At our 50 Year Celebration Dinner President sue Voss made a special presentation of Rotarian Graham Reid, a foundation member of our Club with fifty years of continuous service.
Earlier in this Rotary Year Graham provided the Bulletin with five pages of his many memories of the Club. These were printed in August 2020 editions of the Bulletin.
The first provisional meeting was held on Tuesday 9 March 1971 with the Club's Charter presentation being held on 15 June 1971.
The then District 980 Governor John Emerton installed Wal Cubbin as the Charter president with Dr Bill Parsons as the Charter Secretary.
Graham views Wal as the Father of the Club who made Fellowship the cement or glue that held the Club together.
Graham himself was installed as the third President of the Club in the 1973-74 Rotary Year.
In responding to his presentation Graham spoke as follows:
Hi President Sue & Members All.
I sincerely appreciate Our Club's recognition of my 50 years Membership.
Thank You for My Memorable Rotary Clock. Inscribed," 50 Years Rotary Service. " It feels like I am Superannuated /Old Age. The clock also seems symbolic as per " Salvatory Dali's MELTING CLOCK "
As a Charter Member I would like to share my REMINISCENCES of 50 Rotary Years
50 years ago our stating Mark or starting point was at Dandenong when, at the same time as the RC Seaford, our Charters were conferred at the Prince Mark Hotel.
Over the last half century there have been countless past & present members.
We have made our Mark on a LOCAL STATE, AUSTRALIAN & WORLD level.
Mount Eliza Rotary Club has certainly left its MARK & will be remembered in history, for the successful and important things achieved.
It should be noted our Present CHARTER, due to fire is not the ORIGINAL, which didn't survive the fire. An exception that did survive was my SMOKEY Badge.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise two members who made a huge MARK on the Success of Our Club.
Our first President & Father of Our Club WAL CUBBIN & Secretary Dr BILL PARSONS.
As I have said in the past, our start was like the Immaculate Conception, especially the work & detail in dealing with Rotary International USA.
I think Mount Eliza has well accomplished the MARK set by WAL & Bill. We have substantially achieved our number one policy, FELLOWSHIP.
We are currently considering our future direction and the success of our CLUB VISIONING will guide us towards our next 50 years.
The Clock Presented to Rotarian Graham Reid by President Sue Voss, on behalf of the Club, to mark Graham's 50 years of continuous service.
