By LIA SPENCER AND BRIDGET SCOTT
IT WAS a night of leadership change – both in the political arena and in the Rotary Club of Narre Warren.
Last week, the same night Kevin Rudd was voted back in as Prime Minister, Tim Carswell handed over his Rotary Club presidency to Phillip McMillan.
The 38th annual changeover dinner was held at Slippery Jacks in Beaconsfield on 26 June to welcome the new president and to celebrate the year’s achievements.
Mr Carswell said it had been an enjoyable year with many challenges and highlights.
“It was one of the most enjoyable years I have had in Rotary. It was challenging at times but was fantastic to be a member of a club which does things,” he said.
“We have had a year of change and have some more change to come yet.”
Some of the obstacles the club had to overcome were the end of the Highland Gathering event which ran at Akoonah Park, the retirement of some long-time members and the loss of a major fundraising activity.
District Governor Tony Spring attended the event as a guest and congratulated Mr Carswell and the members on a successful year and commended them for their successes including the Graeme Maggs soccer tournament organised by member Rob Hastings, the annual golf day fundraiser, the planning of the fitness track in Narre Warren, their commitment to youth services, trivia nights and several overseas projects.
Mr McMillan said he was also proud to be part of these initiatives and looked forward to building on them in the year ahead.
He said he had joined rotary because he wanted to be around compassionate people but the club far exceeded his expectations.
He said some of the best moments he had on rotary so far included the international convention in Bangkok, the distribution of Christmas gifts to needy family which were collected by Berwick Springs Primary School students and listening to the inspiring vocational talk by fellow rotary member Lynne Westland.
“It is an honour to have a chance to lead such a fine group of people,” he said.
“Never forget who we are… we are Rotarians. We’re a small club, but we punch above our weight.”
