22-05-2007
Early Days #2
Continuing the topic of The Early Days started by Past President Bob Mather (1958-59), Kevin Bouffler (above) also had a good knowledge of the topic with 46 years membership. Kevin's speech on the years 1983-2007 is reproduced below:
President Keith, distinguished guests, guests, and fellow Rotarians:
I have been set an impossible task - to relate in 10 minutes the tremendous work done by Padstow Club in the last 25 years. Accept my apologies for what I have overlooked and also for reading most of my material.
The Club was chartered with 22 members. We have had 3 District Governors from Padstow in District 9690. The first was Jim Stanford, who was responsible for starting Rotary Supplies. Padstow Rotarians bought debentures for $200 to get it started. First stock was held in a briefcase, then Harris Park, then Argyle Street Parramatta, and finally in Hunter Street Parramatta. After 30 years it is being closed down and sold with a turnover of $1,000,000 a year - a business decision.
The second District Governor was Barry Thompson who was on the Board of Rotary International at Evanston for two years, International Treasurer for one year, and is still on committees at RI.
The third was Barry McConville whose conference at Wollongong was made famous by the huge Rotary flag brought down by a parachutist from four or five thousand feet to land right in front of the Novotel, on the beach. There is a photo from RDU on display.
Our activities over the years have always centred on youth - the leaders of tomorrow.
| RYLA | Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - one week at Blue Gum Lodge |
| RYPEN | Rotary Program of Enrichment - problems and social experiences to give values and moral standards |
| ROMAC | ROMAC - reaching overseas Medical Aid for Children |
| YEP | Youth Exchange Programme - inbound and outbound students to Canada, United States, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and our latest Klara from the Czech Republic. One of these liked Australia so much she later married an Australian and is living in Sydney. |
| PACE | Pacific Australia Cultural Exchange - started by Padstow Club 25 years ago. Four weeks exchange between District 9690 and islands and countries in the Pacific area. |
| MUNA | Model United Nations Assembly in the schools |
| Other activities include: | |
| RAMS | Rotarians Against Malaria - help with mosquito nets, prevention with clothing and creams and research. |
| RAWCS | Rotary Australia World Community Service - previously called FAIM (Fourth Avenue in Motion). Club members with some non-members have been to the Solomons, Vanuatu, New Guinea, Nepal, Mongolia (two are there at present), and the Philippines. |
| DIK | Donations in Kind at Prospect. Padstow fellows always turned up when asked. The property has been sold recently and has moved to a warehouse at Minchinbury - after a tremendous sorting and clean-up. |
| Carols by Candlelight | At Playford Park at Padstow. Numbers have grown to over 2,000 after 35 years. Glowsticks are now used instead of candles. |
| Trailers | Our first was the Christmas trailer filled with goods we raffled in November-December. The next was a barbecue trailer - built by the fellows - a great success. At Bunnings each month, schools, aviation musuem, rugby league grand final, Bankstown Buzz. Also at Garrison Point on Australia Day - 10,000 expected. Great organisation by Ken McMillan and fellows. Ken was awarded volunteer worker of the year by Bankstown City Council - a well-deserved award. |
| Problems | We have had to be approved under child protection laws, public risk liability, risk management, and become incorporated. |
| Other activities are or have been: | |
| Red Shield Appeal, paper drive, crime prevention days at Georges River, school captains and principals nights, vocational awards nights held at various high schools, flying days at Albion Park or Camden by our fellows for disabled children, billycart derby at Bankstown Trotting Club, reading for wrinklies - over 4,500 magazines collected from newsagents and distributed to nursing homes, Rotaract and Interact clubs formed but later failed, indoor athletic stadium at Rooty Hill, Pride of Workmanship awards held yearly, volunteer marshalls at opening of Harbour Tunnel (walking under water), Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, Youth Trust started by the Club - now stands at about $40,000, landscaping at Polar Cup made $8,000 - landscaping experts from Padstow Club | |
