 Dev Connelly, who was the only surviving foundation member of this club, has sadly passed away. President Shawn Hutchinson invited two of Dev's closest friends to give some insight into the man, the legend. |
 Honorary Member, Andy ByrneIn 1965 Roy Gilbert received a phone call from the RC of Unley talking about a new club in Mount Barker. Roy was an electrician as was Dev Connelly. They met and this club was a result. The new club was inaugurated in 1966. Sadly, there are now no charter members remaining. Dev and Andy shared an interest in airplanes. Dev was born in 1929 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, a working class suburb. His mother died when Dev was only 14. The children managed to evade welfare and existed on their own. Dev eventually went to his grandmother on her poverty stricken farm. His first job was taking vegetables to the Melbourne market. The owner of the truck would get tipsy and Dev would drive the truck home. On completing his education he wanted to become an aero engineer but the Government needed electricians so Dev became an apprentice. While working as an electrician he attended night school to study electrical engineering. After the war he worked for National Cash Registers as an electrical engineer. He decided to make his fortune as a miner and gained a mining license but after scratching around had no luck so he was sent to Adelaide as an air-conditioning electrician. He began an electrical business in Woodside as there was already one in Hahndorf. In the 1950's most people had kerosene lamps but were converting to electricity. Dev was busy converting dairies etc. While working in an old house he found a German radio in the rafters. So there was a German spy somewhere in Hahndorf! Dev learnt to fly and started a third level airline, Southern Airlines. In the 60's - 80's there was a 2 airline policy, Reg Ansett and the Government. An application had to made under Regulation 203 but to apply was very difficult. So, Dev set up an electrical repair business in Mt Barker. He was very much an old fashioned Rotarian and not impressed with any changes.  Russell MinerdsRussel knew and worked with Dev for the last 15 years. Dev was born on Christmas Day 1929 and died on Rememberance Day, 11th November 2020. Dev's spare time was taken up helping others. He paid Russell to do all sorts of Rotary work. He was a font of knowledge about many out dated electrical items, from farm pumps to commercial switchboards. Dev was over 90 and lived a full life and was very proud of his fellow Rotarians in particular Blakiston and Mount Barker. He was a great public speaker and never used any notes. He always said speeches should be less that 6 minutes, keep it short, tell a joke or an anecdote, start a thread, wander off and finish back at the same thread or idea. Dev was a bit of a rogue. He had an Irish high spirit and an opinion on many things but he was a quintessential Australian in his general outlook. An Irish Aussie larrikin. He was a leader in many things. He was Commodore of a Perth boat club but could not swim. He had a parchment signed by the President of the US relating to him starting a Friendship Force in Australia. Dev was involved in many local committees and taught business at TAFE. Dev loved to fly, to travel and to meet people. He helped others often, with no charge. He had a strong sense of duty. |