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AUSTRALIAN ONLINE & TRAVELLERS LIONS CLUB
CHARTER DATE: JANUARY 3RD, 2018
JANUARY BULLETIN 2019
We provide a unique “Service” Club membership and our primary focus is to retain existing Lions whose Lions Clubs may have closed and would still like to remain Lions.
To welcome those Lions who would like to travel for extended periods of time within and outside Australia and still remain a Lions Family Member.
To provide an option for those Lions who are unable to attend a
mainstream Lions Club because they work away from home, who have
health problems, or the nearest Lions Club is just too far away for then to
remain Lions.
Our Lions Club goals are in keeping with the humanitarian, community
spirited, fun and service mindedness of Lions.
Our members are dedicated to assisting other Lions Clubs in helping to
make their communities a better place to live, work and grow.
We currently have members from Western Australia, Queensland,
Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand.
Australian Online & Travellers Lions Club
Charter Members
President: Lion Hazel Pickwell [email protected]
Secretary: Lion Gwyneth Payne [email protected]
Treasurer: Lion Arthur Leech [email protected]
Membership Chairman: Lion Ted Pickwell [email protected]
Lion Ted Hughes
Lion Brenda Payne
Lion Bernie Donchi
Lion Neil Bilney
Lion Pauline Bilney
Lion Denise Clarke
Lion Janice Clifford
Lion Bernie Clifford
Lion Jan Donchi
Lion Dianne Hughes
Lion Alan Large
Lion Andrew Payne
Lion Rod Payne
Lion Stewart Payne
Lion Lesley Petersen
Lion Tony Petersen
Lion Angela Williams
Lion Rolly Williams
PRESIDENTS REPORT January 2019
Dear Lions
Welcome to 2019. I hope everybody had a Great Christmas and New
Year. We have also had our first year as at 3rd January and will
celebrate this with becoming Officially Incorporated. We have a quite a
bit of discussion on this subject as can be seen from the Agenda for this
monthly meeting.
Looking a short time ahead we will soon be calling for nominations for
different positions in our club, so thinking caps on please as to your
involvement in moving ahead and expanding our operations.
Lion Ted & I will be travelling on a cruise to the Tennis on the 19th
January and may be out of range for a couple of days if you try to
contact us.
In line with other Festive Occasions there has not been a great deal of
worthy news items locally and as a consequence I must apologise for a
short report.
Best Wishes
Yours in Lionism
Hazel Pickwell
President
Australian Online &Travellers Lions Club
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held
December 10th, 2018, 6pm for 6.30pm NSW Time
1. Attendance: Lions Stewart Payne, Gwyneth Payne, Hazel Pickwell, Ted
Pickwell, Rod Payne, Brenda Payne, Janice Clifford, PDG Bernie Clifford,
Bernie Donchi, Jan Donchi, Denise Clarke, Alan Large, Arthur Leech, Tony
Petersen, Lesley Petersen, Neil Bilney, Pauline Bilney
Partners and Guests: DG David Emanuel, Lion Jill Emanuel (Kootingal &
District Lions Club), Region 5 Chairman Lion John Hook (Tamworth Lions
Club) and Lions Lady Christine Hook, Lion Lee Rodger (Kootingal & District
Lions Club), Lions Lady Ros Large, Lions Lady Wendy Leech
2. Apologies: Lion Andrew Payne, Lion Rolly Williams, Lion Angela Williams,
Lion Ted Hughes, Lion Dianne Hughes
Motion: That the Apologies be accepted
Moved: Lion Stewart payne
Seconded: Lion Jan Donchi
Against: Nil
Carried: Yes
3. Welcome of Members and Guests: President Lion Hazel Pickwell welcomed
Members and Guests
District Governor DG David Emanuel, Lion Jill Emanuel (Kootingal & District Lions
Club), Region 5 Chairman Lion John Hook (Tamworth Lions Club) and Lions Lady
Christine Hook, Lion Lee Rodger (Kootingal & District Lions Club), Lions Lady Ros
Large, Lions Lady Wendy Leech
4. Protocol Established:
Lion Gwyneth Payne posted the protocol.
