Brent noted that he did not think of the Free Trade Agreement as a Free Trade Agreement at all. He said that to his mind, a free trade agreement should be about three lines long and basically remove all the obstacles to free trade. The longer the document, the less like a free trade agreement it actually is - and this one has something like 19 chapters. Brent said that although there were chapters about labour and the environment, these chapters were basically inserted because of requirements in US law, and had been minimised down as much as possible to the point of being virtually meaningless. The rest of the document basically contains exceptions, provisions, rules and regulations to make sure that protections (ie, not free trade) exist in certain areas.

Brent gave Sunrise a flavour of the history of the Agreement - apparently, the idea had been floated as early as 1927, when the US approached Australia to try to negotiate a deal. Australia was not keen then, and was still not keen when the US approached in 1992. As the Prime Minister, Paul Keating took the view that Australia ought to have a focus on Asian trading partners, and knocked Bill Clinton's idea for a free trade agreement back. John Howard took a different view, and not only embraced the idea, but set a speedy time frame for delivery of the
agreement.

At present, Australia has agreements with Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand. Of these, Australia's relationship with New Zealand is the closest - in fact, our agreement with the New Zealanders is one of the closest in the world. According to Brent, Australia is also talking to China, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The potential agreement with China is likely to present some fairly interesting questions, but may turn out to be hugely economically important for Australia. The reason for this lies largely in the fact that Australia and the US are mostly competitors, and not trade partners. China, on the other hand, is not only a huge market, but a different sort of trading relationship altogether.

Having said that Brent thought that the agreement with the US was likely to have some long term very noticeable benefits for Australia, particularly for small businesses. He pointed to some practical effects that the agreement might have - for example, the mutual recognition in Australia of degrees and qualifications awarded by universities in the United States and vice versa. He pointed out that Australia had actually been quite forthright in relation to a number of areas, and had 'dug in its heels', which had proved important in terms of the negotiations.

There can be no doubt that the answer to that question must be 'yes'. It is worth it. The ripple effect of the good work of Sunrise in Canberra and Rotary around the World is certainly worth it. Brook was a living example of that worth - as he accepted his Penny For Polio, he told the club that he had spent a year of his life totally debilitated from the disease.

Brook's speech was not about giving up on the work that we do. Rather, it was a serious and very useful discussion of the way that we do that work. He pointed out that although we may consider ourselves 'volunteers', that, in fact, at least in some senses, the directors of our Club are in the same position as the directors of companies. This is enormously important, as Brook explained that it opens us up not just to being potentially criminally responsible for some things, but also to being liable to be sued for negligence if we don't take proper precautions.

In other words, Brook said that it is all about managing the risk, and being seen to manage the risk. It is about putting in place processes which consider (and document that consideration) about (1) the likelihood of the risk and (2) the impact of the potential event if it does occur. Once we get past the three pages of risk management instructions from the ACT government about sausage sizzles, we'll certainly need a sausage or two (or a stiff gin) to keep us going!

Brook said that that our focus should be on managing our "duty of care". And he said that it was important to manage our "duty of care" because the worst case scenario for us would be to be involved in causing an injury to someone and being sued for it. Brook pointed out that in a small town like Canberra, it wouldn't take long for our goodwill in the community to be totally decimated. Not the outcome we would be hoping for out of the Bike Ride or the Dragon Boat Regatta!

Brook runs courses about risk management, specifically tailored for small business and 'not for profit' organisations such as Rotary. They are one-day courses organised by the ACT government. To get in touch with the co-ordinator of the courses, Kevin Wenman, contact 6207 0318..

Last week we were treated to the Second Four-Yearly Report of Susan Alexander's Fabulous Olympic Adventures. Susan entertained the club with stories of the truly remarkable experiences she had during her month in Athens. Having applied to be a volunteer at the games, Susan was then approached by a small African nation to be their guest at the games - entitling her to free reign of all that the games had to offer. Even so, Susan still had to hitch a ride to the Opening Ceremony with the passing Italian Shooting team!

Susan described the camaraderie, the spirit and the generosity of the games - all despite the ever present, underlying security concerns. She pointed to the importance of the games as an exercise in connecting people, and described the games as 'more than just sport'.

