Everyone who attended Tuesday’s live meeting at the Paradise Hotel was “on form” and obviously pleased to be back amongst each other. Catherine’s friend Tim came along for his second live meeting and her neighbour Carol said that she thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was a shame that Mac Barrot had to pull out of speaking due to COVID issue as we have been hanging out to hear his talk on Gemco Theatre. Thank you to Roy Bowyer for stepping in at little notice and providing an interesting talk on SS Canberra. Our Chairperson Russell Marnock injured himself and John Shaw volunteered to help out, so a big thank you to John too, John also greatly improved our Hybrid zoom system so once we got over the sound issues looked quite professional. And Greg Adams is not only a member but now has his Dinner badge to prove it.
About 6 weeks ago I approached Emerald Woolworths to ask if they could set up the “round up” program for us. They advised me to talk to Head office in Sydney, which I did however they reluctant to set up something for just one branch. Plan B was offered by Mark the Emerald Manager – that for week 2nd – 9th November all items provided by the public into a trolly would be given to Rotary. Today I picked up the items plus Emerald Woolworths kicked in $250 for me to spend – I selected staple non-perishable items. – 163 to be exact. All the food items have been delivered to Emerald’s Community House. St Marks were approached however they have ongoing/regular supplies and suggested offering elsewhere. I am hoping that Ros Weadman will be able to obtain some milage out of this donation to the Community.
For Remembrance Day I attended Town Square on behalf of Emerald Rotary and laid a wreath, I was congratulating myself that I only had to attend at 11am unlike a 7am that Vicki did last year to be told that I was getting mixed up with Anzac Day – so I have that early morning session still to look forward to in another 5 months’ time.
Now that life seems to be getting back to “normal” there seems a new vitality in our members and plenty to look forward to. We are full steam ahead with the December T2T Market, planning for it has commenced and there will be a follow up meeting in 2 weeks’ time, Our Christmas Party will be on Tuesday 14th December at The Independent in Gembrook and the Cluster Club members have been invited. Father Christmas will be attending. We are hoping to be able to organise something at the new Lakeside Discovery Centre café in the New Year. It opened for business on Friday 5th November and Kelly and I are looking at our options. Roy has offered his home for the Burnt Chop evening of Tuesday 11th January.
Conference arrangements are underway. Not only have a few members requested accommodation but have even booked the Saturday session and meal. Gayle & Lyn have had their thinking caps on and their idea for the theme of Famous Families is going to the winning one! Not only is it great it is going to be a lot of fun. If you are still thinking about whether to come along, I think you will really have a great time.
Next week we will be having our teams Assembly evening plus the November DG’s 5-minute video will be shown.
Have a great weekend. Look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday
Yours in Rotary,
Shalini Penny, President
Back to the Paradise Hotel this week!!
Don't forget to let Lorna know you are coming :)
Hybrid Link
Last Week's Meeting
Toast to the Elderly - PP PHF John Ritchie
Claire Wood
I was born the 24th of October 1936 and lived in Riddells Creek. We were very isolated and had to walk 4 miles to pick up our groceries whilst dad was in the Army up in QLD. We later moved to Warrandyte. I left school when I was 14 and I moved out of home when I was 17.
I married John when I was 20. We met when I was 15 at my job at Yarrafalls but my father said we were not to get married until I was 20. We were married for 61 years. He was the nicest thing that ever happened in my life. He adored me and would follow me around on his knees at work. We had two children together, Stephen and Geoff. My grand daughter Cara lives in Emerald so I’m very lucky to have her close by.
I began working in Yarrafalls in a textile factory. I would catch a bus from Warrandyte to Collingwood everyday. When I got married at 20, I was working in a Glass factory. We had a nanny that lived with us. She would look after my two boys in an exchange for a place to stay and food whilst I worked. I later worked at Chelsea Pub serving drinks and then became their bouncer, I was 12 and a half stone and knew how to look after myself. I had one drunk patron behaving inappropriately once and I punched him out. A few weeks later he returned and apologised.
I then went back to working at the Glass factory on a production line but after a car accident in 1989 when a car ran a red light and I ended up going through the windscreen, I stopped working due to a bad hand injury.
As for me, I like the music of Mario Lanza. My husband would serenade his music to me on one knee. I can get quite emotional now hearing his music. I loved road trips with my husband to the beach. I love making scones. I enjoy flowers. I like having my hair done and set weekly. I like manicures. I haven’t been at Emerald Glades for very long but have adored the friendships I have made here. I like to get involved in anything I can and have a wickedly cheeky sense of humour.
The Legend of SS Canberra - Roy Bowyer
We were treated to a fabulous talk by Roy Bowyer on the SS Canberra - his notes are below but you had to be there to feel what it was like to be on board ship!!
Following the end of the 2nd world war thousands wanted to leave their damaged homes and towns and find other countries to live in. P&O saw an opportunity.
It called for a new concept of style and efficiency in passenger ships.
Faster than conventional ships by 6.5 knots raising the speed to 27.5 knots
Bigger than the 28,000 tons ships of that time increasing the size to 40,000 ton
More passenger capacity than conventional ships increasing to 2200 people so making travel more affordable
But they were going to use the old traditional shape of passenger liners. Centrally located boiler room with the funnels in the middle of the ship. (Cunard Style)
John West, a 28year old Naval Architect working in P&Os design office who had designed two bulk carriers put his job on the line and suggested using the design of a bulk carrier to achieve a revolutionary concept – this was a great leap of faith for P&O but they decided to trust their young architect. The ship required one extra deck making 14 in total and needed aluminium superstructure so that it had a draft of only 32 feet.
