Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 21 October 2014 - 40th Anniversary

Reported by Renate Gibbs

Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Jim Force, issued the call to order to join in a unique opportunity to sing “O Canada” with Pablo Diemecke’s violin solo. 

Eugen Bannerman’s invocation brought us together with a First Nations’ grace.  This was followed with warm greetings; first with Kevin Walker (Oak Bay Beach Hotel) and his wife Shauna as they have welcomed our Rotary Club since inception, given the congruence of our shared values where integrity matters along with ‘giving back to the community’.  Nils Jensen, Mayor of Oak Bay, recognized the impact of Oak Bay Beach Hotel and expressed greetings from Oak Bay Council to Oak Bay Rotary for 40 years of community service through diligent, hard work.

Mayor Nils Jensen, Neil Rawnsley and Kevin Walker 

 Joan Peggs brought our many guests to their feet for a warm welcome.  Guests included: 

• Laurie Reid; Rotary Club of Sunshine Coast
• Bruce Willis; Rotary Club of Laguna Beach, California
• Ryley Strother, Amanda Hind, & Scott Higby; Rotaract Club of Victoria
• Laura Lavin; guest of Perry Bamji
• Beth Murray; guest of Lynne Murray
• Jill Croft; guest of Tom Croft
• Kevin & Shauna Walker
• Nils Jensen; honorary member
• Bob Beauvais, past member

Jim Force expressed appreciation for recent international accomplishments with a Global Grant for Health Care enhancement in East Timor for $48,000 USD, as well as work in Rwanda with John Jordan.  Locally Oak Bay Recreation will have a climbing wall.
   

Special thanks to Perry Bamji - Paul Harris Awards evening 
Jim Force thanked Perry Bamji for spearheading our Club's very first Paul Harris Awards evening on October 2 when we presented the Paul Harris Awards to three citizens of Greater Victoria. He said that without Perry's leadership and perseverance, this event will not have taken place. Perry was presented with this year’s Rotary Theme pin for his work. 

Perry Bamji

Perry thanked all those who helped to make this event a great success. In particular he thanked:
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel for their sponsorship of tickets for each of the three awardees and their guest, the printing of tickets and the souvenir programs and the facilities of the theatre. David Maxwell for sponsorship of dinner wines. Some members who could not make it to the dinner kindly donated their tickets to the Rotaract and Interact members.The Oak Bay News who gave a full page spread and photographs of the Awards Evening in two separate issues of the newspaper.

Brian Lamb informed the club of the results of joining with the Victoria Rotary Club in the Car Raffle.  We will direct our $25,000 to the Victoria Foundation where it will be matched and this then can support a program to develop a Physical Literacy Program through the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE) for a grand total of $50,000!  http://piseworld.com/

Brian Lamb, introduced Charter member, Dr John Emerson, Dentistry and two former members; Andy Anderson (a past president) and Bob Beauvais

Bob Beauvais, Will Carter, David Phillip, Andy Anderson, George Pritchard & Neil Rawnsley

Brief Recollections:

Brian Lamb, our longest remaining active member, shared his early memories of the first project to set up picnic tables on Cattle Point with Neil Rawnsley’s father, Ray, followed by a fundraiser that involved Australian wines with Barney Simmons (former owner of the Quadra Theatre) where Brian was outfitted in a hot, stuffy outfit to be a Koala Bear.  Other memories included the Water Park Project with Rod Filer whose imagination for a Peter Pan themed park became a reality.  Len Lane, Principal of Frank Hobbs School was remembered as a keen attendance keeper who helped members appreciate their record with a visual reminder each week. 

John Emerson shared his early designs to operate an airline company involved an amphibious aircraft that he landed at Cattle Point.  It was only when the police arrived and questioned his right to park this aircraft that this highlighted a loophole in Oak Bay’s Bylaws.

Andy Anderson shared one fond memory that involved DP who would be the one found driving down Oak Bay Avenue soon after the Oak Bay Police had just cleared the streets in preparation for the Oak Bay Tea Party.

Joan Peggs commented on an early experience where she received a ‘Ted Harrison inspired’ certificate for the ‘Beach to Beach Walk’ – started by Paul Johnson.

Jack Petrie remembered arriving to see a President holding her baby, and meeting a ‘Fast Ball Pitcher’ – two striking women in our club today!

Tom Lidkea fondly recalled Del Pittuck in leading Christmas Carols.

Rod Simms concluded the look back with a story involving Kevin Walker’s father making cotton candy as well as Joan Peggs father involved in Oak Bay Rotary.

Special Presentation:

Jim Force commended David Sills; 31 years, George Pritchard; 36 years, and Brian Lamb; an impressive 39 years.  They share the distinction of all being ‘Past Presidents’ and ‘Past Treasurers’.  Eugen Bannerman presented each with a distinctive plaque.

Pictorial History of our Club:

With photos generously shared by David Sills and compiled by Perry Bamji, set to music ‘What a wonderful world’ we followed many memories including 40 years of Past Presidents, past projects, financial contributions and service opportunities that spanned these years.  “Service above self is our motto – having fun is our credo.”

Jim Force offered concluding remarks to identify the DNA of our club simply involves liking each other and offering a little oasis along with the pride to consider 40 years of great work in the community. 

Our meeting concluded with Pablo Diemecke’s violin solo “The Queen”.