1996/97 - President Mal Slater - District Governor Geoff Anderson

Rotary Theme - "Build the Future with Action and Vision"

This year our community profile was lifted with support for the High Tide festival and the Spring Creek House fun run.  We have an excellent relationship with the Lions Club of Torquay with a combined fund raising catering for the Great Victorian Bike Ride and a combined dinner auction.  Our wine night with the Rotary Club of Ballan was again a highlight as was our International Night with Olympian Judy Patching as our guest speaker.  One of our outstanding projects was the raising of fifteen thousand dollars for the purchase of a portable kidney dialysis machine for Fiona Mathers.   The Rotary Club of Geelong West joined us in a special fundraising piano recital at GPAC, which was the brainchild of PP Brian Burch.  We carried out the parking duties again for the Bell's Beach Easter Surfing Competition with the proceeds supporting the Nu'kalofa Hospital in Tonga.   This was supported with a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant.  We gave our usual strong financial support to the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.  Paul Harris recognition was given to Mal Slater and Judy Patching.   We lost a wonderful supporter of the club in Joy Wright, who passed away very suddenly.  Joy will be remembered as a tireless worker for the Art/Craft Expo, as well as many other community organizations.