Current Member Profiles
Eryn Halls (Mark Shaw)
Classification: Hospitality
Presidential Year 2019/2020
July 2020
Shirley Halls (Andy)
Classification: Nursing
Paul Harris Fellow 2018
Shirley is a Registered Nurse who has lived in Salisbury & Elizabeth since 1965.
She works full time in the local community and specialises in Mental Health of Older Persons.
Shirley met her husband Andy through Scouting – a local Elizabeth man; they have two daughters Patricia & Eryn and a granddaughter Seryna.
Shirley has been privileged to be involved on many committees including: School Governing Council at Gepps Cross Girls High School, Northern Light Theatre Company, and Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club.
Shirley has particularly enjoyed working with youth through Girl Guides. As a young adult she was a Parent and Leader of Girl Guides. She has been a leader of Scouts since that time too, in Salisbury & Elizabeth, Her involvement included ‘Carry on Guides’, which is the only female Girl Guide show in the world, and in ‘Scout Shouts’, ‘Comedy Capers’ and the ‘Adelaide Gang Show’ with the scouts..
Community involvement has included organizing the Playford Christmas Pageant for 15 years, and currently the chair of the organizing committee for this annual event.
Shirley is a worksite representative for the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation and has been for many years, supporting her colleagues in a safe and fair work environment.
She is interested in the ability for older people to access local services and engage in the community and is keen to be involved in a clean environment and the future of our resources.
Shirley is currently an elected member, Councillor for Ward 4, in the City of Playford.
July 2020
Anthony James
Classification: TAFE IT Lecturer
Presidential Year 2020/2021 Paul Harris Fellow 2018
Anthony is Club Webmaster and Facebook Administrator.
Anthony has lived in the Elizabeth area his whole life. He started working in retail when he was 16 and has been working in retail for over 20 years. His roles during these years have included being a Cashier and sales assistant on the shop floor. He has also worked as a TAFE lecturer for over ten years teaching competencies from Certificate 2 to Advanced Diploma. He holds a graduate degree in Information Technology.
Anthony was introduced to Rotary after talking to many Rotarians including David Adamson and Delwyn Watts at the Trailer Raffle. He became a member in February 2016.
July 2020
Delwyn Watts (PP Ron)
Classification: Retail Manager
Paul Harris Fellow 1994, 2012
Awarded by the Club as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1994 for services to Rotary, Rotary Showtime and to the community.
Delwyn is the wife of Past President Ron Watts and has considerable Rotary experience gained through the family’s association with Rotary since Ron joined the Munno Para Club in 1984. Paul Harris Fellow 1995.
Delwyn was born in Auburn NSW and lived in the Parramatta area until she came to Adelaide in 1973. Attended Parramatta High School and lived at Mays Hill with her parents until she married Ron in 1968. Delwyn is the oldest in her family and has 4 brothers (2 sets of twins). After leaving school Delwyn worked at Grace Bros. Parramatta while studying Retail Distribution over 4 years at Sydney Technical College. Her retail experience involved all facets of Retailing; she managed several departments at the Parramatta store.
After Delwyn & Ron were married Delwyn worked in the administration at Australian Abrasives and later within the Watts family business at Rydalmere.
Moving to Adelaide in 1973 with their first child, Danielle who was 16 weeks old, Delwyn & Ron established themselves in Elizabeth Grove after purchasing their home on a holiday to Adelaide the previous year. Ron was employed by an interstate company and had transferred to assist in the development of the Adelaide branch of the business.
Family life continued; the family grew with the arrival of Cameron followed by Kerrie-ann and later Rohan; the Watts family received many family visitors from interstate and returned to Sydney for holidays many times. In 1977 Delwyn & Ron went into business for themselves starting a small home renovations business that went on to become Vers-a-tile Pty Ltd and traded for the following 28 years. Delwyn’s former retail experience came to the fore with her becoming the General Manager of the business that employed 35 people at its peak around 1990. Delwyn controlled the administration and retail sectors of the business leaving Ron free to manage staff and contractors. Jointly they promoted the business developing a wide distribution network across Australia for building products they imported from New Zealand, Japan and Belgium as well as Australian made building products.
