22-05-2007
Meeting Opens
President Keith Roffey opened the celebrations. His speech of welcome is reproduced below:
Well I must say it is wonderful to see you all here, we are very happy to have you share this special time with us. I know I should be serious and act with a degree of formality but I am finding it difficult because this is a party and at parties we are supposed to have fun so if we all break into a Conga line don’t ask questions just join in. We have a full house with standing room only and of course the events are being televised live to the big screen set up in Playford Park so all of our community can share in this evening.
On behalf of our members I welcome you all, District Governor Harley Tarrant and Megan, Distinguished Rotarians, Alan Ashton and Linda, Past Members, Rotaractors and Friends of Rotary, thank you so much for sharing this significant time with us.
I would also like to Acknowledge the Eora People who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land. I would like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, on which this meeting takes place.
We have officially called this a special anniversary meeting, but tonight is really a party to celebrate 50 years of World and local Community Service of Padstow Rotarians. A time to celebrate and honour the dedication of so many past and present members in trying to make a difference, not only the members but their partners also who have contributed so much to the ideals of Rotary.
As the evening progresses I am sure you will all agree that it has been an incredible 50 years. We will hear from past and present members, the continuos video loop showing will bring back some memories and graphic examples of Rotarians at work and I might add at play. There will be some reminiscing, some pats on the back and we may even have the odd tear or two.
Our main endeavours will be to top up our Youth Trust so please don’t go home without purchasing something nice for yourselves, please purchase a raffle ticket and bid at the silent auction, there is a great selection to tempt you over there. We also have our own Antique Road Show on display, don’t get any ideas it isn’t worth much in dollar value but in emotional value and memories the items on display are absolutely priceless. We do however have a book on the club’s history that is worth a few dollars so please buy one, Barry McConville will personally autograph it for a small additional fee!!
Barry McConville has steadfastly gathered the history and put it to pen, Barry has done a wonderful job but I am sure he will agree with me that great recognition must be accorded to our past and present members, who are the history makers, a history that Barry has been proud to write about.
I must also pass on a message sent to Barry and Joan Thompson from the Rotary Club of Padstow Cornwall wishing us all a great time this month.
I think I should start to be a little serious now and start the formalities so I now ask Trevor Withnall to lead us in The Rotary Grace.
Thank you Trevor, would you all now be upstanding and raise your glasses in a toast, a toast to Rotary International, a toast to Australia and a toast to our sister club, The Rotary Club of Padstow, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Past District Governor Barry Thompson will now share with us a message sent to us by Rotary International President Bill Boyd.
Thank you Barry, now please enjoy your evening, fun, fellowship and fundraising is our theme and once again our sincere thanks to you all for sharing this special time with us. Thanks to our community for assisting in our endeavours, thanks to our sponsors The Canterbury Bankstown Express and to all who have given their time, goods in kind and effort to help Rotary.
Now if I may assert my authority, I order you all to share in our excitement and have a good time.
Last changed: 03:19:22 04-10-2008