Our meeting last week was chaired by incoming President Peter Kirkwood (Janelle having a well earned break). Both Jo-Ann and Peter Smith updated members on their respective upcoming events - Jo-Ann expressed her delight in having completed the Book Launch ticket sales in record time and was looking for any spare unwanted tickets to re-sell for some recent latecomers. Peter urged members to register quickly as most of the available seats had been taken by the Hunters Hill Club and friends.--------------------------------
Our Guest speaker for the meeting PP David Maclean was in introduced by PP Ken Broadhead OAM, who spoke of David's UK roots and achievements in both business and Rotary.
David was born in the UK in 1941 during the Blitz and in late 1940, his parent’s home received a direct hit from enemy planes. David as an adult served in the London Scottish Regiment, which has a very proud history. He holds the British Ex-services badge, and is a very capable chorister and bagpiper. He has deep insights into British and Australian military history, and is a valued long term member of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
David spoke of his early memories of the War years which, of course, was underway before he was born. He said the family house having been lost due to a direct hit resulted in his parents and brother having to occupy temporary quarters until a new residence could be found. Memories of this period included air raids particularly the attacks of the V1 or Doodlebug rockets ... "I grew up in a city with no lights, when walking at night particularly winter nights, we navigated from tree to tree or lamp post to lamp post." The family lived in great danger for several years.
David commented on both he and his brothers' (and indeed grandfathers') service in various roles with British Army and Navy regiments during their younger years. Sadly he lost his brother at an early age of 49 years, who now occupies a final resting place in the clan mausoleum on the Isle of Mull a few miles from the last resting place of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, our fellow clansman-Macquarie's wife was a Maclean!
David acknowledged while not having a great personal involvement in such battles - other than as a very young child - he had gained over his 55 years living in Australia an enormous respect for the ANZAC spirit, which was formed on those terrible and unfriendly beaches and hinterland of Gallipoli.
David spoke of many of the exploits of the ANZACs in the theatres of war and shared his research and understanding of the enormous sacrifices made by our young enlisted men and women to protect our country. He also spoke of the exploits by Australian troops in the subsequent war zones in WW2 and the middle east and far east war zones. (A full transcript of David's oration is available on application to the Editor)
David concluded:
"I would like to conclude with the words of Mustapha Kemal Attaturk who in 1915 was the enemy commander at Gallipoli and who became the founder of modern Turkey.
In 1934 he wrote:
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives; you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
In 1934 he wrote:
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives; you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
David's oration was followed by the ode read by PP Mentie Knowles and one minutes silence followed!
Mentie - ode presentation
Ken, David, Peter and Terry