PP MPHF Marcus Adams was Acting Sergeant and opened the meeting.
We welcomed the following guests: Jess, her husband Gagan and son Gurnoor, Graeme, Sally, Kirsty and Wayne and our guest speaker Chris May.
Marcus then introduced President Peter Brock.
President Peter’s Message
- We have started the new Rotary year with a bang having held our Changeover, servicing TOL and having the District Changeover this weekend. 7 or 8 members are running the TOL Barbecue each night for the next 12 nights.
- PP PHF Lorna Shaw was introduced to read out the eight people at TOL and Apologies from Greg Adams (in Monaco), Sangeeta, Kerith, Rowan (unwell), John Henderson O/S, Russell Marnock, John Shaw (grand dog duty), the Bowyers (grand dog duty), and Ian Wakefield up north until August.
- Birthdays - Milan (husband of Sue) Colic’s birthday is 11 July as is Peter’s wife Tanya, who is working that night while Peter is on the TOL roster.
Anniversaries – Joining Rotary
- The following were shown appreciation for their service: Emma, who joined on July 2 for 23 years’ (broken) service and Marcus also July 2 for 23 years’ (unbroken) service, and John Henderson and Shalini who joined on 5 July for their 9 years’ service.
Chairperson Lorna introduced Chris May reading out an unbelievable biography for one so young. Chris is a firefighter and a proud veteran who has served 18 years in the ADF, first as a regular and then in the reserves. He is with Emergency Services, Fire Rescue Victoria, the RSL and he is the founder of Young Veterans. He is well-known for his fundraising efforts having raised over $80,000. In the most recent King’s Birthday Honours, Chris was awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
Chris May OAM
This year has been a fantastic year for him culminating in the OAM.
- born at the William Angliss Hospital and raised in Kallista until the family moved away.
- the youngest of four boys.
- Dad did his building apprenticeship in the hills.
- left school in year 10 and joined the regular army as an apprentice.
- did the Light Army Vehicle Course and learnt to drive tanks, and at the age of 16 years and 9 months was driving a 62ton tank.
- had a military licence but not a drivers’ licence
- posted to a regiment in Queensland and got his licence at 17 there.
- at 19 did his first tour of Afghanistan in 2009.
- at 19 had to write his will.
- in 2011 did his second tour in Afghanistan and this time was fully aware of the reality of war.
- on 23 September 2011 an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated below his feet.
- the Bushmaster he was driving at the time saved his life, but it was destroyed by the blast.
- Afghanistan is one of the most beautiful landscapes he thinks he will ever see
- only 1% of the people are ratbags, the rest of the people are very lovely.
- lucky to be alive
- was picked up by helicopter and couldn’t move his toes.
- had received a traumatic brain injury and was diagnosed with PTSD formerly known as shellshock
- is 2.5 cm. shorter than when he enlisted.
- was medically evacuated to Australia.
- had to learn to walk and talk again
- following his recovery, he was told he would not be promoted as he had fallen behind his cohorts, so he left the ADF.
- then asked himself, “How can I help those who have been through what I’ve been through?”
Leaving Defence
- A mate asked, “Have you thought about being a firefighter?”
- He had so joined the Berwick CFA
- worked with Parks Victoria in Gembrook as a firefighter in 2019
- 29 houses were lost in the Bunyip fire.
- joined the MFB and in 2019 graduated as a professional firefighter.
- a big advocate for mental health and alternative treatment therapies
- founded Young Veterans
- went to Emergency Services, the CFA, then veteran services
- also donates blood
- during the big storm worked along the Emerald-Monbulk Road
- is a disaster relief volunteer and assists communities impacted by disaster
- after the Black Summer fires, spent two weeks at Mallacoota doing tree hazard assessment
- the community felt isolated because the disaster occurred during Covid
- is a rescue operator and provides assistance to the SES for road accidents
- ran for road trauma around Port Phillip Bay for three days ending up in hospital with organ failure
- has done podcasts which are freely available on Spotify
- has advocated for mental health for first responders and fundraised
- ran in the Queen’s baton relay for the Commonwealth Games
- in 2019 was nominated for the Australian of the Year Award
- in 2024 won Bastard Of The Year Award. Bruce Ruxton and Bob Jane have also won this award, and he feels like an ant among giants
- received the OAM for service for all of the things he does
- has a two year old son Henri and he’s the reason Chris does all the things that he does
- is extremely grateful for the life he’s had as it has allowed him to help others
- Thank you for inviting him to speak; the service he does for others ties in with the Rotary motto of Service Above Self
Q&A
- his official title is Disaster Relief Australia Strike Team Leader, meaning he’s in charge of what’s going on like the boss of a chain gang.
- in Mallacoota he was in charge of 23 people in 7 vehicles.
