This was a special occasion to recognise the contributions of our great friends Bryan and Angela.
President David Sykes told us that Bryan was inducted into the Rotary Club of Bowen in 1994 and in 1995, Bryan joined the Rotary Club of Karana Downs where he took the directorships of the Vocational, Community, International and Youth Service Committees and was the chair of the Rotary Foundation Committee, Publicity Officer and Bulletin Editor.
Bryan served as President at Karana Downs 1999-2000 and received a Paul Harris Fellow recognition in 2001.
He served as Club Secretary in 2003 and 2008.
In District 9600, Bryan was Assistant Governor for Youth during which time he received the Distinguished Rotary Service Award.
He served on the Ambassadorial Scholars Sub Committee and became District Coordinator Ambassadorial Scholars and was counsellor for Peace Scholars at the University of Queensland as well as a member of the District Governor's selection panel.
In 2001-2002 he led a Group Study Exchange Team to New Jersey, District 7640.
Bryan joined our Club on 20 April 2008 proposed by Andrew Thornton with the classification of “Education Research” and was twice the chair of our International Service Committee.
He was a member of the New Generations Committee, a Club Training officer and volunteered at DIK (Donations in Kind).
Bryan was elected to the office of president of our Club and served in that role to 31 December.
With Angela, Bryan hosted 7 exchange students over his time in Rotary, including one with our Club.
A defining feature of Bryan’s international service is his involvement in Australian Volunteers International, as Learning and Development Cluster Mentor with oversight for the Cambodian Organisation for Children and Development, Cambodian Volunteers for Communities, Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre and Lotus Outreach.
Bryan has been supported by our Club which applied for and obtained a District Grant to enable the construction of a series of water wells in an area under his supervision and which will radically change living conditions and the health of villages and their children in particular which in turn facilitates consistent school attendance and progress out of poverty.
This was followed up by a successful application for a Global Grant with the water well project, now nearing sign-off.
A feature of this project was Bryan’s promotion through the District with visits to most District 9780 clubs and securing support for funds.
Angela and Bryan are well travelled Rotarians, having attended Rotary Clubs in South Africa, Germany, Sweden, Cambodia, New Zealand, the USA and Singapore.
President David bestowed upon Bryan this Club's recognition of a 3rd and 4th sapphire for excellence of work done through the Cambodian water well project and a 5th sapphire for his leadership of our Club as president to end of December.
Angela has served her local and international communities firstly as President Elect at the Rotary Club of Karana Downs in Queensland and then with our Club since 20 April 2008 with the classification “Secondary Education Services.
Angela was secretary of our Club in 2011-12012 (with Ross being President) and has been a leader in the Days for Girls and the Christ Church meals programs as well as organising the Hamburger Stall Geelong Show rosters and being a regular and committed member of the team ("always there and last to leave") and, in particular, through the work she has done in recording the operating procedures for the Hamburger Stall.
Angela and Bryan have hosted 7 exchange students and Angela has been instrumental in the promotion and execution of the Cambodian water well project and the administrative work entailed in the District and Global Grants processes.
In recognition of her work, Angela was awarded a 2nd sapphire through Bryan's Foundation points to add to her Paul Harris Fellow 1st sapphire which she received for the work done in risk management at the Hamburger Stall.
