our club

JOHN GARWOOD - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born in Southend-on-Sea Essex and educated at Eastwood High School. Preferring all the sports activities to the academic ones, I became Captain of the school football team and went on to become Head Boy.

On leaving School I obtained an apprenticeship position with a metalwork company in Southend, breaking off to do my National Service in the army in Germany, 1954 to 1956.

My love of competitive sport then progressed to road cycle racing covering distances from 25 to 100 miles and I joined The Benfleet Wheelers. Susan's elder sister was also in this Club and as the years went by I became a firm friend of the Barker family. Eventually losing interest in bikes and discovering cars, my first being an Austin Somerset and second a Ford Consul, I then developed a passion for Jaguars much later in life!

As time went by I found the courage to ask Susan out and 2 years later we were married in Essex, on 20th August 1966, with Susan obviously being a "child bride". At this time we moved to Middlesex as my brother offered me the chance to start a metalwork section in his shopfitting company. About 4 years later when my brother sold that company to a large group we, and several others, decided to start up a small shopfitting company, relocating to Basildon Essex, obtaining a factory and offices and over the years we expanded and were employing 50 people with my position eventually becoming Managing/Financial Director.

During the next few years I became interested in the Basildon Industrial Group, taking on the role of Chairman for 2 years, and this is where I met a Rotarian who introduced me to The Rotary Club of Basildon in 1987. In 1996/97 I enjoyed being President, managing to get the Club dual gender in my year, and in 1998/99 was surprised but honoured to receive a Paul Harris Fellow Award. During my time in this Club I chaired and served on most of the committees and for several years was Secretary, remaining a member until Susan and I emigrated to Australia in 2006 and we have continued our friendship with members of Basildon which is celebrating its 50th year in November.

With me having two sisters and their families in Australia this meant we visited several times over the years and each time we felt we could live here but, as we have no children, the only way we could do this was on a 4-year rolling temporary visitor visa as self-funded retirees, meaning this would be reviewed every 4 years and we could not gain permanent residency, citizenship, vote or receive any concessions like pensions/healthcare. When we re-applied in 2009 the rules had changed slightly meaning the visa is now for 10 years, but no other changes.

I was pleased to continue serving the community by joining The Rotary Club of Woy Woy. Having visited this Club over many years whilst on holiday we already knew several of the members and they had always made us very welcome. I had not planned to be President again but did enjoy this position in 2007/8, and being in Rotary has helped enormously with us settling into our new life in Australia, which we hope will continue for many years.

(October, 2010)

ROSS PEARSE - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born in Melbourne, in the suburb of Box Hill, and lived in Blackburn for the formative years of my life. I attended Nunawading High school. My spare time was spent involved in Scouts and Venturers and I also enjoyed Orienteering. While I wouldn't say I was sporty I really did enjoy the outdoors. I was also interested in music and helped run a series of events under the banner of 'Crescendo'. My grandparents had a house at Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula and many years were spent with cousins enjoying the beaches.

At University I studied pharmacy, at the then College of Pharmacy in Melbourne. One of my first jobs as a pharmacist was in the Victorian country town of Seymour. Part of the job required me to also dispense at the Puckapunyal Army Base, located only as short distance from Seymour. I lived on a horse property at Mangalore in a shared house. During this time I met my wife, Annona, who was working for one of the veterinarians I was sharing the house with.

Wanting to see more of Australia, Annona and I moved to Coffs Harbour in the mid 1980s and I worked in a business that was typical retail pharmacy and also dispensed from a nearby busy medical centre. Following Coffs Harbour we moved back to Victoria to Geelong, where we married and I worked in Ocean Grove - going back to my childhood holiday place. When a business came up for sale in Umina, I decided to take the plunge and buy it - a decision I have not regretted. While the first few years involved working seven days a week it gave me the foundation I needed to then invest in another pharmacy. I was fortunate enough to purchase the iconic Judd's Pharmacy in Woy Woy, now a Priceline Pharmacy. I am also in partnership with my brother in two more pharmacies. In 1999 I completed by Masters of Business Administration.

My Rotary life began in 1994 and I have served in many club positions - International, Club Service, Public Relations, Vice President and President in 1999-2000 - the year Woy Woy Rotary celebrated 50 years.I have also been involved in Group Study Exchange coordination for the Central Coast Zone and have home hosted Rotarians as part of the Friendship Exchange. I have had the pleasure of being "father" to two exchange students - Nathalia from Brazil and Barbara from Belgium. I have also served at District level as Assistant Governor, and currently I am District Membership Director and will be until the end of the 2011-2012 Rotary year. I was honoured to receive a Paul Harris recognition in 2009.

