Ian Johnstone tells us a thing or two about Road Safety

Check your speedometer and see what is the highest speed. Is it 220, 240 or 260 kilometres per hour?

"Chances are it's between 210 - 240 kilometres an hour," says Professor Ian Johnstone of the Monash University Road Accident Research Centre. "Unfortunately, speed is what sells cars and this is our dilemma," he goes on to say.

The Monash University Road Accident Research Centre deals with Injury Prevention in all its forms. Injury is the greatest killer of those greater than 50 years of age. Our national average road toll is 1600 deaths per year. For every death, there's another ten who are seriously injured to permanent disability - and that's a strain to our public health system as well as the emotional strain to the extended family.

Injury is a public health problem. For every dollar spent on injury prevention programs there's $5 spent on cancer research and $9 spent on heart disease research.

So why isn't injury prevention considered as important as these?

"It's because we've got the balance wrong," answers Ian. " We need to look at Safe System Design. We've focussed on regulation, legislation, enforcement and punishment but it's not enough."

Ian talked about the need for car manufacturers to take more responsibility in safe system design. Warning systems for seat belts and structural changes in engine may not be enough. It's time to look at the speedometers, some of which show over the speed limit up to as high as 310 kilometres.

"Why are we allowing people an instrument that tells us that half of which is illegal? Shouldn't we have speedometers that show the exact speeds between the legal limits - say between 40 and 70 kilometres so that you know exactly what speed you are doing rather than having to squint and guess the speed between this range?"

Ian ended the presentation urged us that we have a part to play and not be silent but to take a stance against this public health problem.

Professor Ian Johnstone may be contacted here.

Photos of Changeover Dinner on Fri 6 July

Photos By: Peter Bury of Peter Bury Photography Phone (03)9557 7732 or 0419 569 209

We all agree that the Changeover Dinner for our Club was enjoyable and entertaining for us all.
Here's Carol and Philip at the door greeting Rotarians and their invited guests.

We were entertained by David Kaffey, illusionist. Here's Helen 'thinking' she guessed the chosen card correctly from the deck of cards!

And he put Laurie under a magic spell!

To make him believe that he was some kind of monster! Well not really, he was just sitting on a broken mobile phone that was very painful...

But the seriousness begins with Terry saying his goodbye speech and welcoming the new president Bob in for 2007-2008 with the pinning of the badges and an introductory speech.

Thanks to David Kaffey - for his contact information, click here.

The Recycled Bob Poem

Poem by: PP Sheila Ward

To help us save our Planet Earth we must all think bright green
And time our daily showers that make us squeaky clean
Think about our flushing when things are looking yellow
And cut out all the smoking in front of our nearby fellow.

We must recycle newspapers when all the gossip’s read
And donate all our bottles that used to hold nice red
We must mulch our autumn leaves that once we used to heap
And no more using plastic bags to foul the ocean deep.

We must recycle technology and spread the word around
On protecting the environment and the hallowed ground
Be counted as a person who demonstrates it cares
And live up to our logo that states that Rotary Shares.

We must use past experience to lead us through the year
To utilise the knowledge of the ethics we hold dear
And with a proven record of controlling this motley mob
We welcome back as leader, our recycled PP Bob!

Bulletin Editor Leaves Legacy

Who said that the role of bulletin editor is easy?

The role of Bulletin Editor is critical and integral to any Rotary Club. They market and communicate club and service project information to members of our Club, district and local community.

The role of Bulletin Editor is difficult but it is not without its rewards. It is an opportunity to create a distinctive brand and club identity in our community.

Carol made this impact on our Club for the last 5 years where she worked tirelessly to ensure all our members (both past and current) were 'kept in the loop' with our work and activities.

If you stop and think about it, 240 bulletins were written, collated, proofed, edited, printed, emailed and posted by her. That's a lot of hours in any one's language.

To top it all off, and still serving with a smile, she was there at the door to meet and greet Rotarians and their invited guests at the Club Changeover Night on Friday 6th July at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club.

Carol has been an asset to this club and we wish to thank her for her active contribution to the role and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Good luck and all the best Carol!