Mr Ken Potter opened the 33 meeting for the year at 6.15pm and invited Noel Watt acting President for the evening.
John provided an impromptu reflection.
Janet provided the International Toast to Oklahoma Rotary Club or Iron Cross Club. As previously named in 1909 when a group of professional business men organised a club. A Mr. lee Mettler, the president of the Kanas City Rotary Club, visited the club in November 1910 and suggested that they become a Rotary Club as the club was very similar to that of other Rotary Clubs. The club was renamed the 29 th club and was accepted into Rotary on the 7 November 1911.
Today it has 615 members the largest club in the world and the President is Suzanne Mitchell.
The Charles - Thursday $70.00 Friday $335.00 Bunnings BBQ - $1013.00
No Meeting next Wednesday as the Centro has double booked being the 19 th March 2025
Please advise if you be attending the Peace Oration. If you are joining us for dinner afterward, please let Rose know as she is booking tables.
Introduction by Caitlin Lieschke, John Chaplin's granddaughter who shared some touching words and memories of her grandfather. To follow your dreams and make them successful. Caitlin’s University background is also Science and following her passion in the studies of Air quality.
Presentation – Introduction of Nicholas Fantham
For the benefit of Nicholas and our guests, it is important to mention that the Rotary Club of West
Wollongong has been working with the University of Wollongong via the community Scholarship
program since 2005 - some 20 years, in assisting students to meet some of their financial commitments while pursuing an under-graduate degree at the university.
Tonight, we welcome Nicholas Fantham, recipient of the 2024/2025 scholarship. As members know this scholarship holds a special significance for the Club. Many new members may not have this information which I hope will be of interest to them. In 2018 the Club members decided to honour the services of one of our most distinguished members, The Late John Chaplin, by conferring this scholarship in his name on an ongoing basis.
THE WEST WOLLONGONG ROTARY CLUB JOHN CHAPLIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP.
John’s contribution to Rotary and the wider community is well known to his family, fellow Rotarians and prominent professional and business people of the Illawarra, however for the benefit of our guests and perhaps some of the newer members I will give you a brief outline on John and his relationship with Rotary and the Community.
John was a stalwart of our Club having been an active member for over 43 years and an
exceptional Rotarian, a good friend and mentor to many
He served in many capacities at Club and District Levels and always operated in a
considered, professional and very efficient manner
As well as being a Past president and Board member of this Club he chaired and participated
in numerous club and district committees for many years
John was the recipient of many awards throughout his distinguished personal career and
community service work, through Rotary he received several Paul Harris fellow recognitions
as well as four avenues of Service Citation the latter of which is an acknowledgement of his
outstanding effort across the four avenues of Rotary Service, namely, Club Service,
Vocational Service Community Service and International Service.
Although the focus has been predominantly on johns Rotary Service it is important to point
out that he had a highly distinguished professional career as a chief Lawyer at BlueScope in
addition to many other interests.
John was warded an Order of Australia Medal in June 1995 in recognition of service to the
community and people with physical and intellectual disabilities particularly thought the
Flagstaff Group.
John was a founding Director and had a long-standing affiliation with the Flagstaff Group and
he was a long-term Director with the CRAM Foundation
John also assisted with the establishment of Wollongong Art Gallery and was a Board
member for many years.
He had a significant involvement and success with the archery fraternity. This included his
prowess as a competitor at state and national levels, as a coach, a President and Vice
President, a judge and director of shooting at the international level, a Director on the Board
of Archery Australia and he had aa role in managing archery teams at several Olympic games
and was chair of Archery International.
John was a great contributor to his family, Rotary and the broader community
We will always be richer for John’s wisdom, knowledge, generosity of spirit, good humour
and warmth of heart.
Nicholas, who is about to speak to us this evening is currently in his honours year of a Bachelor of
Medical Biotechnology (Dean’s Scholar) at the University of Wollongong. His academic record is very strong which I am sure Nicholas will explain. He is also involved in community service in a variety of areas over the years. From our club’s perspective, Nicholas seems to tick all the boxes and we are looking forward to leaning more about Nicholas along with broad details of his current studies, hobbies and aspirations.
Patrick Roberts – Spoke on how both John and Del are dearly missed and this was the first time that Del was not present since 2008 for a presentation in relation to the John Chaplin Memorial
Scholarship.
Wine Raffle. Jim and Anne Christensen, who kindly donated the bottles to Caitlin and Nicholas.
Fines: Marilyn for not turning up to do the BBQ as per Roster due to Cyclone Alfred apparently
all the wows of Cane Toads, water and no electricity. Thus no cold Wine could be drunk!!!!!
Jim and his walking stick
Meeting closed By Noel Watt at 7.35pm.
