Once again Heirisson concentrated it’s Christmas attention on the Salvation Army who were represented at our meeting by Jenny Lyden. Jenny gratefully accepted our contribution of food hamper items, Christmas gifts plus the $135 cash raised from the Club raffle over the previous weeks. Well done Ash Braden in organising all of these collections. Jenny made a short speech to the Club. 

Lynnes first observation is that the weather is totally different in France and that at the moment is does not feel like Christmas in Perth because it is not cold. 

Chris was introduced by RobertHolloway who described Chris as thesort of bloke who called “a spade abloody shovel” and who had anencyclopedic knowledge of Kings &Queens. Chris told us that he was born on 3rdFeb 1952. He has two sisters and wasraised in Caringbah NSW - a shire that isnow very affluent although it was notthat way when Chris was young.Chris did not enjoy school and left at 14when he says he was bi-lingual illiterate(could not read either French orGerman). 

The “Maunmeni” community that we have funded is in the vicinity of Oesau town, which lies about 25km North-East of the capital Kupang. It therefore falls under the administration of one of the Kupang branches of TLM, the local administrator of the scheme. 

There is a good range of traditional African clothing at an “Africa shop” at 91 Wanneroo Rd, Tuart Hill. It is very near the pedestrian bridge that crosses Wanneroo Rd near Lawley Street. Shirts and dress’s range from $25 - $50 

Allan McLean introduced his guest – Judith Pinchyk from the Australian Institute of Conveyancers. Judith then presented a cheque for $5,000 to the Club as a contribution toward the autism project that Heirisson is supporting. Jenny Roberts was present to accept the cheque on behalf of the Club. 

Each week Paul Faix will be collecting tinned food – bring some along or be prepared to make a donation in lieu.  

DG Eli Quartermaine attended our meeting to present pins to Robert Holloway and Gary Redmond in acknowledgement of their sponsoring new members into the Club this year. Well done Robert & Gary. 

Wayne was inducted into the Club on 5th June and we look forward to his involvement with the Club.  

Nicole Kingston - a trained Psychologist – talked about the conventional treatment ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) for Autism which until now has been regarded as a lifelong disorder. ABA involves 30 hours of therapy each week and is an expensive treatment that gives children a 50% chance of recovery. Nicole met Jenny in Tasmania and at first was very skeptical about Jennys method of treatment which was based on a 5 day program involving the entire family of the autistic child. 

GARY Redmond has won a City of Nedlands Australia Day honour for his compassionate efforts chairing the Healing Hearts Foundation.

Mr Redmond (62) collected the ‘Community Group or Event Award’ at a joint citizenship and Premier’s Awards ceremony on January 23 for his work as executive chairman of the foundation, which supports people around the State who have lost a child.

The Sorrento resident knows first hand of sadness of losing his own son and daughter-in-law after a canyoning tragedy in Interlaken, Switzerland in 1999, which claimed the lives of 21 young people. 

I have just returned from RIO, and as my luck would have it it was cloudy and rainy:(. Yet being the good Aussie girl I am I ventured into the seriously freezing ocean every chance I could get:) Its was great to be back at the ocean once again. The remainder of the time I was shown some of the sites. This is a truly beautiful city, yet I would still say that Salvador is better.
 

Colin Macfarlane (visiting Perth from the Rotary Club of Box Hill) gave a very quick overview of this marvelous project that is administered by the Rotary Club of Box Hill.

The project raises funds for doctors to perform operations to repair cleft palates and cleft lips in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India & Laos.  

Director of Youth & Vocation – Gary Redmond – would like everyone to know about the Indigo Project particularly because of the growing incidence of mental illness and depression in our society. The following is an excerpt from a message from the program coordinator. Further information and brochures are available from Gary.  

Ken commenced with the statement that “Peace is Possible” which is the slogan of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation. The question “why peace is not possible” is answered “while there is poverty peace is not possible”.

The Rotary Foundation supports the efforts of Rotary International in its mission toward the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national and international programs to promote humanitarian, educational and cultural causes.  

Our joint club meeting with the Rotary Club of North Perth at their “Calcutta Night” on the eve of the Melbourne Cup was a great success particularly for lucky Gary Redmond and even luckier Judy Fetherston who both drew horses in the sweep. One of our tables “syndicated” to out bid Paul Griffin and buy Purple Moon – which (as we all now know) brought home the “2nd place” bacon and probably came close to repaying our syndicates purchase cost. A good night was had by all 20 Heirissonites and partners. 

Much pre-trip planning was undertaken. Uniforms, presentations, gifts and time spent with the Inbound GSE team from California.
Encountered some “language” difficulties with many words that the Americans do not understand.
Spoke to the Californians about many local projects including the Rotary Cord Blood Bank, Wheelchairs For Kids &ROMAC.  

I found the experience living with the three above families a very rewarding experience especially with the Vinholo family who welcome me into their home with open arms. They were a very generous family who I still keep in contact with and hope I will for ever. I discovered so many different things such as the different living style, their food, the housing, and school.  

At The District Changeover night, the Rotary Club of Heirisson was awarded a Presidential Citation which read “Awarded to the Rotary Club of Heirisson for it’s efforts to lead the way to a better future by demonstrating that fellowship and service truly can change the world”. Well done everyone. 

Eli spent his childhood in Katanning – the Quartermaine family were farming pioneers.

However he left the bush and joined the Army - served in Malaysia and South Vietnam and had a stint in Fort Lee (Texas). He finished his army service in 1984 as a Lt Colonel. After the army he has been a newsagent and GM of the RPYC.