EULOGY - RON RAUERT
Ron Rauert joined the Rotary Club of Warrnambool on 5th March 1957, ie; 62 years ago
Few people would have been an active member of any organisation for such a long period. In fact
Ron was a member of the Rotary Club for two-thirds of his life and a little more than two- thirds of the existence of the Club itself.
When Ron joined the Club in 1957 the culture then was much different from that which exists today. Rotary then only admitted the head of the particular organisation. This meant that the Rotary Club in 1957 was comprised of the heads of industry, commerce, Local Government, the public service etc. How difficult it must have been for a young thirty year old boot and shoe repairer Ron Rauert to feel comfortable with such men, probably twice his age, and to call them by their christian name, including his father in law Reg Reeves and Fletcher, later Sir Fletcher Jones. He may have taken heart had he known that the founder of Rotary Paul Harris once said
"All honourable vocations are worthy of recognition if used in the service of society"
Likewise dress was far more formal than the casual attire now accepted. Photos of the early Rotary Club show an array of men in suits. Even 50 years after inauguration, a photo of then Rotarians showed all but a few still in suits and tie including Ron Rauert in a dark lounge suit white shirt and tie.
It is challenging to summarise iun a few minutes the 60 year contribution Ron Rauert has made to Rotary. His detailed record covers almost both sides of an A4 page. May I briefly outline just a few of those activities in which he was associated in the Club.
a) For 46 years Ron organised the Club's contribution to 'Red Cross' calling. The Club had been been allocated about 20 inner city blocks and Ron had a map of these pasted on to cardboard and each area numbered. At a dinner meeting he would lean across the shoulder of those co-opted and lay a wallet of receipts, pencils and other material in front of you with a brief rejoinder "bring the money into the shop by next Thursday and Pete or I will count it" He would soon after the door knock detail how much had been collected for that particular year and a cumulative total of tens of thousands of dollars which had been collected over the years.
b) He was an enthusiastic supporter of Rotary Conferences. He and Val attended no less than 4 World Conferences, one in England one in Japan and 2 in Australia. But his outstanding record was attendance at no less than 50 District Conferences and he would have attended more but for the deteriorating health of Val. Not only did he attend the District Conferences but some months prior he and Val would travel to the relevant city venue for the next Conference and do a circuit of the motels and book about 15 rooms at the best accommodation for the expected contingent from the Rotary Club of Warrnambool.
c) He was President of the Club in 1970-71. He was responsible for the erection on the high eastern bank of Tower Hill of a geodetic cairn upon which is inscribed details of destinations near and far. Geodetic comes from the term 'geodesic' meaning the science of curved surfaces, no doubt referring to the moulded dome of the cairn.
d) Ron was also a tireless worker for the Warrnambool Eisteddfod, a project started by Rotary. Each week during the Eisteddfod he would bring printed rosters for several weeks to man the doors and expected those to be filled before he left the meeting.
e) The longer term Rotarians will remember Ron's passion for the sale, as a fund raiser, of tinned Christmas puddings He must have sold hundreds and he would buy them by the carton. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, he would bring armfuls to Rotary and expected to take none home. At the Christmas meeting he would launch into the meeting in full Santa Claus garb and bag full of puddings shouting in his stentorian voice "Ho Ho Ho Rotary Christmas Puddings". and get rid of any remaining tins.
f) Years ago Ron had a bit of an obsession about electric barbecues and associated shelters He would return from holidays to the northern states with plans, specifications, photos and estimated cost of such structures. When a certain Rotarian was going in as President in the late 1970's, he asked Ron to be Community Services Director. Ron agreed on condition an electric barbecue and shelter was constructed at Lake Pertobe and 400 voluntary hours later it was done.
g) The Rotary Club has manned the Warrnambool Agricultural Show gates for 50 years and during that time Ron has contributed countless hours, often many more than other Rotarians. Some days before each annual Show Ron would co-opt a small team of Rotarians who would clean out the ticket boxes of bird nests and other rubbish.
(h) The list of his contributions goes on and on with assistance at the Senior Citizens Treat for many years, his support in the establishment of the Sheltered Workshop, Waste Paper collection and Meals on Wheels etc
The Club has recognised the outstanding work contributed by Ron over his long membership.
In 1990-1 he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.
He has since received no less than 3 sapphire pins to this Award.
In 2007 he received a '50 year Membership Certificate signed by then World President.
In 2005 he received the highest honour Rotary can bestow, presented by no less than a Past World President, Glen Kinross, at the Club's 75th, Anniversary Dinner at Emmanuel College. Such Awards are rarely made and Past World President Kinross stressed the significance of such an Award and read from the citation which is attached and I quote:
"this Rotarian continues to provide leadership, enthusiasm and drive for other members..a Rotarian of high business ethics, a strong family man and a long time supporter of his church and the community..an inspiration to us all"
Our Club will for many years be indebted to PP. Ron Rauert and he is likely to continue, as stated in the citation to his Four Avenues of Service Award, 'be an inspiration to us all'
