Reported by Leslie Rogers-Warnock
President Pete
welcomed us to the Victoria Golf Club. Founded
in 1893, the club is the oldest course in Canada and second oldest in
North America. The current course layout was finalized
in 1923 to end the practice of hitting tee shots on two holes across Beach
Drive! It was a very Canadian start to our meeting, occurring the
day after the glorious Thanksgiving weekend. Views through the windows were filled with Mother Nature’s autumnal
best. Even hockey was mentioned…I mean,
how Canadian is that?
Our sole visiting Rotarian was Gordon Quigley from
Saanich. Guests were four
not-guests-for-much-longer Ryan Gisler, Janna Malo, Sandy Currie and Richard
Acomba. Stan Michalak from Poland made
our meeting international.
Pablo had a banner exchange from his visits to Michigan
Rotary clubs.
Joan P. reminded us of
World Polio Day on Thursday Oct. 24.
CATMan Jim F. announced the Uplands Broom Bash this Saturday and Sunday
at the Cattle Point entrance. You could
lock your bikes to the snazzy Oak Bay Rotary bike racks. Please let Jim know if you can make it.
Lynne reminded us that we ALL need to be more vigilant about
our Rotary meeting duties. She was very
diplomatic. I will stand on my soapbox
now and say, “For heaven’s sake, people!
Get with it! INFORM George of
your absences for his roster preparation.
READ the roster emails so you know your duties in advance. If you can’t do your job, FIND SOMEONE ELSE
and let Lynne and President Pete know. We ALL have a responsibility for the smooth running of the
meetings.”
Ok, off the soapbox.
Celebrations’ Master Tav continued his “fine” form from last
week, pun intended. Loonies were
collected for marathons, marathon hamburger eating, driving infractions,
pathetic applause, and fancy car owners with fancy golf club memberships. Members contributed happy and sad dollars for
upcoming travel, recently returned from travel and parenting a newly minted 15
year old.
Our guest speaker, Robert Thomson, was introduced by Dallas
as a master of many things…author, languages professor, real estate analyst and
proud grandnephew of George Godwin.
 |
| George Godwin |
Robert’s talk focused on his efforts to bring his great
uncle George’s books back into circulation.
Canadian Army Officer Godwin wrote Eternal Forest in the late
1920’s, detailing his move as a 21 year old from London, England, to Whonnock,
BC to farmstead. (The community’s name derives from honnock, the Halkomelem word for humpback salmon.) George,
and his wife, Doris, cleared land, moved rocks and trees in an effort to clear
the land. The book has been described as
an accurate account of the land and its trials and tribulations. One reviewer said that the “Godwin’s forest
is the forest of Emily Carr’s paintings.”
The family returned to London in 1916 for their young son’s
education. Godwin signed up for the
Canadian Army and was stationed in France. Anti-German sentiment was strong but Godwin, having enjoyed his
schooling in Germany as a young boy, struggled with the racism. His second book, Why Stay We Here?
written in the 1930’s, explored the questions of what Germans were really like,
why men sign up to fight, and how battle affected different people.
Robert Thomson is keen to bring his great uncle’s books back
into circulation as he feels they are important documents of the times.
For more information visit http://www.godwinbooks.com/georgegodwin.html
Brian thanked Robert for his presentation, GSTQ was sung and
we all left in the sunshine.
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