MC for the meeting was Peter Dakin, followed by Ruth Carlos Martinez of presented the reflection, which are published in this bulletin, and Past President Peter Rogers presided over the Monash Medal presentation.
PP Quin Scalzo gave us a short overview of the archeological find, in a property that his business is involved in developing. It uncovered extensive artefacts of early Melbourne life.
A highlight in the Club's calendar is the awarding each year of the Monash Medal which recognises the contribution of our second president Sir John Monash. The medal is awarded to an outstanding Australian for the contribution of that person to the Australian community and beyond. The criteria for awarding the medal are leadership, integrity, and service. It was first awarded in 2010.
This year's award was presented last Wednesday by the President Adrian Nelson assisted by Michael Bennett, great grandson of Sir John Monash. This year's recipient was eminent civil engineer and academic Prof Emer Peter Darvall AO FTSE FIE Aust - the first civil engineer to be made this award. Peter Darvall completed 50 years service under the Monash banner last year. This comprised 33 years at Monash University where he was Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Development, and then Vice Chancellor from 2002 until August 2003 when Prof Richard Larkins was appointed. He then devoted his service to establishing the Sir John Monash Foundation scholarships for a further 17 years. These scholarships are like the Rhodes scholarship but can be taken at any prominent overseas university.
It was appropriate that Hanna Gandy was in the audience. Hanna is a John Monash Scholar and successfully nominated by our club for a District Rotary Postgraduate Scholarship. Also present were former Medal recipients and John Monash Foundation CEO Annemarie Rolls and colleague Trudi Camilleri.
Peter Rogers, 0808 Committee
You can read the Introduction to the presentation of the Monash Medal HERE.
You can read Prof Peter Darvall's acceptance speech in HERE.