By 2005 the business climate had changed significantly, Ron had taken a position with a Not for Profit organisation and Delwyn went to work for her former largest client finally retiring after several years. The 4 Watts children had all become Rotary Exchange students and over the years the family had hosted many international students with great success. Today Delwyn likes to travel and has developed a keen interest in tracing family history often visiting places where her ancestors once lived and worked. Delwyn has 4 children, Danielle, Cameron, Kerrie-ann and Rohan, 8 grandchildren (6 boys / 2 girls). Life is full, interesting and satisfying with more trips planned for the near future.
August 2016
Friends of Rotary
Mark Shaw (Eryn)
July 2019
Honorary Members
PP Brian Alford (Elaine)
Classification: Software Development
Presidential Year 2003/2004 – Paul Harris Fellow (2005)
Brian joined the Club in June 1999 and has held positions as Bulletin Editor (7 years) and Membership Director as well as Treasurer of the Showtime Committee. He built and maintained the club’s first website and was elected president of the club in 2003/2004. He also served as Treasurer from 2004 to 2006. Brian’s connections with Social clubs has enabled us to cater for large events which he has capably lead, and enabled us to visit the Cinema for regular double movies. Brian’s abilities have enabled him to keep Club statistics. He could tell you the best day and time of day to sell raffle tickets at the Elizabeth Shopping Centre!
Brian has served on a number of District committees as well including the chair of the IT Committee, the Wallaroo Conference committee and the Public Relations committee. He has been the Database Administrator of the District Centurion Club.
Brian was born in Birmingham England and came out to Australia in 1955, and was among the first residents of Elizabeth (in 1956). He is married to Elaine and has 3 children and 10 grandchildren.
Brian began work as an electrician and, while working for GMH at Elizabeth saw the opportunity to develop his own business in the Information Technology field.
Hazel Brazier (PP Les)
Awarded by the Club as a Paul Harris Fellow in the year 2000 for services to Rotary, Rotary Showtime, and to the community.
PP Jim Buckoke (Marianne)
Classification: Motor Trimming
Presidential Year 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 :Paul Harris Fellow (2012), Sapphire (2016)
Jim joined the club in 2006 He was Membership Director in 2007/2008 and Sergeant-at-Arms for eight years. He is looking forward to another presidential year 2016/2017 for the Club’s 50th year!
He was one of the instigators from our club of Northern Business Breakfasts, joining with Salisbury Rotary Club to alternate with them our venue of Grand Central, with Parafield Gardens Community Club, greatly enlarging the attendees, with top speakers and effective organisation.
Jim also was able to gather four Rotary Clubs and a Rotaract Club in our area to send a Vocational Training Team of Dental professionals and equipment to Vanuatu.
Jim is an avid Foodie and loves to cook unusual dishes. One of Jim’s specialities is the baking of ‘wood oven’ pizzas, as many members of the club can testify!
Jim is proprietor of ‘Jims Trim’ and has interests in the Barmera Hotel.
.August 2016
Gemma Dickins
Classification: Engraving Services
Bessie Dickins (PP Rolly)
Bessie first became involved in Rotary when her late husband Past President Wesley Robinson joined the Elizabeth Club in 1982 at the invitation of Past President Roland (Rolly) Dickins. Wesley served as President in 1991/92 and was a very active member until his death in 2007.
Bessie was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2004 in appreciation of the tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relation among peoples of the world.
She was made an Honourary Member of the club in 2008.
In 2011 Bessie married Past President Rolly Dickins. Both Rolly and Bessie resigned from Rotary in 2012 but in September 2015 were welcomed back into the club as Friends of Rotary. Rolley died suddenly four days later.
Bessie was awarded Honourary Membership on 18th July, 2016.
August 2016
Helen Driver (PP Reg)
Helen has been actively involved in the Rotary Club of Elizabeth since marrying Reg in 1998. In 2010 she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for ‘services to the community and to Rotary’, and was made an Honorary Member in 2013.
Born in London, England, Helen migrated to Australia on her own in 1967, and has spent her working life as a professional secretary until she retired in 1998. A lifelong pianist she has played for church services for many years, and for a few years led a church choir. Playing competitive table tennis, and particularly tennis, has been a large part of Helen’s sporting life, winning numerous trophies along the way. In both church and tennis circles Helen has used her secretarial expertise, assuming the roles of Congregational and Elders’ Secretary, while for 35 consecutive years she was Secretary of the Elizabeth-Salisbury & District Tennis Association and a Life Member of that organization.
Helen received two major awards for tennis: an Australia Day Medal in 2000, and Tennis South Australia’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010.
