When I was Youth Director, President Jim Crawshaw saw a program on television entitled "Youth in Search" (YIS) and he asked me to contact Ron Barr the founder of this organisation. From this came our first YIS camp at Shoreham in 1993. We found it a very difficult task to stage a first "IN Search" camp starting from identifying young people who needed help and who would agree to participate. With the help of many ion the community and great support from the Club a very successful foundation camp was achieved.

 

Rotarians David Glanville, Carl Seales, Noel McComack, Barry Hansen, Doug Gordon and John Gilbert attended and helped with the general running of the camp.

 

Jim and Sandy Crawshaw and Alan and bev Myers had great faith in the programme's ability to help the young and many camps were held. The successful programme was re-named "Starfish".

 

At both Alan and Bev's funerals it was very moving to recognise the faces of some of these young people (now adults) amongst the mourners.

 

Fund Raising. In the early days a Fashion Parade was held on a Saturday night at the Peninsula School with Ladies clothing from Mt Eliza and the Bounty Shop in Frankston providing the Men's fashion. Rotarians as models - I can remember wearing leather and silk and the heckling was unbelievable - a good night and a good fund raiser.

 

Bryan Ingram's Sportsman Lunch at the Mornington Race Club was also a winner. Max Walker was a guest speaker.

 

My best ever speaker was Len Beadell, Surveyor and Road Builder. Len had such a wonderful Australian life and anyone who was fortunate enough to be in the auditorium at the Shepparton District Conference in 1991 will never forget the experience.

 

Participation in Conferences with Wal Cubbin and John Dunn as District Governors were great events, a lot of planning and very rewarding.

 

I introduced Murray McNally to Rotary and from Murray's membership he introduced many good Rotarians to our Club.

 

Helping our own. There were times when as a Club we got together and helped in all situations when support was needed within the Club. One of the earliest memories was assisting Peter and New Saget's son Colin who was autistic and was being assisted by a constant routine of exercises daily. Many Rotarians and their wives took a weekly turn (in twos) working on this project.

 

Carl Seales, who had a heart transplant and was living in a garage with an uncompleted home was another who was supported. We got together as a Club and between us did everything possible to get Carl and Elizabeth settled into their home. Carl, in turn, put so much back into Rotary and Organ Donation with his "T for Transport" speaking tour around Victoria.

 

Just for fun were the weekend trips to Harry Goodrich's houseboat "Spud" on Eildon Weir, fishing, skiing, cards, drinking and a total rest from day to day life.

 

Being a member of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza has been a great and valued experience and an opportunity to meet people from many vocations and walks of life. Whilst participating in the many Rotary projects great friendships were formed.