By CASEY NEILL
BERWICK Rotarians distributed more than $100,000 to community projects in the past 12 months.
The club’s biggest changeover dinner turnout – more than 120 people – celebrated a year of success at Holm Park Reserve Pavilion in Beaconsfield on 1 July.
Pakenham teen Scott Double upstaged his dad Geoff – the incoming president – at the event when outgoing president Gus Dominguez made him a Paul Harris Fellow.
The 19-year-old isn’t a Rotarian, but Mr Dominguez said he had spent his childhood around them.
“For years, we have seen you growing up around the club,” he said.
He said the principles of goodwill and service were in Scott’s blood and he had quietly and consistently helped with projects.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Thank you,” Scott said.
His mum Di Double said “whenever there’s something that needs doing he’s there”.
“We’re just amazed, flabbergasted,” Geoff said.
Mr Double joined Rotary just over 11 years ago, but said it felt like yesterday.
“I think I’m more nervous than when I got married,” he said when inducted as president for the year ahead.
Immediate past district governor Charlie Speirs made David Button a Paul Harris Fellow for working quietly and diligently to support the district conference.
“He’s one of the hardest working Rotarians in the district,” he said.
Mr Button said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve everyone in our district and everyone in Rotary.”
Mr Speirs also presented a new award to the club, recognising its success.
Alongside several other governors, he created a District Governor Citation for clubs that had gone above and beyond and said Berwick fit the bill.
Mr Dominguez said it had been an honour to lead the club through a year of change and innovation while strengthening the essence of the club’s identity.
“The club has a vision defined by its members and a plan that incoming presidents are committed to follow,” he said.
He said the club introduced corporate sponsorships and a strategic planning committee and brought back Carols By Candlelight after more than 15 years.
“Learning on the job, we managed to succeed beyond all expectations with more than 2000 members of the public enjoying a first-class program,” he said.
The club took on the Berwick and District Benevolent Society, which Mr Dominguez said would “undoubtedly open opportunities for future community involvement in ways we have not yet considered and will become an asset to our club”.
In the past year, the club also co-sponsored with Rotary Club of Narre Warren the Casey-Cardinia Rotaract Club’s charter.
“The Rotaractors have been assisting in key club projects like the Christmas carols and Australia Day and are becoming invaluable to our club and the local community,” Mr Dominguez said.
On the night, the club presented a cheque for $30,000 to The Rotary Foundation, $1000 to Rotary’s medical project ROMAC and $3000 to 4Cs.
“This is to support women in crisis,” Jim Wilson said when accepting the donation.
St John of God Berwick Hospital received $11,000, Touched by Olivia Foundation’s all-abilities playground in Marriot Waters received $5000, and Berwick College students will decide on a project to use their school’s $15,000 windfall.
“We’ve had such amazing support for many years. We’re very lucky and very grateful,” principal Kerri Bolch said.
In his toast to Rotary, past district governor Tim Moore said the organisation could learn a lot from the Scouting movement, pointing out that 10 per cent of Rotarians worldwide were aged under 40.
In Australia that figure is 1.8 per cent and in the local district just 0.56 per cent.
“We all believe that we could engage better with youth,” he said.
Mr Dominguez agreed and said the club was on the case.
“I cannot recall this club having such an intensive youth program in the last 10 years,” he said.
