The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Carlton Toastmasters Club, No: 2991848
The Carlton Argonaut
Summer Edition - 2016
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Patrick Shing
Your Time
That Was The (1/2) Year That Was
Tributes, Stories and Memories
Photo Albums
Speeches in Quotes
Carlton Toastmasters
Meeting Information:
Carlton Toastmasters Club
meets on the 1st, 3rd & 5th
Wednesday of each month from
6.45pm to 9.30pm
We meet at The Hon Don Chip
Theatrette, Ikon Park (Princes
Park), Royal Parade, Carlton
North. Enter through the main
glass doors marked "Carlton
Football Club".
NB: Access to the building is
restricted - If you arrive late call
9016 0169 for access.
•Via car: Royal Parade
entrance to ample on-site free
car parking (if approaching from
the CBD you will need to do a
"U" turn to access the car park
entrance)
•Via tram: Tram 19 to stop 16
(the entrance is 100m North)
For Submissions to the Carlton
Argonaut please contact
Michael Clancy:
[email protected]
Welcome to the First Edition – A tribute to Patrick Shing.
Patrick Shing’s legacy included those people he helped on their Toastmasters Journey
through his insightful mentoring skills. The Argonaut is a bi-annual newsletter that aims to
keep the memory of Patrick alive so that we can all become better at the things that he
appeared to do with ease.
Why the Argonaut?
Simply because it will remind Carlton Toastmasters of the wonderful legacy left by our late
founder, Patrick Shing. (The “Argonaut” was an inspirational speech given by Patrick.)
Patrick Shing: 13 Aug 1973 – 18 Dec 2015
Patrick would want people to celebrate what he achieved in his lifetime, so this newsletter will
always try to impart the very positive. There should be laughter and merriment. Cancer may
have taken Patrick’s life, but it is up to all of us to continue to breathe and keep his spirit alive.
Welcome to Patrick’s Corner.
What is Patrick’s Corner?
Patrick’s Corner is where any Toastmaster may help
inspire others through pearls of wisdom, suggestions to
make our speeches better, to improve our Toastmasters
experience, to help us learn, to help us to achieve the
impossible, or to simply make us laugh.
We welcome any submissions for Patrick’s Corner, but
we challenge you to provide your submission in
paragraphs of 42 words. You may find this difficult but as
a Toastmaster, I know there is nearly always one or two
lines of wasted words.
What is the significance of 42?
Some Douglas Adams fans would say that 42 is the
ultimate answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. For
Patrick, with his love of distance running, 42 is the
distance of a Marathon. 42.195km to be precise.
Hence paragraphs of 42 words…
The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Today is exactly as Patrick would have wanted it....with a
speech-a-thon at the home of the Carlton Toastmasters!
As the Immediate Past President of the Carlton
Toastmasters, it is my honour to share this part of Patrick's
legacy.
Patrick the leader
Back on a hot summer’s day in February 2013 at the
Ivanhoe Toastmasters club, I met Patrick for the first time,
he was rallying support for a new Toastmasters club here at
Carlton.
I was immediately impressed by his commanding presence.
So I went to the first Carlton meeting....the highly engaging
vibe created by Patrick was infectious and made me want
to be a part of it.
With Patrick as the first President, the rapid growth and
amazing culture were recognised with Carlton winning the
2013-14 Club of the Year in our District, an area covering
over 125 clubs across Victoria, South Australia and
Tasmania.
The club continued to grow so rapidly that Patrick then
helped start a second club here...the Parkville
Toastmasters.
Patrick Shing
A touching tribute to Patrick given by
Anthony Browne
on Behalf of Carlton Toastmasters
29th December 2015.
Rather than being frustrated or flustered he made of fun of
it during his speech. At one point he said "Less than an
hour ago you faced the disturbing prospect of me wearing
my dressing gown and slippers!"
The Carlton Toastmasters Cheer Squad roared louder than
ever when Patrick won the contest.
To honour Patrick, the Carlton Toastmasters have created
the Patrick Shing medal which is awarded to the winner of
the clubs International Speech contest each year.
It’s hard to fathom that while fighting for life Patrick invested
so much effort into helping others at the same time as
becoming an extraordinary speaker.