In my 'spare' time I like to snow ski, kayak, cycle and fly fish - the latter of which requires much patience to master.

(October, 2010)

CEC PAUL - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born at Concord west on 4th February 1923 and lived there until 1952 going to North Strathfield Primary School and was one of four pupils selected to go onto Fort Street Boys High School at Petersham which I attended for the next four years. In 1937 my parents bought a block of land on the waterfront on Burge Road in Woy Woy and built a three bedroom holiday home and from then on our weekends/holidays were spent there and Barb and I lived there till 1958 when we bought our present home in Orange Grove.

In 1938 I got a job at Robert Reid's, a large nine storey warehouse in York Street, Sydney, as a mail boy, then progressed to the Boyswear Department, then in 1939 was appointed Manager of the Crusader Suiting Department at Andrew's Bros., a smaller warehouse in King Street, Sydney, where I stayed till January 1942 when I joined the 9th Company, Royal Australian Army Service Corps and the night before we were to sail to New Guinea in July 1942, I was rushed to the now 1145h A.G.H. at Concord by ambulance with severe bronchial pneumonia where I was for 3 weeks, then sent to 113th A.G.H. at Goulburn by Hospital train for another three weeks. I was very ill and was one of the first patients in Australia treated with the very new sulphur drugs and the Army decided they could do without me after that. I then went to work at a clothing factory in Surry Hills in charge of receiving/dispatch making Army uniforms/ men's trousers/ ladies' suits, where I became warehouse manager until 1948.

In 1947, I had a friend in Woy Woy with a barber shop opposite the railway station not using the back of the shop, so I suggested he move the barber chairs to the back and I would set up and stock the front with menswear, which we did and I had saved $200 so spent it on stock/fixtures and each week we would check what we had sold and split the profit and I would buy more stock with mine. I was still working at the factory.

In 1948 I set up a Manufacturer's Agency selling menswear to shops in all the Sydney suburbs on commission Monday to Thursday, going to the factories on Friday morning dropping off orders to picking up new samples, then caught the train to Woy Woy and worked in the shop the rest of the day and Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the weekend at Ocean Beach Surf Club joining in 1946, becoming Secretary from 1947/1952 then President from 1952/1955 and am a senior life member now.

In 1950 I opened another shop in Ettalong and put a Surf club mate in as Manager and my partner in Woy Woy Shop moved to Sydney so I bought him out and put another Surf Club mate in to manage it. As the Woy Woy Manager and his wife moved to Sydney in 1952 I closed down my Manufacturer's Agency and took over the shops myself and have been here ever since. We moved into a larger shop in Ettalong in 1954 and seven of us set up the Woy Woy Apex Club which was chartered in 1955 and I was a member till 1965 when I turned 40 and had to retire. During those years I organised the Red Shield Appeal in Woy Woy District three times and was the local agent for the Smith Family Charity. In 1960 and 1964 we bought the two shops alongside us in Woy Woy, knocked out the walls and expanded. Dick Carroll and Graham McGee sponsored me into Woy Woy Rotary Club in 1964, where I am still enjoying the company of a good bunch of people and look forward to Tuesday Nights and now have a Sapphire Pin.

While all this was happening in 1955 I went to Canada, USA, Europe and Great Britain for a trip and on the return journey onboard the Liner "Stratheden" met Barbara and we have two wonderful children, Geoffrey and Carolyn, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In 1971 we bought a farm at Jilliby and spent 21 very happy years there weekends/holidays till we sold it in 1992. Finally, in 1990, we sold our last shop at Ettalong, having sold Woy Woy in 1988 to the Commonwealth Bank, and now Barb and I spend a lot of our time cruising as much as possible till our health or money runs out. In the meantime, I still manage 5 Companies, a Superfund and 14 Personal Investment Portfolios which keep me very busy.

(August, 2010)

ROY BUNNEY - THIS IS MY LIFE

I have had a most adventurous life! Born in 1939 in Noosa, Queensland, I attended country schools until age sixteen. I then joined the Air Force on my 17th birthday and completed two years of training as a radar and radio technician in Ballarat, Victoria. In 1958 I was posted to Amberley Air Force Base, Ipswich, Queensland and worked on Spitfires and Lancaster aircraft. In 1960-63 I was sent with 10 others to England for 3 years to study the Bloodhound Missile System.

