Wednesday 29th October 2025
To compliment the strong Melbourne Cup fever in the room we took the members down memory lane with three great videos which were:
Colin Hay Performs "Down Under" at the 2022 Melbourne Cup - this was the first full-blown Melbourne Cup event after Covid 19 restrictions of the previous 2 years. This great song not only opened the event in 2022 but heralded the lifting of many of the Covid 19 restrictions in Melbourne. It was a fantastic celebration on a multitude of different levels.
History of Melbourne Cup and Melbourne’s Horse Racing Legacy
This video reflected on the origins and early days of the Melbourne Cup and its beginnings in the early 1860's to its grandiose modern day spectacular event. Known as “the race that stops a nation,” and its growth into a major national event, watched locally and globally by millions of people. This video helps to demonstrate the Melbourne Cup's huge cultural significance across Australia and the economic impact on Melbourne and Victoria. It also captures Key highlights at Flemington Racecourse and surrounding buildings from its humble and basic beginnings to the impressive grandstands and super skyscrapers in the background in the current era of horse racing.
Vision of 100 Years of Fashion at The Melbourne Cup Carnival
Amazing footage that captures over 100 years of fashion at the Melbourne Cup. Which styles would you bring back, and which styles have been recycled already. These last two videos painted a vivid picture of the phenomenal growth and expansion of Flemington and Melbourne influenced by horse racing, fashion and the wonderful pizazz for Victoria and the nation. Based on lovely applause after each video, indicated that everyone enjoyed the insight and entertainment they provided.
Several members took the opportunity to give us their reflections of their Melbourne Cup experiences, and anything connected with a horse, jockey, trainer or event relating to the Melbourne Cup. Many crazy anecdotal stories emerged too. Best one was from Jon Oppy, was to take your 9-month pregnant wife to the Melbourne Cup to enjoy all the preferential treatment on offer.
Denise Oppy won the best dressed Melbourne Cup Fashion award - the prize was a box of delicate imported chocolates. Congratulations to Denise and all the beautiful people that made an extra special effort for making our celebration more colourful.
Brenda and Teresa organised the sweepstakes for the Melbourne Cup. All tickets were sold out well before the end of the meeting. We are looking forward to some big winners next week, who will no doubt be shouting us all a free round of drinks. If you want to do some serious betting, here is a bit of a big tip. Peter Pratt's horse, The Brave Denza is a sure thing in the 4th race on the Melbourne Cup Day. If you missed this opportunity, then look for a horse named Nadal in future races. Trust me this is a very hot tip from very reliable sources.
The meals, service and venue (larger dining room) were all great and the camaraderie felt awesome. Thank you to everyone that made our Melbourne Cup celebration a happy and successful fellowship evening.
Although it was a fellowship night we managed to squeeze in some important club announcements.
- Nadia - presented the outcome of the highly successful Bunnings BBQ. Nadia thanked each one of the super hard-working members for their support. This was a huge day, perhaps a new record and the net profit was $2700. Nadia has been provided with a date (29th Nov 2025) for the next BBQ and will again be looking for helpers. Congratulations to Nadia and her BBQ team for this outstanding achievement.
- Teresa - gave us an update and the brief challenges of the Makers Market. More importantly she is looking for support for selling Rotary Christmas Cakes on Sunday (2/11/2025).
- Richard - presented his almoner report. As always, our caring and kind-hearted Richard keeps us well updated in this area. Our almoner himself was unwell and is recovering from a recent hospitalization of 2 days. Richard informed us that about two hundred people attended Adrian Campbell's memorial service. Many of our members were in attendance, mourning the loss of our dear friend and long serving Rotary member. Peter Allen presented an extensive overview at the memorial of Adrian's dedication, commitment, and accomplishments in Rotary. He was the perfect embodiment of "service above self" He will be dearly missed, and his great Legacy will live on forever in our Club. Sue Hope sadly lost her mum last Tuesday. She had recently (3 months ago) celebrated her 100th Birthday. Our thoughts and prayers and sincere condolences go out to the families and friends that are grieving the loss of their loved ones.
- David Troon - presented the Boroondara Preloved Goods Donation Day scheduled for Saturday 15 November from 9.00am -1.00pm 3 Inglesby Road, Camberwell (Council Car Park). Unfortunately, this drive has been so popular, the event is fully booked out. Rose McVicar recommends the community register to create a waiting list for the next event. Please see details attached. at the end of the bulletin.
On a side note, on Wednesday afternoon I celebrated my 20th Plasma donation at the Lifeblood Centre in Camberwell. In recent times I switched from donating whole blood to Plasma. This liquid gold can be used in eighteen life -giving ways (see photos for details). I encourage all those that can give to jump onto a regular giving program if you are not already on one. Plasma donations can be done every 2 weeks by healthy donors.
Thanks