Scottish and Irish shipyards were asked to tender but the Scottish felt the design was too revolutionary. The Irish said, “we’ll give it go” and Harland & Wolff got the job. Canberra was constructed in the same yard as the Titanic.
John’s unique design required 4 superheat boilers, 2 electric engines and twin funnels to be moved aft allowing full width midships port to starboard public spaces. The first floating hotel and a first in passenger liners.
However, needs of a world cruising passenger liner are quite different to a bulk carrier. More efficient engines were required – the old steam turbine and mechanical gearbox system was not going to fit the space available, or provide the economic efficiency required.
The convention then was a large boiler in the middle of the ship with steam turbine and gearbox aft of the boiler room which then drove the propeller shafts.
John West’s idea was aft mounted boilers supplying forward mounted steam turbines driving a 6,600volt electric generators connected to massive electric motors which were directly driving the prop-shafts.
This concept changed the design of passenger ship power plants globally and provided the 27.5 knots P&O required.
During the sea trials however in the Irish Sea, it was noticed that the ships stern was lower than the bow. This was due to the boiler room being moved aft. Heavy aft deck and superstructure items were removed to lighten the load, but concrete was still required to be added to the bulbous bow area to align the Plimsoll Line with the water line. When at Circular Quay, you could see that Canberra still sat low in the stern.
Why 27.5 knots – this increased daily distance to 650 nautical miles per day and allowed shorter travel times particularly for migrants and synchronise port visits and convoy times through the Sues Cannel.
It was 1960 and The Australian Government was very keen to attract migrants to Australia, so they subsidised the Tourist fare of 150pounds on Canberra allowing migrants to travel for 10 pounds each on a one-way trip. It was the migrant trade that was the commercial benefit for P&O.
Canberra was commissioned and had her maiden voyage in 1960
In 1963 Canberra suffered a near disaster. In the Generator flat where all the voltages are generated for the hotel requirements including navigation, cooking, lifts, air conditioning and lighting etc. irregular steam pressure caused the 3 steam turbines to speed up which caused the voltage generators to also speed up. A spare generator started to operate as a motor and started using this overvoltage to increase the motors revolutions to a dangerous level.
A junior electrician tried to use emergency trip switching to disconnect the motor from the switchboard but was unsuccessful. He then disconnected safety locks and attempted to mechanically open the motor’s circuit breaker. There was an ionisation flash which through the electrician across the generator room also starting a fire in the switchboard. The ship was suddenly without operational power at sea and had a fire in the engine-room.
After some time, Canberra put out a MAY Day call and another P&O ship Stratheden arrived to stand by and supply food and stores for the passengers. The ship’s electricians were able to restore temporary power to one main engine allowing Canberra to travel at 10knots into Malta and after engineering work, Canberra was able to return to Harland & Wolff in Ireland for repairs and a new switchboard.
In 1982 on arriving back in Southampton, Canberra was requisitioned to the British Government under the leadership of Maggy Thatcher, to be used as troop carrier as Britain had declared war on Argentina as they had invaded the Falkland Islands. Within 3 days of getting back to Southampton, all passenger and cruise material was removed including 10 grand pianos, several one arm bandits, artwork, and furniture whilst the main swimming pool was covered and readied as a helicopter landing pad. One of the 13 ship’s lifts was secured on an upper deck so that refuelling pipelines could be stored in the lift shaft for refuelling at sea. SS Canberra served in the Falklands for 3 months.
SS Canberra who name means Meeting Place had a legendary career spanning 36 years of world cruising and was the conveyor of thousands of people who now call Australia Home.
My working life on Canberra started in 1968 and I would like to take you on a tour of the engine room spaces if we have time.
Committee Reports
Fundraising - PP PHF Kris Ash
Thank you to everyone for attending the Cup Day Event – we raised $875 thanks to the support of Olinda Wines and Funky Cakes in particular
Don’t forget to order wine
Sausage sizzle on 20 Nov
Please contact Kris if you can assist at the Sausage Sizzle on November 20th at Emerald Village Meats
Time slots for helpers below:)
8.30 - 10.00
10.00 - 11.30
11.30 - 1.00
Trash to Treasure Market - PP PHF AG Catherine Elfick
Sat 11 December all steam ahead– Xmas theme
All stall holders need to be double vaxed – no casual insurance
Rotary stall will be in place
Rotary Foundation
Not much opportunity to raise funds this year
Club commits to $4000 or $100 pp for the year
5 money boxes are up for grabs so you can save $2 per week
Xmas Party Details - save the date
Xmas Party – at the Independent Tues 14th December
The venue will only open for the Rotary Club that evening
We will ask Monbulk and Belgrave to come as well
They are allowed up to 100 people
Don't forget to order your wines after Cup Day we want to place orders soon!!!
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 out them out HERE
Emerald Village Community
Emerald Village Community update can be found HERE
Ros Weadman adds a regular paragraph about Rotary in this newsletter.
Rotary Invocation
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)