In 1963-66 I installed the missile system into Williamtown Air Force Base in Newcastle. I also went to night school for 2 years to matriculate in the HSC in science and maths. In 1964-68 I attended the University of NSW in Sydney to complete the Air Force Science and Electrical engineering qualification. From there I was posted to the Telecommunications Centre in Melbourne as their Engineer and then Project Officer from 1972-75 in the Air Force Communications System, Melbourne. I got to travel within Major Project Systems all over Australia.

On completion of the project I was sent on exchange to the U.S. Air Force in Oklahoma, for the introduction of mini computers, where some of my designs are still running in their software communications.

I resigned in 1975 and built an electronic directory for a Tourist Information Centre in Noosa, Queensland. This in turn expanded into 3 centres on the Central Coast which ran for 10-15 years. I escorted the first conducted tour around Fraser Island from Noosa.

I joined Rotary in 1989 and have enjoyed 21 years in this organisation, initially with Kariong Somersby and now with the Rotary Club of Woy Woy. I have been overseas on thirteen FAIM (Rotary Overseas Aid) trips, including Nepal, Mongolia, Solomon's and Africa. In my Rotary career I have been President and of course my passion being International Director. I was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow and now, still blown away, a Sapphire Pin. The best Rotary project I have ever undertaken was "A Child of Rotary" who is now 21-years of age whom I have just received a letter from.

My personal interests include buying classic cars, Rotary and, of course, my wife Carolyn, our three children and grandchildren. Our daughter Jane is a USA citizen as she was born in Oklahoma.

To end it all with Parkinson's disease is a pain in the butt, however, nothing is forever!

(July, 2010)

ERIC LEGGETT - THIS IS MY LIFE

My grandfather migrated from England in 1885 with his wife and one child and was a self taught nurseryman and florist when he settled at Mortlake. The family grew with three boys then twin boy and girl (being my mother Anne). In 1902 the nursery was moved to Concord and as my mother grew up she was involved in florist shops in Burwood and Homebush. My grandfather was Mayor of Concord 1922-1923.

My life story commenced on 13th May 1930 during the onset of the Great Depression and as my father was out of work for many years the family suffered the hardships that most families at that time were experiencing. My brother Don was born and later we both attended Ryde Public School then Eastwood Public School. In 1939 my parents were able to build their first home in Concord and Don and I went to North Strathfield School.

When I was 11 my parents and grandfather continued to encourage me to garden so for the next few years I progressed in this and as I was keen to go on the land I was admitted to Hurlstone Agricultural High School which was quite an effort in 1942 for a small lad of twelve! The daily train/bus journey to and from this school was a mammoth task in itself. During my time at Hurlstone I spent over two years as a corporal in the cadet core. In 1946 I enrolled at Hawkesbury Agricultural College at Richmond where I was granted a bursary. In these next few years I grew up fast, both mentally and physically, with lectures, farm work, wool grading. I gained my Hawkesbury Diploma in Agriculture at the end of 1948.

So in 1949 after graduating I commenced my career working as a Tester, Grader and Pasteuriser operator at the Tenterfield Butter Factory then moved to Dairy Farmers but in late 1950 I had the opportunity to take over a flower garden and nursery in Concord and this was my baby for the next five years growing seedlings as well as stocking and selling garden needs/shrubs/seeds and bulbs. After travelling to Inverell in 1954 to be best man at a friend's wedding this opened up a new world to me and I fell in love with the place so I returned to Concord and in 1955 left the nursery to my brother and father and headed off in my faithful 1929 6-cylinder Chev car that I had converted into a utility again and returned to Inverell to live. It was here I met Meg and I eventually sold the Chev to raise funds for the flight to Sydney to buy an engagement ring for Meg after our courtship and we were married on 23rd November 1957. Our daughter Lee-Ann and son Keith were born in Inverell and second son Ross was born in Macksville when we moved there for me to become Dairy Officer responsible for 1500 dairy farms. Our 4th child, David, who was born at Gosford Hospital 10 years after our third child, has a degree in Forestry and Environment and works for Hornsby Shire Council.

