at the New Peninsula Centre, Baptist Church, 370 Craigie Road, Mt Martha.
The evening will commence at 6.30 pm for a formal 7.00 pm start.
Our Club will not be holding a meeting on Tuesday 14 April.
The Dinner has been organised by the Rotary District 9820 Peninsula Cluster of Clubs.
Members, Honorary Members, Friends and other community members will be most welcome and President Ross said in the last Bulletin we have committed to having 80 Mt Eliza attendees.
The cost of the evening per head is $60.00 with BYO drinks.
As a fund raiser, there will also be a Silent Auction plus a 'bid - auction' for three major items.
Members, Friends & Family are all asked to make every effort to attend so that we have a truly successfully evening.
A celebrity MC for the evening is being sought.
All funds raised on the evening will go the the District 9820 Bushfire Relief Fund.
President Ross, Fund-raising Director Carolyn Such and Community Director Linda Morris are members of the Organising Committee.
More details will be provided as they are confirmed.
Reminding all Rotarians and Friends that our Club's wonderful dog show, Bark In The Park, is to be held on Sunday 29 March 2020.
If you haven't done so already please diarise this date now as we will need as many hands on deck as possible to ensure that we build upon the great successes of previous Bark In The Park events.
. 
.... coupled with our ‘ROTARY Brand’, it was offered to our Club. (Last Year a sports and fitness centre obtained naming rights). It is just something the Mornington Golf Club does well.