Of course, above all, Susan just had a good, old fashioned ripper of a time. That was despite soaking her handbag in a bathroom sink to the point where her passport was cancelled! Lucky that Olympic pass was firmly around her neck and no-where near her bag...

Susan was looking resplendent in her 'Official Uniform' which was a gift from her Host Country, and her 'infinity' pass. She reported that her 'new look' fitted right in at Athens, where, frankly, everyone looked 'a little odd'. No doubt that sense of "viva la difference" helped add to the carnival atmosphere that Susan described as a three-week party.

Members who were present at the last Olympic Report Susan gave to the club will recall that she made many friends at the Sydney 2000 games, including one 92 year old fella who took quite a shine to Susan. Susan caught up with him, and lots of the other people she connected with, in Athens. In fact, according to Susan, she is coming dangerously close to becoming an Olympics Junkie! Well, Susan, what a way to go! With any luck, you'll catch up with all your Olympians (junkies and otherwise) at the next games. We look forward to hearing the Report!
Katie

1. Parenting Outreach Program. This program is run by ~ 4 people part time and a full time manager. They go out into homes and they support parents to be better parents (eg how to cook, how to clean, what they should be doing with their children). An awful lot of people in the community just don’t know how to raise a family. They don’t have the basic skills that should be handed down from parent to child.

2. Kids In Sport. This is a very small program. There are lots of kids who don’t have access to sport. Those of you with kids know that there is a lot involved in this (eg transport, registration fees, etc). Because of this lack of access, disadvantaged kids become less active and have fewer social skills that you acquire in sport. This program arranges to have registration or uniforms paid for and tries to get them involved in sport.

3. Kids Tutoring Program. A lot of people who don’t have a reasonable income don’t think about tutoring and as a result some of these kids struggle at school. This program has volunteers that go to the children’s home or somewhere else (eg library) to tutor them in the subjects they’re having problems with. This has been a big success with the kid’s academic performance rising enormously. There is also good role modelling and encouragement in this arrangement.

4. Transition Program. This program works with homeless children who are in transition from home care to independent living. Quite often they have been kicked out of home or have left home because things are so bad. They can’t stay in refuges indefinitely. Barnardo's has a number of flats to put these children into (some as young as 12yo). The program provides ongoing support by teaching them independent living skills (eg cooking, driving, etc).

5. Temporary Family Program. This program provides respite in the community for parents who are stressed and don’t have support for their children to go somewhere (eg grandparents). The program provides respite once every 4 to 6 weeks and may also provide short term foster care.

6. Long Term Foster Care Program. This program provides long term alternative care for children who have been placed on court orders to remain in care because they have come from abusive family situations. Program staff work closely with foster carers who are the backbone of the program. Barnardo's always needs good people so give them a call if you have ever given this some thought.

At Home With Books Project

The trust’s initial and biggest project was to fund the reception and play area as part of the redevelopment and relocation of the paediatric wing at Canberra Hospital. The trust enjoys the considerable support of the Kangaroos, the Brumbies, ACT Clubs, and the public generally. The results of this support have been fantastic and worthwhile.

Following this project the trust embarked on a program of fund raising dinners, auctions and the use of collection points at clubs and sporting events. Bit by bit the funds continue to roll in. As a result the trust has been able to support related projects including paediatric life support, foetal research, and gestational diabetes. The trust is also considering a new project at Canberra Hospital to fit out an adolescent education and leisure complex. This new interest in ensuring that teens don’t slip thru the cracks is one of the main reasons the trust has decided to support our Galilee Project to the tune of $30,000.

While we had a chuckle over Terry’s remark that the check was in the mail, I’m sure that everyone was very pleased to see the union movement very actively and in a quiet and constructive way involved in such altruistic public projects.  Well done CFMEU!

Barbara was a Magistrate and is the country's leading Children's Advocate - speaking throughout the breadth of the land on children's issues. She is writing her third book and is the Patron of the Hope Foundation - and organisation which provides parental assistance for parents where none is available.  Barb's web site is www.kidschampion.com.au 

There was no doubting the passion and dedication of our speaker last week. Barbara Holborow is Australia's most outspoken and committed advocate of children and family rights. A Magistrate on the Bench of the Children's Court for 12 years she was instrumental in setting up the first 'Care Court' in Sydney where only matters involving the neglect of children were heard.

