Posted by David Pisterman
David Pisterman was Rotary Club of Hawthorn President in 2000 – 2001
 
RI President Frank Devlyn’s Theme was Create Awareness – Take Action
 
David presents some reminiscences for us.  
 
In looking back after the great year Club President Anne Scott had, I was extremely lucky to have a team of talented members, comprising Bernie Walshe PE and Club Secretary, John Higgins as Treasurer, Dennis Shore Club Service, Dr John as Vocational, Simon O’Donoghue Community Service, Alan Heggen, International, Chris Hansen Youth and John Skerritt looking after Fellowship.
 
Photo: Anne Scott passing the Chain of Office to David.
 
 
Another interesting fact was that Club dues were $200.00.
 
All the work that Anne’s team had done to obtain a 3H Grant was realized. The Grant, valued at $485,000 over 4 years, was to teach remote Kurdish women to read and write. 
 
During the Rotary year we hosted South African student Kim van der Lith, Shane Woewodin won the Brownlow, Australia hosted the Olympic Games in September, and DG Des Jones held his District Conference in Sydney at Darling Harbour.
 
We hosted the incoming GSE team from Brittany at Green Acres Golf Club, a memorable evening of fun and fellowship with the French.
 
We were blessed with guest speakers including Colin Croft, the CEO of the City of Boroondara, the Head of the Swinburne School of Management, Ted Baillieu, MLA for Hawthorn, David Parkin from the Hawthorn Football Club to name a few.
 
Photo: Cheryl and David Pisterman looked like teenagers, back in 2000.
 
We were fully engaged in fund raising in the “Walk thru the Burnley tunnel” prior to its opening.
 
We raised $19,435 from parking and raffle tickets at the Kooyong Classic, and approximately $11,000 from the sale of Christmas Hams.
 
We celebrated Jim Braden’s 90th birthday and were saddened by the deaths of Henry Kingsley and John Skerritt, we were thrilled when both Bib Stilwell and David Rosback were recognized in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and Past RI President Royce Abbey was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
 
Jill Weeks won the annual Ron Carr Award (we should consider reviving this initiative), and also we had Lawrence Reddaway join the Club.
 
One final bit of trivia: I was keen to move our Club meetings from the Hawthorn Football Social Club rooms to the Kooyong Tennis Club. We did a Club visit, then conducted a poll to decide what to do, and we made the choice to remain where we were.
 
Incoming President Bernie Walshe (right) presided over a great changeover at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club.
 
I loved every minute of my Presidential year, my thanks to all members who made it so.
 
 
 
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