Sydney Rotary 2013 Programme

January 10th	HK Rotaractors	PCYC Working Bee & Networking Dinner
January 15th	Gloria Carter on Parkinson's disease	carteraustralia@tpg.com.au; 0412 136 094
January 22nd	Keith Jones, Affinity Wealth	keith.jones@affinitywealth.com.au
January 23rd (Wed)	Sydney Rotarians Meetup Group	Centennial Park Park Garden Lights Walking Tour
January 29	Robin de Crespigny	The People Smuggler
February 5th	Kiwi Luncheon, Martin Welsh
Feb 7th (Thur)	Rotary Means Business	International Networking Week
February 12th	Angela Vithoulkas	"Family Day"
February 19th	Wendy Machin	President NRMA
February 26th
March 5th	Niels Marquardt, US Consul General	Susan Heckman
March 7th	Martin Crabb	Shaw Stockbroking – 5:30 – 7:30pm
March 8 (Fri)		Inspirational Women’s Awards
March 12th	National Stroke Foundation	Jackie Gambrell
March 19th
March 21 (Thurs)	Fiducian Golf Day	Killara Golf Club
March 26th	Ethics Hypothetical	Debate with Rotaractors - possibly a breakfast
April 2nd
April 7 (Sun)	District Assembly	Multi District Assembly
April 9th	Prof Stephen Simpson	Pedro Teixeira, 9351 2438, pedro@sydney.edu.au
April 10 (Wed)	Rotary Means Business
April 16th
April 23rd	Community Service Award
April 25 (Thur)	ANZAC DAY BBQ
April 30th
May 7th
May 11 (Sat)	MUNA  Nan Tien Temple
May 14th
May 21st
May 28th	Vocational Service Award
June 4th
June 11th
June 18th
June 25th	Changeover Lunch
July 2nd	Gail Kelly, Westpac

Slovenian Ambassador Addresses Sydney Rotary Club

Address to the Sydney Rotary Club by Dr. Milan Balažic, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia and New Zealand - 4 December, 2012 

I am honoured to be invited to Rotary Club Sydney which is the largest and oldest such club in NSW and has the reputation for attracting interesting speakers to its meetings. I would also like to be one of them, so - let’s start with a little quiz in geography: what is Slovenia? Ex-czekoslovenia? Slovakia? Slavonia? Ex-russian province? Wrong. The answer is no.

Slovenia is a Central-European country half-way between Venice (Italy) and Vienna (last time, I checked, this city was still in Austria, not Australia, so we still are not geographic neighbours). It’s a beautiful country between the Alps and the Adriatic sea and it is actually very similar to the New Zealand’s South Island. Slovenia is also a home of  the white Lippizzaner horses (you probably remember Shadowfax from the Lord of the Rings). Many of my Australian friends said to me after visiting Slovenia, that it is a hidden treasure of Europe.

Perhaps it is even too hidden to notice its fascinating history. Slovenia led an  independent state already in 7th century: at that time it was called Carinthia. The elections of Carinthian duke were very similar to what we would call today democratic elections. Believe it or not, but this is exactly a model that Thomas Jefferson took as the basis for the concept of the US presidential elections. Following this first democratic period, Slovenia fell under the Habsburg Austrian Empire for a 1000 years, followed by Yugoslavia – first as kingdom of Yugoslavia  and later as Socialist federal republic under Marshall Tito’s rule, which was effectively a soft version of communist state with open borders to the West and more freedom in comparison with the communist East.

The 80’s of the previous century saw the rise of strong democratic movements and in 1990 Slovenia got the first democratically elected parliament and government.  The communist regime in Belgrade refused Slovenian proposal for democratic confederation in Yugoslavia. I remember as yesterday that warm evening on 25 June 1991, when an entire nation was on their feet – including me as a MP. The day started not with a pomp and a marching band, but with a convention room full of politicians and press. We unanimously declared and signed the Fundamental charter of independence, breaking all ties with Belgrade and Yugoslavia’s totalitarian communist regime.