That the Australian Online & Travellers Lions Club recognises, Past Multiple
District Officers, Past District Governors, District Cabinet Officers past and
present, The President of the Australian Online & Travellers Lions Club, Lion
Hazel Pickwell, Lions, Lions Ladies and Partners of the Australian Online &
Travellers Lions Club and Guests.
All speakers may now be addressed as “Lion…”
5. International Purposes:
The Purposes were posted at the Annual General Meeting held immediately
prior to this Meeting.
6. Confirmation of Minutes:
Motion: That the Minutes of the previous meeting
held November 12th, 2018 as emailed to members
be accepted.
Moved: Lion Janice Clifford
Seconded: Lion Tony Petersen
Against: Nil
Carried: Yes
7. Business arising from the Minutes: Nil
8. Correspondence: 8.1 Inwards Correspondence as emailed to
Members.
8.1.1 Cab Sec Mailout 201n1 One
8.1.2 World Diabetes Day
8.1.3 NEW Website LCI
8.1.4 New Website update LCI
8.1.5 Club Officers Survey
8.1.6 Cab Sec Mailout Two Consolidated
8.1.7 Cab Sec Mailout Two Work and
Safety Letter
8.1.8 Lion Work and Safety Manual
8.1.9 Cab sec Mailout Front Page Email
Two
8.1.10 Message IP re GAT LCI
8.1.11 Loomis Lions USA Newsletter
8.1.12 Norther Lion Newsletter
8.1.13
8.2 Outwards as emailed to Members NIL
Motion: That the Inwards and Outwards
Correspondence as emailed to members be
accepted.
Moved: Lion Ted Pickwell
Seconded: Lion Bernie Donchi
Against: Nil
Carried: Yes
9. Business arising from the Correspondence:
Item 8.1.8 Work and Safety Manual to be discussed at the January 14th, 2019
Meeting
10. Presidents Report: Presented by Lion Hazel
Dear Lions
I had the very pleasant surprise of welcoming Lions Dianne & Ted Hughes to
our home in Grenfell. During their visit I was able to present Dianne with her
Bulletin Editor’s Badge and thank her for a job well done. I think everybody will
endorse my comments as we have received so many congratulatory letters on
a well put together presentation. I would also like to thank all our members who
have had input into the Bulletin and look forward to the articles from those who
are still to submit some pearls of information.
So, it is nearly a year from when our club started, and it has been a very
interesting time for all of our Members who have accepted the challenge of
getting on top of all the problems associated with getting our operation up and
running. I would like to thank everybody for their efforts to date.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Members and their Families a
Very Merry Christmas and Exceptional Prosperous New Year.
Best Wishes
Yours in Lionism
Hazel Pickwell
President
Motion: That the President Report for November
2018 be accepted.
Moved: Lion Hazel Pickwell
Seconded: Lion Janice Clifford
Against: Nil
Carried: Yes
11. Treasurers Report:
Motion: That the Treasurers Report for November 2018, be accepted.
Moved: Lion Arthur Leech
Seconded: Lion Ted Pickwell
Against: Nil
Carried: Yes
12. General Business:
12.1 District Governor Lion David Emanuel Official Visit
12.1.1 President Hazel Pickwell asked Region 5 Chairman Lion John Hook
to introduce District Governor David Emanuel
Good evening President Hazel and all members of Australia Online
& Travellers Lion Club. It gives me great pleasure to Introduce our
District Governor David Emanuel.
David was born in Armidale the youngest of 4 sons who all had a
loving caring upbringing. He did his schooling at Ben Venue and
Armidale, then finishing his secondary schooling at Tamworth High
School. He moved to Tamworth with his parents about 1962. David
worked in the Electrical Retail Industry one of which was
Westinghouse Appliances.
He married Jill in 1969, living in Tamworth until 1971 when he was
transferred to Sydney with Westinghouse Appliances. He became a
Partner in Norman’s Discounts, a Retrovision store and retired to
Moonbi in 2007 when he took up driving a School Bus. He retired
last year.
David and Jill joined Lions as Charter Members of the Canada Bay
Lions Club in 2004 and later transferred to Burwood Club where he
served on the Board, transferring to Kootingal Club in 2009 and was
President in 2011-2012. He served on Cabinet since 2013 as Zone,
Region Chairs then as 1st and 2nd Vice Governor.
