President Jenny formally opened the meeting and welcomed the guests and members.

Her first delightful job was to make an award to a member of the Lane Cove Youth Orchestra. The inaugural Tom and Thelma Tait Award for the most noteworthy musician was Jessica Ellis. Jessica is an outstanding cellist in the Lane Cove Youth Orchestra that has produced many bright practitioners of that art who have gone on to become celebrated musicians and she is a potential leader in that group. Well done Jessica.

In her acceptance speech Jessica expressed her profound affection and admiration of the late Tom Tait who was ever willing to support and inspire the orchestra to ever greater heights.

President Jenny announced a long anticipated event - the Induction of new member Karen Paull. Welcomed enthusiastically by all, Karen has become a regular supporter of our club in thought, word and deed. What a night to be inducted with Jessica Ellis and Paul Murphy both in attendance, along with her supporters and those of the Youth Orchestra and of the fabled broadcaster, Paul Murphy. Jessica joined the Community Service committee and was welcomed by the grateful Chairman.

Tania formally welcomed the club's guests, a much larger number than normal which was great to see, with suitable flair and vivacity. Broadly, they were Bob Cartwright's group, Paul Murphy's cohort, Jessica Ellis's excited supporters And Karen and David Paull's family. What a cast!

Jenny also reminded all members of the Rotary Foundation Dinner on Monday 9 Nov and of the Board elections in November. For all those interested, please consider a position.

 
Margaret Siliink
We are still looking for a RYLA Candidate and are running out of time. Please think about potential candidates and put your nomination in ASAP.

Adrienne Sergeant
Fined all at the fair. Fair cop!
Chris Curtis found asleep in his car after the Fair was over. Well, that was at least two hours sleep in the last 24. Well done Chris.

PP Chris Curtis introduced the guest speaker Paul Murphy who talked about his life in broadcasting, reporting on politics and offered some anecdotes from his career.

 
Stories of colleagues who complained because he couldn't turn on a tape recorder, how he watched and learned from Roger Climpson who was in attendance. He was born in Canberra and initially grew up there surrounded by politics. At one family BBQ he sat on Chifleys knee. Menzies gave Paul's dad London as a consolation prize which resulted in Paul growing up there.

He felt he was lucky to work at the ABC and was eventually sent to the London office. Obviously he became an excellent mime (you had to be there).
Paul met all the pollies in the UK at the time except Margaret Thatcher, who was warned off the ABC by an adviser. He commented on how Dennis Healy was marvellous politician, as was Harold Wilson.

Paul was criticised for living in a classy suburb in London and was surprised at their seriousness regarding class issues but felt glad he could compare the two eras.

He met Goff Whitlam and was remembered by him for spending too much time in the beer garden with his son Tony instead of at lectures.
Paul Keating stated when Paul told him he was retiring... "Huh? What took you so bloody long?"
 
He then answered questions from the floor covering a range of topics from the difference in reporting styles between the UK and Australia, specifically the private lives of politicians. Questions regarding 24 hr news channels and how Australia is seen in the world to the goings on in both the Liberal Party and in previous governments the Labor Party with PMs changing with an unfortunate regularity.
Roger Climpson finished off the questions by asking: “What was the most embarrassing political/ professional moment of your life?”
The answer, after a pause… “Good question. The funniest was Keating saying: what took you so long?”

$120 was raised from the sergeant’s session
22 Rotarians, two visitor Rotarians and. 17 guests!
Julie offered her thanks for honouring dad and mum (Tom and Thelma Tait) and said that her father really enjoyed his Tuesday nights. The award was much appreciated by the family.

Thanks Karen our newest member. David too who is welcome along any time.