Over many years I had a very full professional life, working, studying, gaining degrees and also was the foundation President of the Macksville Apex Club, and in 1970 , when my employment took me to Sydney, I transferred to the Woy Woy Apex branch and as members had to retire at "40" I was granted life membership. It was then I was introduced to the Rotary Club of Woy Woy by my brother Don and his mate Phillip Smith and I thus commenced my membership of the now very strong club which I have greatly enjoyed. A big part of my life also is Masonic. From 1970 to 1980 I travelled the world in various capacities but in 1981 was discharged as medically unfit by the Board I was employed by. Once my health issues were under control Meg and I started touring many parts of the world and in the late 80s expanded our nursery and were exporting orchids to the USA and in 1990 we moved it to Mangrove Mountain but due to further health issues in 1996 we sold the nursery and moved back to Woy Woy and later to Lakehaven Drive Umina Beach where we are still at home.

I have continued in the Rotary Club of Woy Woy, being President in 1982/1983 and have held most positions during my 41 years as a member. When I travelled in Australia or overseas I would attend Rotary Clubs, always with our banner for exchange. I was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow award and more recently a Sapphire Pin and assist whenever I can with projects whilst being in the process of completing a Thesis towards my PhD ambition at the age of 80.

(October, 2010)

SUE McCARTHY - THIS IS MY LIFE

My name is Sue McCarthy, and I grew up in Port Macquarie, moved to Sydney and began a career as a hairdresser, living in Balmain, then Paddington and Bondi. When I began family life I had 3 children under 2 years; a girl and identical twin boys. My husband's work took us all around the northern western NSW in a caravan until my daughter began school, and we settled in Sydney again for a few years.

Hairdressing wasn't a career that I wanted to pursue, so began "the Whitlam" years of government funded tertiary study that was available for women, and many years of study and a career in Social Work. Newly separated, I combined work and study. I worked for a Women's Refuge, taking a very active role in the Women's movement in the 70's, and an active role in the collective that managed the refuge.

The 80's saw me remarry and move to Wagga Wagga where we spent fifteen very happy years raising the children, with the fourth child, a son, born in Wagga. Rex's ill health prompted a move to the coast, however, he died a few months after we settled here, and since we loved the beach and I had gained employment, was happy to stay here. So, we did the Wagga Wagga to Woy Woy move!

Throughout my some 30 year social work career, Rotary had helped in many of my projects, and I had grown to respect their work. Each time that I thanked the Rotarians, or attended for a presentation, I would always say "I'll join you one day and give back a bit of what I have gained on behalf of clients". It must have been humorous for the Rotarians then, because this was in the time before Rotary included professional and business WOMEN!

Some of the ways that Rotary has helped over time has been to help clients stay in their homes, and funding projects that were not possible to be funded in other ways. For example, an elderly woman who had been stalked and repeatedly raped was afraid to go home, and so Rotary funded an alarm system in her house so that she would feel safer on her return home. Government funding did not allow for that creativity! In my present job now, Social Worker with children with medical and physical disabilities, Rotary clubs all over the coast have worked towards funding wheel chairs, vehicle modifications, and other equipment for the disabled that has improved the quality of their life far beyond what government funding will allow. When I visit a home that has been Rotarian renovated to give one of my clients a better quality of life, I feel proud to be a Rotarian. When I see a part Rotarian funded vehicle modification that has allowed a child to join their family for normal outings, and trips more comfortable to medical appointments in Sydney, I am a proud Rotarian.

I joined the Rotary Club of Woy Woy several years ago, interested in the fellowship, the fun, and the camaraderie that I had witnessed at this club when I was doing the rounds of Rotary clubs, talking about my passion of making a difference through fundraising for a program in Uganda. And I have dreams that I know, one day, Rotary and other service clubs will be involved in. I have learned that most significant differences and changes made in our community have emanated not from government, but from the groundswell of service clubs, and we make a difference.

(October, 2010)

VIC BROWN - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born in 1943 in Chester, England, the youngest of three brothers and my schooling took place in Chester. I developed a real interest in mechanical issues and cars and trucks but with very limited employment and career opportunities available locally I was fortunate in securing a student apprenticeship with the Rootes Group - manufacturers of Hillman, Singer, Sunbeam, Humber, Commer and Karrier trucks based in Coventry. There I found myself working alongside fellow student apprentices from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad, Switzerland etc. and they fired my imagination and desire to travel and see the world. At the end of the 3 year course, the Rootes Group offered me a position as Truck Sales Engineer at their retail outlet in Manchester. Here I rapidly learnt the rigours of the business world, competition and the seven day working week. With the experienced role models available to me and the energy and youth on my side over the three years, sales records were broken and many new fleet clients were gained but the wish for travel and adventure was ever present.