His main objectives this year is to see Clubs strengthen their
numbers by retention and new faces. His theme is
LIONS......CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE.
David awards are JD Richardson, Treasurer, Zone Chairperson, DG
Awards, also a Melvin Jones Fellowship from Cabinet. In his spare
time he is active with Red Cross, Tamworth U3A and Community
Halls.
Lion Jill and DG David will be supporting the Lions Childhood Cancer
Research Foundation and ask for your support with this great project
- The fight against Cancer.
I now introduce to you DG David Emanuel 2018-2019.
12.1.2 District Governor’s Address
It is great to be with you tonight to share in your meeting with my DG
Visit to your Lions Club which has many differences to other area-
based Lions Clubs.
These differences bring about change and challenges as to how we
go to market, not having an activities account gives opportunities to
be helping other Clubs in service with their community projects,
which I believe is a great way to show Lions in action to the general
community.
As we know our Lions International President Gudrun Vngvadottir is
from Iceland, the first international President from that country, our
first Female in this position.
We are the largest service organisation in the world and have a
respected and reliable Name for now over 100 year hence we must
be prepared to look within our Clubs and Districts to see where there
is need for change as we will not continue for another 100 years
doing some old some old.
The world is in need of our help as 253 M individuals are Blind or
visually impaired, Everyday 245 people die from Measles, each night
more than 800 M people go to bed hungry, and the lists go on as you
can see from the challenges that face Lions Club International
Foundation during this year in their 50th Anniversary year.
We must raise US$300 million dollars to be able for Lions to
continue to provide and assistance to those in need from
circumstances people find themselves in due to changes around
them like earthquakes, floods, fires, landslides, and so the list go on
and on.
The best way to support LCIF is via the purchases of Melvin Jones
Fellowship either as an individual or a club for a member or a
Community Citizen at US $1000.00 and I recommend this to those
who can afford it or plan it in your will to assist Lions Club
International Foundation to continue in the great work being done.
Currently your clubs have 4 members with a MJF and 3 members
with credit balances.
This year we are supporting Australian Childhood Cancer Research
Foundation as our DG project because the work that is being done
with the Lions and the Garvin Institute of Medical Research who are
leaders in Genomics and genome sequencing, with the Genome
Power Lions & Garvin have combined to radically transform the
understanding and treatment of Kids Cancer. Please support our
raffle first prize is $5000 worth of Fisher & Paykel Appliances of the
winner’s choice. Tickets just $2 each or 6 for $10, plus other prizes
a; prizes will be drawn at the Narrabri 1st June 2019 Cabinet
meeting.
As at 30th November 2018 our District Membership has had an
increase over the 5 months by 36 members. Currently we have 9
Districts in transition in the Multi District, so a lot of work needs to be
done with retention and attitudes of some Clubs and members.
Membership is our life line and tonight I want us all to celebrate
some great milestones of some of your members who have given in
total some 85 years of community service as members of Lions Club
International, this is the opportunity that LCI make to say THANK
YOU to these members for their great serve making a difference to
their communities and the world at large.
Please join with me and drink a toast saying Well Done to the
following Members receiving their Monarch Chevron Awards:
* Lion Alan Large 30 Years.
* Lion Terence Pickwell 15 Years
* Lion Dianne Hughes 10 years
* Lion Rodney Payne 10 Years
* Lion Brenda Payne 10 Years
* Lion Andrew Payne 10 Years
Hope you are drinking the toast.
During my Club Visits I like to make a small presentation to 2 of the
Members and tonight I wish to recognise a person who puts a lot of
work into spreading the news your Bulletin Editor Lion Dianne
Hughes. The other member I have selected is Lion Bernie Donchi
who does so much behind the scene in your club and helps a lot with
Cake sales and Bunnings BBQ when at Home. Congratulations to
both Dianne & Bernie keep up the good work and please accept my
personal pen. It will come to you somehow trust me.
I would to make a presentation to your club of my Bannerette which
has the Global action Team Badge which looks after membership,
Leadership and Service all Lions have ever done but this allows
better lines of communications between LCI, District and Clubs.
