Biographies,
etc
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Paul
Jakobsen
DTM (1925-91)
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A TM pioneer from the days when ACT
was merely Area
7, Southern Division, Paul was its Governor in
1983,
which saw-in 4 new clubs, including a unique triple-charter*
(thereby more than doubling the complement)
and helped expand it to Division status within 2 years.
President of Canberra City and a
founding member
of The University (whose formation it sponsored) he promoted debating,
and the two clubs compete annually for a trophy
in his name.
Paul migrated from Denmark in 1955,
to a career
as government soil chemist. He transferred to Canberra from Kununurra
in
1973 (at the time our first ACT club chartered). His wife
(Queensland-born
Nathalie) was active in Toastmistresses#,
which doubtless stimulated Paul's interest in the Movement.
After authoring 47 papers, he joined
the early-retirement
exodus from CSIRO in 1986. His valedictory in their Newsletter:- ...'thereafter
spending his time between public speaking groups, postgraduate degree
studies
and his garden. We will miss the petunias, Paul, as well as your cheery
nature, with its ability to smile and laugh even when under most
pressure.'
Sadly, his last years were marred by
failing
health, both his and Nathalie's.
Fellow-toastmasters remember him as a
dry-humoured
but inquisitive, scholarly bibliophile, who excelled at thoughtful and
humorous speeches.
-- JTAA
*
Pictures: L: Paul
accepting the club charters from District
Governor Gary Wilson (Gary Knobel
presiding);
R: With charter-member certificate.
#better-established
than Toastmasters at the time. Later clubs (see District
History) were automatically 'co-ed'. |
| Jack
Grundy
CTM – Outstanding Toastmaster |
‘A Kind Word For
All’ |
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John
(Jack) Vincent
Grundy CTM was an outstanding Toastmaster and a Sergeant-at-Arms par
excellence.
Jack’s life was one of valiant
achievement.
He did not enjoy the health and fitness that many of us take for
granted. |
Jack, a long-standing member of the
University II
Toastmasters Club, died in Sydney on 31 October 1992. A contingent of
Canberra
Toastmasters attended the Thanksgiving Mass for Jack, held at St
Aloysius
Church Cronulla, on 5 November that year. At the service his degree,
mortarboard
and academic gown were displayed as a tribute to his victory of
scholarship
over disability.
Jack Grundy possessed warmth, courage
and humour
in great measure. Always with a kind word for all, he made a point of
warmly
welcoming any visitor to a club meeting or function. Jack’s courage in
the face of adversity was inspirational. His academic qualifications
(BA
ANU, Grad. Dip. Lib/Info Sciences Canberra Uni.) belie his oft-repeated
quip that he ‘peaked in kindergarten’! This kind of wry remark was an
endearing
feature of his Toastmasters speeches.
Jack found his career in the library
field within
the Public Service eminently satisfying. He was heavily involved in the
ANU Historical Society and its Journal. Jack had many friends in the
ANU
History Department, Libraries and Bruce Hall.
Jack Grundy is gone from our midst,
but we will
always remember him.
Jack Grundy Trophy
The trophy recognises outstanding service as a Sergeant-at-Arms in
a Toastmaster’s club within the Monaro Division. Outstanding service
includes
dedication in carrying out all of the regular tasks of this role, being
an excellent master host for the club concerned, and may also include
successfully
undertaking task(s) beyond the ‘normal call of duty’.
Jack’s family donated the trophy as a permanent memorial to him. Pauline
Hawke, well-known Canberra Toastmaster, motivated the inception of
the award with a view to honouring Jack and to encourage others in
Toastmasters
at the club level.
By any standards it is a handsome object; a silver-plated cup mounted
on a solid Australian red cedar base, which was turned and crafted by
his
sister, Maurene Grundy.
Total height is 52cm, and weight approx.1.5Kg.