In 1967 I resigned from Rootes Ltd and travelled to South Africa. Arriving in Johannesburg on a Monday, I found employment by Tuesday morning! I had a letter of intro from the Rootes Group and this S.A. company (one of the largest auto retailers in the world) had an urgent and specific need for someone of my training, background and experience - it was at this point that I thought "it was better to be born lucky than rich" - a thought I have clung to throughout the rest of my life. The McCarthy Group found new challenges within the organization for me that with additional training and education kept me totally focussed for the next 14 years. During this period in 1973 I met Heather [a Kiwi girl on her way back from Europe having worked in Germany and who was chasing a little warm weather!]. Heather was working as a P.A to a local Shipping Company director who, with his family, had recently been relocated from Durban to Johannesburg and Heather had been asked to move as well. "Better to have been born lucky than rich"! We met on her first weekend in Johannesburg, married in 1978 and in 1979 undertook a trip to Australia, primarily to meet Heather's family and relatives. After a road trip from Brisbane to Sydney and a two day walk down Parramatta Road, the travel and adventure bell rang again and we subsequently moved to Australia in December 1980.

I secured the job of General Manager of a multi franchise dealership in Melbourne, Garry and Warren Smith. In 1983, a major automotive retailer Capitol Motors, approached and invited me to take over their group of companies as Chief Executive reporting to the ANI board. [Better to be born lucky than rich!] The challenge at Capitol was to reorganize the company and secure its future as a retailer. This was achieved but ultimately the public holding company was taken over by Consolidated Press (Kerry Packer) and part of the strategy was to divest themselves of the Capitol Group of operations. My final 14 months with ANI/Capitol was to unbundle the businesses and to successfully sell off the operating units. At the end of this I moved to open my own businesses in 1989, Stand-By Management Services (a banner under which I could provide ideas, skill and knowledge etc. to the automotive industry) and Automotive Realty Co. (a facility to buy/sell dealerships and automotive businesses around Australia. So, in the years 1989 to 2007 I saw much of Australia and New Zealand and handled projects in destinations such as the Middle East, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Brunei etc.

Heather ran the office whilst busy with her own various jobs from the fashion world to artist management, from commercials to a biscuit business. When you think we shared a home and office together 24 hrs a day from 1979 to the current day .... it says a lot about her adaptability and sense of humour!! ("Better to be born lucky than rich"!) We bought a cottage in Pearl Beach in the mid '80s and used it frequently as a weekend escape involving ourselves in the community from those early times. 2007 saw us move to Pearl Beach on a permanent basis and we took a conscious decision to slow down!! We now find ourselves involved in many aspects of the community life here in Pearl Beach and try to stay fit and flexible with regular visits to the gym for Vic and pilates and aquarobics for Heather - both playing tennis on a regular basis. With a declined "official" work load I was recently invited to attend Rotary meetings and ultimately joined the Rotary Club of Woy Woy. My motivation is primarily to use some of the time to give something back to the community whilst enjoying the company of the great range of personalities, skills and backgrounds of the Rotarian team.

Finally, the thought of "better to be born lucky than rich" has been alive with me since my youth. However, I hasten to add that Garry Player [the SA golfer] provided an addendum when he said "There's a lot of luck in golf but I find the more I practice the luckier I become!"

(January, 2011)

Peter Mote - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born on 3rd January 1944 in the Spa Town of Leamington in Central England in my Aunt's house due to the devastation caused by the 500-kilo bombs/air mines that fell on our home, area and hospitals and my dear Mother and I were both very sick for quite a long time. My Father worked long hours making Beaufighters, being the last of a long line of Mote engineers: cars, aircraft, ships and agricultural equipment were all in the family's scope of work. I was 5 years old before I remember seeing complete buildings and the first was my infants school "Earlsdon Infants and Primary School" which would have made Charles Dickens feel at home. I was pleased to leave this and my next 2 schools at the age of 15 and started work as an apprentice compositor at North View Press. In early 1962 I was awarded the apprentice of the year prize, by the Midlands Master Printers Association, which was a study tour of Holland and its graphic arts industry. In 1964 I gained a scholarship to London University studying my BSc at Imperial College, whilst spending some time at Watford College of technology to complete my Diploma in Graphic Arts Technology.