Helen’s other interests include photography and travel.
Update June 2015
Reg Driver (Helen)
Classification: Defence Electronics
Presidential Year 1995/1996 – Paul Harris Fellow (1993), PHF Sapphire pin (2011), PHF Double Sapphire pin (2013).
Reg has always lived in South Australia, spending his early years in Brighton, and the past 60 years in Elizabeth. He has always been active in the community. Reg has been a member of the Rotary Club of Elizabeth since 1987, and has held many positions throughout this time. These have included President, Secretary, Treasurer, Program organizer, Director of both Vocational and International Service, as well as Club Service, with his most recent role being Chairperson of the club’s Service Projects Committee.
In the early days of Elizabeth Reg was a youth club counsellor for 9 years at the then Elizabeth Grove Methodist Church. From 1956 to 2009 Reg was actively involved in local tennis, both administratively and as a coach. He was President of the Elizabeth-Salisbury & Districts Tennis Association for two periods spanning a total of 14 years, with Life Membership of both the Association and The Grove Tennis Club where he was Chairman, a player and coach for over 30 years. Between 1988 and 2009 he held various roles in the running of the Bicentennial Tennis Centre in Elizabeth Vale.
Reg has received several awards including the City of Playford’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 2007, and ‘Living Life to the Fullest’ in 2012. Reg also received an Australia Day Medal for ‘exemplary technical leadership’ from his workplace, the Defence Science Technology Organization (DSTO) in Salisbury where he worked for 39 years until he retired in 1993.
Reg retired from Rotary in February, 2016 and became an Honorary Member for the 2016/17 year.
Updated August 2016
Mayor of Playford – Glenn Docherty
Ian Murray – (Lorraine)
Ian joined Rotary in 1977 with the classification of Education Primary, later transferring to a Whyalla club for two years before returning to Elizabeth Rotary.
He became Club President in 1988/89 and District Governor’s Representative in 89/90.
He was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 1995 and held all club offices, except for treasurer and club secretary, as well as hosting two overseas exchange students and being counsellor to two of our own exchange students.
Ian left Rotary in 1996, but kept in contact by assisting with the trailer raffle over the years. After retiring from primary education, he became a driving instructor, did volunteer work with the Rundle Mall Information Centre, Volunteering SA and with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital..
He readily accepted the invitation to re-join club activities as an Honorary Rotarian in 2014.
He married Lorraine in 1961, has three children, four grandchildren and two great grandsons.
He enjoys travelling.
May 2015
Theo Nitz (Judith)
Classification: Postal Service (Retired as a full member June 30th 2015)
Presidential Year 1999/2000 and 2004/2005 – Paul Harris Fellow (1999), Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire (2009) Paul Harris Fellow Double Sapphire (2011)
Theo holds a record of 100% attendance from his induction in December 1991 up to today! His service to the Rotary Club of Elizabeth includes: President 1999-2000 and again in 2004/2005, Bulletin editor for two years and the position of Treasurer for 9 years. He has been a Community Service Director and International Service Director. Theo has been heavily involved in the annual Christmas trailer raffle and Christmas cakes and pudding sales over a number of years. He is a well practised hand at barbecue cooking.
Theo was born at Jamestown, South Australia in 1937 and married a Port Pirie girl, Judith, in 1961. They have two children, Christopher and Joanne, and now have three grandchildren David, Damien and Samuel.
Theo retired from his Post Office in 1998, Theo enjoys his retirement and fills his time with gardening, travel, stamp collecting, Rotary and seeing his grandchildren. Theo always has a ‘Shaggy Dog’ story to tell. Of his gardening, Theo reckons after many years he has discovered that he can grow a straight cucumber by growing them on a trellis.
Theo was presented with a double sapphire PHF award for his services to District and in particular for being Treasurer for the District in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. He served on District RYLA committee for three years.
Paula Tose (Stan)
Wife of former Rotarian Stan, Paul Harris Fellow 2006
Lesley Trevilyan – (PP Robin)
Classification: Receptionist
Lesley is Club Sergeant again this year and she keeps the club entertained with the fines she imposes.
Raelene Trickett (Dean)
Classification: Catering
Presidential Year 2008/2009 – Paul Harris Fellow (2010), Sapphire pin (2013) Double Sapphire (2016)
Raelene has been involved in the hospitality industry for many years, first in the Food Court at Elizabeth City Centre and later as a mobile caterer, partnered by her son Dion.
