Significant Rotary and volunteer work charted

FOSTER Rotary Club’s annual handover dinner on June 28 charted an amazing amount of volunteer work on behalf of local and distant communities across a wide field of interests during the past year.

The occasion also formally recognised magnificent individual efforts over many decades by Alan MacQueen of Yanakie and Ian Griffiths of Foster.

Financially, the Club dispersed over $20,000 to the community, with Prom Coast Aged Care and South Gippsland Hospital being the major recipients.

Prior to the formal handover of positions, the Club’s 44th outgoing President Liz Hall listed the Club’s significant achievements and involvements which included:

• Rail Trail maintenance.
• Phillip Island Grand Prix assistance (another ‘Shelter Box’ stockpile ready for emergency situations).
• Promontory Home Produce and Craft Markets – organisation/support plus Rotary Train rides/maintenance.
• Foster & District Museum – gaol relocation and painting.
• Foster’s Christmas Street Party – ran the fish barbecue.
• Support to Corner Inlet Australia Day event.
• Red Shield Appeal support.
• Foster Show support.
• Clean up Australia Day on beach from Waratah Bay to Walkerville North.
• Mt Nicoll Walking Track maintenance.
• Black Saturday fires assistance – fencing, garden rejuvenation
• Organ Donation awareness promotion.
• Meals on Wheels delivery
• Beyond Blue presentation to the wider community.
• ‘Spot the spot’ skin cancer information evening (50 people attended).
• Trivia Night to raise monies for Polio Plus.
• In kind donations and services have also been provided to a range of organisations and individuals.
• Community reminders of Movember for prostate cancer and May for bowel checks.
• CPR skills update from Ambulance Victoria and dietary information from Gippsland Southern Health Service.
• Support of Foster Primary School and South Gippsland Secondary College plus bursaries, awards and encouragement for students to attend Rotary sponsored programs to help further their interest in education.
• In partnership with other clubs in the local cluster, Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Kokopo, funds raised that supplied fifteen 5,000-litre water tanks, 50 school desks, and in excess of 50,000 school- books in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
• Hosting of Brazilian exchange student Ana Luiza Dalfono for a school year.

Thanks and new team

While Liz thanked all of the Club’s 42 members for their support of the projects and fundraisers, those singled out for special mention were the Straw, Davies, Henley and Iser families for hosting Ana, plus Geoff and Heather Webster for her counselling support; Adrian Fyfe for International Service efforts; Geoff Treloar for organisation of excellent weekly speakers; the dedicated team on the Promontory Market organising committee and the train crew.

Incoming President Geoff Treloar in turn thanked Liz for the outstanding job she had done as President and introduced his incoming board as: Secretary Alan MacQueen, Treasurer Lyn Linton, Public Relations Barry Richards, Foundation Richard Jones, International Neville Williams, Local Projects Tim Reid, Community Health Services Narelle Iser, Youth and Vocation Geoff Webster and Immediate Past President Liz Hall (Bulletin Support).

In addition, there will be two informal committees chaired respectively by Steve Paragreen (Social Activities) and by David Brook (Fundraising Activities).

Recognition for Alan Macqueen

The prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award, which honours the memory of Rotary’s founder, was presented on behalf of the Club to Alan Macqueen by Neville Williams in appreciation for his contributions to Rotary Foundation’s humanitarian and educational programs.

This Award is the highest available in Rotary.

At Foster Rotary Club, the recipients are chosen by current members who have also been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.

In 1995 Alan joined the Rotary Club of Foster in 1995.

After a year, he accepted nomination as Youth Director and became a board member during 1996/97 before taking on Club’s Secretarial role in 1999, the Club’s President in 2002, and then continuing as a Board member in 2003.

His dedication to the Country Fire Authority at branch level and regional level has just earned him a 30 year service award.

Alan was an active member of the Fish Creek branch of the United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, served a term as branch president and later as secretary at District level.

After initial involvement with the Korumburra Brigade in 1964, Alan’s membership transferred to Yanakie Brigade.

Besides fire fighting, Alan has served as Support Communications officer, Captain, Lieutenant and Training Officer at Yanakie; and at regional level as Peer for Critical Incident Stress Support.

To achieve this latter position, Alan had to undertake tertiary studies, graduating with a Certificate III in Community Services in 2006.

From 1966 until he turned 40, Alan was active as a member and in committee positions with Jaycees at Korumburra and Fish Creek branches.

In addition to developing a dairy farm and family life, Alan also squeezed in the time to be an active member of the Fish Creek branch of the United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, including a term as Branch President and later as Secretary at District level.

Lions bestow award

The Rotary Club of Foster is also very pleased that its member Ian Griffiths has received a top award from Toora Lions Club as it is well-deserved and demonstrates the respect and co-operation between the Clubs.

Presented to Ian at the handover dinner by Lion Pieter Berghoef, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, named after the Lions International Founder, is for recognition of outstanding individuals.

“The recipient of this award becomes a model because of the exemplary service to his club and the community for which it serves,” Pieter explained.

Ian joined the Rotary Club of Foster in 1983 and has since held all of the major offices in the club.

He served as President in 1985-86 and as Public Officer, Treasurer and Secretary over many years.

Ian’s knowledge of the workings of Rotary and his excellent administrative abilities have proven to be an invaluable support and he has represented the Rotary Club of Foster on visits to many other Rotary clubs, at district assemblies and at conferences.

Ian is currently on the ‘Polio Plus’ team which is part of the Rotary International effort to eradicate polio.

He has been tireless in his contribution to local Rotary service work, attending most working bees, undertakes gate duties and rubbish collection at markets, repaired fences at Traralgon South after the Black Saturday fires and rarely misses being on the roster for tasks such as Meals on Wheels, raffle ticket sales or setting up for meetings.

A past recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship for his services to Rotary and the community, Ian has served on the South Gippsland Hospital Board, including a term as President in 1993/94.

Over the years Ian’s excellent administrative skills have also been demonstrated in his role as Secretary of the Gippsland Cricket League and South Gippsland Cricket Association.

Due to his sporting prowess, Ian has represented the South Gippsland Cricket Association at Country Week, played in many A-grade cricket premierships and was awarded Gippsland Cricketer of the year in 1978/79.

Also a keen golfer, Ian has twice been champion of Foster Golf Club.

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