GENERAL MEETINGS  

We meet for two hours from 10.00am on the second Tuesday of each month at the Whitehorse Civic Centre, in the Willis Room.

This comprises a brief general meeting, outlining important club matters and a summary of the most recent Management Committee meeting.

Morning tea and socialising is followed by a guest speaker or entertainer.

All are invited to a post meeting lunch at a local venue.

Immediately below are planned speakers. Further down are comments on each presentation, once presented.

 

2025 Guest Speakers/ Entertainment Planned.

January -  no speaker

February - Darren Arnott - Italian Prisoners of War in Australia.during ther latterr years of WW2 and camps across Australia.

Courtesy: https://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/rowville.htm

A most interesting talk and slides relatingen the story of Italian POW's, in this case housed at Rowville at the corner of Stud and Wellington Roads. By 1945 more than 18,000 prisoners were shipped to Australia.

Italian Prisoner of War, infantryman Private Rodolfo Bartoli, from Firenze, Italy, was shot while 'attempting' to escape from Rowville POW Camp on 29 March 1946. He died on 30 March 1946.

He was captured on 10 October 1940. He disembarked from the ship Queen Elizaabeth on 15 Octoeber 1941. He transfgerred tol Rowville on 9 October 1945.

Courtesy: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/italian/en/article/no-regard-for-the-truth-mystery-surrounds-the-tragic-death-of-an-italian-pow-interned-in-australia-after-wwii/ctu0qqu1v

 Rodolfo had a love interest, Nora, but sadly he was killed in the camp by a single gunshot. Seven inquiries followed by police, mil,tary and government but the 'shooter' was never flound to be responsible. Capt Waterston claimed Rodolfo was trying to escape. The Captain was known to be a drunkard in the camp.

He was temporally suspended during the latest inquiry, which exposed a general attitude of disdain towards the POW's and a 'wanton use of weapons'.  He was eventually equitted in the first two inquiries, while the coroner's was inconclusive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March - Lex De Man - Former Detective on the Family cult leader, Anne Hamilton-Byrne case.

 

2024 Guest Speakers/Entertainment Planned

February -Emma Barnett - Yarra River Keeper

March -ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

April - Jeremy Furness - Book Publishing Children's Books

May - Peter Koens Cardio Vascular X ray technolocy. Assisting underdeveloped countries.

June - Yvonne Poker - Gadget Girl

July - Christmas in July - no speaker.

August - The Golden  Age of Musical Comedy

September - Former Olympic swimmer, Sue Hardbottle, 1968 Olympics 

October - No speaker - BBQ lunch

November - The great Peter Smith

December - No speaker - Christmas Lunch.

 

2024 Guest Speakers/Entertainment, So far -

November 2024 -

The great Peter Smith - My Life in Radio and Television.

Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Smith_(announcer) 

Photo courtesy Club Member

Radio

Upon leaving school, Smith joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a messenger boy before progressing through the ranks to an announcer on the home service and Radio Australia. On radio in the 1960's, Smith worked with radio station 3AK as a 'good guy' and on The Greater 3UZ as it was known during the 1970's.

Television

As television was introduced into Australia, Smith performed the role of announcer and host for the weekly ABV2 television program Sports View Hit Parade, broadcast on Saturday afternoons.

October - Ken Spargo - The Accidental Author

Ken told of the difficulties getting books accepted, printed and distributed and the huge costs involved for a few cents return for the countless hours of work undertaken. Ken was very methodical with his accounting business to keep a very accurate knowledge of all that goes into writing each book. 

"Wanna-be' authors have a very hard time from the first thoughts to the final multi-proof read stories and still no success. 

Ken's talk was most humerous and many laughs were had by the large attendance at the meeting. 

Several books were on sale at the meeting and many members were searching for an autographed copy.

Photos courtesy: Neil Jenkin and Glenn Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September -  Former Olympic swimmer, Sue Hardbottle, 1968 Olympics

 

Photos: Chris Summers and Neil Jenkin

It was thrilling to have an Olympian as a guest speaker at our most recent general meeting.

Sue told lots of stories about her as a 17 year old going to her first Olympics. Male and female athletes werre housed in multi story buildings at the opposite ends of the complex. The girls were fenced in with barbed wire, locked gate and a security guard on the gate. There was no tv for athletes and basic accommodation was provided. She gave many backlground stories about participating in a high altitude sports meeting.

She showed her uniform - hat, blazer, shirt, skirt etc which she had kept as well as the Olympic Torch  she carrfied in the Sydney Olympic Games. Sue was quite surprised she could still fit the blazer but could not do up the buttons. She refused to try the old swimming costume, complete with its 'privacy shield.

A very interesting speaker with a touch of comedy as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the September meeting, members wore footy regalia as we celebrated the two footy tipping competitions. Lots of fun had by all.

Each meeting has a general quiz which causes great laughter - and sometimes cheating thanks to Mr Google.      Photos: Chris Summers