- the MFB folded in 2020 and it is now a part of Fire Rescue Victoria
- CFA is the volunteer organisation and he is a member of the Emerald branch
- the SES is a separate entity
- Clematis and Emerald are strong CFA brigades, they are very busy and have a good membership
- he is a shiftworker and so can still manage to do all three
- on Facebook and Instagram as Chris May so look him up.
Response by PP MPHF DGE Emma Clark
You demonstrate an amazing connection to community and Service Above Self. We are very thankful that you have come to our meeting, and you have inspired us, e.g. to give blood.
Committee Reports:
PP PHF Shalini Penny - Treasurer’s Report
Shalini emailed the proposed fees for this year to everyone.
We have 9 bank accounts but can only use one for anything we do, the others are all fundraising accounts. Our fees are raised for Account 1 Operations, out of which we pay International and District levies, for the magazine, District Training Assembly, President’s training course, stationery and miscellaneous items.
For insurance we take some money for certain events from Account 2 Fundraising.
We have also taken $1,000 that is currently in Account 1 to subsidise this year’s fees. Money raised from Choclotto and fines goes into Account 1.
This year costs are rising. The $330 fee can be paid in two instalments, the first half is due in August, and the second half can be paid before Christmas.
Account 2, the Fundraising account, is where money raised from barbecues, the
Trivia Night, Paint n Sip etc. goes.
We have separate accounts for the Deb Ball, the Kids Fun Run, Special Events, the All-American, the Great Community Raffle and a new account has been opened for the Dementia Café.
The meeting voted in favour of accepting the fees being set at $330, and consequently Shalini will be issuing the invoices tomorrow.
Marcus Adams reminded the meeting that Cardinia’s Wills & Bequests’ information session is tomorrow at the RSL at 10:30 am., and funeral planning and bequests will be discussed.
Emma Clark - Social Committee Joint Chair
Emma advised that President Peter wishes to hold a social event in week 4 of each month. Therefore, Emma and Catherine are planning a Christmas in July celebration aimed to include everyone. It will be held on the 22nd of July and hosted by Catherine. It will be a very festive night, and members will bring a plate, wear Christmas gear and mulled wine may be served. Future events will include a Movie Night at the Cameo, Footy Night in September and Barefoot Bowls.
PP MPHF Gloria Hargreaves - Youth Committee Chair
Gloria acknowledged Marcus for the fabulous job he has done over the last two years as Youth Chair.
The Committee is meeting with principals, to find out if they are happy with what we are offering the schools and who the teachers they will be working with are.
The Youth portfolio is a very big one and some of the specific projects are:
EarlyAct at Emerald Primary School – Kerith and Ali
EarlyAct at Gembrook Primary School planning – Gloria and Lyn
Interact Club at Emerald Secondary College planning - Melinda
Breakfast Club at Emerald Secondary College - Carol
PSSC – the planning is progressing very well
RYLA is on next week at Phillip Island and Marcus, Gloria and Emma are attending the dinner on Wednesday night. Jamie Owen is our participant.
Youth service will be the focus in August.
Carol addressed the meeting on the Breakfast Club and passed around the roster to be filled in for Wednesdays in terms 3 and 4. Carol and Lorna are doing Friday’s Breakfast Club.
Guest Graeme spoke to the meeting saying that for the last three months he has been volunteering at Puffing Billy Railway. He wanted to acknowledge the help received again from the Rotary Club, as recently his partner needed an iron infusion and Rotary has again provided funds. Chairperson Lorna noted that the money from the Community Service budget is being well spent.
Acting Sergeant Marcus conducted the Fines session, a relatively tame affair as most of the usual offenders were either at TOL or apologies.
Marcus then related how our guest Jess came to know about our meeting. Dorothy Gilmore from Hawthorn Rotary Club supports people involved in domestic violence and we want to increase our Club’s assistance too. Last week when Jess showed interest in coming to a Rotary Club and being a volunteer, Dorothy suggested she contact Emerald Rotary Club even though she lives in Ferntree Gully where there are clubs closer.
Guest Jess spoke saying she was grateful to Marcus for introducing her to us. She came to Australia 14 years ago and she was very busy establishing her new life here, but she left her job in April. Jess was wondering how she can help others and happened to meet Dot at the Blackburn Sikh temple. She asked Dot, who recommended she go to the Emerald Rotary Club. Jess brought her family along so they would see what she’s getting into. Jess is very active on social media.
President Peter’s Closing Remarks:
- Welcome to Catherine and Gayle who have just come back from TOL duty.
- Thank you to Chris May whose talk was amazing, positive and informative and thank you for your service.
- Thank you to guests Jess, Gagan and Gurnoor, Graeme, Sally, Kirsty and Wayne.
- Thank you to Emma for the response and Lorna for chairing the meeting.
Emma invited anyone who wanted to join her for a drink to the front bar, seeing as she is on holidays at present.
