The Rotary Club of Welshpool marked a special milestone last week Sunday with its annual handover lunch at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
The handover brought members together to celebrate the community spirit that continues to keep the club going strong.
Outgoing president Glenn Veen officially passed the chains of office to incoming president Greg Thomas, marking the start of a new chapter for the tight-knit club.
Mr Thomas said stepping into the role is both a personal honour and a chance to continue making a difference.
“It is viewed in the wider community as a prestigious position,” he said. “My two main hopes for the year are to bring in new members who share our values, and to raise our profile locally. More members mean more hands for fundraising, and more impact for the people we serve.”
The Welshpool club may be small in size, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to service.
They support citizenship awards at local schools in the City of Canning and also back international projects like clean water in East Timor and wheelchairs for children in need. The club is driven by a desire to help wherever it can.
One of the more joyful moments on Sunday was the presentation of the John Williams Memorial Rotarian of the Year award to long-time member Ed Schimmel. The award, named in honour of a beloved Rotarian, is peer-nominated and this year was presented by John’s wife, May.
“I was privileged and honoured to receive it,” Mr Schimmel said. “John had such a great sense of humour and passion for Rotary. To be recognised in his name, by my peers, means a lot.”
Mr Schimmel joined the club in 2008 and has remained ever since, drawn in by a shared purpose and what he calls the spirit of fellowship.
“Although we take our roles seriously, we rarely take ourselves seriously. Meetings are always a highlight. They’re engaging, full of laughter, and a great way to start the day.”
The club meets twice a month for breakfast and holds several social events throughout the year. Fundraising comes in all shapes and sizes, from fine sessions at meetings to larger events like Bricktober, run in partnership with Ascot Rotary. Recent efforts have gone towards food hampers for local families at Christmas and shelter kits for victims of natural disasters.
Mr Thomas said having family members attend the handover lunch made the occasion even more meaningful.
“It had a great family feel,” he said. “We are a fun bunch of people who enjoy a good laugh. We still sing a song to start each meeting and always have a few laughs with the sergeant’s fines.”
