ROTARY CLUB OF BURNIE
THE BULLETIN
Vol 47 - No. 20
President - Jim Forsyth
Secretary - George Austin
Treasurer - David Bennett
10th November 2014
PROGRAM
10 November – Malcolm Hillbeck
NOVEMBER: ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH
Duty Roster November – Geoff McLean, Nigel Morgan, Graeme Muir
Apologies - If you are unable to attend for any reason please notify Carolyne at BRL
(6431 6333; or email [email protected]) by midday on Monday. Failure to do
so will mean you are still responsible for the cost of the meal.
Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthdays - 13th Nov - Helena McLean, Wayne Licht
Invocation
For good food, for good fellowship,
may the giver of all our blessings make us truly thankful.
President Jim Forsyth opened the meeting.
He welcomed John Glen and David Bennett back from their trekking in Nepal.
 There is a good article about Exchange student in the DG’s bulletin
 Lucky Starr concert – at the Rhodo Garden in January . Organizing committee to be
formed at board meeting.
 Murray and Jenny O’Connor, Ken & Lois Moore and John Glen attended the
Ulverstone Rotary Club Dinner. $14,500 was contributed on the night

All other Rotary Clubs have donated to the Cancer Clinic in Burnie. Denise Parry is
the manager.
Other Reminders
 Christmas function will be held at Hellyer’s Road Distillery on Friday December 5.
Cost $60 pp. No meeting on Monday December 8.
 Accommodation ($99 per night) has been organized for the Strahan Fishing Trip in
November.
 Visits to Haulmax and Southern Prospects have been deferred until January. Paul
Kearney has volunteered to approach Lactos seeking a vocational visit at an earlier
date.
 Allan Jamieson is looking for items for an auction to raise funds for the Conference.
REPORTS
Rotary Information – Graeme Wood
Graeme spoke about the Rotary website and by becoming a member you can interact with
members around the world. The Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of
Rotarians, family members, and Rotaractors who are experts in their field, such as
microcredit or water and sanitation. Group members share their expertise by collaborating
with clubs and districts on service projects.
Rotarians can contribute. Issues also include alzheimers/dementia, blindness, dental,
diabetes, food plant solutions, malaria, literacy, malnutrition etc.
Secretarial – George Austin
 Noel Atkins has had his minor operation and Murray O’Connor also spoke to Noel
before the meeting. He hopes to be home about 3rd November.
 Paul Kearney had mentioned the White Lion mentoring program last week – it is
quite a challenge and is a noble project. The board will consider this.
 We have been invited to become members of the Emu Valley Rhododendron
Gardens $25 or $35 for a couple.
 Letter from Clifford Craig organisation seeking funds.
 Some of our police reports are to be distributed.
Raffle Winners – Bruce Clark, Graeme Muir.
Attendance, Doug Forrest
19 members present, 1 excused member, 2 make ups, Total 22, = 71%
-Apologies: Paul Kearney, John Packham, Robert Bentley, Stan French, Craig Brooks,
Allan Jamieson, David McCarthy
-Make Ups: Stan French, Robert Bentley
-Sick Leave: Noel Atkins.
-Leave of Absence: Allan Jamieson, Robyn Priestley, Barrie Crawford
Sausage Sizzle, Bruce Clark
The takings last week were down a bit.
The latest roster is:
November 1 – Jim Forsyth, John Packham, Murray O’Connor
November 8 – George Austin, John Glen, David Bennett
November 15 – Murray O’Connor, Graeme Wood, Geoff McLean
November 22 – Craig Brooks, Kay Lord, Jay Kotay
Guest Speaker – Dr Themba Bulle
Themba Bulle was born in Bulawayo (population of around
500,000 people) in the British colony of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
He is married to Senzeni Bulle, an accountant and they have four
children.
Themba did his primary and secondary education in Zimbabwe.
He attained his BSC (Cum laude) in USA in 1981. He was then
travelling on a British passport as a British subject.
He did medicine in Ireland where he graduated in 1989.
He worked in Ireland, returning to Zimbabwe in 1994. In England he had an opportunity to
work in Coventry and Barnstaple (Devon).
In Zimbabwe he entered in a programme to become a surgeon but abandoned that in 1996
when his father fell sick. His father is the late Mr Ernest Leonard Bulle who was a University
Lecturer, Politician and Businessman. His mother is the late Dammie Bulle a school teacher
who died recently.
In 2001 he left Zimbabwe for South Africa where he worked as a GP until moving to
Australia in 2004 for economic reasons. His intention was to work for 6 months and return
to South Africa.
Themba has worked at the City Medical Practice in Burnie. He had his own small surgery at
the Medical Centre at the North West Private Hospital. Then he moved to the Burnie GP
Super Clinic (BGPSC) where he is at present. Themba is an owner and director of the Burnie
Super Clinic and Burnie GP Super Clinic. The Burnie GP Super Clinic was funded by the Kevin
Rudd Superclinic Program to the tune of $2.5 million. Themba and his colleagues raised
another $2.5 million to complete the clinic.
The BGPSC meets its commitment to the government and the people of the North West
Coast. It has reduced the number of category 4 and 5 patient presentations to the Accident
& Emergency. It operates an afterhours clinic from 6-9pm weekdays and 2-6pm weekends.
It also addresses chronic health issues. BGPSC doctors cover Umina Park and Yaraandoo
Nursing homes.
He feels there is still a shortage of doctors in the North West. The doctor patient ratio
should be 1/1100 but it is 1/1400 in the North West. There is also a shortage of Allied Health
Professionals and Specialists. Health Recruitment Plus has been able to attract and retain
doctors in the area by promoting lifestyle and offering personalised assistance to the new
doctors and their families. Job opportunities for the spouse is very important in this
retention.
Themba has done locums in Sheffield and also in Ocean Grove, Victoria.
He became a Fellow of RACGP in 2007. This allowed him to apply for his Australian
permanent residency and citizenship which he attained in 2010.
Health systems in the USA, Ireland, England, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia were
discussed. Australia ranks highly.
Themba strongly opposes the $7 co-payment and would be happy to see it shelved as it
would have a negative health effect in the North West.
He believes education is the way into improving health standards in the North West,
tackling things like smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity. Health Education should
be started in primary school.