My experience in the Navy serving the Crown stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.

In August 1967 I married and went to work for the Clarendon Press, the academic publishing arm of the University of Oxford. This was a whole new world to me. When I met my new boss, a wonderful man, an Ex Squadron Leader with RAF Fighter Command he was great, he let me down gently and continued to be my mentor, because up to then I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread and clearly I wasn't. I spent 3 years there and lived in the village of Duns Tew, Oxfordshire, where our beautiful daughter Claire Louise was born. If working for the University was a new world, well that was nothing to the change that having a wife and child to support did for ambition. In the next 7 years my family and I moved around the country as I gained more experience/expertise in my new profession and during this time had 2 more wonderful children, Richard James and Helene Marie.

In September 1976 I applied for the job of Book Production Manager with Reader's Digest Australia with my final interview in Sydney and surprisingly, given the competition, I was offered the job and started in the London Office 25th February 1977, followed by some weeks in HQ in the USA. After which we all moved to Sydney on the 2nd April 1977. Over the next 26 years I rose through the ranks from Production Manager to Director of Production to Vice President of Operations. 1988 was my "Annus Horribilis", I became Separated, Divorced, Orphaned and Hospitalized all in one year.

On 5th February 1989 I met my beautiful Jayne and we married on 21st April 1990 and my life has been bliss ever since and much better organized! Between 1993 and 1995 I studied for and gained my MBA, which helped with my next position, Jayne helped get me there the first day as I was on crutches from a hip replacement and that was where I met Peter Clark (who later in life introduced me to the Rotary Club of Woy Woy) and he also helped me while I hobbled about and through the course we assisted each other in many ways.

In 2000 I was sent to London to take up the position of Vice President of Books and Home Entertainment for Europe and the Americas. Jayne packed up our home and we moved to Wimbledon in SW19. This job led to a global role and my last position with RDA that of Vice President of Global Promotion Operations. It was hard for Jayne in the early years but by the time I retired from RDA in mid 2003 she really wanted to stay longer.

At the end of September 2003 we landed back in Oz returning to life in Umina Beach with Jayne as Jayne Mote, organizer par excellence, knowing everyone and, as I had spent so much time working abroad I knew no-one, I was for a long time known as Mrs. Mote's husband, from Mr. Vice President to trailing spouse in one hit!!. Now after some 7 years in semi retirement and retirement we are able to enjoy life, travel, family including 4 grandchildren and friends. These days I am involved in community work with Peninsular Village, Community Fire, Strata 125 and Rotary. It has been a pleasure to serve Rotary in the roles of Club President, Treasurer and Assistant District Governor for District 9680. I have been an Australian citizen for over 30 years and never once regretted the move, many thanks.

(January, 2011)

Fiona Hunt - THIS IS MY LIFE

My life began in the U.K. during the year in which Mount Everest was officially climbed. As a result of that event, my lovely and inspiring parents seriously considered calling their new and darling daughter, "Sherpa", or "Tenzing", or "Hillary". Instead, they (thankfully) decided on the name, "Fiona". I've always enjoyed a passion for mountains, though (I wonder who and where it came from?).

Due to my adventurous and inspiring family, I had a wonderful upbringing, which has resulted in an interesting life. We often enjoyed fascinating visits to stately homes, historical and ancient castles and exploring the U.K. including Wales, Scotland, the Lake District, Cambridge, Oxford, Winchester and Stratford-on-Avon. Ma, Pa and other relatives also introduced and encouraged a passion to me for literature and music, which I shall always be grateful to them, for. My home is like a library; full of interesting books. I love studying and learning and enjoy regular trips to The Sydney Opera House, to be raptured by The Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

I've always loved helping people and hence, I decided that nursing would become my vocation. The human being is a fascinating and mystifying organism, with all of its various mechanisms. Whilst living in the U.K. I successfully qualified as a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor. In November 1987, the opportunity suddenly arose for me to emigrate to Australia and I have lived here, since. I love Australia passionately (Ma and Pa also emigrated here, in 1989), especially The Central Coast. I had first heard about Rotary when I was living in the U.K.; we had a Rotary Club in Esher, Surrey. But timing can influence our lives. I'm permanently settled on The Central Coast, now; it really is a breathtakingly lovely area and even Himalayan friends love visiting me, here. They come from stunning scenery! They are so happy that I chose to live here.

