Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
I was privileged, in President Neil's absence, to chair another wonderful meeting at the Hub on April Fools Day. We had 16 in attendance including Helen Busch to enjoy great fellowship and another gourmet meal provided by chef Kouma.
Pauline joined me in reporting on the District Conference held the previous weekend at Sharks. A brief overview of the various sessions was provided with both of us agreeing the conference was truly inspiring and as promised the dates for future opportunities in our backyard are listed below.
Connect Share Grow Rotary South Pacific Zone Conference 2025 at Twin Towns from 31 October to 2 November 2025.
Reaching Across Boundaries Rotary Districts 9560, 9620 and 9640 combined district conference May 1 - 3 2026 at RACV Royal Pines Gold Coast Resort.
Peter Tomlinson won the door prize and Pauline won Heads and Tails.
Bill Rex entertained us with his Member Behind The Badge presentation, made for the first time despite his long membership. Bill says he dodged the bullet for approximately 30 years until he got cornered by Jim and Neil.
With regard to Service clubs, Bill was in Rotaract (where he met his first wife Marie), had a wonderful time in Jaycees and has been in Rotary for approx 30 years .
Bill was born in the regional town of Maryborough and has two sisters. His Mother still lives independently in Maryborough. Bill attended State Schools both Primary and Secondary, following that schooling attended the Queensland Agriculture College at Gatton (now a UQ Campus) where he studied Agriculture. He thought studying Ag would lead him to marry a farmer's daughter. This did not happen but he got close with a pineapple farmer's daughter.
One of Bill's claims to fame was that he was an altar boy.
His first job was with the family firm which was a Stock and Station Agency where he learnt the craft of Auctioneering and Agency practice.
At the age of 19 he purchased a rural holding between Maryborough & Hervey Bay and created a subdivision of Acreage blocks and from the profit purchased his first house prior to advising his fiance.
Bill decided that Real Estate was his path of the future and at the age of 23 started his first Real Estate Agency in Hervey Bay which traded as L J Hooker Hervey Bay. This was hard work 7 days a week but very rewarding and provided wonderful family life in a young growing community. Bill and Marie travelled to Real Estate Congresses in America and also attended a World Real Estate Convention in Vienna. A great career in Hervey Bay and wonderful Real Estate friendships were created.
Bill and Marie had two daughters and a son who were raised in the Catholic education system. Marie was a School teacher who later worked in the Agency in Administration. Bill bought and sold numerous properties and built his own Commercial premises in a prime Esplanade location at Scarness.
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In 1999 Bill Sold L J Hooker Hervey Bay and relocated to Broadbeach and purchased the L J Hooker Broadbeach Agency which was in receivership. The first two properties Bill purchased at Broadbeach were in Kurrawa Lodge (now the site of a nearly complete 27 level highrise) and lived there for a period of time. One of Bill's admitted failings is that he was always in the business of buying and selling property and in some cases should have adopted the position of holding.
Bill enjoyed living within the Broadbeach corridor with his second wife Barbara. He sold his Real Estate offices and in recent times spent some 3 years on Lamb Island in Moreton Bay where he was active in selling property across the island.
Bill now is back residing in Broadbeach and Barb is now living in her waterfront property with her Mother and brother.
Thanks to all who helped clean the Hub, set up for the meeting and clean up after the event.
President Neil will be back with us next week.
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