In the Chair:   President Jennifer

Members: 16

Guests:  Jan Munro, Annette Wade

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Brian – The road to the 2026 Leeton Citizen of the Year

A synopsis of Brian’s presentation:

•  Born in Bourke – 1945

• Grandparents owned ‘Prattenville’, Bourke

• Visited the property in Bourke – alone and very young.

• Raised in Matraville and Kingsford. Attended Matraville Primary School.

• Attended Hurlstone Ag High School (Glenfield) – a sacrifice to study Agriculture because it was a 2-hour trip each way. He was Senior Prefect in his final year

• Activities during school years included cubs, scouts (a Queen’s Scout) and swimming.

• Studied vet science at Sydney Uni – 1962 – 1966 – many interesting experiences.

• Joined the Army Reserve in lieu of Vietnam and this meant juggling vet science (and later vet practice) and the army.

• Joined a vet practice at Colac (1967)- this was where he met and became engaged to teacher Jan.

• Moved to a Melbourne practice (1969-72) where he married Jan and began a family.

• Worked and travelled (based in England) – 1972-73.

• Came to Leeton in 1973 and added to the family in 1982.

• Apex – 1975-78.

• Rotary 1989-.

• Activities in Leeton included water- and snow- skiing, open water swimming and breeding corgis (Jan).

• Opened the new vet practice in Leeton. Brian is very proud of the practice where some highlights included:

  • Treating a wide range of animals;

  • Training Australian and overseas students;

  • Many awards – local, State and National.

• Went to the UK to help with the response to the FMD outbreak 2001) and assisted with response to the Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia (2007).

• Brian was President of the Leeton Show Society where some of his initiatives were the animal nursery, and Jan became heavily involved with the Showgirl program.

• Brian has been a keen driver of many Rotary initiatives including the Rotary Ball, The MS Mega swim and more recently, the Stories of Resilience program

• Brian is very proud of his family

I know his family, many friends and Rotarians all agree that Brian is a most fitting Leeton Citizen of the Year.

President Jennifer thanked Brian for his presentation and his contribution to the Leeton community.