The 29^th Meeting of this Rotary year and our 5018^th all time Club meeting, in our one hundred and third year. Bernie McIntosh was MC and opened the meeting.

The reflection (included later in this Bulletin) was capably delivered by President Elect Philip Cornish. 

Guests, friends and Rotarians from near and far enjoyed former Australian Ambassador to the USA, The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO deliver our 2024 Angus Mitchell Oration (AMO) last Wednesday. Inspiring, educational and a signature event!.

This year’s AMO attracted 160 attendees including strong attendance by Rotary Melbourne Members, and demonstrable support for the Melbourne diplomatic community (Japan, India, Taiwan, USA).

Mr Sinodinos delivered a broad analysis of the rapidly evolving geopolitical environment in which Australia finds itself, reflecting on his experiences as Ambassador the USA.  Highlighting the need for Australia to continue to step up in sharing the burden of ensuring security in our own region.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are exploring opportunities in developing joint advanced military capabilities under the AUKUS partnership, including provision of nuclear-powered submarines and development of a range of advanced technologies across all facets of defence capability.

Meanwhile regional tensions and the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean are also bringing focus to Australia’s role within the Quad diplomatic partnership, between Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

Several key points in his informative assessment are below:

• Stories of the decline of the US as a global power are somewhat premature.
• Australia must balance the continued benefits of our Chinese economic relationship while realistically protecting our sovereign interest in responding to China's global diplomatic and political objectives.
• The failure of China’s attempt at economic coercion of Australia has seen some restoration of normal diplomatic relations following the change of Government in Australia in 2022 but are unlikely to return to the optimistic expectations of a decade back.
• Arthur made a strong point that the US needs Australia and others in the Region to step up and share the burden of Indo-Pacific security and noted several encouraging developments;
• The quad:  a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting open, stable and prosperous countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The impressive bipartisan commitment of Australian political leaders to the AUKUS tri-lateral security partnership and the acquisition of an initial three Virginia Class nuclear submarines shows demonstrably Australia’s willingness to “step up” to share the burden of Indo-Pacific security.
• The longer term commitment by Australia to  development, construction and delivery for the Royal Australian Navy of an advanced, nuclear-powered ‘SSN-AUKUS’ submarine, incorporating Australian, UK and US technologies.  
• This project will be a significant challenge for Australia to rapidly build our nuclear capability given the 50 years it has taken for the USA to set up their own manufacturing, operational and through life support capabilities;   
• He discussed the challenge posed on our democracies by the growing influence of social media which has fragmented the political discourse, with the public choosing the news they want to consume, the facts they want to believe in, making it near impossible for people to agree even on a common set of problems;
• Arthur was sanguine about the forthcoming US Presidential election, describing it as too close to call. With true diplomatic subtlety, Arthur explained that recent discussions from political rivals and the media about the age of President Joe Biden were exaggerations of a problem with names the President has displayed for his whole political life; and not the onset of dementia. In reality he is still “intellectually, as sharp as a tack”
  
  Regrettably an operator error prevented recording of this year’s oration.
  
  In closing the event President Chris Sotiropoulos expressed appreciation to Arthur Sinodinos for his outstanding address.
  
  He reminded us that next week’s meeting will be addressed by Abiola Akinbiyi, Founder of Changepreneurs who is expected to talk on her organisation's work in 'Empowering Young CALD Women: Mentoring, Education, Networking and Outreach'. More details separately in the Bulletin.

Iris Papathanasiou, journalist with Neos Kosmos publication, attended the Angus Mitchell Oration and has published the attached article in Neos Kosmos on Sunday 25 Feb 24.

Click here to see our full photo gallery of the event.

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