Pictured above - Past RI President Ian Riseley and PDG Juliette Riseley with President Graham Roper.

Werribee Rotary Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in fine style on Saturday 18th August at the Werribee Racecourse Function Centre. The evening was a good mix of fun, fellowship, formality, nostalgia and self-indulgence, all appropriate ingredients to make the night something to enjoy and remember. Guests even had a chance to dance in between meals and speeches.

Some of the highlights of the evening included:

• A speech from Immediate Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley, Australia's 5th Rotary International President.
• Presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow (Diamond) and crystal ornament to Past District Governor Colin Muir for his significant donation to The Rotary Foundation.
• A presentation by President Graham Roper to the club's remaining charter members Past President Tino Ballan and Past District Governor Ian Knight OAM.
• Music from the band Kartoon who got in the spirit of the occasion by dedicating their first bracket of songs to the 1968 era.
• The cutting of a special 50th cake by the more senior members of the club, Tino Ballan, Ian Knight, Tom Lentini, Jeff Garfield, Peter Ross, Roland Wade and President Graham Roper.
• The following video recordings that were shown at various times during the evening (click on the highlighted names to view the video):
  • Charter members, Tino Ballan and Ian Knight, who walked down memory lane and told guests about the formation and early days of the club.
  • Club members, Lyn Fava and Rob Fava, who offered some contemporary thoughts about the club and Rotary.
  • Past Rotary exchange students Graeme Pett (Canada - 1970), Yoko Majima (Japan - 1992) and Simone Barbosa (Brazil - 1998) who fondly recollected their 12 months in Australia and expressed their best wishes to their host club for reaching its major milestone.
  • Chris Ochaya from Uganda and his wife Sarah who thanked the club for its support of their Ugandan community farm and who wished everyone well for the celebrations.

Click here to view some photos of the evening. There will be more photos available in next week's edition of The Bulletin.

Click here if you would like to view or print a copy of the menu.

Special thanks to Lexie Smith, Ann Smith, Micki Hovey, Geoff Smith, Phil Purdy, Ross Smith, Roland Wade, Rob Fava and President Graham for all their hard work to make the function a great success.

LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS FROM RI PRESIDENT

Barry Rassin, the RI President for 2018-19, has sent the club a letter of congratulations for reaching 50 years.

In the letter, he said "Since your club was founded, you have had the opportunity to make a significant difference in our local and global communities. I know that you have devoted your time and effort to your club because you have felt what I have felt since I joined my own club in 1980: a true sense of fellowship and purpose. Your dedication to our organization has made all the difference...."

Click here to read the whole letter.

Thanks to everyone who attended and for making it a function to remember for the next 50 years.

• Observations from the 50th:

  • Phil Purdy sat next to former member Don Fraser who happens to be Phil's doctor. Phil was keen to get some free medical advice during the night. We were just relieved that he didn't have to remove his clothes for an examination.

  • Therese Daddy was the winner of the "Find the Duplicate Name" competition. It took her a few hours of intense searching but it paid dividends.

  • It was great to see everyone form a circle and join hands on the dance floor for the last song of the evening. The song was "Piano Man" and we all got in the spirit of the occasion by singing the song with great gusto.

  • Ian Hovey knocked over a tray full of beers as a waitress walked passed him. The whole lot went crashing to the floor. And that was just at the start of the evening!

  • The end of the formal part of the evening went off with a big bang as everyone was asked to pop the balloons on their table as a final gesture of birthday celebrations and also to avoid taking the balloons outside for fear of disturbing the international horses under quarantine. The fact that there are currently no international horses stabled at Werribee as yet meant that the exercise was a bit pointless. But everyone got in the spirit of it all and enjoyed popping their balloon.

• Geoff Smith has spent some time in hospital with another bout of cellulitis which meant that, after devoting considerable time in helping to organise the 50th anniversary, he was unable to attend the function. The good news is that he is now back on the road to recovery.

• A reminder that our membership fees are now due. It would be appreciated if everyone could pay as promptly as possible.

• Lyn Fava has started collecting items such as spectacles, old phones, stamps, toiletries, ties and fabric for various projects. If you can assist, please bring your stuff along to our meeting.

• Footy Tipping - As predicted, there is another change at the top. Mary Maguire (Mezza) selected 8 winners last weekend and now joins Ross Smith who picked 7 winners. Both leaders are on 132 winners but Mezza leads on points difference. It really has come down to the wire. Tony Todaro and Lou Dowling are fighting for 3rd place. They are both on 130 winners.

• We received the following photo from Ross Conley who is on holiday in the US with Christine. It seems that Phil Purdy has taken the extreme step of expanding his truck repair and towing service to Alaska.

 __________________________________________________________________