Past President's Reports
Anthony Wetmore - President 2001/2002
Garry Krischock - President 2000/2001
Noel Morgan - President 1999/2000
Claire Rush - President 1998/1999
Paul Vicary - President 1997/1998
John Dierselhuis - President 1996/1997
Jenny Hale - President 1995/1996
Tony Rush - President 1994/1995
Jeremy Wilkinson - Charter President 1993/1994
Anthony Wetmore - President 2001/2002
The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”, or, as was the International Theme for the year, “Mankind is our Business”. The Rotary Club of Bardon again embraced the motto and the theme and had a busy, business-like, rewarding and fun year.
In a time of heavy business and personal commitments, many clubs are facing the challenge of their effectiveness and purpose, and indeed, their very viability. It is pleasing that Bardon, while facing challenges, has no doubt about its viability and effectiveness.
The club raised sufficient funds, through its Annual Golf Day, to make a “Wish Come True” for Dwayne Thompson, care of the Starlight Foundation. And what an inspiration the young fellow is and how pleasing to be able to make a difference for him.
The other big commitment to Mankind was the Q-Rapid Weekend Camp for intellectually and physically disadvantaged people. It also provided an opportunity for fellowship amongst the members.
The club supported, through its various fund-raising initiatives, various community organisations, including Drug Arm, Donations in Kind, the Abused Child Trust, Australian Rotary Health Research, ROMAC, the White Wreath Association, the East Africa Fund for education, the Salvation Army Red Shield appeal, the Ambulance Association through the Medical Information Book. We also assisted the Petrie Terrace State School raise funds at its Spring Fair.
The club was honoured to have Elaine Morgan volunteer her services for a month at the University of Ubon in Thailand. Elaine and Rotarians from North America spent the month establishing a library at the University.
Bardon was again active in serving youth and the international community. We welcomed Rhianne Chester back from a year in the United States, we sent Penny Malone to Finland for a year, and we are currently hosting Carolina Minoli from Brazil.
In spite of all this Business of Serving Mankind, we had time for fun. We had “Christmas in July” in Maleny, visited Stanthorpe, attended Fiddler on the Roof, chugged down the Brisbane River on the SS Forceful, blew up Balloons in the Park on Queensland Day, tested our retailing skills at the Ferney Grove Markets, celebrated Chinese New Year, visited the Sheraton and various restaurants and other Rotary Clubs. And of course we celebrated the Club’s ninth birthday.
Regrettably the club lost three members in the year, but for understandable reasons, namely a change in their personal circumstances, especially geographic. It is therefore fortunate that we were able to welcome an additional three members to the club and hence retain a membership of 23.
It was a busy year made possible by the commitment and energy of the Board and the strength of the membership. A sincere thank you to you all for your efforts and for the honour of serving you.
Anthony Wetmore
Garry Krischock - President 2000/2001
In a year when we were asked to "Create awareness and take action” each Bardonian can be justifiably proud of their role and contribution to the overall effectiveness of Bardon Rotary in District 9600.
Whilst we welcomed three new members during the year, we unfortunately lost the support of Tony Rush and Paul Vicary, ending the year with 23 members and one honorary member, Royce Smith.
It was a year which saw the conclusion of the Bowman Park Project after five years, and the commencement of a new project with the Bardon Guides, as our new "hands on” project. We gave support to ROMAC, Donations in Kind, The Red Shield Appeal, East African Fund, Prostate Cancer Awareness (Pilgrimage), RYLA, Exchange Students, Drug Arm (Colette Chester), Shine on Awards and Rotary Foundation. A Paul Harris Fellow was awarded. Fund raising consisting of Pie Drive, two raffles, Picnic in the Park, and the annual golf day, which kept Fellows busy during the year.
So as a club we began the new millennium. To each Board member, and the individual members, thank you for your support in helping to make my year as President a rewarding one.
Noel Morgan - President 1999/2000
In a very busy year in which we embraced R I President Carlo's theme "Rotary 2000: Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity" the Rotary Club of Bardon Inc has achieved most of the objectives we set ourselves, as well as maintaining our on-going commitment from past years.
Our Bowman Park project is now completed and we have agreed to maintain the weeding of the area as a community service project.
Our food stall at the Bardon Community Green Fair raised sufficient profit to provide a $1000 donation to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and to assist other donations to ARHRF, Guide dogs Monocular Vision Fund and Hear and Say Centre.
The Harvey Bay Whale Watching experience, Chinese New Year, Club Birthday and Bali Grill Dinner generated great fellowship, whilst the Balloons in the Park resulted in sore fingers, many laughs and $1500 from Channel 7 for our labour.
