Dear Perth Rotarians,
 
All Members of the Perth Rotary Club are called to participate in a WHOLE CLUB PHOTO in recognition of Rotary Australia's Centennial Year at 12 noon sharp this Friday.  Apart from the opportunity to add to our Perth Rotary narrative, it will also be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with members and friends of the Club.  Members are encouraged to stay on for lunch after the photo shoot, should time permit.  If you have not already done so and you intend staying on for lunch, please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BRCDL to book in for lunch.  Our guest speaker this week is the Hon Richard Court AC, former Premier of Western Australia and recently, The Australian Ambassador to Japan.  
 
Richard Fairfax Court  served as Premier of Western Australia from 1993 – 2001 and as the Australian Ambassador to Japan from 2017 – 2020.  Mr Court is a member of the Court Family, who are well known for their political links to the Liberal Party and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association. Most notably his father Sir Charles Court served as Premier of Western Australia from 1974 – 1982. 
 
 
Mr Court graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1968 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.  He spent some time in the United States as a management trainee at the Ford Motor Company before returning to Western Australia.  Mr Court operated a variety of businesses prior to entering politics in March 1982 as the member for Nedlands on the retirement of his father, Sir Charles Court.  Mr Court became deputy leader of the Liberal Party 1987; and leader of the Liberal Party in 1992.  In the State Election of 1993, Mr Court became the Premier of Western Australia for two terms.  
 
On 9 June 2003, Richard Court was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).  The award cited "[his] service to the Western Australian Parliament and to the community, particularly the Indigenous community, and in the areas of child health research and cultural heritage and to economic development through negotiating major resource projects including the export of gas to China furthering the interests of the nation as a whole."
 
In 2016, it was announced by then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop that Mr Court would be appointed as the Australian Ambassador to Japan.  A post Mr Court held until 2020.  We look forward to Mr Court sharing his recent experiences dealing with the Japanese Government and the Japanese corporates. He will provide a very current perspective of the strategic issues we are facing in the region.
 
Following our business lunch meeting of this week, we look forward to hosting our Presidents Changeover Dinner, Friday 18 June 2021 at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel.   The theme is Carnaby St, 1966 and members may dress up in their 1960's gear or just come dressed Business Casual.   This is an important event in our club's fellowship and all members are encouraged to make every effort to attend.  
 
The Parmelia Hilton have extended a discount code for booking rooms should members wish to make a night of it and stay the night in town.  Please note when using the booking link, you must change the date to the 18 June by clicking on the ‘edit stay’ button.   http://group.hilton.com/GSMRF  
 
 
 
 
Last week we had the incredible honour of listening to Dr Robert Isaacs speak to the club of his journey, Two Cultures | One Story.  Dr Isaacs began his talk by thanking the Perth Rotary Club, specifically Rotarian Dr Harry Sorensen AO OBE CitWA for providing him with an opportunity to travel to the United States of America in 1976 as part of a Study Exchange Programme with the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.  During this time, Dr Isaacs also spent time with the Navajo Indians on country.  He returned to Australia with a "head full of ideas" and a pathway forward as to what he could do with his life in service to his people.   He was presented with the opportunity for the exchange at the Home of Perth Rotary | The Parmelia Hilton Hotel in 1976 and was thrilled to return to the Parmelia as our guest speaker in 2021.  There was so much more to Dr Isaacs story.  Should members wish to purchase a copy of his book, please email president@rotaryperth.org.au and I will provide you with Dr Isaacs email address. 
 
 
In addition the meeting last week was a joint meeting with the United Nations Association of Australia (WA Div), our Honorary Corporate Member and strategic partner.  It was a great privilege to celebrate National Reconciliation Week with a "Good News" story.  Dr Isaacs reminded us that there are many positive things happening with our First Nations People and that there have been improvements in many areas, however, as always, there is more to be done.  We need to build on the positive, look to the future and above all, ensure that all children in Australia have access to a good education, the key to continued positive outcomes. 
 
News from the DG:  This past week DG Jon Bilson published his final video update for all members to view.  Please click on the following link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ3o-wgF0J8
 
News from Rotary Down Under - D9455 Centennial Gala Ball featured in the latest edition of the Rotary Down Under Magazine.  Members can read up on the article by clicking on the following link :  http://epubs.media/rotarydownunder/ezine/2021/639/
 
The Western Australian of the Year Awards were held over the weekend to recognise and celebrate outstanding contribution to our State by those born and bred in Western Australia, or those who have chosen to make Western Australia their home.  It was a delight to see Mr Richard Goyder AO (& former Rotary Youth Exchange Student) be announced as The Western Australian of the Year and Ms Kendall Whyte as The Young Western Australian of the Year.  Rotarian Ms Christina Matthews was a finalist for the Sport Award Section and former Perth Rotary Speaker; Ms Jahna Cedar OAM was a finalist for the Aboriginal Section.   Congratulations to all who were finalist and winners on the night - a remarkable recognition of community service to Western Australia and an endorsement of why membership and participation in Service oriented organisations is so important. 
 
