By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
GUS Dominguez beamed with pride last week as he received the Berwick Rotary chains of office that he will now wear for the next year.
The former presidents then dispersed from the front of the room at Holm Park Reserve Pavilion in Beaconsfield to join the crowd of Rotarians gathered to listen to Mr Dominguez’s first speech as president after he took the reins from Bruce Shaw during the Rotary Club of Berwick’s 53rd changeover dinner.
“As past Rotary International president Ron Burton said, you have to lift the woodpile a bit higher than you found it, and I’m certainly intending to do that,” Gus said last Wednesday night.
“I’m sure I’ll have to iron a few wrinkles over the next couple of months until I get rid of the training wheels I have to start using today as president but, hopefully, the wrinkles will be small.
“Looking to the future, the leadership team has already been hard at work in the organisation of the club and looking at an ambitious program of activities on all fronts, with an energised club program, a snazzy bulletin design, new ways of reaching out to the local community, new projects and new membership strategies.”
Mr Dominguez’s new board includes Sharmaine Squire, Lea Paton, Geoff Double, Norman Pauline, Sam McCurdy, Jim Wilson, Mark Caulfield, Bob Lay and Tim Moore.
The changeover recognised Mark Caulfield, David Grant, Eric Boon and Helen Rosenthal as Paul Harris Fellows.
Service awards were then given to a number of Rotarians who have devoted at least a decade or longer to the club, culminating in the presentation of a 50-year service achievement to past president Bill Minns.