With this constitutional act we legally established a single supreme authority on the territory of Slovenia. Diplomats received instructions to convince foreign powers to recognize Slovenia as a sovereign nation and a declaration of independence was sent to Belgrade. Back from Belgrade came a declaration of war. In ten days we won the war for Slovenia and surprised the world. We defended our freedom, tore down a few hundred kilometers of the Iron Curtain for ourselves and for Europe. We liberated our part of Europe. We broke away in two key ways: with Communist totalitarianism and with Yugoslavia with its dark Serbian leader Milošević who wanted to turn it into a new type of state with one dominant nation.

After 1991 and a short war – that we won - we fully established an independent state - not in the name of our nationalism but in the name of our commitment to democracy. Slovenia joined the EU and the NATO alliance. It was a natural decision for the shared values we fought for in the 80’s, similar politics, economy and security. EU is now a common house: we are like a family with our agreements and dis-agreements, and with solidarity. It’s like a marriage – you are together in good and bad. For Slovenian it is essential is that Slovenia’s vote counts as much as a vote of a big EU players like Germany, France, UK and that the Slovenian language is one of the official languages of the EU.

In the last twenty years, from the day when Slovenia voted in a plebiscite  to make its own way in the world, Slovenia has travelled a long and successful path. Today it’s among the thirty most developed countries in the world. Slovenia has a highly educated workforce, well-developed infrastructure, and is situated at major transport crossroads. Our export orientated economy hasn’t escaped the European economic crisis, but we are now already on the way to recovery as the government reform package has been implemented.

Furthermore: Slovenian companies have in recent time produced numerous successful and highly innovative products. Ever heard of Elan skis, the ones used by skiing world champions? Or Seaway sailing boats and Pipistrel ultra light aircraft? Or perhaps the brilliantly designed Gorenje household appliances? And many other small, but highly innovative companies. Their products are persistently breaking into foreign markets and lend a boutique-type quality to Slovenia’s economy. Our economy is geared towards services, and Slovenia can boast top-class services in the field of information technology, pharmaceutical and car manufacturing.    

Slovenia is not a big country: it has around 20.000 sq. km (Australia is little bit bigger) and 2 million people (Sydney alone is more than twice of this size), but it is boxing in the heavy league. Or if I use the words from (Australian) Lonely Planet about my country: Slovenia is a mice that roars. Last but not least: Slovenia has a long history of the Olympic Games – including London - with series of medals.

Slovenia remains grateful to Australia for joining the group of countries who were the first to recognise Slovenia as an independent state in 1991 and thus paved the way to Slovenia's world-wide recognition, joining the European Union, NATO, WTO, OECD and many other international organisations.

Australia is a great nation of freedom and democracy and even the role-model of economic development. And Australians and Slovenians are working closely together: we have excellent political cooperation on the international stage, flourishing trade and common values. In that name, in the name of security and freedom Australian soldier side by side with Slovenian soldier fights in Afghanistan.

Trade between Slovenia and Australia is flourishing – raised by 18% and 19% in the last two years. By the way, Slovenia is unique country in EU by the fact that we have five big Harvey Norman stores there. However, there is still a lot of scope for further development. Recently, two meetings between the Australian and Slovenian Prime-Minister and the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs (in Chicago and Brussels) substantially contributed towards development in that direction. In this perspective I would also like to mention recent successful visit of Australian Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek to Slovenia. 

Dear ladies and gentleman,

allow me a few words on the future of Europe. As we all know, XXth Century is over. There are many social models of this century that are out of date: communism, fascism, conservative corporatism and old big social democratic welfare state. But what about liberal democracy and capitalism? After the fall of the Berlin Wall emerged the Fukuyama dream: end of history and spreading of the liberal democracy with a little more or less of Keynes or Friedman. This was simple narcissist phantasy from the beginning of new millennium.                 ↓

EU and US are in the middle of financial and economic crisis. For me this is a period of transformation. But when we talk about the reasons for it the leftists are pointing their finger at the liberal capitalism. A system with human face, they say, a system of morning greed and afternoon charity. For me this is not the answer, it is a question. The utopia of today is the idea that everything will go on like today without serious reforms of structural malfunctions. Instead we need new inventions and re-novations.

