Posted on Apr 10, 2020
PERTH ROTARY | PRESIDENTS UPDATE | 10th  April 2020
 
Rotarians and friends of Perth Rotary,

Who would ever believe that the grief for having to suspend our Rotary meetings due to COVID-19 would give its place to the excitement of opening up to the world and travelling thousands of miles away from Perth.

The cycle of the COVID-19 speakers which started with the discussion of the first 2 phases (Australia - entry point and Italy - peak point), was completed last Wednesday with a live connection with Rotary China.  3 distinguished Rotarians from 3 Rotary Clubs of China discussed the experience and the learning from a country that slowly exits the COVID-19 cycle.

I was delighted to welcome more than 43 participants in that ZOOM IN by Perth Rotary meeting and I was thrilled to see other Rotary Clubs and Rotarians joining us from WA, Europe and China, too.

I have to acknowledge that among the participants we had the Past Rotary International Director Dr. Ken Collins, our District Governor and Past President Graham Peden, Past Presidents of our Club and many Rotarians and friends.

Apart from the very interesting information we received from Rotary China regarding the “Day After COVID-19”, the most valuable contribution to the final outcome of that virtual meeting was the re-establishment of a special connection between Rotary China and Perth Rotary. I’m using the word “re-establishment” because Perth Rotary was instrumental in the creation of Rotary China. According to the “Rotary Global History Fellowship”:

"When Rotarian Hermann G. Heid, then Vice President of RC Hong Kong, visited the Rotary Club of Perth in 1996, he lobbied - as he had done many times with other Rotary Clubs - then President David Reed for support in his efforts to re-establish Rotary in China. Specifically, Hermann wanted to establish the Rotary Club of Beijing.

While carefully trying to avoid collision with existing written and unwritten Chinese Laws and Regulations on the one hand and not to break any Rotary Rules, Heid knew that he needed to rally support from as many Rotary corners as he could find. One of his strategies was to have Rotarians and Rotary clubs from around the world lobby at RI Headquarters for approval of a chartered Rotary Club.

Hermann Heid, on behalf of RC Perth, presents PP Percy Chu the PHF needle and medal.

David Reed immediately appointed then International Director Maurice Rousset to liaise with Hermann Heid. In 1997 Hermann's fledging "Beijing Fellowship Group of Rotarians", as it was called then, honored the oldest living Rotarian, Past President Percy Chu of Rotary Club Shanghai (1934/35) at his 100th birthday. Percy had been introduced to Hermann by David Reed. The Rotary Clubs Perth and Hong Kong both awarded PP Percy Paul Harris Fellowships at the birthday event.

RC Perth also arranged for Hermann to find a link to ROTARY DOWN UNDER which published several articles and information about the China efforts in its magazine. And through the introduction of RC Perth Hermann was introduced to the newly elected RI Director Dr. Ken Collins who ultimately became a vital supporter in Evanston of the Beijing Fellowship Group.

When Hermann Heid left Beijing in 1999 he became a member of the Rotary Club Perth. Even though physically removed from China he continued his vigorous efforts to see that the Beijing efforts remained on the agenda of Rotary International. In the process he met and pleaded with many leading RI Directors and Presidents. The break-through for recognition of the China groups within Rotary came when Bhichai Rattakul was nominated to become RI President (2002-2003). Hermann had built a solid relationship with Bhichai when he was Chairman of Rotary's Asia Extension Committee.

In November 2000 a high ranking RI delegation, consisting of three RI Presidents - Frank Devlyn, Rick King and Bhichai Rattakul - accompanied by several RI Directors, including Ken Collins of Perth, and the General Secretary of Rotary International, Ed Futa, visited China and met with Chinese leaders. It was then that Hermann Heid knew that the return of Rotary to China was imminent.

Upon return to Rotary Headquarters and intensive deliberations the RI board unanimously extended "provisional" status to the Rotary groups in Beijing and Shanghai. In June 2001 both Chinese cities once again have Rotary Clubs (Provisional).

For his work for the return of Rotary to China Hermann was made a lifetime honorary member of the RC Beijing and he received a PHF from RC Hong Kong."

It is very interesting how technology opens up our view to the world but also to the history of Rotary! As I’ve recently said, I’m sure that this necessary transition to the new patterns of doing business and virtually communicating with people is here to stay and to change our lives.

As a proof of this, we are going to announce another extremely interesting Zoom In session for next Wednesday, having live connection with the “other side of the globe”!

Details to follow soon. Till then:

The Board of Directors of Perth Rotary wishes to you and your families Happy and Safe Easter!

Warm regards

Vangelis Katsaitis
Perth Rotary President 2019-2020