By CASEY NEILL
NINE presidents will take the reins at Rotary Club of Narre Warren throughout the year ahead.
President-elect Bruce Armstrong suffered a heart attack just days before the club’s changeover dinner on 24 June and was unable to take on the role in his weakened state.
So at the rescheduled event at Kilgerron Restaurant in Narre Warren South last Wednesday 22 July, outgoing president Lyn Pickering held onto the presidential collar.
She’ll lead the club for the next month before other past presidents take turns at the helm.
Phillip McMillan, Tim Fisher, Roger McGill, Steve Shutt, Tim Carswell, Roger Hall, Richard Edwards and Ian Pickering all put up their hands to help out.
“We decided it would take more than one person to replace Bruce,” Ms Pickering said.
District governor Merv Williams, accompanied by his wife Christine, said the club had to nominate just one person as president for Rotary International purposes.
“I think it might throw their database out otherwise!” he said.
So he handed the collar back to Lyn Pickering.
“There’s a great deal of energy in this club and you are to be congratulated,” Mr Williams said.
He also spoke about the year ahead in Rotary and encouraged the club to adapt to changing times and reach out to new members.
Mr Williams then assisted in inducting Moses Adepoju into the Rotary Club of Narre Warren.
Alongside Mr Adepoju were his wife Christianah and two of his five children, 21-year-old twin sons Kenny and Tai.
He moved to Australia 33 years ago and has a PhD in counselling.
“Our age level has gone down but our IQ level has gone up a lot,” Ms Pickering said.
Mr Adepoju said he was honoured to be inducted.
“I pledge to do my best to serve the community that’s given so much to me and my family,” he said.
Instead of presenting flowers to Ms Williams as is customary, Ms Pickering presented her with a cheque for $500 to go towards Rotarians Against Malaria’s project in the Solomon Islands.
Ms Williams told the club that mosquitos were the world’s deadliest animal, causing 725,000 people to die each year.
