Charles French

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Our meeting on 30^th April will be at Roxburgh, or Miller’s Flat to be more precise. I have already sent out by e-mail details of this social evening. We will meet at Faigan’s Café, Millers Flat at 6pm for a drink. Then Denis Kirkpatrick will take us on a guided tour of the old restored bakery next door. After that it’s back to the café for the meal. This will be a social event rather than a club meeting as such. The cost is $35.00 per person. I would like to see good numbers in attendance to support our Roxburgh members who have organised this meeting for us. Please let Greg g.j.hunter@xtra.co.nz or Sue McGregor bgcider@yrless.nz know now if you are available to attend or not. We can car pool once we know who is going.

A big thank you to everyone who helped out with the Tasmanian Professional Development Exchange arrangements. As Merv Clearwater from our District said when first advising of the exchange “This is an exciting programme but needs total commitment from the District for it to be successful” Jim Carroll was in charge of our club’s part and did a fantastic job of getting everything organised. Jillian, Jim and Gordon were hosts and many other members contributed to ensure that the Rotary Club of Alexandra well and truly met the District’s expectations. In the course of one day of their time with us, the Australians were taken out a Rail Trail bike, lunched at Chatto Creek, had a tour of the Clyde dam, were educated by Claire on what goes on at Plant and Food Research Clyde, visited Taylor’s Orchard with John in good (and generous) form, and had a barbeque to finish the day with Jim and Liz. A big day!

Paul and myself are off to the District Conference this weekend, a first for me. There is talk of changing the format of these conferences for the future. We will have to wait and see.

I missed the meeting at Fishtail Restaurant and Bar but have been told it went well. I also missed the grape harvest effort at Justine’s vineyard. Sounds like it was hard work but a good fundraising effort. My thanks Justine, for setting this up to help out our club finances.

Baz Bemrose and myself have interviewed an applicant for the Rotary Innovative Young Minds programme, designed to encourage young women to explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and high-tech manufacturing. I’m hoping we can fund a Dunstan High student to attend a “camp” or workshop in Wellington later in the year.

That’s all from me. See you at Miller’s Flat next Tuesday.

Lest we Forget

The following article was submitted by John Taylor

John’s uncle ‘James Wilfrid (Wiff) McArthur’ served in the second world war.

He went overseas in 1942 as a schoolmaster and returned from the war as a hero. He served with the 23^rd and 26^th Battalions, was awarded the Military Cross, mentioned in Despatches and promoted to the rank of Major. He was one of six brothers, five of whom went to the war and all returned to New Zealand. He was an Alexandra Rotarian and President in the years 1951/1952 (from ‘Rotary in Alexandra – Golden Jubilee 1943-1993).

John’s relative Fiona McArthur posted the information below on Facebook on April 25^th 2019, James McArthur was her granddad and as above, John’s uncle.

This is an excerpt from James McArthur’s wartime diary written by him on the eve of ANZAC day 1943 (Western Desert Campaign, Tunisia)

“24.4.43

I thought that I would have to die before I got a glimpse of hell but I was making a mistake as I have not long finished twenty-six hours of pure unadulterated hell. It is a mystery how anyone could come through without a scratch but quite a number of us did as far as outward appearances go but you can’t pass through flames and not get scorched and I’m afraid that it will leave its mark for years to come, even if there aren’t any bullet holes to remind us of it.”