There is another reason for that. Western liberal democracy and capitalism are facing a huge competitor: so-called capitalism with Asian values, authorized by Lee Kwan Yu of Singapore and adopted by Deng Shiaoping of China. Do you feel a paradox? Apparently only capitalism can save communism. And some people argue that only communist China can save liberal-democratic capitalism. At the end of the day, we are left with a Chinese-style socio-economic system facing the end of historical marriage between capitalism and democracy. This is capitalism that is definitely more efficient, productive and dynamic. But it has on big flaw: there is no democracy. It is authoritarian capitalism. So what will be the answer of the West?

I think, the right answer is – REFORMS. I am an optimist. Perhaps there’s an impression that the EU is in terrible crisis, especially by what is presented in the media. But the EU is doing well, it is alive and kicking. There comes a time when we have to focus and pose the right questions. The way how we formulate the questions is the part of the problem. There are no quick answers and easy solutions, just because we are approaching deep dead-locks – not in an apocalyptic manner, but in rational way. Yes, “Houston, we have a problem”. There is a range of burning issues including ecology and climate change, economy and social divisions, segregation and political extremism, biogenetics and ethics etc.

There are also problems with democracy itself: it is losing its substance, there are democracy issues with anti-immigrant, nationalist parties and movements. Nationalism is a post-modern answer to globalization and not some kind of relic of the past. The problem is that the changes are set in such a way that nothing will fundamentally change. For this reason, the EU needs a new starting position for reforms. We need to reframe our perspective in order to see, what is possible and what not. For instance:

·        flying to the Moon and Mars, living practically eternally, biogenetics, cloning, growing and replacing new organs is possible;

·        a modest change of liberal capitalism, to expand democracy from political to civil-society and economic level (as a new productive force) is impossible: we will loose our competitiveness, they say.

Institutionalized democracy is not strong enough to deal with global economic or ecologic problems. So I think we need to invent new democratic institutions of civil society out of state mechanisms and market for the market. This should be society of democratised democracy and liberal capitalism with Western values: efficiency and high productivity on one hand and social rights, including dignity of working people, on the other. The EU is in an excellent position to achieve that.      

Famous French philosopher Michel Foucault once paradoxically said: the EU is the continuation of Europe’s wars – but today, on the symbolic level. In other words, the fight continues, but it is a fight with words and ideas. In this framework, Europe is eternal idea, reinvented in every new historical situation. But it is now, that for the first time it has achieved an internal cohesion without a reason of having an external enemy like figures of the Other once upon the time: Islam, Jews, communists, immigrants etc. Within this logic we need to re-invent of Europe. We have to reinvent it by public use of reason, if I recall the words of another famous philosopher – Immanuel Kant.

The EU is so much more than bureaucracy in Brussels. The EU is not just a blue flag with 12 stars, and an anthem (4 movement of the Beethoven 9th symphony – Ode an die Freude). Europe haws a common European identification. We share the ideas of equality, democracy, human rights. We share the specific Judeo-Christian tradition, rich culture, heritage of modernity, philosophy, good life, exceptional food and wine (especially if you try excellent Slovenian wine). After the fall of the European Constitution we need a new definition of Europe - a vision of Europe that will mobilize people with less technocratic pragmatism and more efficient politics.

The ongoing crisis of EU appears as crisis of economy and finance. But that’s not the whole truth. The crisis which started in 2008 was imported: as always, blame America for it. But we should not behave as Hegel’s beautiful soul, saying that we have nothing to do with this. We should also address the question of European identity and lack of vision. In final analysis we need a decision to make the EU a global player with soft and hard power; and to decide, what is the future of the Union – the United States of Europe, a Federation, a Confederation, a Union of independent national states or just a Common market. My answer would be: United States of Europe as modern and effective federation.

We need a lot of patience to make the EU come out of crisis. And we need to be prepared to new and different possibilities. We, Europeans, need to open trans-European debate, reformulate our problems, but also fell responsibility for the  other parts of the world. Great and unique legacy of Europe is worth fighting for - because we learn from our mistakes. And because I am Slovenian I am also an unconditional defender of the EU. True fidelity is only possible in the form of resurrection: our common European return to “more Europe” looks like Hollywood comedies of re-marriage – the only true marriage is the second marriage (to the same person).

Thank you for your patience.

