By Emma Sun
Newly inducted president Tim Mepstead with the committee for 2011/12: John Henzen, Geoff Janssen, Julie Crawford, Jo Mooney, Terry Williams, Gary Board, Steve Fisher, Kate Lempriere, past-president Graham Tudge and Viv Armstrong. 66849 More pictures on page 10.
WHILE the induction of new president and committee was the primary focus of the night, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Pakenham was equally important.
Ken Rook and his son Teague compiled a DVD filled with pictures taken throughout Rotary’s 50 years of service to the community and five Rotarians were invited to speak on each decade of the club’s existence.
It was fitting that for the first 10 years charter member and president for 1968/69 Jan Veenstra was asked to speak.
Back then charter-president Charles Hicks taught at the Consolidated School so meetings were held in the school’s cafeteria.
Mr Veenstra pointed out that there were only 3000 people living in Pakenham at the time and meals at the cafeteria cost 25 cents a head.
Their first major project was the Red Cross Blood Bank and it was also the start of the Senior Citizens Club and the white elephant sales.
The second 10 years, the ’70s, was highlighted by president for 1969/70 Charlie Huyskens, who has been a member since 1965.
Mr Huyskens talked about the Festival of Nations and the amazing time he has had at Rotary.
Roly Hewson, president for 1982/83 was invited to speak about the third 10 years, the ’80s. Mr Hewson described the formation of the Rotaract Club and the work Rotary did on the Meadowvale Retirement Village.
President for 1991/92 Ken Rook described the ’90s through statistics, reading out the number of each committee members Rotary has had.
Mr Rook was quick to point out the club has had a significantly lesser number of treasurers, and attributed it to the fact that “Rotary obviously likes holding on to money!”
Finally, president for 2006/07 Lyn Squires capped off the 50 years with a speech about the last 10 years.
She marvelled at the amount of work Rotary had done throughout the years, and added Rotary Park and the Rotary shelter shed to the club’s list of achievements.
