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Volume 76 Issue 16 Tuesday 19 October 2010
Today’s Guest speaker was Dr Emad Gad, a lecturer at both Melbourne and Swinburne Universities
and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Dr Gad was introduced by Russell Brown who advised us that
the topic was something that costs Victorians more each year than the cost of all fires, floods and
other natural disasters. We were subsequently to learn that the issue in question was damage to
residential houses such as cracking in walls, movement in floor tiles, cracking in paths/driveways and
other general distortions – mainly caused through ground movement.
Approximately 50,000 new homes are built each year at a cost of approximately $40b. Houses in
Victoria are built to AS2870 standard but what many people do not realise is that this is a “minimum
standard” and does not therefore guarantee any form of superior quality. For example, home
owners are typically not told that cracks up to 5mm wide can be apparent in houses and still be
considered as meeting the standard. Another key point of the standard is that there is an onus on
the home owner to properly maintain site conditions.
While 22% of new home owner had concerns or disputes with their builder in 2005, it is typically not
poor quality of work that leads to cracks and other distortions. In fact, in only 2.5% of 1000 properties
surveyed was quality of work the root cause. The most common issues were caused by vegetation
(30%), climatic conditions leading to excessively dry (or wet) soil, especially in clay soils (24%), and
improper ground works done around the house after it was built (24%). The average cost to remedy
issues was $15,000 per house.
The closing message was that if you plan to have extensive vegetation around your new home or to
substantially landscape then consult a building engineer prior to building to ensure your building
footings will be suitable. Architects and builders typically do not have expertise in this area.
Another interesting fact was that in 1988 the average cost to build a new home was $65,000
(excluding land costs) and the average new home size was 181m2. By 2008 this had increased to
$236,000 and the average new home size was 239m2. Even allowing for the increase in house sizes
and inflation this still equates to a 50% net increase in the cost of building.
Upcoming Committee Meetings Committee Chairpersons please advise contact of your next Committee meeting.
Christmas Trailer Raffle
Ticket sales will commence
13th and 14th November
Drawn 14th December 2010
See Alistair FRASER to volunteer to sell raffle tickets
Membership fees
If you have not yet paid
your fees please do so
soon. Payment can be
made by cheque or cash
to Vic Abfalter or Glenn
Smith, electronic transfer
to BSB 633-000 A/c
118082957 or by posting a
cheque to PO Box 161
Essendon 3040.
Former members update
Graeme and Rose Allison have provided the following
article about Jim Saunders, who took up croquet after
playing it at one of our fellowship functions.
Relay for Life: Letters
have been distributed
inviting members to
participate in the event
scheduled for 25/26
February 2010.. If you
have not received one
please contact Michael
Mahoney.
Funds update: President
Glenn reported that while
the club has sufficient funds
in the Projects Account to
cover commitments the
surplus is a bit lower than
what we normally operate
at and as such attention
needs to be paid to fund
raising. President Glenn also
reported that the balance of
the Admin Account is a bit
low and this is partially
attributable to some
members having not yet
paid their dues. This needs
to be remedied asap.
Lost and Found
A pearl earring was
found at Moonee
Valley, after or
Charter function in
June. Contact
Glenn Smith if you
have a lonely pearl
wanting to be
reunited with its
partner.
Dear Sir, Greetings from the Rotary Club of Ahmedabad Metro, India. We take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as a leading Rotary club of District 3050. our club was formed in the year 1996. We are situated at Ahmedabad city, 7th biggest city of India having population of more than 7 million. We are one of the largest club of district having membership of more than 150 members. We have many doctors, engineers, chartered accountant, businessman and social worker as our members. We are doing many permanent projects and short projects regularly. You can find more details about our club from our official website www.rcahdmetro.org <http://www.rcahdmetro.org> . We would like to invite your club for friendship exchange program. You are welcome to be our Guest and enjoy your time with us in and around our beautiful city of Ahmedabad. We have international airport at Ahmedabad and you can have direct flight to Ahmedabad from Dubai, London, Doha, Singapore etc. Ahmedabad is a historic city and we shall be completing 600 years this year. You can see many heritage site along with the most modern shopping mall, multiplex and other amenities. You can find more details about our city in the attached file. I have also attached details about friendship exchange program of Rotary for your quick reference. We are sure that you shall definitely have wonderful time with us during your stay in Ahmedabad. We can also arrange to visit some beautiful place nearby like Mount Abu ( Hill Station ), Shankus Water Park, Diu or Daman ( Beach ) etc. Let us know your interest and convenient period to visit us so that we can plan accordingly. Please reply at the earliest. With best wishes, For, Labh Group of Companies Sunit Hapani Director
The Four Way Test
Rotary’s Four Way Test was written by Chicago Rotarian Herbert J Taylor (RI
President 1954-55) in 1932. The test contains the following four questions to
apply to things we think, say or do:
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Community committee have organised a display entitled "The First 75 Years of Rotary Club of Essendon". It will be at Moonee Ponds Central Shopping Centre, in the Mall between Hall St and Homer St, and be on display there on Sunday 31 October, in conjunction with the Centre's "Sunday Funday". Admission is free and the objective is to promote Rotary within our community. We have been greatly assisted in our endeavours by Sam Merrifield Library and Moonee Valley Racing Club who are lending us the Art Display Panels, upon which our memorabilia will be displayed, for the duration of our event. If you need any further information please contact Alistair Fraser on 0411 117 881.
