Presidents March Message
February has flown past and the Dinner is fast approaching. The organisation is far advanced and all that is required now is for raffle and auction prizes to flood in. We have welcomed a new member in Nick Hine Optometrist and will start the new month with another new member.
Sadly, Jim Todd has had to leave us due to other commitments. He is not however lost to Rotary and will be re-joining his former club Pitlochry. I wish Jim every good thing he would wish for himself and I am sure we all look forward to seeing him at Rotary events.
I have had my photo taken several times this month and have enjoyed giving money to chosen charities. I look forward to more of that in the future seeing the difference it is making to the smaller local charities.
Have fun
Amanda
Editorial
Every month I think "What will we write about this month? Where will the copy come from?" But I forget just how dynamic we are, with lots of ideas and activities. Every month, contributions appear and new things to write about emerge. It's a pleasure to work with you all!
Some Rotarians have asked for a more printer friendly layout. The format of Chatters' has changed this month with this in mind. The aim is to make it easier to print the complete issue of Chatters contiguously. However, it is notoriously difficult to predict just how a web page will print, bearing in mind the large number of different printers, print fonts and and computer screen sizes that are used; so please let me know if it doesn't work correctly on your computer. Adjustments can be made where needed once the problems are identified and understood. A home visit may be necessary but this will be free of charge! Service above self!
The main disadvantage of the new format is that the initial page takes longer to load, so for those of you with a slow connection, I hope that the wait was worth it!
Gordon W.
Fife Walk - part 3 - Burntisland to Kirkcaldy
Tues 12th February: Luck is again with us, or is George well connected on high? The weather looks good after the snow of the previous week.
Setting off! George, Bill, Janet and Michael.
A short trip this time, Burntisland to Kirkcaldy, 5 miles in total along a quite different landscape.
Burntisland belies its name. Burnt it isn't, it has a picturesque setting with Victorian houses fronting onto a broad links and with Grangehill as a scenic backdrop. Only the railway line spoils the scene , cutting across by the shore, separating the town from the beach, although it is partially hidden by trees and other construction. Today's planners would have rejected it outright!
Burntisland Bay
Sandstone outcrop on Grangehill...looking quite North African!
The route leads from the Links, under the railway line, and along the promenade.
A walk along the beach and round the headland wasn't possible as the tide was in, so inland we had to go! A dreary prospect, through 1960's housing, railway lines and onto the main road. The pavement was on the landward side of a busy road. Taking pictures of the sea views was decidely dangerous. While inland, Grangehill dominates the view.
The monument to Alexander III
All caution went to the wind though, when the monument
to Alexander III was reached. Strategically placed on
the edge of the busy road with no pavement for
protection, it commemorates the death of the said Alex,
who fell from his horse in 1286, while en-route to
visit the Queen in Kinghorn. The event led to the 1st
War of Scottish Independence in 1296.
Kinghorn
From the monument, the road continues on a long climb past Caravan parks and new housing developments before descending into Kinghorn and back onto the coastal path proper. Kinghorn has a long history. Most significantly it was the landing stage for the army led by Edward Balliol in 1332, prior to the battle of Dupplin Moor (near Scone). Since then it has been a sleepy Fife seaside port. Its current status seems to be one of residence for the Edinburgh commuter or the retired.
Watch your step!!
Leaving Kinghorn the path takes on a more rugged character and is certainly more muddy! At times quite steep, it meanders along the water's edge. The beach here is rocky and dark showing clear signs of its coal bearing strata. Some local graffiti was spotted. Not sure whether it is someone's attempt to cheer up the place, or whether is relates to some mystic, celtic past. Can anyone clarify? The patterns do seem to have a pictish slant. It was worth a photo in any event.
Graffiti....or Mystic?
Seafield Tower
Seafield Tower was the next point of interest. Not too much is known about this apart from the fact that it was built by the Moultry family who probably didn't know that they were sitting on one of Fife's richest coal seams. If they had - no ruin today - nor the coastal path!!
After about two hours en route we arrived at the car park in Kirkcaldy. From there the ride to the hotel was longer than we had thought but a warm welcome awaited from President Robert Lockhart and the other Rotarians. The Kircaldy Club is long standing having been set up in 1922. One of the club members claimed that he had had served 51 years and that he was not the longest serving!! We felt quite young! The ambience was friendly and we soon felt at home. The food was good after the walk; fish and chips or curry - good Scottish fare!
The speaker, Dr. John Kerr, Past President of the Rotary Club - Howe of Fife. Talked about the Vine Trust and his recent trip to villages on the River Amazon, which flows 3000 miles from Peru to the Atlantic. Dr John is a retired GP from Auchtermuchty, famous for Jimmy Shand and the Proclaimers. He was part of a team of ten, comprising 3 Docs, 2 Dentists and they saw 50 patients per day per dentist(take note Peter McD)!. Four Nurses and one Translator completed the team. The medics saw about 200 Patients who suffered a lot of the ailments that are common in the UK and not as he imagined before he went, tropical diseases.
One AMAZING AMAZON FACT he described was that the river rose 40ft (12m) in the wet season. Just as well the Tay is much more benign, otherwise Eddie would be out rushing to buy stilts!
At the end of the lunch President Robert and George, exchanged the customary banners.
Another very satisfying walk and Club visit had been completed.
