This Meeting was our 17th this Rotary year and our 5,008th meeting in the Club’s 103rd year.
The central focus of this meeting was the keynote address given by Benjamin Northey, Conductor in Residence at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), speaking about Leadership from the perspective of a conductor.
The meeting was well supported in person and on-line by members and guest.
It was pleasing to have as our guests for this meeting Dr Ian Ross (celebrating his 50th Anniversary in Rotary Melbourne), accompanied by his wife Margaret. Other guests included Cathy Rogers, guest of pp Peter Rogers, Irina Mares, guest of Ramona Martinovici, Marian Shaw, guest of John Shaw, Douglas Heyward, guest of pp Robert Fisher, Millie Swan, and David Fernee visiting from the Rotary Club of Pakenham
This week’s MC was past President, Peter Dakin, and a thoughtful reflection was delivered by Philip Cornish (see later article).
President Chris Sotiropoulos led us in the loyal toast, and at post meal resumption invited John Peberdy to the podium to update us on RIMERN and encourage members to donate unwanted items of furniture and appliances suitable for small residences to support needy clients many of whom had suffered homelessness or family violence setting up their homes (see later article).
President Chris then paid tribute to Ian Ross who has been conferred honorary member status after 50 years continuous Rotary Melbourne membership. Chris read the citation which he presented to Ian after which Ian spoke briefly of the highlights of his Rotary experience (see later article). Above all he valued the fellowship and longstanding friendships he and Margaret had formed in Rotary, through activities such as ten Annual On-to-Conference pre–District Conference tours and the Peninsular Local Group. Ian’s full citation is published later in the Bulletin. Congratulations Ian and Margaret for your support of Rotary Melbourne.
President Chris reminded us of the forthcoming AGM on 22 November 2023 encouraging interested members to nominate for key Rotary Melbourne leadership roles.
Arts Committee Chair Maestro David Kram then came to the podium to give us an update on the Arts Committee sponsored attendance of Opera lovers at the MSO performance Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace, created by prominent indigenous composer & soprano Deborah Cheetham Fraillon OA.
Immediate past president Adrian Nelson proceeded then to introduce MSO Conductor in Residence, Benjamin Northey. Benjamin’s entertaining address deserves to be watched by clicking either of the two links below. He began his musical career as an Orchestral Saxophonist. Mentored early by John Hopkins OBE at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, he went on to study conducting at Finland’s Sibelius Academy and completed his studies at the Stockholm Royal College of Music. In his spare time he assists the Hush Foundation as Artistic Director.
His likened the leadership role of a conductor to herding cats and emphasised that much of the secret of conducting is non-verbal, and relies more on expressive body language and accomplished hand and arm movement. He saw an important role in helping musicians achieve the potential of their talent. Interestingly, he noted that over-use of verbal instruction runs the risk of diminished impact because the conductors voice unlikely to be fully heard.
Overall this meeting was another highlight of the Club’s reach and broad support. You won’t regret listening to Benjamin’s address in the 2023 Speaker Series #17 be clicking here or viewing the full recording of the meeting by clicking here