Without member driven service organisations in our State, Nation and/or the World, there is so much that would simply fly under the radar.  With this in mind, I urge all Perth Rotary Members to consider your membership for the 2021/22 Rotary Year.  
  1. You might consider that you are not able to attend as many meetings as you would like;
    1. that's ok, we're happy to see you whenever time permits. 
  2. you might consider that the return on your investment is not giving enough back to you; 
    1. Your membership incorporates a gift of $100 to the Rotary Foundation.  Every Rotarian | Every Year.    
  3. you might consider that just by simply being a member of the Perth Rotary Club you are helping to contribute to a World Wide Organisation that has contributed millions of dollars to the "End Polio Now Campaign"; International Projects; Disaster Relief; Humanitarian and Health related projects; Education and Peace Building.  
    1. You are "doing good" and contributing to the World simply through your membership. 
In the last twelve months alone the Perth Rotary Club has been instrumental in the following: 
  • District Grants to Reflections Thru Reality ($5k); Nyoongar Outreach Centre ($10k) and Passages, Hub for Homeless Youth ( ~$5k); 
  • Collaborative Fundraiser with Crawley Rotary Club; Brave Shave Funds to the Perkins Institute for Medical Research (~$115k) and End Polio Now (~$4k) 
  • Path of Hope Foundation 2019/20 Funds raised (~$280K) + volunteer hours 
  • Path of Hope Foundation Xmas Gift Appeal 2020
  • Passages Race Day 2021 Funds raised (~$70k); a cumulative sum of $1,000,000 over 15 years.
  • Perth Rotary Speaker Program has supported Food Bank WA: Tabitha Foundation | Cows for Cambodia; Direct Reach Ethiopia and the Plastic Exchange Program in Bali ($2k) 
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation Fundraiser (~$6800) 
  • Australian Rotary Health | Lift the Lid on Mental Health 
  • Kimberly Dental Team have just completed a 3 week stint volunteering in the communities up North, providing essential dental work.  
Not to mention the many volunteer hours for events such as the Backyard Cricket Match in support of the Pirate Ship Foundation and the ANZAC Gunfire Breakfast in support of the RSL, although cancelled, time still spent in organising and setting up the event in anticipation of it progressing.  
 
There is so much more I have not mentioned that happens within the portfolios of Vocational Service; Club Service including Fellowship; Speaker Program and Club PR; Membership Service; International Service; Community & Environment Service.   With the above in mind, I urge members to renew their membership and to pay their subs as soon as possible - Perth Rotary is nothing without a strong membership base.  Each and everyone of you is vital to our ongoing success and we thank you in advance for your membership, enthusiasm and energy. 
 
Our program for the next few weeks is as follows: 
  • Friday 11 June – Perth Rotary Business Lunch | Richard Court AC, Former Premier of WA.  Booking Link - https://www.trybooking.com/BRCDL   ** WHOLE CLUB PHOTO to be taken at this meeting.  Arrival time 12 noon.  Venue – Parmelia Hilton Hotel.  Please rsvp to Jill Dawson direct - president@rotaryperth.org.au and advise if you are available for the photo shoot at 12 noon. 
 
  • Friday 18 June – Perth Rotary Changeover Dinner at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel.  Evening Event and a fun event for members and partners. Booking link - https://www.trybooking.com/BRIPO
  • Saturday 26 June – Rotex D9455 Charter Night.  Prince Lane Rooftop Bar, 356 Murray St, Perth  WA  6000.  Booking link – https://www.trybooking.com/BPEXG
  • Thursday 1 July – Crawley Rotary Club Changeover Night.  join us for dinner as we celebrate the Rotary new year. You are welcome to a arrive from 5:30pm for a 6pm sit-down. This will be a dinner to reflect the year past and hear the vision for the year ahead. We look forward to celebrating the Rotary new year with you!
  • Saturday 3 July – District Changeover.   Burswood on Swan, 1 Camfield Drive, Burswood.  6.15pm – 8.30pm.  Light cocktail food and welcome drink.  $60/pp  booking link – https://www.trybooking.com/BRITD
 
 
 
As we do come to the end of our Rotary year, members are encouraged to log onto the ‘Member Area’ within club runner and check that their personal data is up to date.  Should you require any assistance with this, please contact our Club Secretary Jacques Phillips and/or Club Services Director Darren Perera.   Emails are listed below.

  
 
 
 
PERTH ROTARY 2021/22 BOARD EMAIL - Our Next Board Meeting – Monday 5 July 2021
 
President:   Rev Dr John Shepherd AM    president@rotaryperth.org.au ;  john.h.shepherd@bigpond.com
Past President:         Jill Dawson               jill@quairadingearthmoving.com.au
President Elect:        Maree Gooch           maree@valuecreators.com.au 
Treasurer:                  Joseph Wambua      treasurer@rotaryperth.org.au
Secretary:                  Jacques Phillips      secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
Rotary Foundation  Emma Cork               emma@oneenergyfps.com.au
Club Service:           Darren Perera           clubservice@rotaryperth.org.au
Fellowship Chair:    Jo Morris                    fellowship@rotaryperth.org.au     
Media Chair              Barry Thornton         barrythornton@hotmail.com
Speaker Program     Nicola Johnston       programmechair@rotaryperth.org.au
Membership              Ashley Whitworth    membership@rotaryperth.org.au
Vocational                 Jonas Edner             vocational@rotaryperth.org.au
Community               David Wee                community@rotaryperth.org.au
International             Wesley Sim               international@rotaryperth.org.au
Youth                                                          youth@rotaryperth.org.au