Since her resignation, Barbara has become the patron of the Hope Foundation. Rotary has funded 10 networks of Hope around Australia aimed ‘mothering mothers’ who aren’t coping and helping out in the critical early periods of a child’s life. While there currently isn’t a network in Canberra, Barbara is hopeful that there might soon be one with the support of clubs like ours.

Last week we were privileged to learn a whole lot more about our new home – the High Court of Australia. Chris Doogan the CEO and Principal Registrar of the High Court entertained us with stories from the Courts’s past and present. And for those among us who are not as familiar as we probably should be with the role and function of the Court, he quickly brought us up to speed.

A few of the highlights included:

• The High Court’s illustrious first justices including Sir Samuel Griffith Sir Edmund Barton, and Richard O’Connor.

• It’s rise from a Court that very few thought would be significant to the crucial role it plays today.

• The driving force behind the current High Court building – Sir Garfield Barwick.

• A very large contemplation triangle that Sir Garfield Barwick wanted to be a pool on the roof.

• The biggest portion of their work, in volume terms, comes from applications for special leave to appeal and only 1 in 5 of those are successful.

• The program they have initiated with the Commonwealth Education Department called ‘Discovering Democracy’. The program is aimed at improving the understanding of young people with respect to our institutions of Government. Over this coming Rotary year I will be including short articles of interest on the High Court which I hope you will find interesting and enlightening.

The RI Convention, Japan, China, and Mongolia. Last week we had a real treat when fellow Rotarian Bruce Harvey talked to us about the RI Convention in Osaka Japan and his trip to Mongolia to see his son Travis who works for AusAID. He truly brought the convention and his trip to life with his vibrant words. I for one wouldn’t have missed it but for those that did, I will be covering his talk in full in the bulletin over the next three weeks.

The Journey Begins

It is probably a bit soon after we get back to everything into perspective. As you know we were away for about five weeks and you see so much in these things that for the first few days it is all a bit of a jumble. It takes a while to sort out but I will try and do that for you. Fundamentally we went on a trip with a group from Nowra in the District and they have been organising trips to International Conventions for the last 15 to 18 years. Some of them have been on every one of those trips that is pretty amazing. It was a great way to do it. We went on a trip thru Japan first, then went to the conference, then to China for about 10 days and at the end of it we went to Beijing and on to Ulaanbaatar the capital of Mongolia. The best part of the trip was meeting up with Travis who we hadn’t seen in 9 months. He is doing really well up there and it was fantastic to see him.

RI Convention

The bag I’ve brought with me this morning was issued at the RI Convention and was pretty typical of Japan. Everything they do they do beautifully. Even the rotary badge which was done in the shape of a Japanese fan. Everything is done so well wherever you go. Imagine if you can 48,000 delegates. Basically they took over the city of Osaka for the 4 or 5 days of the conference. We had a taste of it in Brisbane. The camaraderie and the way there was so many Rotarians there and so many opportunities to meet people from around the world. It is something that is very special to International conferences.

There was tremendous diversity. The Nigerians in their wonderful costumes (long robes and beautiful colors). People from all over the world and it really gives you a perspective on the internationality of Rotary and how much of the world it covers. The things that stick in my mind are: the House of Friendship, the Japanese hostesses in their kimonos, beautiful fabrics, and beautiful people. The politeness of the people its almost over powering. If someone comes to your room and they bow and you bow back and they bow back and you bow back. It can go on for anything up to 10 minutes until you realise you have to stop first. We got over the sore backs from doing that fairly quickly.

A lot of the traditions of Japan were integrated into the conference so it was very interesting. The whole ground floor of the main hotel was run as a continuous tea ceremony. The tea ceremony of Japan is a very unique and fascinating process. It really does go to the very heart of the Japanese experience and the Japanese people. It is about politeness, service, humbling yourself. These strange contrasts and images we have of different countries are often so different when your there.

There was some amazing highlights at the convention.

