Opening: Acting Sergeant Timothy Winter called the Meeting to order and invited Past President Peter Cummins to lead us in the Rotary Grace, the Loyal Toast and the Toast to Australia. President Lyndon Smith: Acting Sergeant Timothy introduced President Lyndon Smith who commenced his remarks in welcoming our Guest Speaker, Chris de Fraga, together with all Box Hill Rotarians in attendance. In his opening remarks President Lyndon reported on a recent review of our Meeting venue, The Pavilion, when various concerns were addressed between the Club Executive and The Pavilion Management. Lyndon was pleased to report that the operation of the AV system has already received attention whilst other matters discussed included the prompt serving of meals and the type of desserts etc. Should any Club Members feel there may be other matters to be raised with The Pavilion please contact Lyndon direct. Lyndon reported on the success of the Whitehorse Farmers’ Market the previous Sunday and thanked Club Members Sue Fenton, Madeleine Smith and Simon Wheelton for their respective contributions on the day. Lyndon reminded us about the Trivia Night and Auction being conducted by the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills on Friday, 23rd October. Already our Club has 4 representatives attending the function but Lyndon is keen for our Club to support events organised by other Cluster Clubs and is hoping for a full table from Box Hill to attend the Trivia Night. Melissa Mardjetko is taking numbers for this event so please contact her if you are planning to attend. Announcements: Secretary – Tim Lynn:

Chairman Clive in action

Chairman for the evening, Clive Nicholson, called for Announcements and Secretary Tim Lynn reminded Board Members of the Board Meeting scheduled to be held following the night’s regular Club Meeting.

Tim will be away for three weeks from Monday, 19th October, returning 10th November and, in his absence, any Secretarial matters should be addressed to President Lyndon. Art Show – Rae Harding: In her report on the continuing arrangements for the forthcoming Art Show (2nd to 6th December) Rae reported on the excellent response she has received from sponsors prepared to meet the cost of outdoor advertising boards. Currently some seven sites have been arranged but, with offers for an additional three noticeboards, Rae is seeking three further sites where the boards can be erected. If any Club Members are able to assist Rae in providing additional suitable advertising sites please contact her urgently. Acting Sergeant – Timothy Winter: Acting Sergeant Timothy seemed to relish the opportunity of fining his fellow Club Members and commenced his session by fining Ray McLeod-Dryden for Jan’s recent Birthday and Robert Leach on the Anniversary of his Induction. Holden supporters, Peter Cummins and Robert Leach, were fined following Craig Lowndes’ victory in the Bathurst 100 motor race the previous Sunday. In anticipation of the Rugby World Cup Timothy announced the Team to represent the rotary Club of Box Hill including:- Front Row: Timothy Winter, Tim Lynn & Lyndon Smith. 2nd Row: Robert Leach (fined again!) & Peter Cummins. Lock: Ray McLeod-Dryden Flanker: Rob Fenton Scrum Half: Clem Joyce Five Eighth: Madeleine Smith Centre: Merv Agnew Wings: Simon Wheelton & Charlie Xu Full Back: Tom Thorpe Interchange: Rae Harding, Vincent Li and Geoffrey Weeks Coach: Clive Nicholson Team Medico: Cath Binns Timothy felt confident the RCBH Team would be easily progress through the early rounds of the tournament! The Stone Lotto letters (2) this week were X and O. Accordingly, Charlie had to pay up again. Timothy concluded his segment with several Doctor jokes that were so dreadful there are not worth repeating!

Hat Day Result: It is noted that Treasurer Timothy Winter was able to forward the amount of $155.00to Australian Rotary Health following the previous week’s Hat Day Celebrations. Thanks to Melissa Mardjetko and the Club Members and Partners who supported this very worthwhile fund-raiser. 2016 Conference Polo Shirts: In his closing remarks President Lyndon announced that Charlie Xu has provided some sample polo shirts in anticipation of the Club’s participation in the 2016 District Conference. Members are welcome to try the samples for size and orders will be taken after the regular Club Meeting on

Tuesday, 10th November which has been designated the November Partners’ Night Meeting. This will be an opportunity for Partners to also lodge orders for the polo shirts for which the Conference Committee has allocated two shirts to each Conference Volunteer. Additional shirts may be ordered at the same time at the cost of $25 each. End of Meeting raffle: It took some while to find a winner of the Raffle with numbers 27, 28 and 25 being pulled out before number 6 was claimed by Tim Lynn. Tim re-donated the prize of a bottle of red wine to next week’s Raffle!