She was employed as dental receptionist from Feb 2010, and is now an office manager for an accountancy firm.
Her daughter Lindy has given her two beautiful grand-daughters, Keely and Bailey. Raelene currently resides at Mallala with her husband Dean, and she also has 3 stepchildren and 6 step grandchildren.
Previous volunteer involvement has been with the Northern Carers’ Network at Davoren Park as Board Secretary and Group Facilitator.
Joining the Club on 24th July 2006, Raelene’s goal was to be able to be of value to Rotary and to give many fulfilling years to this huge and exciting organisation. Raelene has served as Rotary International Director, Bulletin Editor (twice), President (twice) and Secretary (twice).
She was the driving force, and Caterer, when the Rotary Club of Elizabeth hosted four District Governor’s Changeovers in succession, PDG John Rowe 2006, PDG Kerry Brandt Wilson 2007, PDG Roberta Waterman 2008 and PDG Alun Hughes 2009 at the Civic Centre, Elizabeth.
Raelene has organised an annual Golf Day at Balaklava Golf Course to raise funds for Polio Plus in 2010 and Australian Rotary Health in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
July 2015
Jacqueline Webb
Classification: Company Management
Paul Harris Fellow 2017
Jackie lives at Mallala in the Mid North. She runs a business in Mallala which services the poultry industry with parts, repairs and maintenance. Jackie also does bookkeeping and data entry for three other entities.
She has three children, a son and daughter living in Adelaide and a son in Alice Springs plus their respective partners. Between them there are five grandchildren, ranging from the only granddaughter nearly 21 to the youngest grandson who is 2.
Jackie was introduced to Rotary by Raelene Trickett, her next door neighbour, and became a member in January 2016. Six months down the track she has made some new friends and been appointed Bulletin Editor. Quite a learning curve but enjoying it so far, even the endless barbecues!
August 2016
Former Members
Elizabeth Adamson (David)
Classification: Nursing, general
Deceased Feb 2020
Presidential Years 2008/2009 and 2018/2019 – Paul Harris Fellow (2007), Sapphire pin (2013), Double Sapphire (2018)
Elizabeth joined Rotary in 2002. She was Bulletin Editor for six years and secretary in 2009/2010. She has also been Community and Vocational Directors and is currently Youth Services Director and Child Protection Officer. She collected school books from high schools for distribution through DIK, Rotary’s Donations in Kind, and through the club, dictionaries for primary school students to take home, stationery packs for children to work at home, new clothing packs for separation of families due to domestic violence, and packs of clothing for outside sleepers through providers such as Anglicare. Christmas hampers, initially collected and assembled by members and later by purchase from Foodbank were distributed to the needy.
With a concern for Youth Road Safety, the club instigated support for year 5 primary students to attend the Tea Tree Gully Road and Cycle Safety Centre, a program that has been organised by Elizabeth for 8 years, and for 3 years she organised a RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) program with approx 120 year 11 students at St Patrick’s Technical College.
Elizabeth served on the District VTT and Scholarships (formerly GSE) committee for four years Youth Exchange program and edited the District Governor’s newsletter in 2010/2011. Elizabeth was Assistant Governor for Group 4 from July 2011 until June 2015.
Formerly a Registered Nurse, Elizabeth is now involved with Australian Red Cross, SA Division, with over thirty years of service. She has been Branch President, Zones President and Secretary and been a member of the Zones Advisory Committee. She currently holds the positions of minutes Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. Elizabeth has twice been the Volunteer of the year at Pedare Christian College.
Elizabeth is an active member of the Tea Tree Gully Anglican Church. With a group of other church members, she visits Bene, St. Agnes, weekly to play board games and monthly for a church service with residents.
Elizabeth is married to David and they share six children and eleven grandchildren.
February 2020
Linda Birkmyre (Doug)
Classification: Community Service
Linda joined Rotary in March 2012
Charlie Booth (Lilian)
Classification: Footwear Retail
Presidential Year 1977/1978 – Paul Harris Fellow (1991)
Born on 29/1/1927 near Manchester England, Charlie served in the Army for 3 years from 1945-1948, serving 2 of those years in Italy. He met Lilian at Christmas, 1947 and they married June, 1949. Their son David was born in March, 1951.