Patrick and Humour
What I also find it truly amazing is that Patrick was able find
so much humour in his situation.
Patrick encouraged me to become the President and was a
role model and mentor to me in the role.
While Patrick was extremely committed to leading the club
he was also an inspiring speaker.
Patrick the Speaker
Patrick created an amazing camaraderie at Carlton with his
love for the speaking contests we have in Toastmasters.
The Carlton Toastmasters Cheer Squad rode every wave of
Patricks 10 month contest journey in 2013-14.....it
culminated with him winning third place in the District
International speech contest.
A few months ago I sent Patrick a text message to ask
about his treatment. He replied.."Had chemo
yesterday...this one is blue...making me have smurf pee".
The last time I saw Patrick before he passed away he
cheekily looked at me and said "Is there was anything I can
do for you when I become… a ghost"
In classic Patrick style he was still thinking about how he
could help people!
His quick wit was too fast for me so all I could think to say
was "It would be nice if you occasionally watch over a
Carlton Toastmasters meeting".
A few weeks later Patrick told me he had cancer........
On behalf the Carlton Toastmasters I would like to pass on
While he on the contest stage inspiring hundreds of people our deepest condolences to Patrick's family.
to live life your way...as it’s your time... he was wearing heat
packs on his legs to manage the pain.
Patrick finished every meeting as President with two
questions....Did you learn something?... Did you have
He continued to compete and in May this year, Patrick was fun?
in the District Table Topics Contest at the Tasmania
Country Club near Launceston.
We learnt so much and had so much fun with Patrick in
such a short time.
Less than an hour before impromptu speaking in front of
He was deeply loved at Carlton Toastmasters and he
250 people ...Patrick finally received his bags from the
will be deeply missed.
airline containing his suit and medication.
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
I didn’t tell many people what I’d do next. Not my family, not
my colleagues, not my friends. You see, for the last couple
of years, I’ve lived a little white lie. I’d take Tuesday
afternoons off for university. Most assumed it was in
Melbourne. Instead, I took the tram to Spencer Street, the
A speech by Patrick Shing, 2014
SkyBus to Tullamarine, the three o’clock flight to Sydney
Transcribed by Darrell Pitt.
and the train to Sydney Law School.
Here, we explored amazing ideas! We built and demolished
Ladies and Gentlemen.
concepts of justice, we demonstrated legal reasoning to be
When did you last pause to reflect on your time? Life’s
folly, and we wondered at the implications of fate or free
practicalities provide ample excuses to indefinitely postpone will. I remember our lecturer beginning one class saying, ‘If
real introspection.
I do my job tonight, you’ll wonder whether you exist.’
Allow me to share a place where the excuses run out.
He was right! Even if it took a little longer than 5 – 7
minutes. We would at last emerge, dazed and amazed,
I regularly seek respite from the agitations of the modern
having gorged on the intellectual morsels of some of
world in a small cabin in the Gold Coast hinterland. It’s a
history’s finest thinkers. And their thoughts would
great perspective. This strange species of trees was here
accompany me on the train back to Mascot, where I’d await
with the dinosaurs. And from way up here you can look
the 10:05 back to Melbourne. If we’re on time, the SkyBus
down on the remnants of a massive crater stretching 90
would have me back to Spencer Street just after midnight,
kilometres, all the way from Coolangatta down to Byron
and into a cab for all but the last 200 metre walk across
Bay, the extravagant memento of some unimaginable
Princes Park to my home.
ancient event.
Even so, that scar will heal in a few hundred millennia, itself It was this last, quiet stroll of the evening that I savoured.
This was my time to revel alone in the unrelenting pursuit of
nothing against the billions of years that have carved that
such an absurd dream. A 1500 kilometre round trip over
perfectly curved horizon.
nine hours to attend a 90 minute lecture. For more than two
It’s a humbling experience because an individual’s time
years, and over 100 flights, I attended class like this.
seems an insignificant footnote against the grander story
Eventually, all that remained was to surprise mum and dad
witnessed by this ancient place.
with a trip to graduation.
