1991-1992

The information on this page is from the Club's publication "A History of the Rotary Club of Brunswick" Golden Jubilee 2nd edition, 2003:

District Governor: Gregory Ross (Rotary Club of Balwyn)
President: John Higgins
Secretary: John Hardwick
Treasurer: Tom Tyrell

Our first meeting of this Rotary year was held on the 4th of July, which of course is United States Independence Day. Members joined in the spirit of the day with hats, jackets, pants and boots and Bourbon Bottles. Jim Allan and Rick Hayes who know America very well spoke of life in America and finally members joined Eric Gowers and Rick in choruses of "Tis of Thee America the Beautiful" and the "Star Spangled Banner".

The meeting on 25th July was a Ladies Day; quite a number of ladies were present. Russel Dale thanked members for supporting the Royal Children's Hospital "Cancer in Kids" effort which raised $1,333. The entertainment was supplied by Polly and Peter Russo who treated those present to some fine Irish music; it was most entertaining.

A Club Forum was held on the evening of 1st August, to communicate to the Club the plans and objectives of each of the Committees.

Congratulations to one of our members, Jeff Sullivan, on his election to the Brunswick City Council.

The members of our Club were very sorry to hear of the passing of the Charter President of our Rotary Club Gurn Parker who passed away on 5 August.

Geoff Noble informed the members of our Club that our overseas exchange student Jodi Olson had arrived in Melbourne, and was a most charming girl. Jodi will be attending Wesley College.

A Ladies Day was arranged for 2 August, as it was the official visit of our new District Governor Greg Ross and his wife Carole. A number of ladies were present. Greg explained the plan to paint 200 homes for elderly low income families which was called "Paint Your Hear Out Melbourne" which will be carried out by Rotarians from all over Melbourne later in this Rotary Year.

Fellowship Dinners were held at the homes of the following, Ted and Maida Bailey, Peter and Judy Johnstone, Geoffrey and Joan Brunt, Ian and Helen Kift,Russel and Joy Dale, Henry and Marcia Rekaris, Joe De Simone, Max and Judy Fremder, Reg Geary, Les and Beryl Gordon, John and Carole Hardwick, and John and Louise Higgins. These were held on various dates 10, 17, 24 and 31 August. Host members provided the meal and collected $25 per person from their guests who in turn provided the drinks.

The Rotary meeting normally held on Thursday 26 September, Show Day, was moved to Wednesday 25 September as a breakfast meeting at 7.45am at the workplaces of the following members: Ted Bailey, Daryl Burkett, Tom Cross, Richard Moore, Joe De Simone, Carmine Di Mase, John Hardwick, Greg Sewell and Jack Luke. A very enjoyable breakfast was held by all who attended.

A golf weekend was arranged by Ted Bailey at the Yarrawonga and Border Golf Club on Saturday 5 October and Sunday 6 October from 10am, $15 for 18 holes, $8 for 9 holes. The Mulwala Paradise Motel was booked at $65 per double plus $10 per additional person in room. Non golfers took River/Lake Cruise, and nearby Winery tours.

A "Caulfield Cup Calcutta" night was held on Thrusday 17 October at Ardmillan House, Moonee Ponds at 7pm at a cost per head of $40, an excellent evening followed with John Hardwick extracting those dollars and the return to the club was $2,637. The winners were:

1st - Helen Kift
2nd - Ron Paoli
3rd - Les Gordon

The night ended with Max Fremder winning the prize for the Phantom Call.

On 28 October 1991 our President John attended a meeting called by Lee McKeand to discuss the prospect of Rotary being involved in a Centre that would house the "Bone Marrow Donor Registry", it was hoped that this would lead to a break through in a cure for "Bone Marrow" leukemia. The Brunswick Club through the major donations we began over previous years to assist Michael Lawson who died before a suitable donor could be found will help establish the Bone Marrow Registry. It is now very satisfying to find that the District Governor for 1992-1993 Gordon McKern is assisting the project and that Rotary will become a major sponsor of the Centre.

On Thursday 31st October, an invitation to former Members was arranged, and a considerable number attended the luncheon, it was a very pleasant meeting recalling some of the activities of the past.

The meeting on 7th November was a Breakfast Meeting and was very successful, Jodi Olsen our exchange student from Winona Minnestota was our guest speaker. Jodi showed some slides of her home town and surrounds and gave a very accomplished talk. When she returns home she is to attend university and hopes to have a career involving children.

The Lord Mayor's Camp at Portsea included 27 Brunswick children of deprived families who spent a weeks holiday at the camp. This was shared with the Brunswick City Council, the cost to our Club was $1,500.

At our meeting on 28th November, Anthony Sumner a paraplegic escorted by Shane Beling were guests of the Club, to show the members the 1987 Ford Falcon Car fitted with a special seating arrangement to suit Anthony. This was brought about by the efforts of Peter Russo, Geoff Brunt and Andrew Reynolds with the assistance of Dame Phyllis Frost and the funding by the A.F.L. Foundation. The funding was as follows:

Ford Falcon: $11,000 registered and insured
Special Swing Seat: $995
Taxi fare supplied: $1,005
Total: $13,000

President John thanked Peter, Geoff and Andrew for their efforts in the project and presented a cheque for $179 to Anthony to assist in maintaining the car.

The Christmas party was held at Ian and Helen Kift's home on Sunday 8th December. Spit roast, food and drinks, swimming pool and tennis court and Father Christmas. It was a glorious day with perfect hosts and delicious food, cool drinks and warm hospitality. Special thanks to Ted Bailey, his committee and their wives in organising such a beautiful spread, and to John Hardwick the master cook, the proceeds to the Club was $481.

