Before I speak to you about the Club’s achievements this year, there are three presentations that I would like to make.

BULLETIN

Since 2003, the club’s bulletin has been edited by Alistair Urquhart.

I’d like him to come forward.

He is now retiring from the job. He has edited about 290 Bulletins – a massive effort.

He is the 5^th longest serving Editor in our history.

Alistair is one of the quiet achievers of the club.  The Bulletin gets produced each week and Alistair keeps his good humour.  Alastair has contributed over and above the norm and we want to make him a presentation for his efforts.

ROYCE AND JEAN ABBEY AWARD 2009

The recipient this year is Rotarian Gary Fowler.

He joined Rotary on 30 January 2008.

In the short time since then he has made a significant contribution to this club and through that involvement to Rotary International.

Will Gary please come forward?

Gary this year has been Minute Secretary to the Board, a position he accepted at short notice and a position he has undertaken with good humour and efficiency.

He has been deputy Group Captain to Peter Rogers for the newly formed Central Group in 2008-09.

He becomes Group Captain in the coming year.

He has been an important part of the club’s Audit Committee in the year just closing.

And he has been preparing to take on the role as Chair of International Programs Committee for 2009-10.

All this as well as the normal committee tasks of a Rotarian in this club.

FORTH BRIDGE AWARD

This perpetual Trophy was inaugurated in 2005/6 by Past President Mev Connell. The trophy is awarded annually to a Leader or a Team of two or more members whose Project or Activity is considered to be the most outstanding contribution in the year.

Previous awardees are:

05/06 John Mitchell - The Donydji Project

06/07 James Pullar - The PACE project

07-08 Alan Trumble – Fund-raising

The words inscribed on the Trophy read:

“The Mighty Bridge derives its strength from rivets, an original of which forms part of this trophy.  In a similar way Rotary depends on each member for its strength and durability”

This year the Trophy is presented to Peter Duncan.  His contribution was to Bushfire recovery through the provision of Tool Kits to CFA volunteers, who whilst fighting fire for others lost their own homes.

Each set of tools cost about $200 and were delivered by Peter & his team in recent months.

A typical tool kit delivered was: 1 wheelbarrow, 2 shovels, 1 rake, 3 or more sets of goggles and the same number of face masks, 1 first-aid kit, 1 claw hammer, 1 sledge hammer and 1 large bow saw and spare blade.

The Community Welfare Committee got behind Peter and provided funds.  The Board released funds too.  By my calculations about 400 kits were distributed through this effort.

All in all this initiative of Peter’s was a very practical measure.

Peter is on leave and so I’d ask that PP Mev Connell take possession of the trophy until Peter returns.

VALEDICTORY

During this year, I have had great support.

It was only in April, when I met the surgeon who operated on me when I was taken to hospital in crisis last December, was I confronted with how touch and go it had been.

He said – “I didn’t expect you to survive!”

That was a shock, I was well on the road to recovery, yet I had obviously been close to ‘death’s door’, if not beyond it.

Clearly, I’m very grateful to the medical profession and to the Club members who took up the reins unexpectedly and carried on very capably.

Encouragement from you all has been a significant factor in my recovery.  Thank you.

Last week we all heard the Vice Presidents commend the work that had been done by various committees.  It was a great array with acknowledgement of distributions from the Club of 675 thousand dollars, with provisions for another 240 thousand dollars already made.

Not all the committees were mentioned last week as some report through the Treasurer or direct to the Board.

Hon Treasurer, Robert Read to come forward.

Robert has been a most reliable Treasurer.  He has managed to get his head around the complexity of the club accounts and managed to explain the club’s accounts to the Board members.

Investment Committee members please stand.

and RCM Community Foundation Committee members stand.

These are the Rotarians who care for the club’s money!!!

Please applaud their contribution to the Club.

Now whilst Robert is returning to his seat, can we have the Audit Committee please stand?

On the whole, this year seems to have gone well – due to good planning and to a great team.  A year of consolidation.

I’d like the Executive team to stand. Hon Secretary, Ken Badenoch has been a great strength.  The Vice Presidents support has probably been more visible.

The President Elect has also been part of the team.

Please applaud them.

At the start of the year we set goals:

–               We put an emphasis on Risk Management

–               We set a realistic budget and managed to it.

–               The corpus of the RCM Community Foundation has grown with fund-raising efforts and most recently with some significant donations.

–               We have been able to send to The Rotary Foundation over 40 thousand dollars.  That amount is increased by the contributions of those who are Centurions.

–               Projects, both domestic and international have been progressed.

–               Club Members and community leaders have been recognised as Paul Harris Fellows.

–               Other awards have been made in the usual style.

In relation to Risk Management:

Early in the Rotary Year, it became apparent that there were Rotary activities which had the potential to put the Club and the individuals involved at severe risk.  I speak here specifically of the East Timor Roofing & Training project, begun with great enthusiasm in 2000-2001.

Although the project continues, with the RC Doncaster & RC Lilydale, adding value to the economy of Timor Leste, the risks to the individuals and the RCs remain.

We have been working hard on ways to mitigate the risk.

We have sought legal advice, provided pro-bono, in finding ways to protect the club’s assets and to protect the Rotarians who are doing such good work in support of the East Timorese.

Only last Friday have we been able to meet with the other 2 Rotary Clubs and to discuss the way forward.

We had hoped to find an acceptable solution before this Rotary Year ended. We haven’t but we are well on the way.

Another goal we set was for Membership of the Club, we were aiming for diversity and not ‘chasing’ a particular total.  In fact, Membership is still near 300, 299 to be precise with another induction next week.  Someone said at a funeral earlier this week, that the club could induct its 300^th member regularly.

We have increased diversity amongst our members – in ethnicity and in classifications and in age.

I tend to think that this year has been one of consolidation.

As for the other matters I encourage you all to read the Annual Report, although it will not be printed for some months.

Your new President is an experienced Rotarian and an experienced business man.  I give you Barry Watts, who will be your President for 2009-2010.

Pauline Burren

President 2008/2009