You can have a sleep in on Tuesday as we won't be getting together again until Tuesday 5 May when the annual Jack Bercov Award will be presented at a joint event with the Bercov family and Osborne Park members at Kailis. We will honour the UWA medical student, Wan Zhi, who won the 2025 award. Please register early as we need to advise our numbers for catering on 4 May.
Jin isn't required to attend school from 25 May to 8 June as the school is conducting exams she doesn't need to complete. This is a great opportunity for members to take her places she hasn't been before she returns home in July. She is very keen to see the Esperance area so if anyone has some time, could you give a road trip some thought. If not Esperance, perhaps another day trip or two. She's also expressed interest in going to Bussleton.
I'm sure members were pleased to see Darlene Sullivan, a recent speaker, join us for breakfast and the opportunity to hear Mark speak. In one of those "small world" moments, Darlene's uncle served in the Pozieres area and amongst her photos of a trip to visit the battle fields, Darlene took a photo of a memorial showing Arthur Blackburn's name. The photo now has a whole new meaning to her. Darlene has also offered to help with the Foodbank packing on 26 May.
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Arthur Blackburn VC
Today, 21 st March, Western Endeavour Rotary Club was delighted to once again welcome Dr Mark Fielding present to us details relevant to ANZAC DAY.
This year’s presentation was titled “Private Arthur Blackburn: Forgotten Anzac Legend”.
Arthur was a South Australian who just after graduation as a lawyer, answered the call, and joined the army to fight in WW1. As a private he was assigned as a Scout for the landings at Gallipoli so was one of the very first ashore. His job was to race ahead of the troops to the top of the last ridge, which he did, however the following troops were unable to follow. Consequently, he was only one of two whoever made it to the top.
Arthur, now Lieutenant Blackburn, was then sent to France where he fought at Pozieres. For his actions there he was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry.
Arthur then went on to fight in WW2 with distinction.
I was so interested to know further about Arthur’s life that I have commenced searching for more information. One article that I found very informative was of a speech given in his honour which you can find at https://share.google/P6lcC8ab7vtjkaYfC titled Slattery_20161209.pdf
A few updates and photos from the NW Safari. The text is taken from the RYE FB page:
After a long, hot few days, the Safari arrived in Karijini National Park where the students and chaperones spent the day exploring the gorges and swimming in Fern Pool and under the waterfall! A few days in this amazing park will refresh them all. Such a magical spot!
The adventure continues for our students and chaperones on Safari! They started the day with a dawn service for Anzac Day before breakfast and a day spent exploring the Hamersley Gorge in Karijini National Park. It was a special 18th birthday for Nike from Germany!
Then on to the town of Tom Price late this afternoon.
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David confirmed the club collected 930kgs of food at Floreat Forum on 18 April, plus about $500 in cash collected on the day and donations made through the QR code.
The food we collect will go to the regional centres or the mobile Foodbank vans. Well done everyone.
REMINDER that our next packing day is on 26 May. Please register ASAP and see if you can encourage some friends to come along to help us. Register here