Charlie worked in the footwear trade from 1953 as a store manager and then Lilian joined him as an assistant. In 1963 they emigrated to Australia, continuing to work in the footwear trade. They bought a house in Salisbury. They ran their own stores for 11 years before retiring in 1989. Son David went to Elizabeth High and was awarded a scholarship to University.
In November, 1971 Charlie was invited to join Rotary becoming President in 1977/1978. He became involved in Rotary Showtime for which he was awarded a PHF.
They holidayed in England and America four times, as well as caravanning (and fishing) in Australia.
Charlie resigned from Rotary in 2002 and was an Honorary Member from 2002 to 2018.
PP Les Brazier (Hazel)
Classification: Motor Body Builder
(Deceased June 2020)
Presidential Year 1989/1990 and 2006/2007 – Paul Harris Fellow (1991), PHF Sapphire pin (2004)
Les was born in Western Australia and has been married to Hazel for 58 years. They have three grown children, Jennifer, Peter and Wayne.
Les and Hazel were joint directors of Javelin Auto Body Works for 20 years. a local firm which employed 22 people, including their sons.
Les was inducted into The Rotary Club of Elizabeth in August, 1981 and has had two short breaks from Rotary. One was for eight months and the other for twelve months because of business work.
The large number of offices held by Les apart from being president twice, included International Director, Vocational Director, Secretary, Bulletin Editor and Attendance Officer.
In 2005 Les purchased a hall previously used by Scouts in Burdett street, Elizabeth, which enabled the club to use “The Grove Venue” from early 2006 for six years until September 2012 when the Venue was sold. This gave the Club a period of stability during a time of change as older members retired and new members were recruited.
Les was Managing Director and owner of Les Brazier Special Vehicles Pty Ltd. until he retired.
Linda Brown (Chris)
Classification: Project Co-ordinator
Presidential Year 2013/2014 Paul Harris Fellow (2008)
Linda is a Senior Community Services Officer for the City of Playford. Her area of responsibility is aged/disability services and the Food Co-op Projects and volunteer management. She has been employed in the role since 1996.
Linda has devoted much time to Rotary since she joined in 1999 and has served as Community Service Director, Vocation Service Director and Public Relations Director. She enjoys her Rotary involvement as it allows her to extend her commitment to the local community, being able to bring skills from her work role to Rotary Projects. Rotary, in turn, has supported initiatives generated from her Local Government Community Services area. Linda feels there is a strong commitment to Rotary and a great sense of pride within the club. She values the fellowship / friendships within Rotary and, for her, Rotary extends opportunities to make a difference.
Linda is married to husband Chris and has 2 children Ursula and Michael. Linda also has 8 grand children.
Linda and Chris were born in Dublin, Ireland, and both came from large families; Chris is 1 of 12 children while Linda is 1 of 7 children. They were married in Ireland, and came to Australia a year later in 1968. Linda’s husband Chris operates a Luggage Retail and Repairs Service in Gilbert Street, Adelaide.
July 2015
Patricia Cole (Roy)
Classification: Team Coordination local Government
PDG John Downing (Yvonne)
Classification: Metallurgy
Margaret Green (PP Richard – Deceased)
Awarded by the Club as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006 for services to Rotary and the community.
Wife of former Past President Richard Green (presidential year 1990-1991) Paul Harris Fellow 1994
Margaret became involved in Rotary when her husband Richard joined in 1983, after the family settled in Hillbank following several years of moving around country S.A. After his death she remained involved with the Rotary Ladies and Rotary activities, including Counsellor for RYLA for a second time. She has four children and eight grandchildren.
She has been involved in various community activities over the years. Now, apart from family and home and Rotary, other interests are church activities and music. She plays the organ, conducts a choir, is musical director of a community choir, and sings in and is deputy conductor/deputy pianist for another.
She was awarded a PHF in 2005 and was an Honorary member from 2005 to 2017.
Isabella Greig (Deceased) (PP Gordon – Deceased)
Awarded by the Club as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1989 and a PHF Sapphire pin in 2014 for her contribution to Rotary and the community.
Wife of former Past President Gordon Greig (Presidential year 1979-1980) Paul Harris Fellow 1988.
Born in Fifeshire, Scotland.
Migrated Australia during 1972 with her late husband PP Gordon PHF.
She has a son and daughter and three grand children.
A talented person having been a Registered Nurse, a Midwife, worked with R.D.N.S and disabled children and enjoyed teaching piano. Isabella spent several years, as a midwife, in Malaya and Hong Kong helping her husband, Gordon, who was a medical doctor.