But it’s also liberating, because here all of the noisy
Those that know this story have asked about the financial
accoutrements of life lose their significance, leaving simply
and physical cost, but neither matters when I reflect on
the question of what to do with your time.
having thrown myself at pursuing my dreams.
My diary is my only companion as I confront this question.
When my time draws to a close, I know I can look back on
Many of my thoughts are predictable: reduce the waistline,
this time knowing that I took responsibility for it, and that I
improve the bottom line, extend the bloodline.
Others are pure whimsy! Become the world’s first trillionaire resisted the compromises that undermine dreams.
I’d be thrilled if you shared my passion for jurisprudence—
and spend my days watching the world go by on my own
but that is not the reason for my story today. Nor am I here
James Bond-inspired space station! But then there are
to celebrate my own, unfinished dreams, or even because
other ideas that land somewhere in the middle.
One such idea has nagged at me for years. It is a dream to I’m proud of what I’ve done.
The reason for my story is that what I have achieved has
learn, teach and develop jurisprudence, which is the
only been made possible by confronting those awkward
philosophy of law. Particularly why we have the rights, and
questions that are familiar to each of us—and then
responsibilities, that we do. I knew my dream would
resolving to actually do something about it, irrespective of
progress with further study, but it’s hard to find entire
what anybody else thinks, because it’s not their time. It’s
courses focused purely on jurisprudence. Like the
mine.
wonderful Master of Jurisprudence at Sydney University.
When I first read through that syllabus, I was reminded of
But the same must be true for each of you.
the longing I felt as a child...reading a show bag
You each have your own hopes, dreams and passions. The
prospectus.
people, places and ideas that matter most to you,
But this was a different time. I was no longer a child, and I
irrespective of what anybody else thinks.
lived and worked in Melbourne. It seemed the most
I wonder.
practical solution was to pick and choose from a range of
Will you be brave and confront what is most important to
courses and subjects in Melbourne. After all, isn’t life all
you? If you do, will you go after it? The choice is yours. It’s
about compromise?
up to you.
I had a restless trip home.
Now is it your time.
Patrick Shing 2014
Your Time.
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Maddie’s icebreaker, 'Who Am I'. We all
understood his need to 'understand myself before I can
introduce myself'. We also learnt that he is 'a soul on a
journey to repay his karmic debt'. It was a speech that
really showed who Maddie is.
1.
Phil gave us his icebreaker, 'Top of the tree
to the bottom of the ladder' Here we found that Phil is also
a philosopher of the amber fluid, enjoying meeting people
at the pub like Ollie and Chook, who then offer him career
changing jobs, taking him from advertising to landscaping.
Then we heard how his passion bloomed from being a
landscape labourer, to a landscape designer and now a
landscape architect.
2.
Christine, told us about 'Opposites Attract'
with her humorous speech about couples who are polar
opposite. She reminded us that 'behind every successful
woman is a man, who thought she could never do it'. We
would just encourage her to remain calm when 'he makes
her so frustrated that she could stab him with a fork!'
3.
Paul delivered his CC10. With his story of
‘Persistence’, Paul inspired the audience with his words and
story of the struggle and determination of Abraham Lincoln.
The phrase ‘Failure is not a mistake, the mistake is to give
up’ resounded with the audience.
4.
Jorge’s CC#9 speech: ‘Every morning is the
same’. Jorge then persuaded us all to consider adopting a
pet from the RSPCA. To know that the animal you get,
would be de-sexed, micro-chipped and vaccinated, was an
added benefit to the Joy, Love and playfulness that a pet
would bring. Jorge's warning that cats don't know about
weekends did not dissuade us from considering that the ‘big
ball of fur’, would be ‘part of our family’.
5.
Vivian gave a storytelling moral: ‘Express
Train’. Vivian introduced us to the Black Belted Gorilla, the
one we overlook when we are busy getting on with our
lives. In this wonderfully crafted speech we learnt that we
should ‘stop the express we are traveling on, rewind, review
and look for the gorilla’. She reassured us that by doing
this, she is now ‘on the right train to happiness’.
6.
