In keeping with the theme of the evening's presentation the thought for the night was:

 

"The economy is the start and the end of everything. You can't have a successful education reform or any other reform if you don't have a strong economy." David Cameron

 

And a second thought which is a bit different:

 

"Prison inmates are treated to cable TV, hot meals and a college education while on  the outside, many people can only afford these things through a life of crime." Alfred E. Neumann

 

 

 

 

On Monday night Matthew Sonnemann, a stock broker  and wealth manager for over thirty years, spoke with us about the state of the economy in the recent last financial year and in the current financial year.

 

He displayed graphs and reports which highlighted the status of currencies, which had been debased by inflation, as well as the fact that the trend for the GDP in Australia is in a gradual state of decline. Matthew also mentioned a fact often referred to by business commentators in the media, that the influx of one million immigrants is making the Australian economy look much better than it actually is.

 

Until four or five years ago, the Australian economy was looking relatively good. He listed the fundamental issues affecting any discussion/analysis of the trends in the Australian economy:

Thank you Matthew for a very informative presentation.

 

This week 26 February, the bike riders caught the train to Merinda Park and rode south on the path under the power lines to the western entrance of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. We had coffee at the cafe in the service centre. 

 

The website of the Botanic Gardens is https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cranbourne-gardens/  We didn’t go into the Garden’s Living Collections of Plants but rode on the Bush Land bike path. The photo is taken at the Elisabeth Murdoch Pavilion in the southern grassland area.

 

The ride then continued northward along the dedicated separate path of the newly constructed Narre Warren Cranbourne Road. We had a brief look at the Hilltop Park Reserve before finishing with lunch at the Settlement Hotel and catching the train home from Cranbourne station.

 

 

 

 

Rotary SAFE Families is going global and is being endorsed by District 9800.

 

We are continuing our campaign in primary prevention of family violence to men, women, children and elderly of any diversity but increasing our reach into global peace and mental health literacy.

 

We would be greatly appreciative if you could promote our first global Mega Meeting to your members.

 

The invitations to join this meeting online extends to more than 30 countries.

 

We now have 3 inspirational Patrons who will be supporting our journey:

Gordon McInally, Immed. RI PP

Pat Merryweather-Arges, Immed. Past Vice President

Grace Van Zyl, Chair Rotary Action Group for Peace

 

We are providing members on Registration the chance to become a Special Representative of Rotary SAFE Families- Building a Culture of Peace.

 

I hope our District members are able to join us online and Register. There will be a You Tube video available later.

 

My kindest regards

Dorothy