AVAILABLE AT NEXT WEEK’S ROTARY MEETING DON’T MISS THIS EXCITING OPPORTUNITY!
The Rotary Club of Essendon Inc. and Kangan Institute A Team Effort in Fundraising for Bahay Tuluyan, Philippines
We have an exciting thing for you to participate in. Just donate $50 to be entered into a draw for the opportunity to win:
A $2,500 travel voucher (to be redeemed at Wings Away Travel, 55 Rose Street, Essendon)
Interested? There’s a catch, but it’s easy ……. The first 150 names to donate $50.00 (tax deductible), will be entered into the draw which will be conducted on
Friday 12th November, 2010 during the Fundraising Gala at the Gunung-Willam –Balluk Learning Centre (building W), Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows campus.
Following the draw, a receipt will be sent – unless you are the lucky winner. DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
www.rcessendon.com.au
The Rotary Club of Essendon
P.O Box 161
Essendon, 3040
Phone: 0417352190
Club President:
Glenn Smith
Club Secretary:
Shirley Kukk
Contact Editors:
Peter Halaseh
0402193379
Attendance at today’s meeting
30Members & 1 guest
Bits and Pieces
New Members Wanted! Here are some classifications suggested
by the honest, hardworking, and
sometimes hilarious Peter Baker:
Horseperson, Hospitality, Hairdressing,
Horticulture, Hosiery & Hospital
Administration
Thursday 28 October – Rotary Club of Tullamarine – Breakfast meeting with Sam Lipski, CEO of
The Pratt Foundation as guest speaker. Starts at 7am, Hilton Hotel Melbourne Airport, cost $30
including car parking
Wednesday 17 November – Rotary Clubs of Moonee Valley and Essendon North are hosting a
dinner meeting for all Clubs in our Cluster. Guest speaker is Maria Ruberto on the topic of
Positive Psychology. Time is 6 for 6.30pm at Fredrick’s, cost is $35.
Wednesday 17 November – Rotary Club of Central Melbourne Sunrise is hosting the Annual
Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Breakfast, with Professor David de Krester, AC, Governor of Victoria
as the guest speaker. Venue is The RACV Club, 7.15 for 7.30am, cost of $55 per person.
Painters
Required Rowallan Scout Camp
Riddells Creek Saturday 6th and Sunday
7th
November
Two Dormitories’
Exterior.
Paint supplied, just
bring your personal
Paint brush.
Spares will be
available.
Contact:
Wal Dibben or
Lino Airo-Farulla
Bahay Tuluyan Fund Raiser Cocktail Party we are accepting donations for the Bahay Tuluyan fund raiser, members should have received a copy a letter of request. All items big and small accepted. We are making up hampers if anyone would like to donate towards the hampers ie chocolates; candles; wine etc etc
See Shirley Kukk and Cathy Nicou
CONTACT: President Glenn advised that everyone should have received a hard copy version of
CONTACT mailed to their home. This was being done courtesy of Frank Forgione and the
Australia Post eLetter Centre. Thank you Frank. If you did not receive a copy in mail then please
contact CONTACT editor Peter Halaseh to ensure your name/address details are on the
distribution list. Conversely, if you prefer to obtain an electronic only copy via email/web then
please also contact Peter Halaseh to have your details removed from the mailing distribution list.
Make up Opportunities
If you have been absent from a recent meeting, here are some opportunities to make-up at
one of the following functions. Further details are available from the District newsletter
http://www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/site/1164/Networker131010.pdf or by contacting Glenn
Smith. Peter Halaseh Attended Club meetings in Tasmania; Combined meeting; Sandy Bay and
Kingston Clubs.