Last Tuesday we were privileged to have Dr Andrea Kimler as our guest speaker. It is always good to have one of our own newer members give us their “Member behind the Badge” story. It is an opportunity to learn a bit more about their background, vocation and special interests. Andrea is a Veterinarian, Environmentalist and very much a free spirit.
Andrea was born in Stuttgart, Germany to a German mother and a Canadian father, who met while skiing in the Austrian Alps. Her father worked in oil exploration so, her early years were spent living in Germany, Libya and Indonesia. They arrived to live in Australia when she was three years old. When she was twelve years old they spent a few years living in Texas, then back to Australia where she has been ever since.
Andrea is married to Mark Griffiths, who works in financial management and they have three children Jacob, Sophie and Jessie. Their children all live overseas so, like us, they are not able to travel to visit their families at the moment.
Andrea studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University and she and I have a close bond as we both resided at Queen’s College whilst studying at Melbourne Uni. Andrea has since then completed courses in small animal surgery and animal acupuncture. She established her own Veterinary clinic (313Vets) in Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East. She loves having the knowledge and the skill to help pets with their medical issues.
Andrea then showed us a video taken on their beautiful property “Crescent Head” which is on the North coast of NSW. She is very keen on environment protection and the video showed she and Mark pulling up noxious Lantana bushes and using the trunks to create an idyllic bush walking track. Her comment was “good things always come from bad things”. She also recommended two books on the environment for our members to read:
Andrea is married to Mark Griffiths, who works in financial management and they have three children Jacob, Sophie and Jessie. Their children all live overseas so, like us, they are not able to travel to visit their families at the moment.
Andrea studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University and she and I have a close bond as we both resided at Queen’s College whilst studying at Melbourne Uni. Andrea has since then completed courses in small animal surgery and animal acupuncture. She established her own Veterinary clinic (313Vets) in Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East. She loves having the knowledge and the skill to help pets with their medical issues.
Andrea then showed us a video taken on their beautiful property “Crescent Head” which is on the North coast of NSW. She is very keen on environment protection and the video showed she and Mark pulling up noxious Lantana bushes and using the trunks to create an idyllic bush walking track. Her comment was “good things always come from bad things”. She also recommended two books on the environment for our members to read:
Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe and One Hundred Years of Dirt by Rick Morton.
Andrea is excited by the fact that she has been asked by our Club to be Chair of our new Area of Focus created by Rotary International called “Supporting the Environment”. No doubt we will hear a lot more from Andrea on what we can do in this area.
Thank you, Andrea for your very interesting presentation.
Don Heath
Chairman
Thank you, Andrea for your very interesting presentation.
Don Heath
Chairman