On Sunday 25th June, we gathered at the Braeside Estate in Merrimac for our annual Changeover Luncheon. Perfectly organised by Graeme and Ann Isaacson, we enjoyed casual and convivial fellowship, as well as some profoundly thoughtful and serious moments, as would be appropriate for such an important event.Larry Murray served in his naturally ebullient manner as Master of Ceremonies, outgoing President Mitch Brown gave an Acknowledgment of the Country, Peter Morgan proposed a toast to Australia. Then “our” PDG Darrell Brown proposed a toast to Rotary International. In his brief speech, Darrell outlined the huge difference our organisation makes in the world, as an example citing a Solar Energy project to provide electricity for a village of 280 people in Goa, which so far was completely off the grid. This came together because of Rotary, because of the “connections” involving an Australian Past Rotary International President… (Sorry, you should have been there!)
PDG Prof Graham Jones AM replied to the toast. One can’t help being motivated by Graham’s almost evangelical enthusiasm. After acknowledging our club’s contribution to District personnel, Graham briefly touched on the major Rotary projects worldwide: $17 Million war relief for Ukraine, Polio Plus, a program started in 1985 when the world had some 350,000 recorded cases of Polio, now down to just 6 (5 in Afghanistan, 1 in Pakistan). Graham also brought the huge impact the Peace Scholarships would have. Again, he acknowledged our club’s provision of District personnel: Ray Higgs was a former District Chair of this committee.Outgoing President Mitch Brown, with characteristic Surfers Sunrise brevity, outlined his year, referring to the Changeover Report (now in the Download Section on the right) for details, “rather than regurgitating what others have already said”... With slight wistfulness, Mitch lamented our club missing out on a DG’s Citation, simply because of logistic problems (caused by extreme storms) to get the shipping container in time in place on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. The project should now be completed in August. Mitch then proceeded to present the club awards for 2022-23 (see separate report above).
After the changing of the President’s collar, our incoming President Doug Lipp briefly addressed the congregation, thanking the various speakers, guests and of course the members, then introduced his new board for 2023-24.
As always, a most enjoyable function. How could you not be proud to be a member of this organisation?
(See more photos in the Photo Album section on the right)