Notwithstanding some members having a busy time there was a good attendance at Tuesday’s meeting apologies were received from Russell Soedjadi, Shiva Nandan Ted Mlynarz, John Pillay, Charlie Hili and Alan Hall.
President Jim expressed his thanks to the members who helped out at the three days of the Circus.
On Saturday 11 May Jim will be collecting Natalia from the airport. He had experienced a late glitch with Garuda Airlines requiring some additional health information.
Treasurer Gary Halliday advised that the Circus was successful on the basis of full tents for each performance as well as financially from the BBQ sales and the bucket collections. He also said that after discussions with the Brophy Circus people tentative dates have been set for 1,2 and 3 May for next year’s circus event.
International Director Rinna Ly attended a District seminar in International Relations and came away with the message about the availability of District and Global grants which would be beneficial to our international projects.
Geoff Gibbs reported that he and Ted Mlynarz have visited the golf club and made a booking for fifty players on the Golf Day.
The Guest Speaker was member Tissa Perera who gave a brief history of his native Sri Lanka and subsequently about his project of helping disadvantaged children obtain an education in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is an island smaller than Tasmania but populated by 22 million people. It has been continuously inhabited for more than 2 million years, with the original inhabitants descended from Stone Age hunter gatherers. The current population is spread over three ethnic groups of Sinhalese, Tamils and Malay/Moors with corresponding religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.
Sri Lanka has an extensive corded history of civilisation. This is a record of a great civilization spaning over 25 chronicled centuries, and is documented primarily in three books; the Mahavamsa (Great Genealogy or Dynasty), Dipavamsa and Culavamsa. Sri Lankan history is distinctive as it has. The historical record, which is ancient, continuous and trustworthy, and begins with the occupation of the island by civilised men in 5th century, BC and continues for over 20 centuries.
Tissa mentioned with some reverence the sacred Bhodi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world.
Tissa has been assisting disadvantaged children gain an education for some time and with the help of friends has expanded the project to include some children in tertiary education. He outlined the difficulties of not only obtaining access to such courses but also the other needs of accommodation and food. He has recently obtained recognition of his project with Rotary Australia World Community Services.
President Jim reminded members that the Combined Service Club’s Dinner in Aid of the SES in Liverpool will be held at Liverpool Catholic Club on Wednesday 29 May 2019 at Liverpool Catholic Club. This is a change of meeting and the cost of the dinner of $60 per head must be paid on Tuesday 21 May 2019. He then went on to remind us of our commitment to assist the Salvation Army on Sunday 26 May 2019 at All Saint Senior High School at Casula, we need volunteers to assist in taking students to their collection areas and to provide a sausage sizzle and drinks to volunteers between 9 am and 12:30pm.
Treasurer Gary provided and update on our Annual Circus held over the last weekend with around 5,000 people attending
over three days. We are negotiating with Brophy Bros Circus to stage the event again next year at the same venue – Bonnyrigg Sports Club. He thanked all the members who worked over the weekend at the Circus and noted that DG Sue Hayward had attended on the Sunday,
Bob Groat is organising a trek for the fleet of 4WD’s in the Club and their owners and passengers. Further details will be available shortly.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ADVENTURE – LONG WEEKEND IN OCTOBER
Members Raffle Jackpot will be $11
Red Shield Appeal – Sunday 26 May 2019 -
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