Remember clubs with no action are not going anywhere. The Leos
Badge and the Lioness Badge in the bottom corners with the 50th
Anniversary of Lions Club International Foundation.
My theme is Lions… Champion of Change which
is not Jill and myself but you and all the Lions as
you change people lives and your own by helping
others in need. Reach out with the hand to each
other and those we help. WE Serve.
Thanks for all the kindness & friendship you have
extended to both Jill & Myself.
12.1.3 Vote of Thank to District Governor by Lion Bernie Donchi
On behalf of the members of the Australian Online and Travellers Lions
Club, I wish to offer our sincere thanks to DG Lion David for his most
welcome words of encouragement and wisdom during tonight’s meeting. I
would also like to pass on our thanks to Lion Jill, for her support and
understanding during the year to date and wish both Emanuel’s a very
prosperous year ahead.
13. Membership: Presented by Lion Ted Pickwell
Lion Ted Pickwell noted that he had one possible member which will be
discussed at the Membership Meeting on Thursday.
14. Business without notice:
Business without notice to be tabled only and brought to the February 11th,
2018 Meeting.
15. Service Hours:
1. Lion Gwyneth Payne Administration 5 hours, Assisting Catering Retirement
Village 9 hours NSW
2. Lion Hazel Pickwell Community work at the Hospital and Santa’s Helper 10
hours NSW
3. Lion Neil Bilney assisting with Christmas Cake Sales Bunnings
Maroochydore 2 hours QLD
4. Lion Lesley Petersen Hospital Volunteer 8 hours QLD
5. Lion Tony Petersen 20 hours painting Emu Park Lions Club Hut, Emu Park
Lions October Fest 5 hours QLD
6. Lion Denise Clarke assisting Killarney-Bateau Bay Lions selling raffle
tickets and Cakes 40 hours NSW
7. Lion Ted Pickwell Membership Administration 1 hour, Grenfell Senior
Citizens Welfare Committee 6 hours, Santa 10 hours NSW
8. Lion Janice Clifford helping Service Club to sell Christmas Charity Tickets
at Greensborough 4 hours VIC
9. Lion Stewart payne Helping Inverell McIntyre Lions white Goods Pick up 7
hours, Helping Inverell Lions Chocolate Wheel at the Venetian Carnival 5
hours, Necrology and welfare 10 hours
10. Lion Andrew Payne Computer Support Members 2 hours
11. Lion Bernie Donchi Assisting at Camp Memories 112 hours
12. Lion Jan Donchi assisting at Camp Memories 112 hours
16. Where Members are currently and for the next Month.
1. Lions Bernie and Jan Donchi Frederickton NSW
2. Lions Gwyneth and Stewart Payne Inverell NSW
3. Lion Brenda and Rod Payne Inverell NSW
4. Lion Andrew Payne Port Macquarie NSW
5. Lions Janice and Bernie Clifford Mernda VIC
6. Lion Denise Clarke Forresters Beach NSW
7. Lions Tony and Lesley Petersen Kinka Beach then Cairns for Christmas
QLD
8. Lions Ted and Hazel Pickwell Grenfell NSW, Tennis Cruise January VIC
9. Lions Neil and Pauline Bilney Forest Glen Sunshine Coast QLD
10. Lion Arthur and Wendy Leech Terranora NSW, then Inverell, then Boonah
QLD
11. Lions DG David and Jill Emanuel Moonbi NSW with the Region 5 Chairman
Lion John Hook and LL Christine with the Emanuel’s tonight (Christmas in
Tamworth then to Parkes for the Elvis Festival in January.
12. Lion Lee Rodger heading for QLD
13. Lion Alan and Ros Large Snowtown SA cleaning up after a Category 2
storm that came through Snowtown last Saturday.
17. Fines:
1. Lion Gwyneth Payne fined Lion Neil Bilney for not deciding on the name for
his dinner badge.
2. Lion Ted Pickwell fined Lion Gwyneth Payne for giving him the wrong
information to pass on to President Hazel.
