Even though we have a large number of members still traveling in warmer climes, the recent general meeting was very well attended. Members were fully engaged with a top-class speaker, the induction of (another) new member and some important information about what’s happening at the Club.
The President warmly welcomed members and advised that Judy S is back into her role as Secretary and thanked Ross, Sue and Maryla for assisting in her absence. He advised that the footy tipping competition had ended and congratulated all the prize winners, and also suggested that members might like to try their hand at the new activity of Pickleball.
Lastly, Shane advised that nomination forms should be available at the November meeting for 2025 committee positions and requested that members consider standing for a committee position, particularly some of the new 2024 members.
Next Dr Yanpu Zhang was re-inducted as a member. Yanpu first joined at the height of the Pandemic in 2020 and was a member for a few years, before taking a break – now she’s back, so we must be doing something right!! As well as her academic and research achievements Yanpu has interests in machine knitting, walking and cooking. In a short speech, Yanpu mentioned how much she was looking forward to getting reinvolved in club activities. The photo shows Yanpu being inducted by Membership Officer Sue and President Shane.
The fascinating speaker was Erina Reddan, whose topic was “Deep into the Forest: What lies behind the walls of the "Sanctuary"?”.
Erina thought she’d had a pretty ordinary childhood, but when she started writing about a woman who discovers terrible secrets about The Sanctuary, a neighbouring closed community, she realised that she too had grown up in a kind of cult. She lived on an isolated farm in a religious community with rules about what you ate, and when, and she never met or interacted with anybody who wasn’t of the same faith. It wasn’t until decades later when the Royal Commission revealed that her nearby town was one of the hot spots for paedophilia in Victoria that she saw just how harmful giving a leader the authority of God was.
The President thanked the Erina for her engaging presentation and presented a small gift in appreciation. In closing Shane noted that the October general meeting will have Professor Michelle Giles speaking about the several new vaccines being recommended for older adults related to Shingles and RSV and that guests are welcome.
With that all done, it was off to lunch at the always reliable TAP831 for more fun and fellowship!