Meeting notes provided by Geoff Adcock -
Acting President Geoff Gallagher read the Ode of Remembrance at the commencement of the meeting.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
This passage is taken from the poem “For the Fallen” by Lawrence Binyon.
Apologies
Alison Bacon, Kylie Campbell, Mick Costello, Gary Frank, GP, Barbara Leane and Karen Armstrong.
Reports
The gunfire breakfast set for 5 am Anzac Day.
The Star cinema and the Heritage Festival over the next few weeks will include Mary and Laurie Preston, Willie Carney and Leon Scott and several others.
Rita reports that the bookstore sold $983.30 worth of books on Good Friday at the Street stall in Pall Mall. Lots of customers and many flyers were handed out. As a result, quite a few customers attended the book shop on Wednesday, with positive comments about the Shop.
Program
Jenny Sanderson introduced her son Matthew Richardson as our guest speaker, telling us that he had wanted to join the army since he was around nine years of age.
Matt attended Eaglehawk North Primary School, and Eaglehawk Secondary College, before attending Bendigo Senior Secondary.
Matt enlisted in the army at the age of 19. He was posted to Adelaide at the RAAF base where he developed an insight into the Air Force whilst in the army.
In 2016 and 17 he was posted to Afghanistan where he spent seven months. One of his roles was as a guardian angel working in the SUV section which involved him escorting various dignitaries. He was also involved in working with members of the Afghan army.
After 4 1/2 years in the army, he was discharged. After some time in civilian life when in 2022 Russia invaded the Ukrainian president Zelenskyy formed the international Legion to enable foreigners to join the fight against the Russians.
Matt decided to join the group if possible. It was necessary for him to try and gather as much equipment as he could. He was then involved in travelling to Warsaw, Poland from where he was able to cross into the Ukrainian to join the International Legion. This involved some serious discussion with the Ukrainians before he eventually joined the Legion.
Matt was involved in a number of actions and skirmishes, one which involved around 70 Russian soldiers and two tanks. He had some time in Kyiv for rest and recreation. Later he was injured and as a result he lost a finger, and the post-surgery was very difficult. It was necessary to barter for sheets and other items to assist his recovery.
His experience of the medical system and treatment encouraged him to return to Australia.
After Matt completed his address, The Ode was read followed by Ken Wellard playing the Last Post with a minute's silence followed by the Reveille (or Rouse)
My apologies for having missed the last couple of meetings - but as some of you may be aware, I am back at work with the AEC training the staff for the forthcoming election. This has been more extensive than I originally anticipated, unfortunately I will again be an apology this coming week.
Many thanks to Eric and Geoff Gallagher who have both stepped in to ensure meetings are organised and to John Gurr for his 'treasurer' duties in my absence.
I look forward to my return to meetings on Wednesday 7th May, when we will be hosting the Rotary Club of Castlemaine.
