REMEMBER WHEN - 50 YEARS ROTARY CLUB MT ELIZA

My Time at the Rotary Club of Mt. Eliza, 28.Febryary 2012 until 30. June 2020

 

In late 2011 Carolyn Such suggested to me to join the Rotary Club of Mt. Eliza and proposed my membership to the Club. I attended a dinner at the Club on 10 January 2012 and was elected to membership on 28 February 2012 by Linda Morris, who was President at that time.  I recall my induction with great pleasure, especially the kindness of club members welcoming me, but also the interesting conversations and the humor all around. The subsequent social interactions were most enjoyable and I made some lovely friends. Helping at various fundraising activities such as Farmers Market, Bunnings BBQ, Bark in the Park and Book Sales, were always characterized by camaraderie and fun. I had several outstanding dinners at other club member’s homes and enjoyed hosting some dinners together with Tim Action at my place. The meeting venue at Toorak College was very well suited and the staff simply gorgeous and easy to work with. The dinner talks were often very interesting and the 3-minute speakers contributed delightfully to the entertainment.

 

Following my retirement from work, I served as the Club’s secretary during the presidencies of Bernie Edwards 15/16 and of George-Ann Sullivan 16/17. These were exciting, busy years and good times. Both, Bernie and George-Ann were wonderful to work with, easy-going, good communicators, organized, always polite and respectful. Much was achieved during these years, they were productive and satisfying. Putting the Annual Report together took a lot of time and effort, but after some “learning on the job” I got it done and made some changes to the layout in the hope the new format would facilitate the creation of future editions. 

 

Holding the chair of Community Services during the presidencies of David Rew 17/18 and of Jim Young 18/19 gave me the opportunity to address some local issues of environmental improvement. Securing two Community Place-making Grants from the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in those consecutive years allowed us to plant new trees at the John Butler Reserve and Howard Parker Reserve. In cooperation with Malcolm Hull both projects were completed despite the usual delays when working with council. The re-vegetation of John Butler Reserve received a National Trust Award. We also supported numerous other projects in the local community, such as Wallara at Sages Cottage, the Men’s Shed, Young Carers, Fusion, School Lunch Deliveries, Mental Health initiatives, Christmas Hampers, the Community Pitch of the Bendigo Bank, Legacy, the New Hope Foundation, Dogs for Kids with Disabilities, the Bowel Scan Program and Hospice. 

 

Being asked to become president in 19/20 was an honor I appreciated. However, I took a back seat that year and spent more time with my fast growing family. I also became more involved with other ways of serving the wider community as my concerns about Climate Change grew. Both those commitments led to my resignation from the Club in June 2020. I am very happy to remain a friend of the Club, to help when I can and stay in touch with this lovely group of people.