Meeting Report 23rd February, 2021, for Rotarlight
Sergeant for the meeting was David O’Dwyer
Neil Baldwin proposed the toast of fighting disease and then introduced the President Les Bulluss
The president welcomed a new member Maria Padilla to the Club. Maria has lived in the Philippines and Hong Kong to name a couple and was a member at Paradise Point.
The President also commented on the sausage sizzle and the profit. He also advised that Candice Lee will be the guest next Tuesday at the Hub meeting.
There was only one Bunyip – Nasser and that family won the prize. Heads and Tails was won by Robyn.
The President then welcomed the guest speaker Rock O’Keefe as the Man Behind the Badge.
Rock grew up on a sheep station in central NSW where he worked at a number of positions including station-hand, carrier and fencer to name a few.
He rode a horse to the primary school and boarded initially in Parkes to attend the senior school where he excelled at the high jump. He then attended the Teachers College at Bathurst before appointed to Binnaway Central School before being drafted into the Army.
In Casino he met his wife, built a home and moved to England where they were invited to a Royal Garden Party and the Royal Enclosure of Royal Ascot.
They travelled home through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir India, Nepal, Thailand and Singapore.
Back in Casino Roc taught for 23 years before resigning and moving to the Gold Coast. Initially Roc was a primary teacher but studied and became a secondary teacher and undertook 16 years of tertiary studies at night whilst teaching.
Roc became committed to community work coaching athletics, became President of a pre-school management committee, a charter member of Casino Youth Club, Arts Council, Girl Guides and Brownies. He was also a voluntary Director at the local and Bonalbo hospitals and was appointed as one of ten directors after the amalgamation of a number of hospitals and pathology labs of the North Coast.
When the family moved to the Gold Coast Roc started a successful handyman service, ran a bus shelter and taught on the side. After a further course at Bond University he was offered an English teaching position three days a week and was then approached by TSS to join their staff. During this time he became a Member Elected Director of the Brisbane Anglican Diocese Superannuation Fund.
President Les welcoming all Sergeant David
present
Secretary Neil proposing the President Les inducting our new
Toast Member Maria Padilla with her
Membership Certificate
and Marias Dinner badge and Maria thanking the Club
lapel pin
Raffle Winner Nayer Heads and tails winner Robyn
Guest speaker our very own President Les thanking Rock for his
member Rock O'Keefe very interesting presentation
Our Secretary Neil looking
very relaxed
