Rotary club appoints new leader

THE Rotary Club of Ballarat East now has a new president with David Stokes taking on the role.

His one-year term began at the start of July as part of the community organisation’s annual changeover, taking the reins from immediate past president Caroline Dougherty.

A member of the club for four years, Mr Stokes said he’s “both flattered and excited” to step up to the task.

“It’s a fairly important role with both organisational and representational qualities. You’re trying to show that Ballarat East is a great servant of the community all the time,” he said.

“It’s an intense challenge, to be sure. But this creates an incredible service for the community and one I’m happy to help steer.

“I love the contact with all the different people involved in Rotary. Because of what we do, you find yourself rubbing shoulders with people you might never have met otherwise.”

Mr Stokes has lived in Alfredton for 15 years, and joined the club as a way to get involved in community activities.

He said his semi-retirement was a driving factor in his joining the group, having worked as a neuropsychologist for over 30 years at Melbourne’s Cabrini Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Ballarat East has about 30 members, and Mr Stokes already knows where his priorities will lie.

“I’m excited to focus on membership, which is a bit of an issue that we have to deal with,” he said.

“Some of our members are ageing, and it’s always difficult to bring more young people in.

“So, I see it as a challenge for us to do some adjustments and modification that will make the group more attractive to them.”