Calpac Capers 2nd February 2023

President Frank welcomed Guest Speaker and Member Mark Paton – Hear4Good, Tony Long AG and Sylvia Hovey.

He also noted the Ross Harrison’s achievement for his and his team’s sales quota for this past year, for the ninth consecutive year.

Marion Schultz proposed a Toast to the RC of Houston Heights which was founded in 1939. The Club is one of 60 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Houston Texas. Chad Greer is the current President. The major fundraiser is a crawfish and shrimp boil. They donate bicycles to Harvard Elementary School after school program, Scholarships to Graduates of Houston Heights High School, Food Bank, transitional housing and food packages at Christmas.

Will Waterford reminded all Members to be aware of opportunities to ask contacts to become a Rotary Member.

This remains a major focus for all Clubs and indeed Rotary International.

Peter Hovey mentioned the following events, at the forefront of Members’ minds -
**  16^th Feb – Bulcock Beach History Walk. Meet at La Promenade Café at 6.00pm. 45 – 60 minute walk followed by Fish and Chips on the Beach.
**  20^thApril - Pride of Work Awards – Nominations (2 or 3 required)

Les Pontin lightened the mood with a little story with a twist. Basically – “Technology will be the death of us all”. Quite funny and if you weren’t at the meeting maybe ask Les to share it with you next time you see him.

Barb Bailey shared some Club history as penned by Cedric Gowlett. The Editor will pass the account to CALPAC Secretary to record in Clubrunner.

Greig Lee-Archer reminded all about the ROMAC Trivia Night on Thursday 2nd March 2023. A meeting was held after the Club Meeting which was well attended by many Members offering assistance to run the Night was fantastic. Progress thus far in terms of organisation appear to be in hand. Greig’s concern is the apparent reduced number of tables being organised by CALPAC Members. Please give this some thought.

 

a. Board Meeting Monday 6^th February 2023

b. District 9620 District Conference – 24^th March 2023

c. Jazz in the Hangar – 20^th  May 2023

 

Geoff Leddy introduced Mark Paton who has been a Member of the Australian College of Audiology for 18 years, Chair of the Peer review committee for 4 years, Board Chairman of the College in 2019/20, current Board Secretary, appointed as representative to the Hearing Health Sector Alliance in 2019 and involved several working groups for, Teleaudiology, Aged Care, dementia impact and curriculum review for Audiology.  Studies have identified hearing loss is not age related however a legacy of what an individual has subjected their hearing too throughout their life.   Hearing loss costs Australians a staggering $11.75 billion annually in lost productivity and other impacts. Employment rates or hearing-impaired people between the ages of 45 and 65 are lower than for comparable people in the rest of the population (20.5% lower for men and 16.5% lower for Women).

GP’s treat (generally) ailments that “hurt” or are “bleeding” – patients can more readily see or feel such ailments. Hearing loss tends to be more gradual with the individual not noticing the change until usually somebody who hasn’t seen the individual for some time comments on the progressive deterioration.  Australia has a world leading program to attend to the hearing of its older citizens. The Hearing Services Program provides hearing aids to seniors and veterans with no Gap. A service where people 0 to 26 can access hearing aids at no cost and scheme is not means tested. Clearly world leading. We can however still do better with the Residential Aged Care Commission highlighting that services need improvement in that sector. In Australia around 3.6 million people have some level of hearing loss. More than 1.3 million people live with a hearing condition that could have been prevented. More than 1 in 3 Australians have noise related ear damage.

Les Pontin thanked Mark for his informative and entertaining talk.

David Johnston proudly informed the meeting he is a retired dentist. (a reference to Colgate toothpaste ads in the past).   Born in Toowoomba, the eldest and smartest of 6 children (ED: modest too) his mother was a practicing catholic, and dad was along for the ride!!   Started school at Clermont Central Qld, then Woodridge primary school and on to St Laurence’s Boys College.   Chose dentistry as his career over civil engineering and medicine and as a result has been down in the mouth job ever since. (ED: thankfully stage comedy was not pursued).  One of the first things learned was to be careful of who he asked “how are you” – many told him way too much e.g. the lovely woman who told him she wasn’t wearing any underwear, the big biker type who told me he didn’t like needles and proceeded to faint.

His most embarrassing moment, apart from the no underwear admission, was when he asked the lady how far pregnant she was – turns out she wasn’t. (ED: just as well he didn’t take up obstetrics!!) The best excuse I heard for being late for the appointment was the woman who has 2 flat tyres on the way – she’d run over an echidna! (ED: still trying to decide whether David believed her).  He was introduced to Rotary by Peter Baynes, a newsagent in Caloundra at the time. "Peter introduced me as a struggling young dentist with too much time on my hands – we had just had our 5th child." said David. "I am proud to say that we now also have 13 grandchildren." (ED: I think that may have partly been a oneupmanship of Will Waterford – not sure).   Little did he know at the time that Peter was finishing as the treasurer and he was the intended replacement! Since then, he has served in most roles within the club, some repeatedly, but unlike some only once as President.

It has nothing to do with Rotary, but 4 years ago David had a heart attack. While visiting his 92 year old mum in Brisbane at the time and had just finished some minor gardening and was having a cold drink when I felt unwell. His mother called triple zero and a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance arrived. When the neighbours saw his mum standing on the veranda waving the ambulance off, they were surprised, as they surmised that his mum would be in the ambulance.

At the time Ann (wife) was over in the Amazon Jungle with one of their daughters at the time and didn’t find out until 4 days later when she arrived home. David is still explaining that one. (ED probably has some hearing loss from that experience I would suggest!!)

Ann and David have been fortunate to have traveled overseas and locally, starting with a cruise of the South Pacific for their honeymoon. This started well, as David spent the first 3 days in bed!! Next was a trip to Adelaide followed by 8 months spent touring UK and Europe in the late 70’s.   Since then camping holidays along the east coast of Australia with his young family were experienced and since 2000 they have traveled overseas multiple times - still have not finished.   "For now," he says, "I am happily retired enjoying life on the coast, family, golf, Rotary and exploring this great planet we have."   He realises how fortunate he has been with choices in life and feels very thankful.

The return from holidays, business jaunts and other commitments brought Ross Harrison back to inflict revenge on those wearing long pants on such a hot day/night. Payback for all those fines for members wearing short pants over the last year. Not many were spared and some entertaining fines handed out.

Evelyn McCorkell delivered Riki Tiki which saw Brian Reith the last person standing.

Raffles – by Les Pontin and Graeme Bowden

Many prizes were won and enjoyed around the tables with the lollies shared around in traditional manner.

Finished as usual with the Australian National Anthem sung by all and led by Frank Lunt and Michael Berris.