3. Lion Gwyneth payne fined Lion Ted Pickwell for not listening and telling fibs
4. Lion Gwyneth Payne fined Lion Tony Petersen for being good
5. Lion Stewart Payne fined himself for missing Lion Janice Clifford name off
the Birthday List
6. Lion Stewart Payne fined Lion John Hook ad LL Christine $1 each for doing
a great introduction of the District Governor
7. Lion Gwyneth Payne fined Lion Janice Clifford for going before the meeting
closed
8. Lion Hazel Pickwell fined Lion ted Pickwell for not wining a ham at Bowls
9. Lion Stewart Payne fined DG David and Lion Jill Emanuel for giving such
great presentation
10. Lion Gwyneth payne fined DG David Emanuel for losing our Charter
1. Meeting Closed: 7.24pm
January 2019 Secretary Report. 1st Year Charter Anniversary
January is generally a quiet month with Lions enjoying the remainder of
the holidays.
February and March again are busy months for our members, ensuring
the stainability of our Lions Club, by looking for willing members to
stand for the Executive positions for the 2019 2020 Lions Year.
The Registrations Forms for the MD Convention in Geelong are available on
www.lionsclubs.org.au , if you are intending to go to Geelong registrations are
available until April 2019.
As you all already know we have a fantastic Bulletin Editor lion Dianne Hughes and
we receive many compliments on the presentation of the Bulletin. One example is
below:
Hi all, Once again thank you for the most interesting newsletter that is eagerly received by members of the Lions Club of Kingborough, Tassie. When I receive your newsletter, I become an ‘armchair’ traveller so with this in mind, I would love to catch up with your members who will be attending the Geelong Convention. Membership of our clubs remain a concern so decided to invite members of a different type to help out when we did the Shopping Complex Xmas wrap to raise funds for ALCCRF. The ‘new members’ caused quite a stir with the public and other shop owners and certainly promoted Lions and the Aust Lions Childhood Cancer. Wishing all a safe and enjoyable 2019. Regards, Hester Lion Hester included some photos of the new member, what a great idea to attract
people to a Lions Project! Well Done Lion Hester and the Kingborough Lions Club what a great story in Pictures.
Regards Lion Gwyneth Payne
January 2019
January
As far as I am aware there are no Anniversaries for
January
Although it is Australian Online & Travellers 1st Year
Anniversary since Charter January 3rd, Well Done
Everyone!
January
Happy Birthday 16th January 2019 Lion Rolly Williams
February
Happy Birthday 11th February 2019 Lion Gwyneth
Payne
There are several our Lions who have or are still
experiencing an unwanted hiccup health wise, we
wish them all a speedy recovery. Lion Rolly
Williams in particular.
Safe travels to those travelling and to everyone stay safe, stay well, stay happy and
most important have fun.
Remember to wear your Lions Lapel Pin everyday with Pride
Lion Stewart Payne
Club Welfare and Club Care Officer
Part Two of Lion Arthur and Wendy’s World Cruise
We had 3 more sea days before arriving in MUSCAT in OMAN. It
amazes me age of these places. In the 1st Century AD trades from
Rome, India and various other far flung places conducted their business
in the streets of Muscat. Oman is the oldest independent Arab nation.
Only green is a few planted date palms and a lot of very nice parks and
gardens. The city is surrounded by mountains of rock with no vegetation.
Looks a bit like a moonscape. City is very neat and tidy and gives the
appearance of wealth. Buildings are of all similar design. White square
blocks. Even the newer places, hotels and so on are built to blend in. We
did a two hour tour on the Hop On Hop Off bus. We got on at the ship
and got off at the ship. The roads and free ways are all very modern and
well designed. Main wealth is in oil. The aim is to reduce the reliance on
oil to less then 10% on income by 2022. They are trying to attract
manufacturing industries and to grow tourism. We saw at least 2
hospitals which specialise in Medical Tourism. The plan is to attract
patients from all over the world to have their cosmetic and other
surgeries done here.
The inland is mostly sand with some mangrove swamps on the
coastline. A local breed of wild goat, antelope and Asian leopard are still
found, with lots of lizards and gecko. Lots of Arabs.
The next day we were in DUBAI
for an overnight stay. Again as we
had been here before we stayed on
the ship. Again as in Singapore all
passengers and crew had to leave
the ship to go through immigration.