Cleo took an old Model T Ford and panel
beated it into a Lamborghini with her CC#5 speech: ‘Step
on It’. Cleo gave us her three favourite things in
toastmasters: Evaluation (Giving and Receiving Good),
Mentoring (listen and learn), and Stage Time (making it
count). She then told us how these have changed her from
the ordinary to the extraordinary, with her now trying to do
the best evaluations, be the best mentor and to enjoy her
time on stage.
7.
Jon gave his CC#1 Icebreaker, fooling many
with its title of ‘My Maiden Voyage on the Aurora Australis’.
Jon spoke with confidence about his Life, Career and
Toastmaster journey (albeit, 4 meetings!).
8.
Natalie delivered an Entertaining Speech
titled ‘Who Is…’, where Natalie plays in the sand box
looking for Communication, Connection and Chemistry.
0.
That Was The (Half) Year
That Was…
A quick recap on the wonderful and varied speeches
given at Carlton Toastmasters between July and
December 2015.
(Does not include Competition Speeches (including Park
practice))
9.
Phil’s CC#2 speech 'Carlton Gardens'
during which Phil had us construct not one, but two,
beautiful gardens in the auditorium. With his beautiful
imagery we could see and almost smell the roses.
10.
Maddie let a genie out of the bottle with his
CC#2 speech 'The Secret' on the laws of attraction. His
karma continues to grow!
11.
Anna delivered her ‘Selfish’ speech as part
of CC#9. As she recounted her toastmaster journey to date
she explained that after 10 years it is her choice to be a
little bit selfish, or as she eloquently put it: 'It’s not you, it’s
me'. (We miss you Anna, come back soon!)
12.
The poem 'Lost' by Andrew Barton 'Banjo'
Patterson was read by Bibi for her Interpretive Reading #2.
Bibi took us on an emotional journey in to the wilds of the
Australian bush in search of a lost boy.
13.
Filipina gave a heart-warming CC#1
Icebreaker, ‘Me and my Dad’. She spoke with such
eloquence that I’m sure that her father would have been
very proud of her. All of Carlton thanks Filipina, for sharing
her touching story.
14.
Michael delivered a Touching Story from
Storytelling#4. ‘Once Upon a Time’, in which Michael fell in
Love with Time, Lost Time, then regained Time before
losing Time and Love again. But he did end with ‘happily
ever after’…
15.
Vivian also delivered a Touching Story from
Storytelling#4. ‘The Voice’, in which she listened to that
inner Voice that has helped her in deciding her life story so
far. We all hope you find that special laundry basket soon!
16.
Anthony paid a wonderful tribute to Carlton
Founder, Patrick Shing, in his Special Occasion Speeches
#2 Speaking in Praise, titled ‘Field of Dreams’. Anthony told
us how Patrick has built the club, and we have all come,
and we have all grown and are better for it. It was to
express our thanks to Patrick that we all stood and
applauded, he will be missed.
17.
Michael gave a toast with ‘Valerie Evelyn
Clancy (nee Hoppner): My Mum’ (Special Occasion
Speeches#1: Mastering the Toast) in which he praised his
mother on the occasion of her 80th birthday.
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
18.
It was off to Yorkshire with Andrea as she
recited ‘Marriot, Madge - and Me!’ (Interpretive Reading #2:
Interpretive Poetry). Andrea’s eloquent accent lulling us to
the zoo where we all but saw a boy eaten by a lion.
19.
‘Trapped in a monodrama’ was Cleo’s
monodrama for her Interpretive Reading #3: The
Monodrama. The vivid character Cleo created enabled that
character to live on, even though, the monodrama has
ended.
20.
Not many people have been to North Korea,
but the intrepid Rosie is one, Rosie’s CC#1 Icebreaker,
portrayed her insight into the people of that country was
enlightening.
21.
An Interpretive reading (#5 the Oratorical
Speech) was present by Bibi as she recounted Cate
Blanchett's tribute to Gough Whitlam. Bibi delivered a
beautiful tribute in a gracious manner.
22.
A heartfelt CC#6 ‘Home is where the Heart
Is’ vocal variety speech by Cleo, about her loving flatmates
in Sydney. A beautiful story told with compassion,
understanding and a touch of humour.
23.
