A crowd of 75 gathered in the Walcha Bowling Club recently to mark the end of one Rotary year and the beginning of the next. Walcha Rotarians were joined by members from clubs in Tamworth, Armidale, Uralla and Gloucester, along with Walcha Lions and Walcha Quota Club representatives.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a night of beautifully decorated tables, delicious food, speeches, toasts, comical antics, companionship and great conviviality. The guest list included two past Rotary District Governors, Brian Beesley (Gloucester Club) and Jane Bradford (Tamworth First Light Club) both of whom spoke about the values Rotarians embrace and the great humanitarian work undertaken by Rotary around the world by more 1.2 million Rotarians in some 32,000 clubs: challenges like eradicating polio, providing clean water in developing countries, improving the health of mothers and children, promoting peace, supporting education and growing local economies. It was a great reminder that Rotarians don't just cook sausages and paint public toilets, that even small clubs like Walcha make truly valuable contributions to Rotary's global projects.
Rotarians don't just cook sausages and paint public toilets
Outgoing Walcha Club President Steve Roberts presented awards for various achievements to recipients Peter McNeill, Barry Spry, Andrew Corlette, Lorraine Rennie and Robbie Burnett. Next Steve handed over the reins for 2019-2020 to Andrew Corlette and his board of experienced directors and new hands.
In his address Mr Corlette focused on the importance of building membership, promoting constructive liaisons with other Walcha volunteer and community organisations and the all important challenge to identify and undertake worthwhile local projects. He concluded by remarking on an aspect of membership perhaps not widely recognised, namely, that Rotarians enjoy the common experience that the rewards of membership far, far outweigh the effort they invest.
Mr Corlette said the Rotary Club of Walcha looks forward to another strong year of service to the local community.