Vale Don Tindale - It is with great sadness, I advise of the passing of our Honorary Member, Michael Donnison (Don) Tindale. Born on 11 January 1947 in South Africa, he was 79 when he passed away on Saturday 28 February 2026. Don was a provisional and Charter Member of Adelaide (chartered on 12 June 1986) and gave 40 years of service including Presidency in 1992-2993 and 2016-2017; awarded a PHF in 1999 and made an Honorary Member on 19 June 2025.
After finishing his military service in South Africa, Don went off to London in the late 1960s, met and married Ellen and they migrated to Australia around 1969. Don was a senior bank teller in Adelaide and Ellen worked at Dun and Bradstreet. Don and Ellen even owned and managed a small supermarket near Salisbury at one stage, and had two children Scott and Claire. Don’s IT skills morphed him into a senior role with EDS and the Festival Centre before he retired.
Diagnosed with Myeloma, Don drew upon the grit and determination to undergo 17 years of chemotherapy to battle the cancer (doctors expected he’d have just four years of life at the time), but evolving medical treatment helped Don to battle on. Even in his last weeks (when doctors said there was no more they could do) he took a great deal of pleasure attending our Coffee Catch-ups to chat with his long-time friends - never wasting a minute of his exemplary life. Don’s resilience, tenacity and love of life endeared him to all. We will miss you, Don.
Michael Eustace with Yvette
At last Thursday night’s meeting, we had a unexpected visit from an Irish Rotarian Michael Eustace and his wife Penny. Hailing from the Rotary Club of Dublin Fingal, Michael became our guest speaker and regaled us with his Life & Times.
Michael and Penny “jumped ship” in Adelaide during their 93 day cruise from San Diego through Hawaii and the Pacific Islands to Australia, New Zealand and back to San Diego, then a return flight to Dublin. Lobbing in the Port of Adelaide, Michael and Penny spent a day walking around the city and had time to attend our evening meeting – which was delightful.
Michael said Ireland had population of around 5 million and Northern Ireland has about 1.5 million. The country has been welcoming many immigrants fleeing the Ukraine War. Ireland has virtually full employment at the moment.
Michael’s Rotary Club helps the homeless, a Downs Syndrome Centre (with funding for equipment and they participate in garden upkeep etc), St Vincent de Paul, and a similar scheme to our Shop & Share at supermarkets (but instead of asking for non-perishable goods, they get donations in cash or by card that they pass on their charities). The RC of Dublin Fingal is also heavily into youth leadership in their schools. There are 75 Rotary Clubs in Ireland (south and north). The social side of their Club is that the members go away for weekends into the countryside, or go on a boat trip etc.
Michael went into the family business of a Psychiatric/Mental Health Facility, started by his Great Great Grandfather John Eustace in 1825. Throughout these years on handing down the Facility in the family, it just happened that the surviving sons of every generation became either a psychiatrist or financial expert which kept the family tradition of managing the Facility. Michael and Penny’s sons are now taking over the running of the Facility and will be building a Dementia Centre and Convalescent Homes that has been approved by the Board. A wonderful evening from a very entertaining guest.
This coming Thursday is Coffee Catch-up at the White Picket Café from 9.30am.
Best wishes and have a great week. Yvette, President.
White Picket Fence