When Gordon joined the Rotary Club of Elizabeth in 1976 she became involved in supporting the club in many ways, especially with exchange students and Rotary Showtime.
What she enjoys most about Rotary is the friendship, togetherness and the opportunity to help people less fortunate than ourselves both locally and internationally.
Isabella is our Club Carer, and as such is constantly in touch with former Rotarians, their widows, and of Rotarians who are on the sick list. She keeps members informed of these.
Isabella is Citizen of the Year, winning the Playford 2016 Australia day Award. She said,”I’m overwhelmed and just feel very, very happy and humble,” on receiving the award. Isabella continually contributes to the community through her volunteer work, which as well as Rotary has included a local school, hospital, Uniting Church Salisbury and the Grenville Hub.
July 2019
PDG Alun Hughes (Vicky deceased 2011)
Classification: Auto Association Administration
Transferred to RC of Salisbury April 2015.
District Governor 2009/2010; Presidential Years 1998/1999-2001/2002-2012/2013 – Paul Harris Fellow (1996), Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire (2011), Paul Harris Double Sapphire (2012) – presented by District
Alun was born in Surrey, England and migrated to Australia in 1962. He married Vicky in 1967 and has 11 children; Paul, Ynyr, Marc, Josephine, Quentin, Duncan (dec.), Laurence, Grant, Nathan, Selwyn and Hugh. They lived in Elizabeth Grove before moving to their present home in Salisbury North. Alun has extensive experience in the automotive industry having worked for Renault Australia, Smithfield Motors and 27 years in the Royal Automobile Association (RAA).
Les Brazier introduced Alun to Rotary in 1989. Since then he has been a very active member of the Club, serving in the position of President for three terms and in most directorships.
At the district level he was chairperson of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) for about ten years, Assistant Governor of Group 4, Coordinator of Vocational Service, Ethics and Leadership, Pride of Workmanship awards. District Governor in 2009/2010 and District Membership Director.
Interests: Rotary, Chairman Salisbury High School Council, Youth Representative St. Barbara’s Parish Council, Branch Governor St Barbara’s Anglican Boys Society, District Commissioner Northern Federation Anglican Boys Society. An article about Alun, in particular to his volunteer work as a JP with Salisbury Council in a recent article from Winter 2004: Salisbury Aware read here.
Hobbies: Fishing, camping and Motor sport.
July 2015
Jack Hetzel-Bone (Jasmine)
Classification: Lawyer
Laurie Hunt
Classification: Senior Active – Pharmacy
(Deceased 2014)
Presidential Year 2005/2006 – Paul Harris Fellow (1992) – Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire Pin 2012 Charter Member
Laurie has been a resident since 1960 and established a Pharmacy in the Elizabeth City Centre the same year. Laurie has four children.
Community involvement has been with: The Elizabeth Birthday Celebrations Committee, Royal District Nursing Service, YMCA, and the Elizabeth Swimming Club.
He joined Rotary as a charter member and has served as Vocational Service Chairman, acted as counsellor to three exchange students and served approximately five years with the District Youth Exchange. He represented the Club on the DIK (Donation In Kind) committee for a number of years
Laurie is a member of the Pioneers Association and has great interest in his family who emigrated to South Australia on the first ships coming from England. Laurie recently visited Kangaroo Island for the celebrations of the first ships bringing emigrants from England, with The Duke of York and within days, the arrival of the Lady Pelham and the John Pirie. Approx 95 immigrants arrived on these vessels.
“My Great, Great Grandfather William Jacob arrived on the Rapid with Colonel William Light as Captain on 20th August 1836.
The opening of the celebrations included a service at Reeves Point followed by a luncheon similar to that on their arrival. An official Dinner was held on Wednesday evening. On Thursday we toured the Island, visiting sites of importance to these first Settlers.
By Dec 31st 1840 at least 20 of my family members had arrived into this state. To me this has been a very exciting few days”.
July 2015
Alan (Spud) Murphy (Jill)
Classification: Logistics Manager
Presidential Year 2017/2018: – Paul Harris Fellow (2016)
Alan is married to Jillian and has 2 children, David and Louise; He has 7 grandchildren, Brodie and Amber who belong to David and Nicole and Eli, Poppie, Noah, Otto and Maple, whose parents are Louise and Paul, they live in Melbourne.
