PRESIDENT'S CHAT
WE are now approaching the latter part of the year with the nights just about fully drawn in and we have had our first snowfall. Yes it is cold but there are many ways to keep warm from putting an extra log on the fire, to upping your daily exercise routine and no doubt you can think of many more. But what gives me a warm glow through these cold months?During my time at Durham University, training to become a counsellor I learned the theories and did my practical work and it came to my final meeting with my tutor. What he said will always stay with me, he said " Harry your clients will come to you for hope, if you give them something to grasp hold off then your work will not be in vain ". There are many ways were people would look for and find hope. For some it will be a babe in a manger; for others will be found around a Christmas tree; for some it will be in the love that they have for their families. But for others this time will be a time when they have little hope and no reason to be jolly. This season will be like any other. But wait, what part have we played during the last twelve months. As Rotarians we have done our part no matter how small by helping a cross section of the community in which we serve not only locally but in places that we perhaps will never visit. We have brought practical and financial help, and yes because of Rotary we have brought hope.
This Christmas time let us remember how rich we are and remember that the work of our Rotary Club is vital in the days ahead to help those who are less fortunate the ourselves.
Have a wonderful Christmas
Yours in Rotary,
Harry
Features
Fife Coastal Walk - "The Last Leg", Kinshaldy to Newport
Well we've done it !All 150 kilometres ( or 93 miles and 1320 yards if you prefer.) Two years on the road but what a two years! Rotary visits, interesting scenery, interesting places and good company. The last stretch was perhaps the easiest, running from Kinshaldy beach through Tentsmuir Forest and on to the Tay Estuary. Easy, except for the last mile where we somehow missed a turn and ended up scrambling along the rocky gravel on the beach before climbing up a steep field complete with barbed wire obstacles to the carpark at the end of the Tay Bridge....just over the nine miles in three hours, so not bad going. Nine miles was a bit more than planned as the gates to the forest carpark were locked at 15h00 so we had to park on the road about a mile outside the Forestry Commission gates. Why 3 o'clock? There was light until 5-30 at least., which would have been OK for us, but the extra mile it was, so we pressed on.
The route initially took us through Tentsmuir Fores. Fairy-tale-like beauty in places; but quite scary in others, where the trees are close together and the light is dimmed. The undergrowth too is well developed. A good place to hide if you need to. The forest is not ancient though - it was planted in the1920's. Prior to that it was open moor and heathland, which has been inhabited since neolithic times. Arrowheads and pottery from that era can still be found.
On the edge of the forest lies one of the larger of the Scottish Natural Heritage's National Nature Reserves (NNR). Formed on the sand dunes created by the wind and tides of the Tay estuary, it is a haven for all sorts of birdlife and a major visitor attraction for the area.
Sign specially commissioned knowing that Tom would be along!
The Nature Reserve - spot the gnome!
On the Beach - spot the gnome!
The only customers !
The end is in sight!
We made it - even Tom's dog was tired but the "bubbly" helped.
From there, the route leaves the forest and follows the Tay estuary towards the Tay Road Bridge. Passing through villages, past old harbours and ice cream vans - some couldn't resist an ice cream -- the temperature outside was as cold as the fridge but when you' re tempted......
We arrive eventually at the carpark by the road bridge where George surprised us all with a glass or two of "bubbly".
The Bettolini Italian restaurant on the city quay proved ideal after the walk. good soup and pasta or pizza with a glass of wine to celebrate.
Art Competition
The Winners
Sergeant-Major (?) John - Put that brush down - Boy!
The Perth Young Artist Competition is organised by Perth Kinnoull Rotary in conjunction with Perthshire Art Association and is designed to encourage budding artists in the secondary schools within the Perth area. The four winning artists have their work displayed for three weeks at the Perthshire Art Association Annual Exhibition in Perth Art Gallery and win a Voucher for Art Materials. The judges this year were Ian Scott, ex Art Advisor for Perth and Kinross, Hugh Goring of Frames Gallery, Betty Ramsay and Steve Carroll, Artists from Perthshire Art Association.
The winners were:
S1 to S3
1st Calum Paterson, Perth Grammar
2nd Adam Shearer, Perth Grammar
S4 to S6
1st Angus Bolland from Perth Academy and
2nd Briony McCarter from Glenalmond,
while Perth Grammar won the prize for best quality of work submitted overall
President Harry was this years guest speaker. All entrants will receive a certificate of Merit and we hope to present these at future school assemblies.
The Past Presidents Dinner
By all acounts a good time was had by all in the pleasant surroundings of the Royal Perth Golfing Society, Country and City Club. The pictures speak for themselves !
Our Past - Presidents with incumbent
Return to Menu
News Items
Nov 4th - The Battle of Loos - Willie Coupar
The Battle of Loos courtesy "Wikkipedia"
Willie told the story as it was, highlighting the problems, the diffculties and the terrible conditions on the front line. A memorable talk, told with a depth of knowledge and feeling that brought the story to life.
Nov 18th - Afghanistan - Geoff Minton
(from Nick du B.)Major Geoff Minton of 52 Infantry Brigade aroused Rotarians from their somnolence with a fascinating update of what is going on in Afghanistan, where he was a planning officer until April.
