President Russell Ford and Immediate Past President Tim Wills
with new Paul Harris Fellows
Rotarians Pauline Maunder & Kevin Roberts
Two Drouin Rotarians were recognised for the long history of service to community and Rotary with the presentation of Paul Harris Fellow certificates at the club's recent Christmas Dinner, the first members & partners event since Covid restrictions began early in the year.
PAULINE:
Pauline was born in Orbost and grew up in Bairnsdale. She trained as a Primary Teacher in Melbourne. Married Brian in 1970. Taught at Sale, Yea and Warragul before the family arrived. Did relief teaching around West Gippsland whilst raising Damian and Megan. Spent 1985 in BC Canada where she did relief teaching in the Maple Ridge district.
After returning to Drouin, Pauline took over as Kinder Director at Drouin Kindergarten in the Uniting Church Hall. She subsequently retrained, receiving the Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood Education in 1989. She became the founding Director of the new Adam Court Kinder and retired from the role after 22 years at the helm. During that time she worked with many Kinder Committees and served as a member of the Marist Sion College Board for a number of years. She still does relief teaching for Kindergartens around West Gippsland, where she is welcomed for her experience and mentoring of young staff.
As a member of St. Ita’s Parish for 45 years, she has given continuous service on the Social Committee, Bereavement Group, Communion Services at Lyrebird Village, the pastoral Care group visiting and bringing meals to those in need. She has spent the last two years on the parish Plenary Council group collecting information for the National Council convening in 2020/21.
Pauline was inducted into Rotary on 21st August 2007 by President Ian Brooks, sponsored by Rotarian Terry Blundell and was the third woman to join the club.
As a Rotarian, Pauline (regularly in the company of husband & PHF recipient Brian) has been an active contributor to the diversity of our service activities and taken on role as Director - Public Relations, Rotary Information officer and Programs & Social coordinator. And she co-chaired the Australia Day Breakfast Committee for a number of years and has actively assisted in Youth portfolio activities on many occasions.
Other community service rolls include: 5 years on Meals on Wheels; founding a baby-sitting club for young mums; organising and running many Film and Trivia Nights for kinders, schools, Rotary and other groups; and, is currently the coordinator of the Drouin Night Owls Book Club and deliverer of food packages on behalf of the Longwarry Food Bank.
KEVIN:
Kevin was raised in Footscray with two younger brothers and, in 1965, he met Diane at the local dance. They caught the bus home as the police had decided he did not require a licence for a while. They married and have two children (Paul & Christie) and now, a couple of granddaughters
Kevin was a toolmaker/mechanical engineer who rose through management to become 2iC at his employers cold-roll-framing foundry, while Diane pursued account’s career. At 43 Kevin decided a change was needed so he and Diane bought a Newsagent-Tattslotto-Tobacconist business and operated that for 13 years then into 7 years of fencing and finally 4 years as a farm-stay maintenance executive…which is where he broke his leg for the first time. Retired to Drouin in 2011
Kevin was inducted into the Rotary Club of Drouin on 16th April 2013 by President Colin Gardner, sponsored by Rotarian Bill Frew.
As a Rotarian, Kevin has been very hands-on contributor, leader and initiator of our service activity perhaps notably The Big Blokes Breakfast clean-up and work at Yooralla Drouin and of course, for many years, managed “Kev’s Corner” at the Field Days with great patience and subtlety. He has taken on roles in Sergeant-at-Arms three times (telling jokes vetted by Diane as only he can tell a joke), Director – Service Projects, Fundraising and Special Projects
Other community service rolls have been diverse and, like so many others have involved the kids. A quick but not exhaustive summary includes: starting and managing the largest AusKick activity in Australia over ten years; Scouts, Guides then Venturers – another ‘near’ leg break running into a tree at night; President of – Lalor Technical School Council, Laylor Epping Thomastown Unemployment Service and a Tattslotto Agents group and locally we know he has been very active with the Men’s Shed and, it’s fundraising.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to you both.