This week we inducted my friend Andrew Somers into the world of Rotary. Bulletin editor Sam may write something else about this induction, but let's just look at this article as a personal contribution to a person who I have known for many years. As a Rotarian, it is always great to work with people who know what is going on, can predict likely problems in advance and be ready to deal with whatever comes their way. Andrew is one of those people. He can organise, fix, learn, adapt, do and improvise in almost any situation. A marvel with Race Tape too! I expect that Andrew will handle anything that Rotary can throw at him and I am very pleased to have him as a fellow Rotarian.
Andrew was a Rotaractor in his younger years, along with his wife Michele. I have always known Andrew as a community-minded person and he has been part of the St Margaret and Berwick Grammar School's Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) Squad with me for over 10 year.
This squad was more about developing great people through sport than it was about winning at any cost. As a consequence, the squad has turned out some amazing young people, including Andrew and Michele's children/young adults, David and Ainsley. The squad is full of role models, mentors and really switched on people, all with a common goal of doing the right thing by the sport.Andrew also has a street named after him in Wonthaggi, after a wrong turn during a Human Powered vehicle race. But that's another story!
Both Andrew and myself have been replaced by younger parents since our kids have long left school. Some may have noticed that during the induction I have not allocated Andrew a job or a mentor. That will come in due course.
Welcome Andrew.