SERVICE to the district community and the wider world has been a source of pride for the Rotary Club of Kerang during the past year.
The club’s 59th annual changeover dinner marked the end of leadership for outgoing president, Annette Kelly, who said she thoroughly enjoyed leading the club through a year of Rotary Serving Humanity, while at the same time learning while out of her comfort zone.
Mrs Kelly told guests that all dedicated members contributed to the success of the service year.
The club has pioneered a Rotary Junior Leadership Award for primary age children and continued work on existing development projects at Atkinson Park and the children’s section of the cemetery.
Donations In Kind is another ongoing project involving collections of second-hand books that are sent overseas for the education of others or sold to cover freight costs for other books.
Mrs Kelly said that global polio eradication is at the forefront of Rotarians’ minds. As at last week, there were six polio cases in the world, compared with 17 last year.
“The efforts of Polio Plus, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and all Rotarians’ input is not in vain. I look forward to the day the world is rid of this disease,” she said.
The club-initiated Cambodian Schoolies Alternative is now in its 10th year, involving local year 12 students travelling to assist in humanitarian projects after competing their final year examinations.
“The team may be smaller than last year, but they are a quality team and I have great faith in what they have planned to achieve. Stay tuned for their news of how their volunteering mission is making a difference, not only in the lives of the Cambodians, but their own,” Mrs Kelly said.
“Satisfaction is not monetary value, but enriching the lives of others, and we at Rotary do it so well.”
Mrs Kelly handed the symbols of office to her sister-in-law, Jenny Kelly, who previously led the club in 2008-2009.
The incoming president said that she was comfortable in the knowledge that all members would continue their commitment in the year ahead.
Her incoming board is president elect and treasurer Sid Hutchinson, past president Annette Kelly, secretary Gwen Mannix, project management director Gerardine Prendergast, Rotary Foundation director Kevin Mannix and public relations director Colleen Scriven.
