CLUB NEWS: Quarter 1 - 2009
Club News as it Happens
29th March, 2009 Just a few lines to thank your club for its donation of £1,050 towards the provision of Lifestraws to Zimbabwe. Your donation could not have arrived at a better time. We have just had a request for 1,000 Lifestraws, which we are in the process of sending to Zimbabwe for distribution in the worst affected areas.
The present situation in that unhappy country has changed little over the last few months. Your members will be aware of the disease situation, where Typhoid, Dysentery and particularly Cholera. However you might not be aware that the refugees who are spilling over into Mozambique and South Africa are taking these problems with them, so we are now getting requests for assistance from these areas.
All agencies have experienced great difficulties in getting materials to those in need in Zimbabwe. Most of the material is "customised" or disappears before distribution. What materials that do get through have to be bought with foreign currencies, which of course, most of the population does not have. We now have contact between Zimbabwean nationals in the UK, who are in touch with their families in Zimbabwe. The same story is always received; people are dying in their hundreds from these diseases, which are so easily prevented.
We have used many different methods of overcoming the problems of providing the Lifestraws. Individuals and couples have taken in the Lifestraws in personal luggage, as excess baggage, or as direct airfreight to families. In company with Aquabox, we have used Muslim Aid, who then gave the products to the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, for onward distribution. This delivery of 1,000 Lifestraws is the largest delivery, and it will mean that to date, we have "placed" 3,500 Lifestraws into Zimbabwe. In the best case scenario this equates to just less than 2,500,000 litres of safe water.
19th March, 2009 Ron McHattie of the Aberdeen Angus Society gave a very interesting talk on the history of the Aberdeen Angus breed and more importantly the Black Bull's traceability using the latest DNA testing procedures.
Since its formation in 1879, the Society has seen the popularity of the breed spread globally to every corner of the developed world and are proud to have been at the fore front of the genetics that has gone-on to dominate the world's beef industry.
Aberdeen-Angus beef and its renowned eating quality, has been the driver behind the breed's popularity. The Society is proud of how the breed here at home is now a major player in the beef industry and has aspirations to further develop the market for beef and pedigree stock and to bring tangible benefit to members and their customers.
Development of an International database of the breeds DNA is at this moment being built, this has been instigated to safeguard the consumer from rogue meat being passed off as Aberdeen Angus, and the farmers to protect this most famous of Scottish Brands.
12th March, 2009 The Rotary Club of Perth Fund raising team and Club members pictured during the official handing over of the Cheque for £20,415.00 being presented to Simon Howie Chairman of the Perth branch of the MacMillan Cancer Support Team Committee from the Rotary Club of Perth President, Bill Montgomery. This fantastic sum of money was raised by Perth's Silent Auction 2009, and the largest amount ever raised by the Rotary Club of Perth from a single event.
President Bill took this opportunity to again thank every Company and person who had given a LOT, everybody who had placed a BID and all the team who had given of their time, expertise and hard work to achieve this marvellous total. Particular thanks went to Alison Lowson, member and Editor of the Perthshire Advertiser for her total commitment and professional support. The full proceeds will go towards the new Macmillan Palliative Care Hospice being built adjoining Perth Royal Infirmary.
12th March, 2009 Members of the Rotary Clubs of Perth and Perth Kinnoull pictured taking part in the Semi-Finals of this years Gavel Challenge competition. Perth hosted the evening event at the West End Bowling Club, Perth, but lost narrowly in a very competitive match 15 -17 to Perth Kinnoull who now go through to this years final. President Bill wished then every success for the final.
Perth Team: Back Row; Hamish Milne, Charles Evans, Jimmy Robertson, Alistair Duffy, David Lindsay (Captain), Sandy Pearson.
Front Row; Alistair Ritchie, Bill Montgomery (President), Sandy Dow and Gordon Dow
5th March, 2009 Rotary Club of Perth - Cairncross Trophy Award
This award is made to an individual, recognised for doing good charitable works in the local community, who has been nominated from within the community.The award is made annually and consists of a small Quaich which is held by the award winner for the year and a cheque for £200 which is payable to a charity nominated by the award winner. Last year’s winner was Noel McKinnie of Scone who has committed himself to many local and charitable causes. He split his £200 cheque between Perth and District Stroke Club and the Perth and District Arthritis Awareness Club.
A PUPPY walker from Perth who once trained a guide dog for a Glasgow Rangers fan – by taking the pooch to St Johnstone games! Elma Smith is the recipient of this years Caircross trophy. Elma is celebrating the delivery of her 25th and last puppy, after 20 years’ service rearing the next generation of guide dogs.The big-hearted grandmother trains the Labradors and Retrievers until they are old enough to attend the Guide Dogs for the Blind school in Angus.
