I was born on 28^th May 1951 in Perth WA. My first grade teacher put me off the Labor party for constantly talking about her son Bobby. It was Bobby this and Bobby that so Mrs Hawke was not my favourite. High School was at Hale School where I played Tennis and AFL for the school and then on to the Uni of WA where I managed to get a Commerce Degree.

My part time job at Uni was as a professional photographer shooting mainly weddings but also some 21sts and other social events as well as a few commercial shoots. The most exciting wedding was where the bride was visiting her grandmother in hospital after the church and before the reception when the bridal group (and me) were stuck between floors in the lift. Fortunately no one panicked and we were let out by the maintenance man. I managed to record the moment on film and even had it printed on the front page of The West Australian newspaper. Unfortunately they could not spell my name correctly.

After Uni I spent some time at Price Waterhouse in the audit area which was not at all exciting.  One definition of an auditor is “someone who goes in after the battle and bayonets the wounded”. Needless to say this did not last long. Then off to Sands and MacDougall (Printers, publishers and packaging) in the Perth branch. After a few years there I was transferred to Melbourne Sands and Mac to their Spencer Street head office. After a couple of months there the Chairman came to see me and said I had three months to find a new building, get it renovated and move the head office and stationery division.  We found a place in South Melbourne and set about renovating it and it was done a week after the three months deadline. Around this time I managed to do a part time graduate Diploma in Accounting.

There followed a few contract jobs then along came KMG Hungerfords which over the years and many changes of name became KPMG. This was in the special projects area (not audit thankfully) where I got to work on a number of interesting assignments. The last one was to relieve as Financial Controller of a computer company whilst they recruited a permanent replacement. Well the MD persuaded me to fill the roll and I stayed at the company for over 7 years until they sold out. I played tennis in the Blackburn and Districts night tennis competition for many years with the same team and we managed to be elevated from C4 to C3 to C2 to C1 grades. We won C1 but did not make it to B grade; instead they created a new grade called C Special 1.

After some more contract jobs, I purchased a small accounting firm in Mudgeeraba and moved to the Gold Coast where I ran the firm for a few years. During this time I did a few jobs auditing the trust accounts of management rights businesses and saw the potential so then Robyn and I purchased a business in Oxenford which we ran for nearly 7 years.

I married in 1973 and we had two children, a daughter then a son who continue to live in Melbourne and I now have three grandchildren. My father was a Rotarian on Perth Rotary for many years so it was no surprise to be invited to be a Charter members of the Rotary Club of Canterbury in Melbourne in 1987.  After moving to the Gold Coast I joined Mudgeeraba Rotary and finally the Rotary Club of Broadbeach.

Currently, I try to play golf and run a small accounting practice from home and sell management rights businesses for RAAS.

 

Most Rotarians are successful professional and business executives because they hear opportunities knock and take advantage of them. Once a week the opportunity for Rotary fellowship occurs at each club meeting, but not all members hear it knocking. The weekly club meeting is a special privilege of Rotary membership. It provides the occasion to visit with fellow members, to meet visitors you have not known before, and to share your personal friendship with other members. Rotary clubs, which have a reputation of being “friendly clubs” usually, follow a few simple steps: First, members are encouraged to sit in a different seat or at a different table each week. Second, Rotarians are urged to sit with a member they may not know as well as their long-time personal friends. Third, members invite new members or visitors to join their table just by saying: "Come join us, we have an empty chair at this table." Fourth, members share the conversation around the table rather than merely eating in silence or talking privately to the person next to them. Fifth, Rotarians make a special point of trying to get acquainted with all members of the club by seeking out those they may not know. When Rotarians follow these five easy steps, an entirely new opportunity for fellowship knocks each week. Soon Rotarians realize that warm and personal friendship is the cornerstone of every great Rotary club.

 

 

  

• HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)
• Brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history:
• The launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanised the world. 
• The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.                                                                                                                                                                  

 

                                                                                                                                                     

  

 

 

 

Don,t miss the opportunity attend DG Michael's conference to be held at Ballina over the weekend 5-8 May 2017.

Registration is now live on the District website or www.rotary9640conference.org.au

International star of stage, Rachael Beck will be performing, and the Rotary International President’s Representative will be Past RI President and Rotary Foundation Trustee, Bill Boyd from New
Zealand. Bill is an inspiring speaker and is passionate about the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group WASRAG. Other keynote speakers include Ita Buttrose, Noel Pearson, Kerry O'Brien and many more.

Don't miss this opportunity to join fellow Rotarians in a weekend of fellowship and learning - register today and importantly, book your accommodation now.

                     

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Q: What do politicians and diapers have in common?
A: Both should be changed regularly, and both for the same reason.
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Ramblings of the senior mind.
My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.

My 60 year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I’m worried about the 175 pounds I’ve gained since then.

Denny’s has a slogan, “If it’s your birthday, the meal is on us.” If you’re in Denny’s and it’s your birthday, your life sucks!

I think it's pretty cool how Chinese people made a language entirely out of tattoos.

Money can’t buy happiness, but it keeps the kids in touch!
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Historians have recently discovered that Annie Oakley, famed sharp-shooter of the Old West, had a sister.
The sister, Carrie, gained some renown in her day as a singer in various saloons throughout the West, but it was not until after her death that she was very widely known.
Today, countless bars are dedicated to Carrie Oakley.
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Patient: Doctor, how can I live longer than 100 years?
Doctor: Do you smoke?
Patient: No.
Doctor: Do you eat too much?
Patient: No.
Doctor: Do you go to bed late?
Patient: No.
Doctor: Do you have affairs with promiscuous women?
Patient: No.
Doctor: Then why would you want to live more than 100 years?
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If trump is shot at, will his bodyguard shout, 'Donald Duck'
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A French policeman stops the Englishman's car and asks if he has been drinking.
With great difficulty, the Englishman admits that he has been drinking all day, that his daughter got married that morning, and that he drank champagne and a few bottles of wine at the reception, and many single malts scotches thereafter.
Quite upset, the policeman proceeds to alcohol-test (breath test) the Englishman and verifies that he is indeed totally sloshed.    He asks the Englishman if he knows why, under French Law, he is going to be arrested.
The Englishman answers with a bit of humour,
"No sir, I do not! But while we're asking questions, do you realize that this is a British car and that my wife is driving on the other side?"
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As the stranger enters a country store, he spots a sign: "Danger! Beware of Dog!" Inside, he sees a harmless old hound asleep in the middle of the floor.
"Is that the dog we're supposed to beware of?" he asks the owner.
"That's him," comes the reply.
"He doesn't look dangerous to me. Why would you post that sign?"
"'Cause before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him."
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Q. What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?
A.  A Christmas Quacker.

Q. Where does Santa work out?
A. Down the gymney.

Q. What did the grape say when the elephant stepped on it?
A. Nothing. It just let out a little wine.

Q. Why can’t a bike stand up by itself?
A. Because it’s two-tired.

Q. What did the blanket say to the bed?
A. I’ve got you covered.

Q. Why was the electrician disqualified from the race?
A. Because he made a short circuit.