Meeting Report 3128 September 5th
Apologies for the evening:
Lance Hatcher, Helen Rapp-Bourne, Julie Tekell, Bob Ahrens, Patsy Johnson, Tom Kelly, Colin Bazeley, John Lyons, Ian Sanders
Guests:
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This evenings Formalities:
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Toast
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Grace
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Chair
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Trish Williams
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Deb Williams
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Brian Burt
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PP and Chair Brian Burt officially opened meeting 3128 and welcomed members and guests Hon Member Peter Nettlebeck and Margaret Leversedge – Guest of Beth Hudman. He also gave a special warm welcome to tonight’s guest speaker and most recent new member Beth Hudman. In his opening Brian also reminded us of the importance of Rotary in the connection we have to the United Nations.
Brian then called for members and Directors to come forward for their Rotary Spots.
PP Kim Potger :- Kim reminded Rotarians that he had sent out invoices recently via Email and if anyone hasn’t received one see Kim and he will issue a paper copy. A reminder also that due to Meal price increase Guests meals will also be $25.
Pres Kathy Heindrich: Proudly told members that we had won $500 in a competition around Club Runner. Kathy will bring more details next week after she has been to the presentation. Also look out in an upcoming edition of the Bunyip for a picture of Beth with the Rotary Ute.
Kathy also showed a picture of Rosie’s car after her accident and reminded everyone to please be careful on the roads especially at night.
PP Steve Barilla circulated the roster for the swap meet and asked members to elect a time to help.
Brian then invited members and guests to enjoy fellowship over dinner.
Sergeant Barry was back in his usual timeslot and called for the wheel. This week’s winners were: pp Kim Potger -chocolates: Mark Forgie- Chocolates: pp Mark Smeaton $30 Sportspower voucher donated by Barry.
Barry then asked everyone to join in and sing Happy Birthday to Chris Edmunds before entertaining everyone with his Bunyip roundup and “Facebook funnies” segment.
PP and Chair Brian then invited Beth to tell her story to members and guests.
As a child Beth lived in Blanche St Gawler East with her parents and older brother. At 3 years old Beth waited until her mum was preoccupied and walked from home to Gawler primary School to find her brother! She made this an occurrence and used to sit and yell for him until the teachers took her to him or her mum arrived at the school to collect her! In the end Beth started school still aged 3 and was routinely seen setting up and putting away sports equipment each day. At age 13 Beth left school because in those days it wasn’t seen as important for girls to get an education and her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her Brother and her so she left school to help pay his tuition fees. Beth went to work in a factory and stayed there until one evening the boss told her he had enrolled her into night school and he would pay her wages while she attended. Beth has also done this with several young people she has worked with over the years.
Beth completed her course and went to work in weapons research in the library then in the illustrations department. Beth met her husband Eric while he was visiting Adelaide from Port Moresby where he was a draughtsman. Shortly after their wedding they returned there. On the return trip Beth was invited into the cockpit of the plane and believes this is where her love of flying began. Beth was very homesick to begin with. Their first home was the old single girls quarters and they only had a room with a single bed and a wardrobe! They lived like that for three months before being given keys to another room. They put 2 single beds together in one room and the wardrobe in the other. Eric was high up in the company and they realised they could have the pick of houses so finally they moved into a lovely house on the hill with a fabulous view before eventually moving into town.
In Moresby Beth worked for Qantas then the newspaper office where she had to add the cash books by hand but she loved it. Beth started at Uni to formalise her training but she didn’t finish it due to having her children.
For leisure time they could go to the movies or listen to the radio. Food was brought in by Steamship Trading Company but then 10 families banded together to form a co-op to import food particularly from NZ. The co-op bought chest freezers from England to preserve the food. Only problem was Steamship Trading Co was the only way to get the food etc transported and when they caught wind of it they didn’t like it so made things difficult for them. In 1966 they moved back to Adelaide Where Eric was employed by ETSA. Beth worked with people with disabilities and loved it.
Beth and Eric’s son Marc was born in Port Moresby. They also have a daughter Tonia and 2 grandchildren. Sadly in 2021 Eric passed away on their 62nd Wedding anniversary.
Brian thanked Beth for her entertaining account and presented her with a certificate and acknowledgement of providing funds to vaccinate 45 children. He then invited Pres Kathy to give her closing remarks for the evening.
Pres Kathy thanked Beth for an amusing and informative talk and other guests for their attendance. A reminder for the Swap Meet and also to book for the Area Six dinner, Kathy also advised members that were having trouble booking that you need to click the link up the top. Also keep in mind the Village Fair in November.
After the Four Way Test Kathy officially closed meeting 3128
STOP PRESS:
Gawler Rotary members showed they are willing to step up at the last minute when a request came in on Thursday to do a BBQ in Two Wells on Sunday to support "The silent Ripples" asuicide bereavement group based in Murray Bridge who are riding to Adelaide showgrounds via Palmer and Nuriootpa. See photos below. Thanks Ron, Michael, Mike and Geoff.
