Pat Gogan calls it a day after 25 years
It’s hard to imagine that the song could have been sung with more gusto or with greater feeling than when it was sung for Pat Gogan at the last Dinner Meeting of the Club.
Pat recently retired from Rotary and he was invited back, with wife Helen, to celebrate his life in Rotary and unbeknown to Pat, to have Honorary Membership conferred on him.
Past President Micael Ambrose happily accepted the invitation to speak on Pat’s Rotary life as it was Pat who brought Micael into Rotary 18 years ago.
Pat joined Rotary on the 7th. of April 1992 and in that time he has held almost every position in the Club including his time as President in 1998/99.
A Paul Harris Fellow (2012), Pat worked tirelessly on many projects, notably the Bowel Cancer Screening Program when his sense of humour came to the fore as he convinced may to collect a sample and have it checked. He was always available as a volunteer on anything going.
Born in Dublin, Pat was one of 5 children and he still has family in the Emerald Isle.
Pat gained a Diploma in sales management and worked in wholesales in his home town for many years.
But it was Australia that was to benefit most from his energy, drive and Irish sense of humour when he arrived here on Australia Day in 1968,
But it was Australia that was to benefit most from his energy, drive and Irish sense of humour when he arrived here on Australia Day in 1968,
Initially he worked in Frankston and then Dandenong in the carpet industry before taking up a position in Adelaide as manager of a carpet emporium.
The good folk of Buln Buln met Pat in 1976 when he set up a carpet business in Warragul and eventually combined this with an insurance business.
It was not long before he was involving himself in community life. He became a member of the Warragul Chamber of Commerce; from 1979 to 1989 he held the elected position of a Shire Ward Councillor becoming Shire resident in 1984/85 and served for many years as a Justice of the Peace.
Pat made Helen a happy woman when he married her in 1988; he is a very proud and doting Grandfather of six.
Rotarian Gary Surman spoke of his friendship, happy times and good old fashioned Irish style parties that he had enjoyed with Pat as his neighbour and with Pat’s family on a trip to Ireland. They often drove together to Rotary from Warragul and Gary was amazed, or did he say aghast, at the way Pat got them there as they entered the highway. He said it wasn’t a Rotary meeting until Pat had asked the guest speaker a curly question.
Micael described Pat as not being exactly a fashionista; he was a legend around the place for his dress as much as his business and community work as he endeavoured to make long socks, walk shorts and sandals fashionable again.
In response Pat said that he was extraordinarily grateful for both the opportunities and friends that he had found in the District. He was especially proud of his Rotary life and was honoured to receive the recognition.
A toast was made with very fine shot of Irish whiskey and a man who was so very deserving was acknowledge with strong and lasting applause.
President Sharryn also praised Pat for his contribution to Rotary but aslo for his support of other Clubs she said everyone new Pat as a compassionate man the epitome of a true gentleman.
And then pat passed on 'oldest elder' status to keith Pretty.