Paul Harris Fellow Citation: Samantha Barlow

During the 2012 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards, the Rotary Club of Sydney recognised Samantha Barlow for her outstanding contribution to the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force.

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW CITATION *

Samantha Barlow

  

About 5.30am on the 13 May 2009 Sergeant Samantha Barlow began walking from Rushcutters Bay to Kings Cross Police Station to commence work. During the course of her journey Sergeant Barlow was savagely attacked by a drug addicted miscreant who repeatedly struck her head, face and hands with a brick whilst she attempted to protect herself. Sergeant Barlow was robbed of her personal property and left to die suffering grave, life-threatening injuries. After the attack Sergeant Barlow crawled to a nearby bus shelter where she remained until discovered semi-conscious, bleeding profusely and unrecognisable to her colleagues. Sergeant Barlow’s injuries placed her life at immediate risk and saw her surgically induced into a coma to alleviate swelling of her brain. Sergeant Barlow suffered several fractures to her skull rendering brain damage likely; a broken finger that she had placed in harm’s way whilst defending herself from attack; lacerations to her forehead and fractures within her face. She remained in a critical condition at St Vincent’s Hospital until she regained consciousness almost one week later. Beyond surgery, Sergeant Barlow lost her sense of taste and smell. 

After approximately 22 months of physical and psychological rehabilitation, Sergeant Barlow returned to the profession of operational policing as a supervisor within the Surry Hills Highway Patrol. In this position Sergeant Barlow contributed as a competent and well respected supervisor of Highway Patrol police, with her return at all times driven by overwhelming determination and against all medical odds.

Sergeant Barlow demonstrated courage, bravery and resilience of the highest order to expose personal qualities that reflect the ideals of policing. Unfortunately Sergeant Barlow was forced to relinquish her operational capacity upon medical advice, effectively ending her promising career on 16 August 2012.

 

Sergeant Barlow has become an ambassador for all people suffering injuries, whether physical or psychological. Her message is that whilst the road to recovery is not an easy one, it is achievable with the right mix of courage and dedication.

Tonight the Rotary Club of Sydney recognises Samantha for her outstanding contribution to the community of NSW and the NSW Police Force. Samantha exemplifies the Rotary Motto of ‘Service above Self’. It is this aspect of selflessness and community service that is synonymous with Rotary values making Samantha Barlow a worthy recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow for 2012.

* What is a Paul Harris Fellow?

Firstly, they are named after the Founder of Rotary, Paul Harris.  Individuals who have contributed more than $1000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation are recognised as Paul Harris Fellows. Additionally, individual Rotary clubs may from time to time honour individuals as Paul Harris Fellows. They may be individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris. Paul Harris recognition is not limited to Rotarians.  Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin.  

Sydney Rotarian - Barry Goldman

Barry Goldman –Property Consultant, Marketer and Innovator.

Educated:   Sydney Grammar School, Sydney Food School, and Sydney University.

Lives:  Bellevue Hill in Sydney

Married:  6 Grown up children and 4 grandchildren.

Barry was born on Sydney’s north shore in 1950 and was educated at Sydney Grammar School in the city. After school he qualified as a chef and then studied for a Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management at the Sydney Food School East Sydney. Whilst studying he was approached by Kellogg International as part of their junior executive programme to assist in the establishment of the fast food chain Hardees in Australia. Hardee’s was at that time one of the largest fast food hamburger chains in the Southern United States. He was sent to train at their headquarters in Rocky Mount South Carolina. Upon returning to Australia he was part of a team that purchased 20 drive in restaurant sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He was appointed administrative assistant to the managing director of food services of Kellogg International Australia. In this role, apart from site acquisition he was involved in planning, site construction, restaurant marketing and initial launch strategies. He worked closely with councils and advertising agencies such as J Walter Thompson.  The chain was eventually sold to McDonalds as the beginning  of their Australia wide  expansion programme.