Delivering Storytelling #1 - The Folk Tale,
Rebecca took Three Silly Little Pigs for an outing where
they met the Big Bad Huff n Puffin Wolf
24.
'Sold!' was Jon's CC#2 Organise Your
Speech project. He told us the 5 P's of Marketing: Product,
Packaging, Price, Promotion and People. Jon had us Sold!
We all need bigger caves!
25.
Maddie's CC#4 How to Say It speech
project was 'Raise your Voice for those that have no voice'.
Maddie spoke with great passion and conviction. He
encouraged all to see the benefits of vegetarianism with
powerful rhetoric and a plethora of compelling arguments.
26.
Selina, a self-confessed Toastmasters
Junkie, told us why 'Toastmasters is the new sexy' as her
#1 Entertaining Speech project from The Entertaining
Speaker Advanced Manual. We all hope that she drinks
more, reads more, writes more and delivers more speeches
like this on her journey to her DTM wedding. (Distinguished
Toastmaster).
27.
Well out of her comfort zone, of perfection
through detailed preparation and rehearsal, stepped Bibi
with her #1 The Speech to Inform project from the Speaking
To Inform Manual, titled ‘Overview of the Women in
Technology Study Tour'. This whirlwind tour to India,
sounded jam-packed, and proved to be anything but a
junket!
28.
Anthony stood up and from the Special
Occasion Speeches Advanced Manual delivered his #3
project, The Roast. 'They are the Pitts' gave us three good
reasons to expel two Carlton members, citing their Vanity,
Childish Behaviour and Public Nudity
29.
Phil gave his CC#4 - How to Say It, on
'Chuckles'. Phil's use of Henry Ford to analyse the habits of
his housemate was entertaining and engaging.
30.
'Look Up' was Maddie's CC#5 - Your Body
Speaks Speech in which his daughters play time was
almost a victim of social media inspired neglect.
31.
Carly with 'Criminal of the Century' to deliver
her Storytelling #5 - Bringing History to Life. With cries of
Shock/ Horror and possible links to the Jack the Ripper,
Carley delivered a mystery that had us all guessing.
32.
Cleo for her Interpretive Reading #5 - The
Oratorical Speech gave us 'Emma Watson - HeForShe'.
One might think that it was Cleo that attended Hogwarts,
learning how channel Emma, in bringing to life a speech
about including men into all things feminist.
33.
Cleo also gave us 'Fifty Shades of Grey
Street' for her Humorously Speaking #2, Leave them with a
smile. The characters Cleo introduced, left all smiling.
34.
Michael gave us 'Noel Pearson's tribute to
Gough Whitlam' for Interpretive Reading #5, the Oratorical
Speech. We were left with no doubt what that Roman did
for us all, nearly 40 years ago.
35.
Selina gave us 'A Braces Experience'(The
Entertaining Speaker #1, The Entertaining Speech) Selina's
smile will be perfect for her wedding, but the stories she
tells about her journey, have all smiling with her!
36.
We were addicted to Jon's CC#3 ‘Addicted’.
Joh told us not only the history of the 'wonder' drug and its
benefits, but also the solution to its one or two negative
aspects.
37.
Christine talked about her son Dean, a
passionate Chelsea fan and a true friend to all, in her
Special Occasion Speech #1 Mastering the Toast speech
‘A toast to my Sweets’.
38.
Darrell then got the Walking Dead on the
‘Highway to Hell’ as part of his Chinese CC#8. With only his
keys as props, Darrell explored the mysteries of the
Melbourne road networks and the joys of owning a car,
possessed by evil.
39.
Leigh trusted his gut in his CC#10 speech
‘Trust Your Gut’ in which he reflected on the Amazing Ideas
that have been silenced. He told us all to not be afraid to
make a decision, or to ask the question 'why?', and to
silence the doubt.
40.
Ha gave her CC#10 speech on ‘A Sweet
Young Girl’. A funny and heartbreaking story that told us to
love all the children in our lives, letting them live the life that
they choose, and to encourage us all to care for the people
around us.
41.
Anthony delivered a speech ‘Do You Bet’ in
which he encouraged and inspired all to ‘bet on yourself’.
While his job as a Risk Manager never fails to inspire,
Anthony could also make it as a great race caller.