They let us back on after all
passengers had been through. On
our previous visits we have found Dubai to be just a big city, hot, dry,
dusty and over commercialised. When we flew in last time all you could
see was sand and tall buildings.
Six more sea days saw us dock in AQABA, JORDAN ( AC-A-BAR).
It was founded in 1300BC. It is at the northern end of the Red Sea. We
caught a shuttle bus to town and then a taxi for a bit of a look around.
On the way in we saw a number of trucks carting grain from a ship to a
huge silo. Thought it might have been Australian Wheat We took a photo
from a lookout. Across the bay is Israel, a little to the south is Saudi
Arabia. We could not see but a little further south is the east coast of
Egypt. The city has a population of 150,000, lots of mosques and a few
Christian churches. The Catholic
church is big, modern and very
elaborate. Our taxi driver asked how
many wives I had, he has 3 with 8
children. I said that Catholics are only
allowed to have one at a time. He
thought that was very funny. In the
old town we saw ruins of a Roman
Church that we were told was 1500
years old. Also saw ruins of a castle
500 years old.
The newer part of town is very modern, especially the hotels and new
apartment blocks.
Building Styles in Muscat
Since we neared the coastal areas
around Dubai and Muscat the sand
in the air is very noticeable.
Everything you touch out on deck of
the ship feels gritty. You can see the
air is not clear. It seems strange that
the desert goes right down to the
ocean with no trees or grass. It was
like that until we left the Suez Canal.
When we got the taxi he said it would be USD 30 for a look around the
town and a visit to a pharmacy. Spent about USD 20 at the pharmacy. At
the end it was not enough. Ended up giving him USD 100 and he did not
seem satisfied. I guess he had 3 wives and 8 kids to support.
Park in Muscat, Oman
The main reason this was a port of call is
that Petra, the 2000 year old lost city, is
only a few miles away. A large
percentage of the passengers took tours
there. It involved a lot of walking and was
well over 40 degrees so we passed on
that. It is still being uncovered. Saw a
documentary on TV not long ago. It is
still being debated as to why it was
abandoned. 1. The population got a disease from traders that wiped out
the entire population. 2. Earthquakes. 3. Floods. 4. As ships became
bigger and trading was done on the shore line Petra went into decline
and was abandoned. The buildings and infrastructure are incredible for
those times. The way they did their water supply system was really
clever. It lay forgotten for 700 years until rediscovered in 1812. Would
loved to have gone for a look. It was another day when I wished we were
20 or 30 years younger. From sailing at 10.30 until after midnight
settlements were visible along the shoreline. Assume this was Saudi
Arabia.
The SUEZ CANAL connects the
Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
The Egyptian Pharaohs had ideas
about building a Canal. Nothing
happened until a French engineer
Ferdinand De Lesseps came up
with a plan, with the canal being
opened after 11 tears of
construction, in 1858. Britain took
control by force in 1882. Because
of ownership disputes the canal
was closed between 1967 and 1973. It has been under Egyptian control
since then.
The Canal is 120 miles long,
79 feet deep and 673 feet
wide. We entered the Canal at
about 4.30 am. We were on
deck at 5.15. Ships travel in
convoy and must be one and
a half miles apart, and travel
no more then 10 knots to
prevent erosion of the bank.
This part is one way traffic.
After about 2 hours we came
to a shallow lake, leading into
a bigger lake where there are
a number of designated anchor points where ships can wait their turn to
go further. In recent years a parallel Canal has been built which has
sped things up a great deal for the second part of the trip. For the last 2
hours it was back to one way traffic again.
The banks are very barren and desolate except for a few kilometres on
the Southern end where one side is developed into towns and date
plantations. Then again on the Northern end towards Port Said. A road
goes along both sides. We saw at least two military bases and
numerous guard boxes manned by a lone sentry. On the Western side a
new city has been built with 57,000 apartments, sports fields and even a
man made lake to be used for water sports, with attached resort. The
resort area is being used by the military for R and R purposes, otherwise
no one lives there. Tunnels are still being built under the new section
which will take roads, trains and water pipelines.
