The Rotary Club of Berwick held its 59th annual Changeover meeting on Wednesday 1st July via Zoom.
Acting within the current COVID-19 constraints, a small ceremonial group of six gathered at the home of the outgoing President Isobel Caulfield, while approximately 50 guests participated in the meeting via Zoom. The ceremonial group included Isobel’s husband, Past President Mark, incoming President David Button and his wife Judy and MC Sam McCurdy with his wife Pat.
 Isobel and Mark Caulfield, Sam McCurdy, Judy and President David Button |
Among those participating were five Past District Governors and three former Exchange Students speaking online from the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
A significant participant in the event was 96-year old Betty Funston, who has missed only three of the 59 Changeovers since 1961. She placed the Sergeant-at Arms Chain of Office on her son, Adrian Funston (Funno), marking his second year in the role.
While acknowledging the constraints placed on the club’s activities over recent months due to COVID-19, Isobel highlighted the many achievements including the successful Carols by Candlelight and Australia Day events, as well as the support that had been provided to bushfire victims in East Gippsland. She also mentioned the successful Global Grants raised to purchase ventilators to help patients recover from life-threatening COVID-9 infection within Rotary District 7475 in New Jersey, USA.
Isobel’s year will be particularly memorable for the adaptability shown by the club members in embracing technologies, such as Zoom, to enable meetings to continue to be held within the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Isobel finished by thanking her Board members for their invaluable contribution.
 David received the 'Chain of Office' |  David received the 'Reins of Office' |
David Button was inducted as President of the club by Rotary District 9820’s Immediate Past District Governor, Adrian Froggatt, all the way from Loch Sport in Central Gippsland via Zoom.
In his acceptance speech, David emphasised the need to for each member to become a leader in making this next year a success. Rotary needs to be more flexible and attractive to new members by forging new projects and increasing the community’s awareness of the many activities of the Club. He then introduced his new Board members and their important role in achieving these goals.
In response to these new guidelines, District 7475 (New Jersey USA) has partnered with the Rotary Club of Berwick to apply for two Global Grants specifically for ventilators to help patients recover from life-threatening COVID19 infection. Between these two Grants totalling $100,000 US, ten refurbished ventilators have been purchased to be used in two local New Jersey Hospitals. New Jersey Hospitals are already overrun with cases of COVID19, so the threat is real and action is urgent. Both these Global Grants have been approved and the equipment is on its way! 
Donations in Kind (DIK) does not only send containers overseas, they also send items out into our local community. A local school’s dream of opening a health training hub is well on its way, thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Berwick & DIK.A donation from DIK of almost $50,000 in medical equipment (including five hospital beds) will go towards Hallam Senior College’s allied health training centre, due to open in 2020.