Succinctly he outlined the problems of holding the ascendancy in a mountainous, barren, largely unpopulated country about the size of Spain and Portugal with a few thousand troops. The British operate in an area in which there is a 70 Degree Centigrade temperature variation and terrain ranging from virtual jungle swamp, to stark mountains and desert. This was vividly illustrated with photographs which gave a good idea of fighting and living conditions. He also touched on dealing with a country in which winning hearts and minds is more a matter of establishing respect by military superiority than of handing out presents; the frustration of acting with allies with different battle orders; and the political difficulties of dealing with a country bordered by Iran and Pakistan.
( Compared to the previous talk by Willie Coupar it was interesting to note how warfare had changed. No longer massed front lines. Now small group, guerilla tactics while the instant press coverage and resulting political scrutiny of today place an added burden on the shoulders of those taking the risks. --- Editor's note)
Nov 25th - Art in retirement - Alan Perera
Alan began his talk with a practical demonstration of colour mixing and the range of colours that could be obtained simply using the three primary colours. Following this he went on to show his own work. A wide range of subject and the materials and the techniques used to get different effects were presented. Alan, who started his art career relatively late in life, showed that it is never too late to start something new and ended his talk by encouraging us all to "give it a go!".Convenors Reports
Club Service
No ReportInternational & Foundation - from Helen
Jo Homan Charity
A talk to the children of Kinnoull Primary School is being arranged re Pamela & Muthupandi
Vision Aid Overseas
Nick Hine has had a great public response to the appeal and has three full boxes of specs ready to send away. Suitable publicity will be sought via Donald and Nick re photos etc.
Youth & Vocational - from John D.
1 The European Challenge programme----- I have invited Tam Brown and a representative from Perth and District YMCA to come along on 2nd December to do a presentation on their project in Bulgaria.2) Perth Young Artist 2008 Competition------ We had a very successful judging on Monday 27th October with 73 entries from four schools. See article above.
3) Mock Interviews at Perth High/ Interact regalia ---- I have emailed Mr Hunter and M's Pedgrift re the Clubs views on both matters and await reply.
4) R Y L A -- We have received the RYLA application form to sponsor 2 candidates again for 2009 5) Primary Schools Quiz ----- I have written to Iain Mathews, District organiser of this event in 2009, to intimate our interest in doing a zone final again providing it reverts back to an 8 team zone.
Community Service - from Julia
Our club seems to have its share of gnomes...this time the garden variety. And what a good job they did. - Editor
Just a short report and photo of our garden project which took place
on Sunday 9th November.
Colin, Nick, Mike, Janet and Julia braved the weather to tidy up this garden for the winter. We even made time for two minutes silence at 11am. Our hostess rewarded us well with soup and a welcome cup of tea. Janet suggested at the end of the day that we go back in the spring time.
Ways & Means
Sports - from George Delgaty, Junior Vice President.PERTH KINNOULL CURLING.
The Season got under way thanks to the "Expert" Curler drumming up some new and enthusiastic Curlers, who were as follows:-
- President Harry Cooper
- Iain Brown
- Nick Hine and Kay Hine
- Janet Simpson
- Bill Smith
- Andrew Still and Maggie Still
These fledgling curlers came under the tutelage of the more experienced curlers in our Rotary Club; namely George Delgaty, Colin Moreland, Bob Reid and Ian and Myra Stevenson.
There were three different sessions of coaching undertaken and it's fair to say that most of the new curlers blossomed over this period. So much so that "Head Coach and Curling Expert" Ian Stevenson has drafted beginners into our Perthshire Rotary League games, which is a good way of learning all about this great winter time game and also meeting and enjoying fellowship with other Rotarians from other clubs in the area.
Our results have been mixed so far, but the main thing is that we have several new players coming into curling and hopefully enjoying the experience. League fixtures played so far:- Lost to Kinross 5-10; Lost to Dunblane 5-7; Won against Stirling 8-3. Also the three Rotary Clubs in Perth held a mini "Bonspiel" on Thursday 6th November when each club entered two Teams. Most consisted of a mixture of regular curlers and beginners and Perth St. Johns won the Edinburgh Trophy with ourselves being Runners up. After the game, in true curling tradition we headed for the bar and also we had a supper at the Ice Rink, enjoyed by all who took part.
RAMSHEAD TROPHY.
Our annual sojourn in this curling competition began on Sunday 2nd November and our team of Colin Moreland (Skip). George Delgaty (3rd), Kevin Fearn (2nd) and Willie Monks (Lead) won both our games against Strathendrick Rotary, 12-3 and Glasgow Rotary 15-9 to Qualify for the Round Robin stage in first place. We now have to play the three other qualifiers, Perth, Stirling and Inverkeithing & Dalgety Bay and the respective dates we play these games are Sunday 18th January at 3pm, Sunday 25th January at 5.15pm and Saturday 21st February at 3pm. The "winning rink" then represents Ramshead Region 2 in the Scottish Rotary Curling Finals at Perth on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th March. The ultimate winners of the Ramshead 2009 will along with Lockerbie Rotary and, host club, Perth Rotary represent Scotland at the Rotary World Curling Championships to be held in Perth from 28th March to 2nd April, 2010. So here's hoping Perth Kinnoull can make it, after last year's great effort in being beat by Lockerbie at an extra end in the Final.