Alan joined the Army in 1968 at the age of 17 and served 21 years including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1970-1971, he served 6 years in the 1st Armoured Regiment and the remainder in Logistics; he was a Warrant Officer Class 1 on discharge. Alan then joined the Army Reserve and served 11 years as the Training Officer for Army cadets in South Australia. He also worked at FH Faulding from 1991 to 1996 as their Distribution/Warehouse manager and then for Franklins Supermarkets from 1996 to 2001 as their Distribution/warehouse manager. He retired due to a health scare and is now living on a pension.
Alan was introduced to Rotary by Rolly and Bessie Dickens and became a ‘Friend of Rotary’ in June 2011, He has involved himself in assisting Rotary wherever he is able, mostly with BBQs and he has assisted in packing goods for overseas aid. Alan and Jill hosted a Philippine VTT visitor over Easter 2013. He became a full member of Rotary in August 2015 and is the Special Events Co-Ordinator.
Alan is President Elect for 2017-2018.
July 2016
Judith Nitz (PP Theo)
Awarded as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2013.
Brian Payne
Classification: Manager Regional
Pat Quigley (Doris dec.)
Classification: Photography
(Deceased)
Presidential Year 1993/1994 – Paul Harris Fellow (1993) – Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire Pin (2012) Charter Member.
Pat was a professional photographer and was born in Nottingham England. He arrived in Australia in 1952 and was a resident of Elizabeth since 1957.
Married to Doris, they have three grown up children, Joanne, Sean and Roger.
He was an Elizabeth Charter member and served as Treasurer, Bulletin Editor and Director of all the Committees. His hobbies were Photography and Astronomy.
Patrick was named Australia Day Citizen of the Year for the City of Playford in January 2010
Patrick was well known around the district, as proprietor of Windsor Studios, and he often met people who he had photographed over 3 generations. He also had a fascination for numbers, and delighted in teaching children a variety of tricks and puzzles.
July 2015
David Randall – (Katie)
Classification: Hardware Retail
David joined the Club a couple of years ago and quickly became involved in club activities despite his huge work load running a small family hardware store in Kilburn. The challenges of small business are historic fact in the Randall family starting with his grandfathers transport business and developing into hardware with his parents and brother.
David’s challenge as an independent store is to survive in a very competitive market and he does this by a close association with other like minded small retailers who share to common goal of independence, fair trading, astute purchasing and great customer service.
Married to Katie, herself a small business operator with 2 small children David’s household is fairly busy just coping with the day to day experiences of life.
Gay Smallwood-Smith – (Peter)
Classification: Local Government
Paul Harris Fellow Double Sapphire Pin (2012) presented by Rotary Club of Munno Para 2013.
Gay Smallwood-Smith was born in the United Kingdom and arrived in Australia in 1952, moving from one place to another for the first four years. In 1955 she moved to Roseworthy Agricultural College – her father and mother lived there for 39 years.
Gay has two adult children and three grandchildren.
Gay became a Councillor with Munno Para Council in 1983 and after the amalgamation with Elizabeth Council in 1997 she spent six months as a Playford Councillor. Gay was re-elected to Playford Council in 2006 where she continues to serve as elected member, Ward 2. Playford Council recognised Gay for ’20 years of combined service’ in November 2012.
Gay’s extensive work experience includes working for the Education Department, a Bar and Gaming Manager, in stores promoting products and held a Market Research Interviewer position from which she recently retired. For the past forty years Gay has also been an area supervisor for the Australian Bureau of Statistics. As a keen sports motor fan Gay works October thru April managing the office at Speedway City, Virginia.
Gay joined Rotary in the Munno Para Club in 2004, and transferred membership to Elizabeth in June 2013. For her services to Rotary, Gay has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Double Sapphire in 2013 by the Rotary Club of Munno Para.
July 2015
Pandiyan Kandasamy Thevar – (Suganthi)
Classification: Dental Surgeon.
Membership number: 8457091, Date joined 26th March 2012
Paul Harris Fellow (2014).
Pandiyan joined the club in March 2012. He was born in India and migrated to Australia in 2006. Pandiyan moved to Australia as a student and finished his post-graduate dentistry studies in Adelaide. He currently works as a dentist at Munnopara Dental Clinic and also teaches final year dental students at the University of Adelaide. Pandiyan married Suganthidevi in June 2011, and has a daughter Yaalani. He became a citizen of Australia in July 2013.