42.
Darrell told us what really happens at
Christmas with his wonderful speech ‘T'was the night before
Christmas’. Everyone at Carlton was included into this
wonderful poem that Darrell told brilliantly and
entertainingly.
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
And after a marathon of wonderful speeches, we
add this .195 of a speech from Jon as part of his
Christmas warm up.
42.195
Jon delighted us all with a short Christmas
story about a naughty boy call Darrell, with his namesake
acting the words. Darrell was joined by a wonderful
supporting cast: Vivian (his mother), Anthony (his father)
and Sarah (the President).
Tributes, Stories and
Memories
Patrick Shing Remembered
“… everytime we met, he never failed to give me very
subtle feedback - simple and easy to follow. It's like a light
bulb moment over and over again”.
Vivian Goh
“I will forever be sad that I was unable to attend the service
for Patrick.”
Anna Ballinger
“… one of my fav
photos of Patrick
because it reminds me
of a message of one of
his speeches...You will
see in the picture there
is an old hour glass
and Patrick. It reminds
me to embrace my life
as my own, in Patrick's
words "It's your time!"
I can still hear his voice
in those words.”
Kim Harris, Ranges
Area 35 Director
A Lungful of Argon
I took a deep breath in, feeling the influx of a lungful of
argon. I wonder if these are the same ones Patrick once
inhaled.
“He Was Quirky”. He once tricked his mentor, Trish, into
bringing a bunch of flowers to Carlton/Parkville joint
Halloween meeting for "someone else" as a surprise.
After going through all the troubles to bring the flowers
secretly into the venue, the bunch of flower was given to
Trish, by Patrick, to honour his beloved mentor.
If anyone complained anything to Patrick, he would
either point out the good side of the situation, suggest a
solution, or remain silent. Even about his illness and the
death sentence, Patrick never complained. "I'm a lawyer.
I have deconstructed and reconstructed death and I'm ok
with it" He told the Lilydale TM Judy with his signature
cheeky wink.
"He was incredibly loyal and supportive" When Patrick
was the president, I suspect everyone received at least
one encouraging email from him.
"He was selfless" - when Patrick was a president, even
though he was suffering post-chemotherapy pain and
discomfort, he still turned up to every meeting, set up the
venue, talked to everyone with encouragement and kept
the club's standard high with his excellent speeches.
Before his death, Patrick went on a world trip. Not many
people would have the good fortune to travel like that.
He wanted others to experience the journey too. So he
wrote a blog about his trip. Every day he had a classical
song that matched with the day's theme. If you have not
read it before, please go to vicious fishes (
http://www.viciousfishes.org/ ) and share it with people
who might enjoy the trip with Patrick.
"Men, look after your health; for those who are not men,
make sure your man does" those are the parting words
from Patrick for everyone.
"Don't feel sad for me, I had a great life" he said. Even in
the last few months of life, he thought about how to
make people not feel sad for his leaving us. He asked
Anthony with his usual wit and humour: "If I came back
as a ghost, what can I do for you". To which our
wonderful 2014/15 Carlton President Anthony replied:
Just come back to sit at a Carlton TM Meeting.
I exhaled deeply, letting go the lungful of the same argon
a great man once inhaled. Patrick, a man who left his
mark on our lives with his wisdom, humour, kindness,
support and excellence. It was such a privilege to have
known such a unique and beautiful soul.
Thanks Patrick, your spirit will be with us, and the argon,
forever
Evelyn Low
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Pale Blue Dot © NASA
The Pale Blue Dot
There is a famous photo in astronomical circles that has
become known as the Pale Blue Dot. Patrick and I
spoke about it often. The image was taken in 1990 by
Voyager 1 as it left our solar system. At the suggestion
of astrophysicist Carl Sagan, the camera on the
spacecraft was aimed back towards Earth. The picture it
captured showed a series of sunbeams. Caught in one
of these is a miniscule speck, something the size of a
full stop.
That full stop is the Earth. (right)
The impression it left on Patrick and myself was
profound. Thirteen billion years have passed since the
big bang. The size of the universe is endless: it literally
goes on forever. So how important is a single life? How
important are any of us in the great scheme of things?
