Mill Point Rotary Ruby Club Changeover Lunch
President-Elect Wayne Duke welcomed members, partners, family and guests.
A short video from DG and Mill Point member Veronica Lawrance for the “Toast to Rotary International” was shown. Unfortunately Veronica could not be with us due to a prior commitment, but passed on her best wishes via the video. This was followed by a “Toast to Partners and Friends” by Lew Thomas.
After the main course, Co-President David Rowell gave a review of the events and accomplishments of Mill Point Rotary over the past year.
In 1989, Mill Point initiated the Australia Day Ceremony on South Perth foreshore. He detailed the evolution of the event, including erecting a flagpole fashioned from the mast of one of Roly Tasker’s yachts!
Over the year, we have given ongoing and sometimes weekly community support to:
- PICYS Youth Services: Around 8 home cooked meals per week for a total of 450 annually.
- Haven Well: Bread and pastries from Bakers Delight North Perth, valued about $18,000
- Starting Over Support: Members helping with furniture and household preparation.
- Sewing Sisters: Providing feminine hygiene products for girls in PNG.
- Ronald McDonald House Dinners: Prepared by Mill Point teams of cooks.
- Community Recognition: Unsung Heroes, Pride of Workmanship and TAFE awards.
- International Dinner: A successful Fellowship event showcasing our new members’ cultural and culinary skills.
- Dial a Santa: Our major fundraiser for Youth. $29,500 this year, total $213,000.
- Rotary Youth Exchange: Felipe inbound from Brazil and Makynli currently in France.
- District Conference: Very successful event organised mostly by Mill Point members with 32 attendees from club.
- Fellowship: Ongoing Men’s and Ladies dinners, coffee catch ups, and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner event.
- Angus Florence. A club stalwart for many years, setting up the Club each Friday and bringing the (unruly) mob to order for the meetings. He is a lynchpin of the Starting Over Support initiative and coordinator of the Monday Golf Group.
- Lorrie Gray. Someone who doesn’t know how to say “no” to volunteering. She is our trusty club photographer and has been a regular participant in “Bulldust N Back”, raising thousands for charity.
- Margaret Walton (PHF+3). Margaret has been the organiser of Dial a Santa over many years raising a total of $213,000. It has been a huge responsibility that she has handled admirably.
- Alison Thair (PHF+3). Alison has handled the substantial secretarial work for the club, including the many reports and red tape as well as outstanding support to DG Veronica in the running of the District Conference.
- Michael Gottschalk (PHF+2). “Gorby” has embraced the role of Vocational Director with gusto. He also collects a huge amount of unused bread each week for the Haven.
Gerry and David then presented the Club Rotarian of the Year award to Mike Collett.
They also thanked and presented gifts to the Committee Chairs of the past year. It was noted Brian Johnson was stepping down and Carole O’Brien was joining the Board as Community Director.
The 2026-27 Rotary Banner and motto Create Lasting Impact was unfurled.
In his closing remarks, Wayne again thanked everybody and looks forward to their support during the year.
A good time was had by all!
