Club meets at the Aqua Vista
We had been booted out of Alex Surf club because of the Marathon, so Wendy and Craig organised access to the Library and Meeting room in their complex …. Which was compact but a great “Plan B”. Wendy was up all night cooking Croissants and Muffins and setting up tea and coffee! A great light breakfast to solve the problem!
Visitors …. Naomi Pettenuzzo, our local artist and Narelle Wockner. Rumours of an increase in club membership abound.
Charmaine's Rotary Minute subject was the formation of the Rotary Community Corps programme … a team of locals who want to help but they don’t want the formality of a “normal” Rotary Club.
While in WA Steve Newton visited the Royal Australian Mint and was able to have a “Happy Dollar” minted, complete with smiley face and letters RCAH!!
Chairman Geoff introduced "new" member and Bendigo boy, Ray Burton … who had joined the now folded Satellite Club and then transferred to Alex.
Ray has extensive experience in local government at senior level in both Victoria and Queensland and has a big family that keeps Lee and himself busy with grandparents duties.
Was instrumental in the successful merger of Caboolture, Redcliffe and Pine Rivers to create the new Moreton Shire Council …. Third largest Council in Australia. Ray was appointed CEO of the newly merged Council …..until new mayor was elected ….bit of a theme there.
Ray retired, but was appointed by Local Government Minister to the role of Acting CEO of various Councils in need when the CEO left …. To sort out operations and culture and implement stability (after changes) in some of the Councils when changes were to be introduced by new Mayors!
Ray was awarded PSM (Public Service Medal) for services to Local Government …. so if Ray was not so modest his badge should say Ray Burton PSM.
Coincidentally Ray and Tony were both members of Samford Rotary at the same time; Ray was a Director of Pine Rivers Community Finance which owned the Brendale and Samford branches of Bendigo Community Bank …. And when he moved to Townsville, I was asked to join the Board!!!
Thanks Ray for your profile talk.