Pandiyan had been motivated to join a Rotary club since his childhood days after seeing lots of community work done by the Rotary club in his hometown, including Rotary joining with the Government of India to eradicate Polio. This goal has now been achieved.
Pandiyan serves as a representative of the Club on the Northern Business Breakfast Committee. He is regularly Attendance Officer of the Club.
July 2016
Viv Valladares
Classification: Dental Surgeon
Membership number: 6798349, Date joined 27th August 2007
Paul Harris Fellow 2012, Sapphire 2017.
Viv, is a Dentist, practicing for the last 28 years in Australia, and owns a busy practice, the Munno Para Dental Clinic at Smithfield which she opened in 1995. Viv started the practice as a sole practitioner, now 21 years later has 2 assistant dentists, a hygienist, a practice manager, 2 receptionists and 3 dental assistants.
Viv was born and raised in India but migrated to Australia in August 1987. She has two beautiful daughters, Agnetha also a dentist who graduated in 2012, and Adele a psychologist working with Corporate Health Group .
Viv joined the Rotary Club of Elizabeth in September 2007 to follow her dream of providing dental treatment to the underprivileged in developing countries. She has held various positions in the club, Attendance officer, Vocational director, and is currently International Director .
In 2008 Viv went to Dharamshala, in India to work with the Tibetan Childrens Dental Project; in 2009 visited Mother Teresa’s Missionary Centre in Calcutta to initiate dental work there, and with her daughter took part in the National Immunisation Day for Polio. (See Serving with a smile)
Viv is a ROMAC (Rotary Oceana Medical Aid for Children) committee member since 2008, assisting with fundraising and even host parenting children during their stay in Adelaide. She hosted a member of the GSE (Group Study Exchange) team from South Whales in 2009, and one from the VTT(Vocational Training Team) from the Philipines in 2012.
In 2014 Viv organised the “Celebrate India“ fundraiser to celebrate 3 years of India being polio free and raised funds for the End Polio Plus Project and Shelter box for which she is also an ambassador.
In 2014 Viv went to East Timor with a group of dentists in a joint Rotary and Lions Dental Project.
In 2015 she was selected as Team leader for the District 9500 VTT Dental Project to Vanuatu, and took a team of 5, 3 dentists, a hygienist and a dental assistant to work in Port Vila.
In 2016 she headed another smaller team of 3 to Vanuatu, this was a District 9500 Group 4 joint project. This project also involved bringing a NiVan health worker from Vanuatu to train here as a hygienist.
Vivienne transferred to the Rotary Club of Walkerville February 2018
Munno-Para Dental Clinic
September 2017
Ron Watts (Delwyn)
Classification: Regional Development
Deceased June 2015
Presidential Year 1992-1993 Paul Harris Fellow (1994), PHF Sapphire pin (2014).
Ron joined the club in July 1987 after starting in 1984 with the Rotary Club of Munno Para. Transferring to the Rotary Club of Playford as a Charter Member in 1995 (Rotary Service & experience), returning to the Elizabeth Club in 2000.
After a spell away from Rotary, Ron rejoined the club in 2009. Ron & Delwyn have 4 children, all Rotary Exchange Students, Danielle – Holland 1990, Cameron – Japan 1993, Kerrie-ann – Belgium 1995, and Rohan – Argentina 1999. After being small business owners, (Vers-a-tile Pty Ltd) for over 28 years, Ron left the business in 1994 to work as a business consultant and in 2003 – 2010 became the Manager and later General Manager of the Northern Adelaide Business Enterprise Centre.
In February 2010 Ron became the National General Manager of BEC Australia. Ron served the community in Local Government, Waste Management Board, Community Bank Board, Regional Development Board, Chambers of Commerce, Youth Employment Programs and various other community activities. He was a Northern Adelaide Waste Management Board Member (NAWMA) and the Clubs representative on the Playford Civic Events Committee.
Ron served many roles in our Club. Typically, his business acumen ensured that the barbecue trailer and food catering ran with planning and appropriate guidelines with continual review to accomplish top quality service and maximum profit. He, as treasurer, brought the Club into online finance, enabling ease of payment of invoices and minimising the amount of cash handling.
Ron was a sixth generation Australian with a heritage dating back to the First Fleet in 1788. His other interests included: travelling, home renovations, family (7 grandchildren), golf and gardening.
July 2016