Rotary meeting 6/10/15
President Jenny announced the reason for Hat day. It is to encourage people suffering from depression not to keep it under their hat. Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Australians. If you see a person so afflicted, give them a hug, or similar.
100% of the money raised goes straight to research into mental illness.

Roger's report on Festschrift.
An astounding event. A Festschrift is a symposium that is held in honour of a great academic. Many academic papers were presented as well as tributes to Martin's achievements.

 
People from Europe and the USA were present. They each gave their own insights on the various projects that he worked on. Lindsay's speech was the highlight, speaking as the RI representative. Rob Palmer gave a great wrap-up of what everybody else had highlighted about the personal touch that he applied equally to individual patients as well as to massive, global projects that are well known to us.

Martin's ability to "use" Rotary to achieve the big picture items goes back to his well-known "little club" reference being the springboard for his win at the UN for his "Life for a Child" Resolution and you should all feel justifiably proud to have played this small role that led to the big result". John Norris (BIL) and John Donald were actually present and standing by his side for this occasion.

Alicia welcomed the guests; PP John Norris from Toronto RC, Nick Hossack, Brian Jonson and Karen and David Paul.

The Rotary Foundation dinner is coming up. $50 per head. Save the date: Monday 9th November. No meeting that Tuesday!
The ‘End Polio Now’ dinner is coming up as well. 22 booked and paid. Max 30.
Romac dinner at Kirribilli House. $250 per head. Margaret Abbott is hosting the event and it promises to be a rare chance to attend a function at such an amazing location and for such a good cause, book now to avoid missing out.

Reminder to prebook the Rotary Conference before the specials end.


Nick Hossack was our guest speaker last week and provided an insightful update on the behind the scenes action in Federal Politics.
He addressed two issues:
The coup
Economic perspective

Firstly, the Coup.
Worth asking a couple of questions. There is a curiosity as "why Malcolm? In his old days, he campaigned for Labor pre-selection. He was also an agitator for the Republic. He engaged in a direct political contest with John Howard. But John Howard was his patron in Liberal pre-selection and got him into the Liberal Party and convinced him to stay in politics. John Howard is apparently the only person in the Liberal Party that Malcolm Turnbull rates. Malcolm Turnbull’s intellectual answers stirred the republican drive. There was a large groundswell of support for the Republican movement so John Howard knew he would only have one chance to head it off.

John Howard wanted them to come up with a specific model. Knew he'd won right then when Malcolm Turnbull agreed because their preferred appointed model was unpopular.

John Howard’s preferred option of Malcolm Turnbull was the real reason that Peter Costello left parliament. Then, when he became party leader in opposition, Malcolm Turnbull was a dictatorial leader and an ineffective communicator. These were his criticisms of Tony. He used an old Roman political ploy - disguise your weaknesses as strengths [and if things don't look too good, start a fight].

The chief of staff was influential and disruptive in Govt., having been ideal in opposition. This had happened with John Howard's ascendancy and he was forced to replace his own Chief of Staff six months into Government. Tony Abbott's Chief of Staff put offside Arthur Sinodinis. He was the original strategic power in the Liberal Party, being a genius at looking at the overall fiscal and strategic picture. Peta clearly clashed with him and tried to damage him. That was a mistake. That is not the role of a PM's Chief of Staff. Tony's loyalty to her proved to be part of his undoing.

Economic perspective 
Critical issues politically
Malcolm Turnbull was popular in the cities. Not regions, West suburbs of Sydney or Queensland. Can he win them?
Shorten's language indicates that he has realised this weakness and can win "Howard's battlers" which are a key swing vote and often decide the outcome of elections.

Kori Bernadi May be lost because he is a hard line right winger and Malcolm Turnbull is the opposite.

Malcolm Turnbull may pull off industrial relations reform because he talks the language of the left and is changing language to appeal to the media. Arthur Sinodinis will pull to get it all together. Bill Shorten will try to engage in battle over the middle ground.
 
Malcolm Turnbull's strength is his background as an investment banker, successful start-up businessman/entrepreneur [Ozemail] and International Jurisprudence advocate [won the case against the British Government over the death by nuclear radiation of soldiers forced to witness in exposed positions and without protection the 30 A Bomb tests conducted at Maralinga]. The interesting development is to see if Malcolm Turnbull is looking for a resolution on what industries will innovate and invest. Or should they target start-up innovators for support? There are questions regarding whether the spending will result in flexibility? Ultimately Malcolm Turnbull is building political capital now so as to be able to implement the type of industrial relation reform that has failed in the past.

Frank Rule thanked the guest speaker for giving us yet another look at the big picture from such a lofty position. It is always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes that we mere foots loggers never get to see. You could have held our interest for another half hour. [We are looking forward to another national update in another six months].

$86 sergeant
18 members 2 visiting Rotarians and 4 guests. [Plus Tania who arrived with most of her ribs intact].