In 1973 he decided to go full time into real estate and was fortunate to have the chance of join an old established real estate agency in the city. He studied real estate and valuation at the University of Sydney and became fully qualified in 1975. He built the city agency into a very large valuation practise and general agency known as Barrouclough and Goldman. The company specialised in the valuation and management and were on the valuation panels of many leading lending institutions such as banks and building societies and credit unions. He sold his interests in the company 1987 to Laing and Simmons and then went full time into property consultancy. During this time he assisted many large building and development companies in marketing numerous residential and commercial projects. He also developed an interest in the restoration of heritage buildings and has been involved in the adaptive reuse of residential buildings. Over the years, he has also personally developed numerous properties in the inner city for both residential and commercial use.

In 1999 he moved to Pyrmont in the inner city. He with his wife Katherine purchased residential and commercial property in Pyrmont and established The Portfolio Group. He built a strong following in the area and the city fringe handling commercial and residential property.

In 2001 Barry was elected President of the Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce and built this organisation to a very strong lobby group negotiating with the City of Sydney Council and The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority who were both major stakeholders in the area. He also cofounded the Business Association of the City of Sydney which combined all the business chambers of commerce, partnerships and organisations in the city into a single voice which became a powerful lobby group and advocate for business. He also was involved in the establishment of Pyrmont Progress Incorporated which was set up so the residents and business could work together to achieve common goals.

In 2004 Barry along with his wife Katherine successfully assisted Clover Moore running for Lord Mayor of Sydney.  He provided office facilities and services and his wife  Katherine managed her campaign.

Over all this time, the Portfolio Group has continued to grow and operates a successful property management, sales and leasing practise throughout the city fringe. They have recently added a facilities management arm to the business.

Barry and Katherine Goldman have recently developed a totally new innovative residential agency model which is called LEDA Real Estate. This business was launched in June  2012 and is beginning to create a great deal of interest in property circles throughout Sydney as it is a totally new approach to selling property.

In recent times,  Barry and many old supporters of Clover Moore became disillusioned in the way the city was being run. In 2011 he along with several like-minded city people established the Living Sydney Independent Team to run against her at the 2012 elections in September. Barry was appointed Chairman of Living Sydney Limited.  

Barry has a great passion for Sydney its people, its life, heritage and culture.  He was concerned about the waste and financial mismanagement, the lack of safety and compliance, the plight of businesses suffering from a deliberate lack of interest by the Council to small business , the lack interest in tourism and promotion, the gridlock of traffic and the transport problems created by Clover Moore and the plight of the homeless and those in need of crisis care who are grossly underfunded.

Living Sydney ran candidates in the recent City of Sydney Council elections with the platform of a better deal for city small business and more open and transparent council governance. As Chairman of Living Sydney together with a strong support team Living Sydney was able to successfully win a seat on council for Councillor Angela Vithoulkas who is well known in city small business circles

Barry has recently been appointed a director of Jewish House Crisis Care Centre to help develop strategies to aid the very many people in Sydney in need of crisis care and counselling. This organisation helps people from all cultures and religions that need help. This area of care is grossly unfunded by all forms of government and there is an acute lack of accommodation and facilities for these people.

Barry and his wife are great travellers and have spent a great deal of time in recent years in France where one of their children has been studying for his PHD.

Former Timor-Leste President, Dr Ramos-Horta Visits Sydney for Health Fund

Former Timor-Leste President, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta was in Sydney this week to speak at a special Corporate Breakfast organised by Sydney Rotary Club in support of a Fund to improve the health and welfare of people in his country.

Dr Ramos-Horta was joined on the Speaker Panel by General Peter John Cosgrove, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force and Professor Peter McMinn, Bosch Chair of Infectious Diseases, Sydney University in the presence of The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir.

During 2012-13, the Rotary Club of Sydney will be supporting the University of Sydney’s Isin-Di’ak Fund which has been set up with the overall objective of improving health outcomes in Timor-Leste through the training and education of Timorese health professionals in treating disease. 

Professor Peter McMinn said the first major project of the Fund will be to eliminate two parasitic diseases from Timor-Leste - lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, and intestinal worms, also known as hookworms.

“Lymphatic filariasis affects up to 20% of the Timorese population and causes extensive swelling of limbs and other parts of the body, is very debilitating, but can be effectively treated.  Intestinal worms affect up to 50% of children in Timor-Leste, causing anaemia and malnutrition, and are also treatable.”

