INDUCTION - JOHN STUCKEY

The Chair, Rachel Furnell, introduced John Stuckey who was born in Ormond and is married to Margaret who was also present at the Club meeting. They have a son Gavin and daughter Gaye, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, with one on the way shortly. John went to Ormond State School, then Oakleigh Technical School which is now a McDonalds. John did a plumbing apprenticeship at Oakleigh which he finished at RMIT. He then worked with Gas & Fuel Corporation as a gas fitter where he advanced to foreman. In 1959 he transferred to Traralgon where he stayed for 9 years, then transferred back to Melbourne as Senior technical instructor at the Gas & Fuel training school. Then in charge of all country branches which saw him move to Warrnambool in 1973. John started his own gas business under the name “John Stuckey Gas” which later became Barbeques Galore.

Margaret and John also started a frozen food business and a handicraft business which John admits were mainly Margaret’s handiwork. They still own Barbeques Galore in Warrnambool.

John joined the Warrnambool Rotary Club in May 1995 and was President in 2000/01. He was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow by the Warrnambool Rotary Club.

Margaret and John moved to Moama and transferred to the Echuca/Moama Rotary Club in 2006. He was installed as President in 2007/08. During this period John and Margaret did a lot of touring, particularly in the USA and Canada, taking advantage of the international travel and hosting fellowship and staying with dozens of Rotary families. They have had reciprocal visits from several of their hosts and many American and Canadian Rotarians remain close friends today.

They then moved to Shepparton and joined the Rotary Club of Shepparton South in 2010. Elected to the Board in 2012 chairing International.

In 2014 John moved to Rotary Club of Mooroopna but then decided to move back to Warrnambool last month.

President Marie Bennett inducted John to the Rotary Club of Warrnambool and Rotarians welcomed him back to the Club.