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Guest Speaker Chris de Fraga

Chairman Clive introduced our Guest Speaker, Chris de Fraga, in Chris’s own words as follows:- “I slipped backwards into motor writing when I had been one of “The Herald’s” team of reporters in Canberra. I had a column called “Overnight in Parliament” based on the Adjournment Debate and, because of my shorthand, I was also dragooned into reporting on Question Time. Since I was driving my MG TC from Melbourne to Canberra and back every 10 days the Chief of Staff, Peter Game, figured if I could support a sports car on my salary I must know something about cars so I started reporting on cars instead of Parliament”. Chris lived in the United States for 2 years working for an Insurance Company in California and he developed a keen interest in cars in that time. He recalled the 1956 6 cylinder Chevrolet which was his vehicle at the time but he was also keen on his immediate superior’s 1955 V8 model whilst one of

the senior personnel was lucky enough to drive an Oldsmobile Rocket 88. On his return to Melbourne Chris commenced his journalism career with the Melbourne Herald and, following his appointment as Motoring writer, he was able to gain respect within the automotive industry as he was coming from a zero base with no bias and thus able to produce considered and respected reports, road tests, etc. However, it was still necessary to work at odd jobs to keep the MG TC in running order and he recounted how, when working as a mechanic at night, he was asked to adjust the valve tappets on an engine and described how it was very much a learning-on-the-job experience. He told us of some of his driving experiences in his younger days including piloting a Bugatti down Mt Hotham with no brakes, participating in motorkhanas, and trials organised by the Melbourne and Monash Universities and dealing with some very interesting trials navigators. Motoring journalists can be very interesting and resourceful characters and he recounted how Wayne Webster from “The Australian” was called on to dictate 35 paragraphs reporting on the 24 Hours at Le Mans over the telephone from his Paris office with very little pre-preparation. Noted motoring writer, Will Hagon, is similarly able to dictate newspaper copy at little notice and Chris believes this skill comes from the ability of being able to clear the mind and know what you want to say before commencing.

Chris is an advocate for Advanced Driving Courses and modern car safety and showed a short video presentation detailing the crash testing of a Volvo V40 station wagon and showed the result of an Audi R6 hitting a power pole at massive speed in Germany which cut the vehicle in two and yet the driver was photographed having just walked away from the impact. During questions Chris mentioned that the least appealing car he felt he had ever driven or tested was the Lightburn Zeta. It was so bad, in fact, that the test was never published.

Lightburn Zeta

However, he was full of praise for the Ferrari Dino, a mid-engine, rear drive sports car produced between 1968 and 1976 which originally retailed for around $7,000 and now commands prices in excess of $250,000.

Ferrari Dino

In commenting about the current crisis within Volkswagen, Chris was of the opinion it might take a generation for the Company to recover it’s creditability in the marketplace particularly given the result of Management and/or Engineering adopting dubious practices in striving to overcome Toyota as the world’s Number One motor vehicle producer. At the conclusion of his most interesting address Chris was presented with the usual Angel Flight angel and Certificate.

Chairman Clive thanks Chris

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Total Attendance: 20 Club Members: 19 Partners: 0 Visitors & Visiting Rotarians: 0 Guest Speaker: 1 Chris de Fraga Apologies: 12 Leave of Absence: 4 Bruce McKenzie, George McLean, Ross McPhail & Ray Riehm

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Rotary Invocation: For good food, good fellowship and the opportunity to serve through Rotary, we give thanks.

Date Topic Speaker Chair 20th Oct Who is George Coppen? Bob Slater Sue Fenton 27th Oct TBA TBA TBA 3rd Nov NO MEETING – Melbourne Cup Day N/A N/A 10th Nov

Date Grace/Toast Greeter Cash Desk (1) Cash Desk (2) 20th Oct Clem Joyce Mick Matthews Timothy Winter David D’Silva 27th Oct Vincent Li Joe Mardjetko Ron Khor Peter Cummins 3rd Nov NO MEETING N/A N/A N/A 10th Nov Rae Harding David D’Silva Lloyd Cranwell Melissa Mardjetko

19th Oct to 25th Oct, 2015)

Date Member/Partner Event 19th Oct Joe Mardjetko Member Birthday Robert Leach Induction Anniversary 25th Oct Ray McLeod-Dryden Wedding Anniversary

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Label from a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc

“Do not let this bottle serve as an inspiration to call your ex in a pathetic attempt to get back together. Some very fine grapes have died in the making of this wine. Show some respect.”

“And aside from that, Mate, how’s your day going?”

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