A five year program of annual mass dosing with two anti-parasitic drugs should eliminate both diseases from the country.   The training provided to health professionals during the five years will also ensure that these infections never recur.

Sydney Rotary Club President, James Allen said the success of the program will make a substantial difference to the well-being and quality of life for many Timorese people.   He appealed for private and corporate donations to meet the fundraising goal of $500,000.

***

 For more information, please contact Tony Benner, Communications Director,

The Rotary Club of Sydney, Tel. (02) 9279 1194 or 0407 366 140

Lunch with David Gonski AC at Sydney Rotary Club

You have the opportunity to join David Gonski for lunch on 9th October when the Rotary Club of Sydney will present him with the Club's prestigious Vocational Service Award for 2012.

David Michael Gonski, BComm, LLB, AC, is an outstanding Australian public figure and businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of the country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked man".

David Gonski was born in 1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to Australia in 1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University Medal) from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While at Freehills, he taught Intellectual Property for the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales.

The world of business and finance derived great benefit from his high profile and innovative leadership.  Current positions include chairman both of Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd and of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, Director Singapore Airlines Ltd and Consultant as well as Chair of the Advisory Board of Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd.  He has served on 40 boards and recently was appointed by the Commonwealth Government as Chairman, Future Fund Board of Guardians.

David Gonski's horizons extend into the cultural and educational spheres.   Here too he has exerted a profound impact through chairmanship and membership of Boards and Foundations devoted to furthering the work of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Art Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, the Sydney Theatre Company and the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

These attainments were appropriately recognised when David Gonski was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2002.

It is fitting that the Rotary Club of Sydney should honour David Gonski with the 2012 Vocational Service Award, particularly because embedded in his life as a family man and public figure are ideals central to the Rotary movement.

***

Media representatives interested in attending this presentation/luncheon are invited to call Tony Benner, Communications Director, Sydney Rotary Club, Tel, 0407 366 140.   tony.benner@corpfocus.com.au

Lunch with David Gonski at Sydney Rotary Club

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GONSKI "Australia's best connected businessman." Greetings! You've heard the name! You've probably read some of the Gonski Reports! David Gonski AC stands out as an inspiring public figure who has deeply marked Australian Life. And now you have the opportunity to join David Gonski for lunch on 9th October when the Rotary Club of Sydney will present him with the Club's prestigious Vocational Service Award for 2012. Previous recipients of this Award have included the Governor of NSW,  Her Excellency Prof Marie Bashir, AC, CVO, Dr Charles Teo, Steve Waugh, AO, Sir William Deane, AC KBE and Dr Edmund Capon. This is a unique opportunity to hear this outstanding Australian speaker in the company of some of Sydney's leading business people. The luncheon will be held from 12:30pm on Tuesday 9th October at the Castlereagh Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney at a cost of $40,00. You can take advantage of this advance notice and prepay your booking by using this link or simply send me an email. Best wishes. Tony Benner, Communications Director, The Rotary Club of Sydney Tel. 0407 366 140.  Lunch with David Gonski AC David Gonski AC David Michael Gonski, BComm, LLB, AC, is an outstanding Australian public figure and businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of the country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked man". David Gonski was born in 1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to Australia in 1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University Medal) from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While at Freehills, he taught Intellectual Property for the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales.   The world of business and finance derived great benefit from his high profile and innovative leadership.  Current positions include chairman both of Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd and of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, Director Singapore Airlines Ltd and Consultant as well as Chair of the Advisory Board of Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd.  He has served on 40 boards and recently was appointed by the Commonwealth Government as Chairman, Future Fund Board of Guardians. David Gonski's horizons extend into the cultural and educational spheres.   Here too he has exerted a profound impact through chairmanship and membership of Boards and Foundations devoted to furthering the work of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Art Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, the Sydney Theatre Company and the National Institute of Dramatic Art. These attainments were appropriately recognised when David Gonski was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2002. It is fitting that the Rotary Club of Sydney should honour David Gonski with the 2012 Vocational Service Award, particularly because embedded in his life as a family man and public figure are ideals central to the Rotary movement. The Rotary Club of Sydney GPO Box 1523 Sydney, NSW 2001 Tel. 8014 8073