The first time I met Patrick was at the Carlton
demonstration meeting. When a visitor was asked to
attempt a table topic, I raised my hand. As a lapsed
Toastmaster, I did a reasonable job of answering it.
Patrick later told me he was hoping a complete newbie
would get up, and not someone with a reasonable level
of proficiency. I had unintentionally upset the applecart,
although I suspect he forgave me for it.
I didn’t know then that Patrick had just discovered he had
prostate cancer. This type of cancer is an ‘old man’s cancer’,
most common among men in their 70’s and 80’s. Far less
common was Patrick’s situation where he was diagnosed at
the age of 39.
After learning of his condition, you could understand if he had
turned to drink and chasing wild women. What’s more difficult
to comprehend is why he stayed on to make Carlton
Toastmasters a success (Club of the Year in its first year),
and then pushed on to start a second club, Parkville
Toastmasters.
I know that Patrick wanted to help people. He once told me
about watching the flag bearers at the 2014 International
Convention as they entered the main auditorium.
‘Each of those flags represents people from all those
countries,’ he said. ‘They represent people helping people.’
It’s a profound thought, maybe more profound than the
immensity of the universe. People, completely unrelated to
each other, are united by a single goal: to help others become
better communicators and leaders. We do it by being
supportive, by building people’s self esteem, by giving them
the opportunity to grow.
There’s a photo of Patrick and myself that I think of often.
He’s wearing his suit while I’m dressed as a clown. After the
picture was taken, I pointed to his clothing and said, ‘This is
what I aspire to.’ He nodded to my clown outfit and said, ‘This
is what I aspire to!
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
There’s a lot of truth in that. Patrick had a wickedly
funny—and offbeat—sense of humour. A lot of it was
hidden beneath a very conservative suit and tie. Monty
Python would have been proud.
The last time my wife Cleo and I saw him, Patrick told
us how he had his final days planned in a spreadsheet.
Who to contact on his demise. What to do and when.
How to do it. This brought both tears and laughter from
all of us. Only Patrick could be that organised.
At the time of his death, Patrick was only a few
speeches short of achieving his DTM. He would have
finished those speeches if he hadn’t been racking up
CC awards to help other clubs. Cleo and I once
suggested to him that he could complete the speeches
with only us in attendance (surely an audience of two is
enough?)
He wasn’t interested. ‘That wouldn’t be right,’ he said.
That’s how he was.
Cleo and I are now in the process of starting a new
Toastmasters Club in honour of Patrick—Fitzroy
Toastmasters. We feel that continuing his legacy is the
least we can do after all he did for us.
To move forward with Fitzroy meant looking back at the
origins of Carlton. I remembered that what brought me
to the club was the website, which was up and running
even before the demonstration meeting. If that website
hadn’t been set up, Cleo and I probably wouldn’t have
joined.
These days, when I wonder about how to tackle a
Toastmasters problem, I find myself asking this
question: What would Patrick do? Frankly, this has
never steered me wrong. Even now, he’s still giving me
guidance.
Patrick is gone. Depending on your beliefs, he either
has all the answers, or he is beyond knowing. Either
way, he is at peace, and it is much deserved. We’re all
the better for having had such a wonderful person in our
lives.
So how important is a human life? How valuable? How
significant
Maybe the answer lies here: you could search through
all of time and space, and not find another Patrick
Shing. That’s how rare he was. That’s how rare any of
us are. Maybe that’s why our lives are significant. Time
and space are vast, but the life of a single individual is
not.
Maybe it’s our insignificance that makes us important.
Maybe it’s because our lives are so transitory, so
improbable, so rare, that what we do counts.
Patrick was able to live a lifetime in only 42 years.
There are others who live far longer, and I suspect they
don’t really live at all.
You can’t take anything with you, but you can leave
something behind. Patrick left behind friends, family and
a Toastmasters community made all the better by his
presence. Wherever he is, my fond thoughts go to him.
And, of course, my eternal thanks.
Darrell Pitt
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
A Special Argonaut.
I write this on a snowy evening in Moscow in my hotel
room about 700m from Red Square, a place I never
imagined I’d see until I met Patrick. Patrick had quite an
affection for the world and I guess I found it contagious.
