Tonight’s guest speaker was Alina Schertenleib, a Rotary exchange student from Switzerland. She gave us a presentation of her time in Tasmania. She stayed with several host families during her time, including Anita Orchard who hosted her for 2 months. She has grown quite remarkably in her time in Tasmania and she shows a maturing well beyond her years. She leaves to go back to Switzerland in a few weeks and we will all miss her.

Tonight’s guest speaker was Stephanie Cheung who we sponsored to go into the National Youth Science Forum in March. She went in the physics group (there were others such as engineering and chemistry). Stephanie enthusiastically told us about the many projects, talks, tours and the scientists she met. They all received coaching on public speaking and on how to plan their career in science.

Tonight’s guest speaker was Christine Coughanowr from the Derwent Estuary Program.  She talked about the various issues that affect the Derwent River from above Bridgewater to the Bruny Island / O’Possum Bay.  Some of the main problems include pollution, both toxic chemicals and high levels of organic matter and introduced species.  It was reassuring to know that they constantly identify areas that are unsafe to use or fish from, and that things are slowly improving in the river.  She told us of the programs to help endangered handfish that only occurs in Tasmania, and penguin colonies along the shores south of Hobart.

Last night our guest speaker was Annette Psereckis from Laughter Teams Tasmania. She talked about the benefits of laughter and techniques to use laughter to reduce stress in everyday life. At the end of the talk she led our club to practice some of these for several minutes. It was lots of fun.

Tonight’s guest speakers were from Moonah Primary School, Angela Miezitis and Leanne Smith and three students. They all gave a wonderful talk on how they started the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation in their school and how it has benefited the students. The students plant various fruits & vegetables and tend them while they grow. When they are ready the produce becomes ingredients in the kitchen classes where the students learn to prepare and cook food. Another important aspect of the cooking is the sitting down and eating the meal together where they learn and reinforce the social ettiquite. Naturally they also clean the kitchen afterwards.

On Monday we had Maddie Summers from Red Cross talk on International Humanitarian Law. She gave us an overview of the linked history of the Geneva Convention and Red Cross. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works to provide humanitarian aid for victims in areas of conflict. It was formed in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, following the Battle of Solferino in which Henry Dunant witnessed. Henry Dunant saw that the many tens of thousands of people wounded and dying were not given any aid and began a movement to rectify this.

Tonight’s guest speaker was Robert Wise from Veolia.  He gave a very entertaining and informative talk on recycling and general waste.  Robert had several good examples and illustrations of recycling and how recycled items are used.  This was especially important after last week’s talk on the science of climate change.