The Q-Rapid Camp Bornhoffen weekend was an outstanding success due to the dedicated efforts of our Rotarians and Partners. I think we should give serious consideration to future Q-Rapid camps as they seen to have lost their purpose of providing parents of clients a respite weekend at a heavy financial cost to us.
My sincere thanks to the executive,directors and fellow Rotarian for your support during the year and for the honour of being your President in 1999/2000 and I wish Garry and his Board every success in the coming year.
Claire Rush - President 1998/1999
In a year where the universal Rotary theme was "Follow your Rotary Dream", the Rotary Club of Bardon Inc. achieved all of its dreams by maintaining its projects from prior years, as well as developing new projects such as the Q-Rapid Camp in May. With its success it hopefully will be adopted as an annual event by the Club.
Also of significance was the culmination of stage 1 of the re-vegetation work at Bowman Park, with the second phase to begin in the next Rotary year under Noel Morgan's Presidency.
This past year from a membership point of view has also seen the Rotary Club of Bardon Inc. grow in numbers from 19 to 27. This represents a 42% growth for the year of quality numbers. Apart from this tremendous growth, just as important is the fact that we have retained our membership without loss for the year.
All these achievements have been possible because of the dedication of all 27 Rotarians of the Club, and I thank each one for their support over the year and for giving me the honour of being your President in the 1989/1999 year.
Paul Vicary - President 1997/1998
My year was one of consolidation and the cementing of projects that were considered worthwhile and benefited our community.
Building on the work already done by my predecessors. With most of the activities were now in their 2nd and 3rd years, and the club continued with a strong and active membership providing support to projects. As a Club we turned out en-masse for projects achieving participation rates of 85% or better.
Projects included, Balloons in the Park, Bowman Creek, Calcutta, Golf Day, Sportsman's Lunch, Exchange Student, Vocational Awards, Membership Open Nights, Hear and Say, Paint Your Heart Out, Shine on Awards, Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Siemens Summer Science Schools (Brisbane and Canberra).
In the year I was well supported by a great Board of Directors and an enthusiastic and committed group of Rotarians. All this set the tone for a great year to come with a balanced and mixed club.
John Dierselhuis - President 1996/1997
The year commenced with a "permanent home" at the Brisbane Broncos, Red Hill. Through the year we inducted four members, losing two to year end. Fundraising efforts raised $5,500.00, which was distributed to Wesley Rotary Lodge, SOWN, Hear and Say, and Rotary International. We published the first member's handbook
The Club bestowed a Paul Harris Fellowship on Claire Rush in recognition of her efforts within our club and at district level. Ten members attended the District Conference. We participated with Smith Family, Red Shield Appeal, Cleanup Australia, and at Bowman Park. We participated in the DIK project at Tennyson. Vocational "Pride of Workmanship" Awards were jointly awarded with the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/the Gap.
Combined meetings were held with Paddington/red Hill, and Rotaract Club of Brisbane West. Vocational visits to Milton Car Tech, Castlemaine Brewery, Parliament House, and Resource Options
We celebrated the Club's fourth birthday appropriately, and the club can be proud of its achievements in my year, which came easy from the efforts of all members. A year of fun, cooperation, and above all fellowship.
Jenny Hale - President 1995/1996
During my year as President much of the year was spent searching for a new home for our club.
From our original home at the Bardon Bowls Club, we tried the Bardon Professional Centre, and a brief stop at the "nunnery on the hill" before finally we arrived at the Broncos Leagues Club at Red Hill. This meant a move of meeting day to a Wednesday night.
The camaraderie of the Club was such we survived this period without the loss of a single member.
Thank you all.
Tony Rush - President 1994/1995
My year of presidency was both a challenging and enjoyable period. Challenging because of the young age of our club, our lack of Rotary experience, and a decline in fellow numbers. Enjoyable for the long-term friendships forged with fellows in a time of adversity.
The year was eventful in Rotary with the highlight being our club's achievement for the highest participation of any club in our district. Other events included a successful art show and community fund raising activities.
Our greatest success was to remain as a club in Rotary
Jeremy Wilkinson - Charter President 1993/1994
In October 1992, a group of strangers met in a Paddington House in response to a letterbox drop to business people in the area. This was the very beginning of the Rotary Club of Bardon.
With the assistance of the Rotary Clubs of Planetarium and Ashgrove/The Gap, informal meetings commenced at the un-renovated Bardon Bowls Club. By early 1993 a regular group met every Monday evening. As the number of those who had pledged to join the Club grew to the minimum charter membership of 25, the Rotary Club of Bardon was chartered on the 17th May 1993 at a black tie dinner at Gambaro's Restaurant. All the members, bar one, were new to Rotary and so each meeting was an exiting learning experience.
Although we lost a few of the "rino" (registered in name only) we retained a good number of men and women who were determined to have fun, and were enthusiastic about the success and future of the club.