LUNCHEON - 13TH AUGUST 2014

Speaker: District 9800 Governor Murray Verso

Topic: ‘Light up Rotary’

Chairperson: Peter Bearsley

Murray joined the Rotary Club of Williamstown in 1981. He has served the club in many capacities including two terms as club president, in 1986 -1987 and 2007-2008.

Murray has served District 9800 as an Assistant Governor for the Port Phillip Cluster (2010-2011) and as Director of Membership Development (2011-2013). In 2012, he led the District 9800 Group Study Exchange Team to District 3030 in Maharashtra, India. Murray chaired the organizing committee for the District 9800 Conference held in Adelaide in 1989.

Murray and Irene have lived and worked in Williamstown for 37 years. They are both recently retired medical practitioners. Murray has written a brief history of their former general practice, The Clinic Williamstown. Established in 1894, it is believed to be the oldest medical practice in Melbourne.

Murray was previously a member of the District 9800 Australian Rotary Health Committee. He has spoken at Rotary Clubs and community groups on the work of ARH in general and on men’s health and mental health awareness in particular. For 15 years, he was the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hobson’s Bay. He has been a Council Member of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Medical Association and is a former board member of the Westgate Network of General Practice. He has had extensive experience planning and facilitating continuing medical educational programs for members of the medical profession. For 27 years, Murray was a member of the governing council of Trinity Grammar School, Kew. He was President of the School Council from 1995 to 2004.

Murray and Irene have hosted Rotary Youth Exchange students from Denmark, Japan and the USA and they have taken part in Rotary Friendship Exchanges to France and Turkey. They have two adult children, Katrina, a newspaper advertising executive and Nicholas, a film maker. Murray is a Paul Harris Fellow with four sapphire recognitions. Irene has also been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Synopsis Of The Lunch:

9800 District Governor Murray Verso addressed our club on his vision for the ensuing 12 months.

He set out series of challenges, tasks and opportunities that, if completed, will stand Rotary in good stead in the future. He acknowledged falling membership stating the average membership of the 71 clubs in 9800 is 35. Murray spoke with conviction and exhibited a clear image of Rotary in the 21^st. century.

It was a most welcome visit and he renewed friendship of old and made new ones in the short time he was present. It was a very positive day and District Governor Verso will be a great 9800 representative, a strong but sensitive leader and a Rotarian who cares, gives more than he takes and one who quietly inspires those around him to extend themselves just that little extra.

We all wish him and his lovely supportive wife, Irene, the very best of health and much energy, certainly in the next twelve months and into the future to lead the largest, by virtue of membership and clubs, District in Australasia.