| GSE | Group Study Exchange - always been involved - two of our fellows have been team leaders: Barry McConville to Kentucky and Allan Sweet to Texas. |
| IYFR | John Milne was appointed Commodore of the NSW fleet, then last year was appointed Commodore of the world fleet. Unfortunately serious ill health forced him to resign from that high office. |
| PROBUS | Professional and Business Club - first one in Padstow - now have five - two in Padstow, two in Revesby, and one in East Hills - all over 100 members. |
| Carers | Teenagers who have to take charge of home and siblings seven days a week because mother is sick or handicapped. At first a camp at Hawkesbury or Kurrajong to give them a break - now we give them a camping weekend at Pittwater (called Get On Board) and the members of the Royal Motor yacht Club at Newport take them out on their cruisers - about 25 teenagers - a great programme. |
| Balls | We have had four debutante balls in the Bankstown Town Hall. Approximately 400 attended each time. |
| Mental Health Forum | was conducted at Revesby Workers Club and Bankstown City Council was so impressed that later we helped organise one in Bankstown Town Hall. |
| Caravan | We were involved in building the Life Education caravan in Bankstown and one of our fellows - Russell Brideson - dressed as Harold the Giraffe. |
| Markets | Arts and crafts markets held once a month at Panania make $500-$1,000 each month. |
| Golf Day | At Bankstown Golf Club at Milperra raised about $9,500 given to two deserving charities. The Golf Club wants us to have one every year and they will assist with sponsors and organisation. |
| Polio Plus | Have helped financially in this world project. Over $600 million so far spent (world total). |
| Christmas Trees | On the Saturday and Sunday several weekends before Christmas we sell trees at Milperra - 250-300 trees, some $3,000 profit. |
| Lend A Hand | Renovated an old garage at Panania into a play area for disabled foster children. Also, cleaning up yards for elderly people who are not able or cannot afford to do it. |
| Parliament | We have had visits to State Parliament for dinner courtesy of our State member Alan Ashton. Both Alan and our Federal member have been very supportive of the Club. |
| RYDA | Rotary Youth driver Awareness - aimed at senior students at school. Revesby Workers Club (through Pat Rogan) is a great financial help. |
| Padstow On Parade | Blocked off Padstow Parade in Padstow for one Sunday in October. Sixty or seventy street stalls, stage with dancing school groups, bands, entertainment for kids, even a police car and fire brigade. A wonderful day with thousands attending. |
| Police Officer of the Year | Selected by the 260 officers at Bankstown Police Local Area Command. One was held in April with Superintendent Dave Darcy, and the regional commander, and the Commissioner of Police (Ken Moroney) attending. |
We have 39 fellows in the Club, 12 of which are females - a great asset to the Club - over 30%. Three have been Presidents. Incidentally our incoming District Governor is Jennifer Scott, and after 20 years of women in rotary a female member of Paris Club in 2008 will be on the Board of RI. RI are changing the Four Avenues of Service to five, the extra one being Public Relations. We have had very good publicity from our two local papers.
Rotary started with four fellows and fellowship. Padstow Club is almost exploding with it. As if they don't see enough of each other on Tuesday nights, they have a feeding frenzy on Friday nights with members and friends. Any number from 10 to 29 at various restaurants.
| RIP | In this 25 years, 20 or more of our members have gone to higher service. The latest Past President Russell Brideson - a rough diamond with a heart of gold - an active leader in every part of Rotary. Also Trevor Walton who died after serving 6 months as President. |
| Shelter Box | For tsunami or earthquake victims. (Contains tent, cooking utensils, water purifying etc.) |
| Shoe Boxes | For school children in East Timor. 1,173 sent from the District already. |
| Qantas | Four or five thousand toilet kits already distributed to charities. 60 or 70,000 blankets being checked and packed. 10,000 recently sent to the Philippines. |
| Books | Text books and others taken to Ranfurley House depot in Balmain. |
So you see we are very busy with various projects in Padstow Club. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 46 years in this Club, and hope to enjoy a few more. Thanks for listening.
Last changed: 03:19:26 04-10-2008