Rotary welcomes its new club president

JULIE Crawford was inducted as the new president of the Rotary Club of Pakenham last week.
Ms Crawford, who has been involved in rotary for eight years, said she was very proud to be named the president of a club that had fantastic fellowship.
“It is a great club, it’s an honour, and I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
“It’s going to be a great year.”
Ms Crawford said club members were looking forward to running a new project, Go Country (Outdoor, Farming and Lifestyle), which will be held on the weekend of 25 and 26 October at the Pakenham Racecourse.
Outgoing president Gary Board hosted the club’s 47th annual changeover at the Viale Restaurant at Pakenham last Tuesday night.
Past president Terry Williams proposed the toast to Rotary International, concentrating on the fellowship of the Rotary. The response was from past district governor Graeme Begg.
In his annual report, Mr Board thanked members and office bearers for their support after another successful year for the club.
The club raised $57,115 for local and international charities.
Mr Board said he was particularly proud of a number projects the club had undertaken this year including the re-opening of the Pakenham outdoor swimming pool, the Matching Grant program, the Wally Wombat trail at the Pakenham Show and the Children in Distress auction night that saw four beneficiaries, the ROMAC, INTERPLAST, Very Special Kids and Windermere.
Mr Board presented 100 per cent attendance plaques to Andrew Walsh, Ken Rook, Sam Lamendola, Roger Thornton and Kaine Harris.
Mr Board was privileged to have led the club, which has an envied reputation for fellowship, he said.
Ms Crawford said this year’s theme, Make Dreams Real, was focused on the desire to cut back the 30,000 children under five years of age who die every year around the world from hunger, illness and poverty.
Ms Crawford introduced her board for 2008-2009: Gary Board, vice president; Viv Helps and Geoff Janssen, secretaries; Graeme Squires, treasurer; Tim Ahern, president elect, Roger Thornton, community service chairman; Barry Hodge, vocational service chairman; Graham Tudge, international service chairman and youth services chairman Stephen Fisher; and the four directors, Lyn Bunce, George Hazzard, Sam Lamendola and Des Wynne.