The inscription on the cup reads – |
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John Grundy
Monaro Division Perpetual
Hosting / Sergeant
at Arms Trophy
May 1993
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The years of award, names and club numbers of the
winners are engraved
on the small shields around the base. The trophy, being perpetual,
remains
the property of the Toastmasters organisation as managed by the Monaro
Division. |
Jack Grundy Winners
The award of the Trophy is made each year, the recipient holding the
trophy until the next award is made. Nominations, with supporting
citation,
may be made by any Club or Area within the Division. The Division
Council
considers all nominations and decides the winner.
Dr Wayne Wheeler, member of The University Toastmasters Club and ANU
mathematician, was the first Sergeant-at-Arms to be honoured with the
award,
which was presented to him, at a Divisional Contest function, by
Maurene,
in presence of Jack's parents. The list of recipients and their clubs
is
shown here.
-- DJG
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Pauline Hawke ATM-g
– Living Angel
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‘Empathy, Energy &
Inspiration’
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Pauline Hawke
was a wonderful
friend, a fantastic mentor and a proud Toastmaster. Pauline made an
immense
contribution to her fellow Members, Monaro Division and District
70.
Pauline joined
Toastmasters in April
1983 as a Charter Member of University II Club in Canberra. In
University
II, Pauline left her mark, as she did later in both the Early Risers
and
Sunrisers Clubs. She was especially caring of Early Risers and
Sunrisers,
receiving at one Monaro Division Conference a certificate for ‘Devotion
to Early Morning Clubs’. In all three Clubs, Pauline served with
dedication
as President and in many of the other executive positions, she
successfully
coordinated Speechcraft courses and was (very importantly) instrumental
in increasing their membership. It was at Sunrisers Club that Pauline
gained
her Advanced Toastmaster Gold award and came very close to becoming
Distinguished
Toastmaster.
She was great club
person, her gift
with new members being that she could articulate for them the basic
skills
of speechmaking, table topics and evaluation. Many were the times when
she introduced a shy and apprehensive new member, responding to their
first
tentative attempt at public speaking in the most affirmative way
imaginable.
Overall Pauline was a great enthusiast for the benefits of the
Toastmasters
programme, the progression of speech assignments, speech contests and
the
leadership opportunities.
Pauline possessed
empathy, energy
and inspiration. Those with whom she came in contact could only benefit
from her sunny disposition and nurturing nature, one close friend very
aptly naming her the “Living Angel”. High energy combined with a
marvellous,
unfailing ‘can-do’ outlook accompanied everything Pauline tackled. Any
difficulties she encountered were transformed – into positive outcomes.
She had the knack of inspiring others to take up and run with every
available
opportunity. Pauline herself always ‘exceeded the speed limit’, never
seeming
to sit still for one moment, but she got things done!
Developing not only as
an accomplished
speaker, Pauline also blossomed as a fine leader. Effective and
efficient
networking was very much a special feature of her particular leadership
style. Enthusiastically undertaking the role of Area 27 Governor in
1991-92,
her energy and dedication really shone through when she progressed to
Monaro
Division Governor in 1992-93. For this latter year, Pauline was awarded
Monaro Division Toastmaster of the Year
jointly with Russell Eade.
Over the next few years,
Pauline
exhibited a flair for meticulously organising a huge range of
Toastmasters
activities including seminars, contests, publicity stalls, celebratory
functions and Youth Leadership. The inception of the Jack Grundy Award
for the Outstanding Sergeant-at-Arms of Monaro Division was due to her
personal efforts. In 2000, Pauline’s versatility and contribution to
Toastmasters
in this wider context was recognised by a Special Award made to her by
the District Governor.
Pauline graduated from
the Australian
National University with a BA degree, achieved in difficult personal
circumstances.
She worked for the University’s Information Section and developed
valuable
skills as a photographer. Later the International Labour Organisation
was
to be her field of employment.
Outside Toastmasters
Pauline was
a wonderful friend to a large number of people through her extensive
community
involvements and energetic personality. She was also a loving mother,
and
great fun to all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The very moving memorial
service
held for Pauline on Easter Sunday 2001 attracted a large number of her
family, friends and Toastmasters. It was a fitting tribute to a loving
and selfless person.
DJG
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