On 12th December President John opened the Brunswick Rotary Club Annual General Meeting welcoming members and guests, reports by each committee were presented, it was a very successful meeting.

On 19th December a breakfast meeting was held and Christmas Carols were sung with the Salvation Army providing the music.

The club members were very sorry to hear that Jim Allan had to undergo a serious operation and was in the Epworth Hospital for 3 weeks. Jim is now well on the way to recovery and was given a hearty welcome after an absence of 10 weeks.

Reg Geary sustained a very serious accident to one of his eyes and was hospitalised at St Vincent's for a period of time. We missed his smiling face and all members were delighted when he returned.

Members were very sorry to hear of Graeme Miller's wife Zelma who has undergone major surgery. We all hope for a complete and swift recovery.

All meetings in January were held at the Lomond Hotel in East Brunswick and each meeting was well attended as the meals were delicious.

In February a Bowls Night was held at the East Brunswick Bowling Club. The Rotary Club presented the trophies. It was an excellent night.

The Annual Pear Pick was held on 8th and 9th February. It was a great success. 4 tonnes of pears were picked at a retail value of $4,000. Thanks again to Greg and Glenyce Sewell and Jack and Betty Luke, for the arrangements made.

A Wine Auction was held on 20th February and was most successful raising $575 to Club funds.

This year the Club participated with a project in India where we contributed with other Clubs to help equip a vocational training centre. The project attracted a matching grant from Rotary International so therefore, the $1,500 contribution we made was matched by R.I. As well this year, work was done in the area of the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships as well as nominating Lynne Sweeney for a Group Exchange.

A major District Project was completed through the year, "Paint Your Hear Out" campaign where the district Governor Greg Ross' goal was to paint 200 houses throughout Melbourne for disadvantaged people. The Brunswick Rotary Club took up the challenge with enthusiasm where we completed 4 houses and supported the Lions Club in the fifth. The houses were:

24 Bishop Street Brunswick
20 Lincoln Street Brunswick
4 Leithead Street East Brunswick
51 Whitby Street Brunswick
70 Lyle Street Brunswick

It was an excellent project with good fellowship where over 40 non-Rotarians and Rotarians combined in one day to paint 4 houses with a fifth being completed by the Lions over a longer period. The project started at 7am and the 1st house was completed by 10am. The 2nd house by 10.15am, the 3rd house by 10.45am and the slowest house was completed by 12 noon, although it was argued on the day it was the best quality.

During this Rotary Year the Club sponsored 2 overseas children. Through discussions with Stephen How from the Salvation Army, it was agreed that the Club sponsor a boy and girl. Total sponsorship involves $240 a year and, because it is run through the Salvation Army 100% of the money goes to the child.

In March 1992, the District Conference was held in Adelaide. It was attended by an enthusiastic team from Brunswick, combining John and Louise Higgins, John and Carole Hardwick, Les and Beryl Gordon, Ian and Helen Kift, Warren and Karen Maloney, Bill and Pat Sharpe and Joe De Simone. It was a very good conference with a good combination of fellowship and Rotary information. The highlight of the conference was the individual Restaurant evenings where Brunswick Rotary were able to overwhelm the Caulfield Club with their ability to sing a wide range of songs.

On 9th April the Rotary Golf Day was held at the Latrobe Golf Club, and 26 members of our club and their companies who were sponsors assured the day and evening dinner was a huge success. Golf and dinner was $55, golf only $35 and dinner only at 6.30pm was $25. There were 11 special prizes offered, 116 golfers took part, with 100 staying to dinner, the amount raised was $3,925.

Instead of our normal meeting on 16th April a breakfast meeting was held with the Collingwood Rotary Club at the Collingwood Football Club. It was well attended and was a most successful meeting.

On a sad note a letter of resignation was received from Jock Summerfield, who over the past years has done so much to help our Club. However, the Directors have decided that he remain on the mailing list, we all hope that Jock and Louise continue to enjoy good health.

Warren Maloney and his program committee did an excellent job during the year, as there were a wide variety of speakers including our own members.

A Paul Harris award was presented to Bob White on his year as President and the years of involvement in the Brunswick Rotary Club.

RYPEN: Two children were organised in this Rotary Year to have a weekend camp at Axedale.

RYLA: The club sent one young person to a seminar in this Rotary Year also, the combined cost to the Club for these projects was $762.

The Changeover Night of our Club was held in the Committee Room of the Moonee Valley Racing Club on Thursday 25 June at 7:00pm, cost per head $50. It was a most successful night and was well attended. President John presented Attendance Exemplar Certificates to members with 100% Attendance for the year.

DONATIONS

• Rotary Foundation $1,000
• RYPEN & RYLA$762
• Salvation Army (Photocopier) $1,000
• Alma Doepel (1/3 cost of 2 Tech students on ship) $414
• Baptist Church (Soup Kitchen) $250
• Salvation Army (Children's sponsorship) $240
• Anthony Sumner (Car Cost) $179
• Sheltered Workshop (Xmas Cakes) $400
• Salvation Army (Xmas Appeal) $500
• Hope St Refuge $350
• Brunswick Community Child Care Centre $500
• NW Brunswick Kindergarten $1,930
• District 9800 Matching Grants - India $1,500
• Lord Mayors Camp Portsea $1,500

INDUCTIONS

• Surjeet Mudher 28 November 1991

RESIGNATIONS

• Jock Summerfield August 1991.