She said: "One of my dogs ended up going to a Rangers fan in Glasgow who went to every home game, so it was good we took it to McDiarmid Park to get it used to the noise first, Elma started her career as a puppy walker after seeing adverts on TV and in the PA. She explained: "I take the puppies in when they are six-to-seven-weeks-old, then I hand them over to the guide dog training school in Forfar when they are about 18 months. I find it rewarding and it's nice to know that you are helping somebody else and giving them their independence".
Before the dogs learn their trade at the Forfar centre, they are taken round the Fair City so they are not intimidated when they are handed over to the school and, eventually, their new owners. It can cost as much as £34,000 to fully train a guide dog. It's important the dogs are used to people and places before training starts, so they are introduced to as many activities as possible. Elma – who has four grandchildren and shares her house with her pet cockatiel Gizmo – is now set to concentrate on looking after dogs at the other end of the age spectrum.“The dogs have always been no trouble and easy to look after, I will definitely miss them.I am going to take in retired dogs now, so I still have the company”.
Secretary Robbie advised the members that a cheque made out to Perth Rotary Club for £50 had arrived in the post from Stylefriends Friendship Club in support of our MacMillan Cancer Support initiative to help build the new Palliative Care Unit at Perth Royal Infirmary. It was a token of appreciation for the help and assistance they have received from our webmaster, Jimmy Robertson, who has helped them build their own Style Friends Club Website.
13th February, 2009 - Gordon Niven gave a most enlightening talk on the health and healing powers of the Aloe Vera plant. Gordon and his wife Lorna distribute an Aloe Vera Gel as a general tonic for good health and individual wellbeing. Aloe Vera is a succulent, looking rather like a cactus but it is in fact a member of the lily family related to onions, garlic and asparagas. When mature, the inner gel can be harvested, preserved and bottled to produce a product that is as near to the natural plant as we can get. To benefit from Aloe Vera, the gel has to be taken internally for its nutritional anti-inlflamatory and immune balancing effect. It can be combined with other ingredients to produce topical creams and lotions to nourish and improve the quality of the skin, it is also a useful source of vitimins.
22nd January, 2009 - Ian Ross a leader of Scotland Development International, East of Scotland gave a very interesting talk on the work of the SDI in Scotland, who's aim is to broaden Scotland's international appeal and to assist the growth of the Scottish economy by encouraging inward investment and helping Scottish companies develop international knowledge, skills, contacts and planning that is different from the domestic market. They can help fill the gaps by providing flexible support designed to meet specific needs and prepare companies properly for the specific requirements of international trade. Their services include: - A business health check to assess a companies readiness for international business.
- Advice for companies new to international markets, on topics including international capabilities, overseas business mechanics and available assistance.
- A detailed business development review, looking at company’s activities, and assessing its readiness to do international trade.
- An International Preparedness Programme to help eligible companies develop key skills in a range of international business activities.
15th January, 2009 - Brigadier Charles S. Grant OBE (Ret'd), gave a most enlightening and interesting talk on the Scottish Regiment the 51st Highland Division,who are very close to everybody's heart in Perth as we are part of the catchment area of the regiment.
The 51st Highland Division was officially formed in 1908 in a reshuffle of the Territorial Army, as a collation of all the kilted Highland regiments. Over the years that followed, until its disbandment in 1967, the 51st Highland Division served with great distinction. Their exploits in the Second Word War may have earned them their legendary status, but the Highland Division had been renowned since the First World War for their bravery and ability in combat.They served in France in the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) in 1915 and achieved a great deal on the Somme, at Beaumont Hamel, Arras, the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Cambrai and the Aubers Ridge before the final costly actions of the First World War.
After the peacetime period between the wars, the 51st Highland Division was mobilised again in 1939 for deployment to France in January 1940 as part of the B.E.F. After the initial operations, as the B.E.F. retired on Dunkirk and the Division formed a defensive perimeter around St.Valéry. Here, in what would be its darkest chapter, the Division was isolated, abandoned and forced to surrender. Fortunately, one of its brigades, 154 Brigade - which had been detached, was able to escape through le Havre.
The Division was reborn from its twin, the Territorial 9th Scottish Division, along with many of those that had escaped St Valery. Changing its name to the 51st Highland Division, it was deployed to North Africa, spearheading Montgomery's attack at El Alamein and pursuing the Axis forces through Tripoli, Medenine,Mareth and Wadi Akarit to final victory in North Africa.
After a brief respite the Division took part in Operation HUSKEY, the Allied invasion of Sicily, where it saw much hard action at Vizzini and Francofonte, Geebini and Sferro before returning home to prepare for D Day.The Division landed at Normanday on the 7th June 1944 as part of 1 Corps and fought in the breakout from the beachhead and in thereturn to St Valery, conducted operations in the Low Countries, spent Christmas in the Ardennes, and went on to negotiate the Reichswald and the Rhine Crossing en route to final Victory in Europe.