Rotary kicks off 2022 with cemetery clean up

Rotarian Isobel Caulfield with 97 year old Betty Funston. Pictures: Jane Moore

By Jamie Salter

After a short break over the new year period, the Berwick Rotary Club is back to doing what they do best – helping the community.

About 24 people attended the 58th annual Berwick Cemetery Clean Up on Wednesday 19 February where members clipped, watered, air broomed and pulled weeds.

Berwick Rotary Club public image director Jane Moore said it was fantastic to be of service to the community.

“This is our annual contribution to helping the Berwick Harkaway Cemetery Trust,” Mrs Moore said.

“We built the rotunda in the cemetery and have had a long association with the trust.

“One of our members, Adrian Funston, serves as a volunteer on the trust, as did his late father Allan Funston who was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Berwick.”

Mrs Moore said the clean up day has become a bit of a social event and an excuse to catch up with members and friends.

“We had a 97 year old and a one year old present which shows our Rotary family,” she said.

“It was such a good night because we hadn’t seen each other since our Christmas party in December.”

Members arrived at about 5pm with their gardening equipment and after a couple hours of pruning roses, raking leaves and spreading mulch, the team took a break to hold a barbecue dinner.

Mrs Moore thanked the members of the Cemetery Trust, the public and friends of the Rotary club who supported the working bee.

The Berwick Rotary Club’s Australia Day barbecue at Nossal High School was cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns but the club is planning to commence regular meetings once again from Wednesday 2 February.