New district governor Dennis Heslin, Margaret Heslin, Shelley Stewart and past district governor Ray Stewart.Dennis Heslin has been sworn in as Rotary district governor for 2006-2007.
Mr Heslin takes over from past district governor Ray Stewart, from the Rotary Club of Narre Warren.
The new district governor, a member of the Rotary Club of Warragul, said it was an honour to represent district 9820, which stretches from the Mornington Peninsula to Orbost in East Gippsland.
Mr Stewart passed the chains of office to Mr Heslin at the district changeover held in Warragul recently. More than 300 Rotarians attended.
Mr Stewart said official visits to each of the 51 clubs in the district were among the highlights of his year as district governor.
“The diversity of programs undertaken that benefit the local, national and international communities is simply outstanding and underscores the theme for the Rotary year just ended of ‘Service Above Self’.
“During the year we had a most successful group study exchange with a Rotary District in northern Denmark and it was a great pleasure for Shelley (Mr Stewart’s wife) and me to end the year with a visit to Denmark and meet old and new friends before attending the Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen.
“I extend best wishes to District Governor Dennis Heslin for a most enjoyable and productive year leading Rotary District 9820 as its 49th Governor,” Mr Stewart said.
Mr Heslin is only the second District-Governor to come from the Warragul Rotary Club since the club began in 1938.
“The club itself was quite pleased we can contribute to the district,” Mr Heslin said.
Mr Heslin said Rotary’s main themes this year were serving people in the areas of literacy and water.
“We would be encouraging the 51 clubs in the district to look upon what they can do about literacy,” he said.