There was an Indian women who was the wife of an RI President. She spoke about being a Rotary volunteer and how, since the death of her husband, she had taken on a totally new life and a new meaning in her life by becoming a Rotary volunteer around the world. It was just such a moving experience that she had at the coalface of what rotary does around the world. While we naturally concentrate very much in our own area, it is very awareness raising to talk and hear people talk about what Rotary is like at the coalface where the great needs of the world are.

The opening ceremony was just spectacular. It was held in the Osaka Dome which is their local baseball stadium. Baseball is the top sport in Japan. Its like putting rugby, cricket, netball and all those sports together as our top sport and they do it with baseball. It gives you some idea of our achievement in beating them twice in this sport at the Olympics. The opening ceremony was an amazing spectacular. It finished off with a competing three sets of drummers on the stage from Japan, Nigeria and the West Indies – trying to outdo each other with this amazing drum spectacular. I make no apologies for the musical content of this. At the closing ceremony they had a court musician from the Imperial Court of Japan playing an ancient stone flute which was very tiny with the most amazing sound. Really a fantastic experience.

There was a farewell speech from Jonathan Majiyagbe who talked about the four seasons of Rotary. When you think about the Japanese link to nature and the very important part of nature in their culture, this was a very fitting. He talked about the work of Rotary in relationship to the four seasons. It was quite an inspiring speech. Then incoming RI President Glenn Estess talked about the theme for this year – Celebrating Rotary. How we need to really go out in our own communities and make people much more aware about what Rotary is and what Rotary does and the work of Rotary around the world. That was also very inspiring.

The 1 ½ hr bus trip each day into the venue. These huge cities of Asia are quite a revelation. But it was a great opportunity. You met people from all over the world. There was a great spirit of camaraderie. You can talk to anybody and strike up conversations very quickly very easily because you have something in common and a lot to talk about.

The journey continues next week in Japan, China and Mongolia.

What an Amazing Journey! (Part 2)

The Journey Continues! Japan, China, and Mongolia

Touring Japan. Touring Japan was fantastic. I have to confess to having a long time interest and fascination with Japan. This was our first time to visit. Since studying Japanese architecture and garden design way back in the 30s, to be actually able to see the things we studied and experience it was really quite fantastic. We are actually building a traditional Japanese garden at home at the moment. This is my semi retirement project and I’m working harder than I think I ever did. It was fascinating to see the tranquillity and the beauty of the traditional Japanese gardens. It was quite fantastic.

We were able to get out of the major cities. The density of the cities was really something else. We were able to get out into the country and that was really worth seeing.

Touring China. In China it is all about apartment buildings, it is about incredible pollution. We just don’t what pollution is about here. It is terrible there. The traffic – there are 20,000 new cars per day going on to the road in China. But you have to be an Audi dealer. Audis were every where. Volkswagen and Audi have built huge plants there and they are selling so many. Every 2nd car you see is an Audi A6.

We went to Xian to see the terra-cotta warriors which were amazing and on to Peking. The Olympics preparation there is incredible. If Athens just made it. China are about half way there already and it is quite astounding.

To let you know what is happening in China. One of our guides told us that in 1984 the ambition of everybody was to own bicycle and a sewing machine. In 1994 their ambition was to own refrigerator and a washing machine. In 2004 it is to own an Audi and your own apartment. In that 20 years it gives you a really good feeling of what is happening in China. It is just astounding the growth and all under a Communist government.

There is also an interesting definition that he shared with us. Their definition of Heaven is to have a Japanese wife, eat Chinese food, have an American house and own a German car. Their idea of hell is to have a Japanese house, a Chinese car, eat German food, and have an American wife.

Mongolia. What an amazing place. It was our first visit to a third world country and it was quite astounding and unexpected. The land of Ghengis Khan, the greatest empire the world has ever known, and just an amazing country. It is a land without fences where 50% of people live a nomadic life as herders of yaks, sheep, goats and horses. The white houses that dot the landscape and that they can pick up in the space of an hour and move some where else. And they do this every month or so with their herds.

