PERTH ROTARY | PRESIDENTS UPDATE |  27 April  2021

We were fortunate to squeeze in the Centennial Gala Ball on Friday night finishing at 11pm so as to allow our guests to return home by midnight.  As already indicated, celebrations commenced with the unexpected announcement at 2.30pm from the Premier, Mark McGowan, that Western Australia was about to enter a 3 day lockdown effective from midnight. The Committee were under some pressure, however, the doors were allowed to be opened at 6.30pm and guests were welcomed to the Ritz Carlton Hotel.   Nan Walker was wonderful in her committee role of event management and is to be commended for her every effort to ensure that the Gala could go ahead in a manner which was safe for all who attended.  Safe to say – telephones were running hot Friday afternoon.

 

 

The ladies resplendent in 1920’s fashion and the gentlemen in dinner suits, many with top hat and scarves started to arrive at the Ritz Carlton Hotel from 6.30pm. After a welcoming champagne or two, the guests were shown into the ballroom with its elegant, sophisticated decorations. As the wine flowed, the formalities began.  Owing to Covid restrictions, some amendments had to be made and after an initial Welcome to Country by Karen Jacobs from the Whadjuk people, the Governor of Western Australia, the Honourable Kim Beasley AC came to us with a message of congratulations via video. This was followed by PRID Dr Ken Collins who asked everybody to be upstanding as he read the Rotary Charge.

 

Just as everybody settled in nicely, Master of Ceremonies, Mark Coughlan after giving a formal welcome, introduced RI Director Elect, Dr Jessie Harman, who proposed a toast to Rotary International via video.  A roll call honouring WA Rotarians who had given 50+ years of servi- ce to Rotary and the community, followed by PDG Dr Marilyn Barton giving an expose` of the newly published book “Humanity in Action, Celebrating One Hundred Years of Rotary Clubs in Australia and their Island Neighbours”.   District Governors John Bilson and Colin Burns introduced a new award in Western Australia - The Dr Ken Collins AM Cit.WA Award for Excellence in Service to Rotary. DG Jon Bilson provided an overview of Dr Ken Collins AM Cit.WA many achievements.  DG Colin Burns introduced the three finalists, PDG David Barton, Melville RC; PP Gordon Hudson, Scarborough RC and PP John Garland, AM, Perth RC.  Dr Ken Collins AM Cit.WA announced the inaugural winner, PDG David Barton, Melville Rotary Club. 

 

This concluded the formalities of the evening. Darren Reid and the Soul City Groove Band commenced playing, and within a few minutes the dance floor was packed and the whole venue rocking to the music of the seventies and eighties. The venue was alive for the next two hours until unfortunately due to state Government restrictions, the Ball was brought to an end and Rotarians and partners with a smile on their faces, departed the Ritz Carlton hotel to commence three days of lockdown in the afterglow of a fantastic celebration.   Congratulations and Happy Birthday Rotary Australia, may the next 100 years of service be as productive and worthy of celebration as the past 100 years. Please refer to the story attached to this newsletter should you wish to purchase a commemorative stamp and/or book – “Humanity in Action”.

 

Unfortunately, the Blessing of the Fleet, Friday 30 April has had to be cancelled as we are not able to comply with the social distancing requirements aboard the boats.  Despite Sergeant Larry’s best efforts, our favourite event of the year will be postponed once again.  We look forward to gathering together in the spring all being well.  Once again, our sincere gratitude to Larry Hirsch and all of the skippers for their willingness to take their boats out so the club can participate in a truly enjoyable evening on the water. 

 

We are currently waiting on advice from the WA Museum with regards to the Vocational Visit scheduled for Friday 30 April.  We are hopeful due to the smaller size of the groups, that we might be able to proceed.  Jonas Edner, Director of Vocational Services will be in contact with those members who registered to attend as soon as practical.

 

 

At this stage, we anticipate our Business Lunch on Friday 7 May going ahead as per normal and we encourage members to go on line and pre-purchase their ticket.