In order to confirm numbers for meetings at the pub, please ensure that you communicate the following to PP PHF Lorna: 0408 506 622
notify if NOT attending by 12 noon on the MONDAY before the meeting
and notify if bringing guests or visitor
notify at any time about future absences and holidays.
Thank You!
People Who Sparkle
John Shaw
Years of Service: 30
Profession: Railway Engineer with Puffing Billy
Q: What first inspired you to join our club? A: I was invited to a meeting as a guest speaker to talk about my involvement with Puffing Billy. Lorna and I had just bought our house and moved to Clematis and I thought they were a nice bunch of people. It was Chris Adams who got me in.
Q: What is a personal Rotary highlight? A: Probably the bike rides that I do to raise money for Australian Rotary Health. I’ve done about 15 over the last 20 years and am hoping to do the next one if the body allows.
Q: What Rotary project (current or new) would you most like to be involved in in the future? A: The Kids Fun Run is the biggest one. I’ve been involved since it started as the Kids Fun Run with Thomas, partly because of my involvement with Puffing Billy as I knew all the people we needed to talk to. Also the continued sponsorship of the kids at Tenderfoot.
Q: What is the best thing about being a member of this club? A: The people. A high percentage of my close friends are in the club. And it’s fun to be in it too.
Q: What is a life philosophy or mantra that you live by? A: Today’s the time to do something good – everyday. And don’t stop! I’m not game to stop.
Q: If you could have any super power what would you choose and why? A: The ability to stop wars. Before I was with Puffing Billy I spent 30 years in the Army so I know a bit about war, so that would be my superpower.
Q: What was your very first job? A: My first school holiday job was in a joinery making windows. My second job was digging house foundations with a pick and shovel and occasionally gun powder.
Q: Who, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with? A: Barack Obama – I’d like to discuss how to stop wars.
Q: When you are not busy completing Rotary tasks, what do you like to do in your spare time? A: I’m not sure I have any spare time! I’m still doing a lot of railway stuff with Castlemaine Railways and Puffing Billy. I’ve been working for Puffing Billy for 64 years (I started at 14) both paid and as a volunteer.
Q: What is the biggest lesson life has taught you? A: In my Army time, I learnt just how much I could do that I didn’t think I could. So I learned just what I’m capable of doing.
Club Meeting 6th October 2026
President Gayle Barrot opened the meeting by welcoming Members, Guests and Chairperson Wayne McLeod
Apologies were read by Carol Cain
Guest Speaker: Heidi - Student Speech Practice
Heidi spoke about the environmental and social impact of modern consumption. She argued that buying new products can seem harmless at an individual level, but the cumulative effect of billions of daily purchasing decisions is significant. Her speech applied Rotary’s Four-Way Test to consumer behaviour.
Is it the truth? Heidi highlighted the issue of greenwashing, noting that claims such as “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” or “biodegradable” do not always reflect the full supply chain impact.
Is it fair to all concerned? She linked environmental issues with justice, pointing out that cheap prices can hide low wages, unsafe working conditions, and environmental harm borne by communities far from the point of purchase.
Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Heidi described second-hand shopping, sharing, repairing, swapping, and donating as ways to create community connections and extend the life of useful items.
Will it be beneficial to all concerned? She noted that reusing and repairing reduce waste, pollution, and energy use, and cited electronic waste as a growing global concern.
Heidi concluded that sustainability is not about stopping all purchases, but about seeing possessions as resources with ongoing value rather than disposable items. She encouraged people to pause before buying and consider the Four-Way Test in everyday decisions.
Guest Speaker: Greg - BOM Super El Nino
Greg was formerly connected with climate and weather modelling work, delivered a presentation on El Niño, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and why current ocean and atmospheric conditions are significant for Australia.
Key Points from the Presentation
Greg explained that ENSO stands for El Niño–Southern Oscillation, combining ocean temperature changes with atmospheric pressure and wind patterns across the Pacific.
In neutral conditions, trade winds help keep warmer waters near northern Australia and cooler waters near South America, supporting cloud formation and rainfall in the Australian region.
During El Niño, trade winds weaken or may reverse, warmer water builds in the central and eastern Pacific, and cloudiness and rainfall tend to shift away from northern Australia.
La Niña generally has the opposite effect, with cooler conditions in the central and eastern Pacific and an increased likelihood of wetter conditions for Australia.
Greg described the Niño 3.4 region as an important measure of El Niño strength and explained that a strong event can be associated with drier conditions for parts of Australia.
The presentation also discussed thermoclines, ocean currents such as the Humboldt Current, and the role of warmer global oceans in intensifying climate impacts.
Climate Change and Forecasting
Greg explained that global temperature increases are averages and do not mean every location warms by the same amount. Some regions experience much greater increases than the global average. He also noted that warmer overnight temperatures reduce opportunities for people, plants, and animals to recover from heat.
The presentation covered the challenges of weather forecasting, particularly at local and regional scales. Greg explained that global climate models divide the world into grid points, while higher-resolution regional models can provide more localised forecasts but require substantial computing power. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to speed up some modelling processes.
5. Questions and Discussion
Duration of El Niño: Greg explained that the strongest phase often lasts several months and can extend across the Australian summer, though its duration can vary.
Relationship with following seasons: In response to a question about whether a strong El Niño would necessarily be followed by a cold, wet winter, Greg explained that this does not automatically follow.
Weather, chaos, and modelling: Greg discussed the difference between large-scale climate patterns and local weather variations, noting that regular features such as Earth’s rotation, seasonal cycles, and atmospheric circulation can be modelled, while highly local conditions remain more difficult to predict precisely.
Melbourne forecasting: Greg agreed that Melbourne is particularly challenging for weather prediction because it sits near the boundary of several interacting weather systems and is influenced by shifting southern weather patterns.
Storms and climate change: Greg noted that climate change may be associated with fewer but stronger tropical storms, although he cautioned that he could not answer every specific regional connection with certainty.
District and Community Initiatives
Environment Committee
ENVIRONMENTAL FUN FACT (EFF)
Standby is still standing by for electricity. Switching unused appliances off at the
power point can save more energy than using the remote.
For good food, good fellowship and the opportunity for service through Rotary we give thanks
Rotary Toast
To Australia and the people of Australia (toast) To Rotary International (toast)
4 Way Test
CHOCLOTTO JACKPOT
$ 133.00
Chocolate Winner:
Melinda Moulday
Duty Roster
Duty Roster - 13th October 2026
Chairperson
Miller, Ken
Fellowship
Benc, Anne
Furnishings
McAllister, Andrew
Speaker Minder
Bowyer, Roy
Response
Ritchie, John
Duty Roster - 20th October 2026
Chairperson
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Christine McLeod
October 3
Ian Wakefield
October 14
Toni-Anne Griffin
October 23
Wayne McLeod
October 24
Susan Colic
October 25
Melinda Moulday
October 31
Spouse/Partner Birthdays
Heather
October 9
Kath Barrot
October 15
Anniversaries
Shalini Penny
Dave Penny
October 20
Join Date
Jacqueline Forsythe
October 7, 2025
1 year
Community Notices
Events
We are regularly asked to share information on other Rotary Club or community group events. Rather than list all of them in Sparkle, please check them out HERE
