It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our esteemed member and friend Ian Cairns on the 22nd of April 2024. Ian passed away at his home in Mt Duneed. We extend our sincere condolences to Mary Bowman, Ian’s partner of many years who is a member of the Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak and to his children Joshua, Nicole and Alexandra.
Ian joined Rotary Club of Warrnambool in1997 and transferred to the Rotary Club of Torquay in 2023 having been encouraged and recruited by our very own Richard Hawker to join us at Torquay.
Ian was well known in the Warrnambool community and had undertaken many roles within Rotary including Sargeant, Major Fundraising Committee member, and on Committees for each Avenue of Service. His most memorable contribution was establishing and running the Father of the Year event where the many of primary and secondary students from schools in and around Warrnambool submitted their nominations for father or father figure of the year. Ian led this process for many years and consulted with schools and others and organised the big morning breakfast to announce the winner. This was a mammoth undertaking which he did with great skill.
As you are aware, Ian has spent the last few years battling cancer which had taken quite a toll on his strength and had prevented him from spending as much time as he would have liked with us at RCoT.
I was talking to him a few weeks ago and he was looking forward to his annual “Nungers” Golf Trip to Rich River which he attended. As you can see it’s quite a group of blokes in this photo posted on April 19th by Ian.
Ian’s funeral will be in Melbourne at Heidelberg Golf Club most likely next Friday 3rd May or the following Monday 6th May. I will email the details as soon as I know them.
RIP Ian Cairns PHF
ANZAC Day 2024 – Lest We Forget
Thankyou each of our thirteen members who braved the chilly 5am start and attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Pt Danger to join with Torquay Lions and Red Cross, to prepare and serve a sausage in bread and a coffee to our community, at the Gunfire Breakfast. Thank you to Richard Hawker for the rostering and logistical support.
I was honoured to place a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of our club along with the Torquay Lions and Probus.
Say No to Family Violence
I am sure you are as shocked and stunned as I am with the recent deaths of 4 women due to the violent actions of a male perpetrator. While governments at all levels, police and welfare agencies attempt to find a way to prevent this violence occurring, we can do more!
Linda Neale and Gail Birchell have organised a number of community walks during May, to create a greater level of community awareness and start some conversations. Please see further information in this Bulletin.
Please consider wearing you SNTFV ‘T’ shirts to our social evening this coming Monday night and to our meetings at Kithbrooke.