Five and a half years ago, I joined Woy Woy Rotary Club; the time to join Rotary, had come at last! I literally walked into the Woy Woy Rotary Club meeting, off the street. I desperately wanted to become involved in helping local, community and international projects (having travelled a lot, in The Himalaya) and here was my opportunity. From the first moment that I walked into the meeting, I was warmly welcomed by everyone. "What a lovely bunch of folks", I thought. "They're all so warm, friendly, humble, kind, sincere, interesting and fun!".

I'm a very passionate Rotarian and feel that joining Rotary is one of the best decisions I have ever made, in my life. Helping others gives our lives purpose. And fulfilment. It is SO rewarding. We're like a big family; mates for life. Rotary is special. And honest. And productive. Thank you, Rotary.

(January, 2011)

Don Tee - THIS IS MY LIFE

I was born in Canowindra N.S.W. on 1st April 1953, being the fourth child and third son (I have one sister).

I remember my father dropping us off at school and leaving to go to work but, as I was not keen to be at school, by the time he got to work he found me sitting on the doorstep.

In 1964 the family of Mum, Dad, myself and one brother, leaving one in Canowindra, moved to Ettalong and settled in Umina. Sadly my other brother died at the age of 30.

After settling in Umina I attended Ettalong Beach Primary School for one year and Woy Woy High School for four years (still didn't like school) and obtained a school certificate with metalwork being one of my subjects. The first day at high school I met a new kid to the area, John Mulder, and we have been best of mates ever since.

During the school holidays of 1969 I worked for Alan and Margaret Pearse, the local Plumbers. I had applied for an apprenticeship at the Ford dealer in Gosford but they didn't need me. Alan asked if I would like to be an apprentice plumber and earn $12.00 a week. So after another five years of study, including two years night sessions and six months of Saturdays at North Sydney I became a plumber drainer and gas fitter. After some 40 years I still enjoy my trade and being able to help people (and pay the bills).

I was introduced to Rotary in 1971 by a Rotarian Charles Williamson of Ettalong, who told me about this youth group that was starting, so along with my mate John (whose father was a Rotarian) we attended the meeting of the proposed Rotaract Club of Woy Woy in July. This was the first night I met Alan Ford, Rod Radford and Eric Leggett. On 13th May 1972 the Rotaract Club of Woy Woy was chartered with 19 members made up of young people from Woy Woy. During the next 10 years I had the opportunity to serve as director of committees and President on two occasions, 1974/75 and 1978/79, serving on District in 1975/76 as Central Coast representative to District President Virginia Howard, Rotary District Governor was Les Whitcroft and what a year it was! We had 5 Rotaract Clubs on the Coast and 26 in District with almost 800 members.

Joining Rotary on 6th October 1982, after leaving Rotaract for being too old (can you believe it) I was the first Rotaractor to join The Rotary Club of Woy Woy and at that stage the youngest Rotarian. President Elect Eric Leggett asked me to join his board for 1983/84 as a director as did P.P. Bruce Judd on his board as director and President Elect for 1986/87. I once again had the opportunity to serve as President for the second half of 1990/91 when our President Bill Hancock was transferred with the bank. Having served on the board for 24 years, as Vice President, or director, or sergeant at arms. I also served District for 2 years as Interact Chairman for D.Gs Alex Gow and Ivan Skellet.

Serving this year as President is a whole new ball game to what it was 25 years ago, I am as keen as I was then and still enthusiastic to serve Rotary and the community. After 28 years there have been many and varied changes, including the introduction of women into Rotary (but that's a story all of its own).

I am very proud and passionate about Rotary and in particular of Woy Woy Club and its members, who, along with friends, partners and family, do some outstanding work in the community and certainly make a difference to many people's lives less fortunate than themselves, without thanks or praise.

My other passion when time permits, and together with my partner Susan, is fishing for trout in NU ZELUND (New Zealand) standing knee deep in water about 3 degrees warm trying to catch fush (fish), call me crazy if you like but if you ain't tried it don't knock it.

P.S. If you are wondering what happened to my sister, she stayed in Canowindra eventually marrying a farmer but they now live in the town.

(February, 2011)