A fascinating way of life a most hospitable people that I have ever met. You can’t ride by without them offering you fermented yak’s milk and lots of other goodies. An amazing people. The annual Nadam Festival which is horse racing, archery and wrestling is celebrated in every city. This really celebrates the traditions of the country and their warrior background. But not only were they fearsome warriors and our idea of the Mongolian hordes. They were actually very sophisticated civilisation. They actually managed their empire extremely well from their remote capital. So they were good administrators as well.

There were Mongolian throat singers as well. This is an ambition that I’ve now set myself. They can sing three different notes at once. They basically sing a trio on their own. Quite an astounding feat. The desperate poverty in Mongolia is terrible. After the Russians left in 1992 basically taking all of their industry and a lot of the employment with them. Unemployment is running at somewhere between 40 and 50%. We visited one family where the whole of their income was derived from their 89 yo grandfather who had a WWII pension and that was to support 10 people.

We went on a tour which showed us these desperately poverty stricken areas. We actually had to go in and buy the food to give a family and you could see how little they had.

Didi Ananda Kalika. Director of The Lotus Children's Centre.  Ulan Bator, Mongolia

The highlight of Mongolia, apart from seeing Travis, was visiting the Lotus Children’s Centre. It was my great privilege to present the club’s cheque for $1,000 to Didi and Tom who run the centre and to see the beautiful little children that they have there. And giving them hope and some form of chance in life. Most of them come from the streets or have been abandoned. At the centre they are given at least a chance of some form of reasonable life.

Bruce Harvey

Grant went to work for a private firm of solicitors in Wodonga, then in Corryong, where he worked for the then Rotary District Governor. Eventually he became Chief Defender for Papua New Guinea, where one of his brightest lawyers wanted to send his son to a ‘white’ school, but couldn’t afford it. Grant approached Rotary in Corryong, who funded the first year of the boy’s studies. Father became the Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, and his son now runs a law firm in Port Moresby. In 1979, Grant joined the Public Solicitor’s Office in the Prosecutions section, and ‘more or less’ stayed in public prosecution until 2002, when he was first appointed as a Special Magistrate, then in February of this year as Chief Magistrate of the ACT.

He spoke about the changes to the ACT Laws and Regulations that come into effect on 1 July 04. The first is the way in which Auctions are conducted. All bidders must be registered, with proof of identity. The second change is that before a property can be put on the market it must have a building inspection and pest control certificate as well as title papers and land lease papers this is to try an stop gazumping.

He also referred to the length of time that it takes to sell a property in a couple of weeks when the market is hot and up to ten weeks when things are slow. During the questions he also mentioned that the training required to become a real estate agent and to stay registered has changed since Nov 2003. Estate Agents must now do ongoing training to retain their licence.

Jupp is still trying to find his 'frigging' bearings (to use a Naval term he apparently learned from Rosemary!) in Australia, but is making a valiant effort eating and drinking on behalf of his country at many functions and diplomatic gatherings in Canberra. Chris, having come from the UK, is loving Canberra - one of his daughters said to him early on in their stay in Adelaide, 'Dad, we are not going home, are we?' - he took her up on that and has not looked back since.

Rotaract evolved from the early 1960s onwards, when Rotary clubs began to sponsor university youth groups as community service projects. The first club chartered was the Rotaract Club of North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, on 13 March 1968. Today, the Rotaract program has grown into an international network of 7,300 clubs in more than 150 countries and geographical areas, with 145,000 members.

Rotaract has the following goals:

Scott Campbell described some of his experiences at the National Youth Science Forum. He spoke with obvious appreciation of the experience, which ‘took things from the text book into the real world’. As well as being able to view some of the physics technology at the ANU, Scott also appreciated the opportunity to meet new people and make connections which gave him a sense of being part of ‘something bigger’.

Ed Sellwood and Rebecca Whitbread described some of the things they learned and experienced at RYLA in early February. They were both pleased to have learned more about themselves, and were introduced to the mysteries of Myers-Briggs type and shown how to apply personal skills ‘in the real world’. Rebecca and Ed both had high praise for the camp, and were very receptive to the knowledge and insights presented.

Julie-Anne Martin described her preparation for participation in the Group Study Exchange visit to the Philippines in March. She said she had enjoyed the experience of learning about Rotary and District 9710, and had visited several clubs to practice the presentations the group will make.