The Changeover 2016

Gosford Rotary started another year in its 70+ year history on July7.        Over 50 people turned up to see outgoing President Don Wiseman preside over his last meeting then hand the baton to incoming President Dennis Allen.          Before standing down Don reviewed and thanked each of his directors in what was a fantastic year of achievment.       In a long list of events Gosford Rotary moved the school desks and furniture from the old Gosford Public School all the way to Poppondetta in PNG (a shared project with Gosford North Rotary which provided much of the initiative and most of the man power).      We sent year 10  students to RYPEN and another year 12 student to the National Youth Science Forum, a full 2 week live in event at the ANU.         We built 3 waterfront shelters in a heavily used park on Gosford's waterfront and we continued our association with Gosford's wonderful Musical Society with numerous theatre outings.         In association with 12 other Coast Rotary clubs and the Uni of Newcastle we organised the Science and Engineering Challenge for the 16 th year, engaging nearly 500 of the Central Coast's most promising year 10 science and maths students.        The Gala Concert was a great success once again.                                                                                   And we had a lot of fun at the same time.

Before standing down Don presented Robyn Kapp with a cheque fro $1000 to fight Huntington's Disease, and another $1000 cheque to Nancye Booth of the Inner Wheel for their continued research into the use of cord blood.                Don topped that with a great big cheque of $25000, presented by treasurer and chief fundraiser David Boardman, to Laurie Maher of Coast Shelter for their relief of victims of domestic violence.

               The evening closed on a high note when incoming President Dennis made a Don a very well deserved Paul Harris Fellow.