Robert and George exchange banners
Janet signing in
Brief News Items
February 6th - Job talk by Iain Smith. Iain amused us all with his account of life in the financial sector and the jobs he has had in locations as widely spaced as his native Glasgow to London and South Africa before taking the challenge and setting up his own business in Perth.
February 20th - Alistair MacGugan for the Scottish Deer Council gave an interesting talk about the management of deer in Scotland. Deer have flourished in the the last 100 years and have reached the point at which serious culling is needed to keep the herds healthy and to protect the fragile environments found in places like the Cairngorms. Five species are prevalent locally; the indigenous Roe and Red deer, the incomers from Europe -- i.e. Fallow deer who arrived less than 10,000 years ago; and the more recent Georgian era imports such as Sitka and Muntjak. His talk was well illustrated, sometimes gory, but thought provoking and informative.
Presentation of Cheques Tuesday 20th also saw the presentation of cheques to two local organisation that had been selected for Rotary-PK support.
- Cheque ( £500) presented to Murdo Mathers of " Hopscotch " Perth ( Barnardos ), to be used to support their Volunteer Befrienders programme and pay for outings and activities for the children such as cinema visits, swimming, skating, bowling etc.
- Cheque ( £500) presented to Sue Gamwell of " Mums in Mind ", a voluntary project run by Home-Start Perth to specifically help mums suffering from Post Natal Depression, giving them access to counselling and baby massage facilities under experienced health professionals.
President Amanda, Murdo Mather, Sue Gamwell and Colin Moreland ... with some large cheques!
Convenors' Reports
SPORTS EXTRA. ( Read all About it )
FROM SPORTS CONVENOR. GEORGE DELGATY.
GAVEL CHALLENGE 2006/07
Our Mini- Triangle Gavel Challenge Round against Perth and Dundee Claverhouse was enjoyed by all and the upshot of it all is “WE ARE OOT “. Eliminated in a draw from the “Hat” as all Teams were on 1 Win each. Dundee Claverhouse were the Lucky Ones who now March on to the Quarter Finals singing “ And it’ Up wi the Bonnets o’ Dundee “. Many thanks to all the P K Gavellers who took part in this year’s Gavel Challenge. Loads of Fun and Fellowship and a good chance for some our newer Rotarians to experience another aspect of Rotary.
PERTHSHIRE ROTARY CURLING LEAGUE.
Recent Results for January and February were a Win over Pitlochry and in February a “Crushing” Defeat to Crieff for Skip, Kevin Fearn and his “Merry” ( I don’t think so!) Men”, 2-11. However, Kevin redeemed himself the following evening when the Rink , skipped by myself trounced Stirling ( The League Leaders) 12-2. Our Final game is on Sunday 11th March at 8.30pm against Ramshead Finalists, Perth when our Team will be George, Kevin, Colin and Bob. The League is completed on Tuesday 27th March but we do not have a game that evening. Crieff look favourites for the Title.
ROTARY JEWEL CURLING COMPETITION.
We have entered a Team in the above Competition to be held at Dewars Rink, Perth on Tuesday 13th march at 12.15 which runs concurrently with the Ram’s Head Finals Day. The format is 2 x 4 end games with a break in between and it is usually all about Fun & Fellowship.
21st RIBI ROTARY GOLF CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS.
I have received from our Esteemed Secretary John Cormack details of the above Championships which are run by Rotary Club of Sutton in Ashfield which gives us a CHANCE to WIN the First Prize of £3000 for our Club’s Charity Account. I have entered a Team which will play the Preliminary rounds at District level, the Winners of each District going forward to compete in the Finals at Notts Golf Club, Holinwell in September. The initial Format is a minimum of 2 Golfers in our Club, but if we like we can select for each round of the District knockout from a pool of players- good idea, in view of Summer holidays etc. Watch Chatters for future updates on this Golf Competition.
ROTARY CLUB OF PERTH KINNOULL- ANNUAL CHARITY TEAM GOLF TOURNAMENT. DUNKELD & BIRNAM GOLF CLUB, WEDNESDAY 5TH SEPT.2007.
In case you did not know the details of when the CHARITY GOLF was going to be, I bring it to all P K Rotarians attention NOW to place in their DIARIES for the date as shown above. The Format will again be a “Shotgun ” START and will be returning to Dunkeld & Birnam Golf Club after last year’s successful Maiden Tournament. The Golf Committee will be Meeting Early March to PLAN for this year’s Event which aims to build on last year’s solid start.
GOLF COMPETITION – WYLKEDIN QUAICH. CARNOUSTIE CHAMPIONSHIP ( VENUE OF THE OPEN GOLF 2007) & BURNSIDE COURSES. ON WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY 2007.
We have received details of this years Competition which is open to Rotary Clubs to be represented by a Team of 4, each playing 18 holes, max handicap of 18. Last year we had 2 Teams in this Competition for the the First Time. The inclusive Fee per Team this Year is £248 ie. £62 per Player and this covers:-
- Morning Coffee and Bacon Roll.
- Three Course Lunch
- Green Fees
- Prizes and Gratuties
Last year the Fee was £232 ie £58 p.p and as Michael Thomson won the Individual Handicap Prize over the Championship Course I will be approaching Council to seek assistance in “Softening the Financial Blow” in order that we can again enter 2 Teams as last year.
President's Dinner
Auction and Raffle prizes are still needed. To give some ideas, these are last years lists. Please put on your thinking caps and come up with some bright ideas and items.