He had a way of making me look twice at things, he
seemed to create doors when existing doors wouldn’t
open or he didn't like the open ones so much. In many
ways I think Patrick was an artist. He could see and
reflect the world in all its majesty, with all its truth,
potential and memory.
Patrick thought well. Everything he did, he did well. I was
often humbled and bemused by his ways. Case in point,
as he planned his 'big world trip' and even now I still find
myself smiling about it. At that time, I didn’t know anyone
who would think to be around the Arctic Circle at
Christmas and yet, in many ways the idea was so obvious
it was brilliant.
Today, as I promised Patrick, I had a decent look for a
special Argonaut of his, Laika, whose monument lies
somewhere here in Moscow. Laika was one of the first
dogs in space and though her fate wasn’t very happy, I
liked Patrick’s spin on it. He supposed Laika got to see
our little 'pale blue dot' from such a distance that she had
a kind of perspective we could only ever imagine.
Unfortunately, things may have been a bit lost in
translation because I ended up at the Cosmonauts
Museum where instead I met some of Laika’s friends and
I saw a few rockets, satellites and meteorites. I guess
Laika might have to stay a Holy Grail to me and in some
ways, I like that idea. Besides, I could still answer
Patrick's favourite questions positively, yes, I “learnt
something" and yes, I "had fun”.
Patrick is one of my favourite people, he knew it and I’m
so happy that our paths crossed. I enjoyed his colourful
humour and bright imagination, his integrity and even his
organisational skills - which were outstanding!! As a 'that'll
do' kind of 'late' person myself, I soon got pretty good at
being on time for Patrick!!
Although I have missed Patrick, it's ok because I still
remember him saying that “no one is ever truly lost to
us”– and he’s right, the story isn't over. I still think though,
that if anyone could find a way to come back here through
a little black hole as a happy ghost, it would be Patrick.
He’d be cheering us all along, in between finding time for
another long distance run and appreciating all the
mysteries of the universe somewhere in Silvan.
Rebecca Arnold
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Photo Album
Celebrating Patrick
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Photo Album
Celebrating Carlton
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
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The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Speeches in Quotes
2015/16 Club Officers
“They may forget what you said, but they will never
forget how you made them feel.”
– Carl W. Buechner
President
Vice President of Education
Vice President Membership
Vice President of Public Relations
Secretary
Co-Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant at Arms
Sarah Hanieh
Rebecca Arnold
Ha Du
Michael Clancy
Rosie Ren
Bibi Cassar
Vivian Goh
Paul Filippone
Immediate Past President
Anthony Browne
“There are always three speeches, for every one you
actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you
gave, and the one you wish you gave.”
– Dale Carnegie
“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare
a good impromptu speech.”
– Mark Twain
"The way you overcome shyness is to become so
wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid."
– Lady Bird Johnson
“It’s all right to have butterflies in your stomach. Just
get them to fly in formation.”
– Rob Gilbert
“The human brain starts working the moment you are
born and never stops until you stand up to speak in
public.”
– George Jessel
“There are two types of speakers: Those who get
nervous and those who are liars.”
– Mark Twain
2015/16 Contest Winners
International
1st Place *
Sarah Hanieh
* Winner of the Patrick Shing Medal
2nd Place
Vivian Goh
3rd Place
Ian Murray
Table Topics
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Ian Murray
Andrea O’Donoghue
Paul Filippone
Evaluation
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
“All speaking is public speaking, whether it’s to one
person or a thousand.”
– Roger Love
Leigh Hawkswood
Michael Clancy
Ian Murray
Humorous
“Don’t be afraid to talk to yourself. It’s the only way you
can be sure somebody’s listening.”
– F.P. Jones
“Humor is a rubber sword – it allows you to make a
point without drawing blood.”
– Mary Hirsch
“One day I will find the right words, and they will be
simple.”
– Jack Kerouac
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1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Ha Du
Paul Filippone
Ian Murray.
The Carlton Argonaut – Summer 2016 Edition
Vale Patrick Shing. 13 Aug 1973 - 18 Dec 2015
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