Not far from Port Said there is a huge
bridge ( The Egyptian-Japanese
Friendship Bridge ). it was built by Japan
from aluminium and carries the main
highway from Cairo to the Israel border.
The ship left the Canal at about 4.30. It
was very noticeable that the weather
changed from a very hot deserty to cool
sea breezes in no time. The opening of the
Canal must have made a big difference to
world travel.
17,000 ships pass through the “highway
to India” each year. Captain announced
that the cost to Princess Cruises to go through was USD $ 453,000.
ARGOSTOLI, CEPHALONIA Cephalonia is the largest of 7 islands that
make up the Ionian islands. Part of what we know as the Greek islands.
It is said that evidence of man having lived here goes back as far as
30,000 years BC ( Probably apes). These islands have had many
owners over the years including the Venetians, France and Britain. After
Britain’s withdrawal in 1864 the islands became Greek.
St. Paul is said to have stayed here for some months doing boat
repairs on his way to Rome. We visited St. Andrew's Monastery and saw
what is said to be the right foot of St. Andrew.
Over 5000 Italian soldiers were shot here on Hilters orders in 1943
In 1953 the island was almost destroyed by an earthquake. Therefore
most of the buildings we saw are relatively new and well maintained.
Very Mountainous with narrow winding roads. On a number of occasions
cars had to back up to let our bus through.
Main industry is tourism with olives and wine. Currently spending a lot
of money extending the airport so that bigger planes can bring more
tourists from more European cities, including direct flights from London.
CORFU is another Greek island that
has had many owners during it's
history. It seems that religion has
played a big part in the history of all
this area, with each island having it's
own patron saint. Corfu's is St.
Spyridon who performed miracles
both before and after his death in
347.
We took a tour which took us into the country to a Monastery high in
the mountains. What a mountainous island. Lost count of the number of
hairpin bends. We passed through a number of small villages on the way
to the Monastery. One of them the bus had 2 or 3 inches clearance on
both sides. The old Venetian fort is a real relic of times gone by. Looks in
pretty good nick for something over 2000 years old. When you get away
from the town areas the country is very picturesque with olives and
grapes being the main crop. Cypres Pines are in large numbers
especially in the mountains. They told us they grow Australian gum
trees, they crush the leaves and use them as a natural insect repellent.
Never heard of it. It may be true. Some of these tour guides will tell you
anything just to fill in time.
90% of the islands income is from tourism. I believe that as 400 cruise
ships call each year. Saw a number of 4 or 5 star hotel/resorts. Many
tourist fly in direct from Europe, especially Germany and England. Didn't
see any beaches like home, but our bus driver told us there are a
number of them on the Western side of the island.
From the mountain top lookout we could see mountains to the north on
mainland Greece and Albania, with the Italian mainland just visible to the
West. Of the Greek islands we have visited, both this cruise and
previously, Corfu would be the most developed and lush, both in
greenery and economically. When communism fell in Albania a large
number of Albanians fled to Corfu. Some have settled here, others have
moved on, mainly to mainland Greece.
The buildings are what I would say are typical of the Greek islands.
The movie Mamma Mia was filmed on a nearby island. If you have seen
it or tourist pamphlets you will know what I mean. Some James Bond
movies have also been filmed in the area.
Another cruise ship was docked in front of us with 3,000 passengers.
So it was very busy with lots traffic jams and queues. Must be bedlam
when they have 7 ships in one day. This congestion and heat bring out
the worst in human behaviour. People pushing in and offering advise to
others which is not real pleasant.
Our bus driver said that he has moved away 4 or 5 times and keeps
coming back. He spent some time in Germany. All they do there is go to
work and go home again.
The continuing story of Lion Arthur and Wendy’s travels will be in the
February’s bulletin
Travel Snippets
Could members please send me articles and photos of their travels as I
would like to include these in the Bulletins.
REMINDER:
The next Australian Online & Travellers meeting is to be held
on Feb 11th 2019. 6pm for 6.30pm start NSW time
Editors Notes:
Could I please have all articles and photos emailed to
me by the Friday after our meeting night. This will
enable me to have the Bulletin completed and emailed
out as soon as possible.
email address:
