Social and eco issues president’s priorities

GITTE Lindgaard will lead the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast through the 2021-2022 year, becoming the group’s president last weekend.

Sworn in at a lunch at the Ballarat Golf Club, Ms Lindgaard said she will be paying equal attention to membership retention and recruitment, having read an Australian National University study on the country’s commitment to service.

“It showed that from 2010 to now, the proportion of adult Australians involved in any voluntary work has dropped from 49 to 24 per cent, yet we know that there are so many people needy,” she said.

“Homelessness is big on my agenda. Environment is also a priority. We have an environment ambassador… and would like to engage kids and young people in environmental activities and community clean-up days.”

The president change-over event was also an opportunity for outgoing president Brian Harrison to reflect on his time in the leadership role.

He said the last 12 months were difficult, but Wendouree Breakfast is still “thriving,” having gained three new members.

“COVID has presented challenges for our Club, but we have continued to be a strong and active participant in the Ballarat community,” he said.

“Through the ongoing commitment of our 50-plus members, we have continued to make a positive contribution and have stayed connected.”

Just some of the projects in the 2020-2021 year included smoke detector battery-changing for the elderly and those with a disability, funding a clean water hydrant in a Myanmar village, scholarships for Yuille Park Community College students, support for Loreto students attending RMIT’s Science Experience, and lots of fundraising around town.