More Member talks

The diversity in careers and skills of or members can be gleaned from short talks covering the years until joining Rotary; together with their motivations for choosing Rotary as a means to support or serve the community,  or to make a difference and help to promote responsible and lasting change in other endeavours and vocations in the key avenues of service.

Michael Brent

Michael Brent gave a fascinating talk outline his family history and his education then interesting career in PNG and locally then the family passion with travelling and camping.

He explained his paternal roots came from Normandy and the name ‘de Brente”. From there his ancestors went to UK, then generations later went to Tasmania as settlers.

Michael’s father joined the Navy at age 13 and later met his mother in Sydney and they were married in 1954.

A few years later, Michael was born in Perth, where his father was captain of a mine sweeper HMAS Karangi which spent time in New Guinea clearing the seas of mines. Michael’s name is engraved on the ship’s bell (now housed in the display cabinet at Woolgoolga RSL).

When his father retired from the Navy the family moved to a property north of Armidale, raising sheep for wool and lamb meat. Michael lived there until attending university in Sydney for a few years, then back to college in Armidale where he gained a Bachelor of Financial Administration degree

Michael then joined KPMG in Sydney where he met wife Sue and accepted a posting to Port Moresby for 3 years where his job sent him to coffee and rubber plantations conducting the  audits for the Development Bank.

Michael then joined a reinsurance company as regional CFO covering from Korea to Singapore plus Australian & New Zealand, which involved frequent international travel which meant lees time at home, so he then joined Suncorp where after 5 years he retired in late 2017.

Sue and Michael have 4 children and 5 grandchildren, so in 2018 they visited sons in London and Amsterdam and subsequently brought a caravan with the aim of becoming grey nomads with some friends. They then hit the road via Albury, went to the Australian Open Tennis thence to Tasmania. Subsequently, during Covid times, they spent 5 months in Queensland and in 2021 spent time in South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Michael’s accounting came to the fore when he told us that the caravan has done-

•          64 thousand kilometres,
• the Land Cruiser128 thousand kilometres and has used
• 24 thousand litres of diesel and
• Spent 675 nights in the van.

Michael speaking at the Golf evening in April

Michael serves on the Board of Sunnyfield and wanted to join a club that meets in the area - it was Rotary, plus he knew Lindy from primary & high school.

Michael recounted his Rotary connection at the 2024 District Assembly.

Nicole their daughter is disabled and lives in Sunnyfield house, went to school at St Ives some 25 years ago and at the time it was under threat of closure. With the help of St Ives Rotary, the school managed to get a lease of some of the land from Education Department and subleased it to a church plus gained finance from a benefactor.  The preschool was built for approx. $700,000.  Now the school earns over $100,000 each year and has just renewed a 20-year lease.  Doing something for the community in a manner such as this was Michael’s reason for joining Rotary.

Everyone present congratulated Michael on his moving account of a very interesting life

Michael Mead

Although having been in the club for almost 13 years, Michael gave a short summary of his career and motivations on joining Rotary. Short speeches by existing club members allow newer members to learn about them. Each meeting that does not have a guest speaker will have a short talk by an longer serving member.

Well, I’m a Sydneysider, however was born in Newcastle (upon Hunter) in the last year of the war 1945. Newcastle, in those times, could be summarised in three letters BHP.

After Dad returned from the war, the industrial boom started with increasing demand for steel products at many places throughout the country.

For the next 10 years or so, we moved to places like Wollongong, Brisbane, Whyalla and Sydney then Newcastle again. Every 2 years or so it was another posting in another place along with a new house, new schools, different curriculum and new set of friends.

Just before my 12^th birthday, Mum & I flew to Sydney from Brisbane and went to David Jones There I was decked out in all these funny clothes like a straw boater hat, knee length woollen socks, a coat and tie and other stuff. Then off to boarding school: Scots College at Bellevue Hill.

Being an only child, I found boarding school was great with lots of activities, good friends and adventures. Sporting facilities abounded and Rugby and Rowing were my passion.

After getting the leaving certificate, I am faced with career choices and since I did OK in physics and chemistry, got into Pharmacy at Sydney Uni. Our first lecture in second year had these opening remarks “look along the bench of four, only one will graduate”.

During that year, it’s all the way with LBJ and I win the lottery for the first and only time in my life - 2 years Army National service for my country. First I had fight my way into Victoria barracks on rainy morning in early February in 1967. I say fight because the first fight was through rows of anti-war placard holders on on side and mothers yelling ‘save our sons’ on the other. For the first few weeks its’ boarding school routine and food all over again together with the temperature extremes of Wagga Wagga in the summer heat then later to Healesville Victoria in the winter snow.

I don’t get posted to Vietnam, but to Brisbane for the remaining 18 months of service. It was here that I meet Diane and after my two years’ service is up in early1969.  We marry and do the working holiday thing in the UK – swinging London and travelling round the continent in a VW Kombi van. This is where we get the travel bug and I wish I had paid more attention in history and language classes.

Well, the saying goes do an MBA and change jobs. I did that and moved into product management of non-prescription products with Roche and was involved with launch of Berocca vitamins and AquaSun sunscreens.

Next, I move to the world of skin care with a product called Skin Repair. There I learnt that brand name protection and intellectual property were important. The company secretary was almost fully employed defending the word “repair” and its use in health and beauty. Almost an impossible task but this kept the brand alive. I think you can still buy it today.

Finally, I was approached to join company called Wellcome and its world of coughs and colds and products that are now household words like Codral & Sudafed. Not surprisingly, we found all cough and cold advertising was boring and people can’t be bored into buying anything - so yours truly can be blamed for developing that darn ‘Soldier On’ advert. It won awards but the real buzz was it built the brand into a category leader that has by now survived 3 company takeovers.

Diane & Michael at the 2023 Christmas party

Why Rotary

I joined Rotary due to it being a giving organisation just like Pharmacy. I was attracted to Balgowlah since the RSL sent out a flyer with their member magazine and from the moment I enquired a Rotarian, John Salvage made sure that I experienced many of the projects that the club was doing. I was then encouraged by Colin Wayling to be club Secretary and I have enjoyed working in several roles and working on the Board.

The real payback with being in Rotary is when you help others, the giver gets so much back in return. Working with like-minded people on overseas projects like in Myanmar and Timor Leste and locally driving and delivering for OneMeal gives a great sense of fulfillment.

We have 3 children and 4 grandchildren and enjoy having many family social occasions.

- Michael Mead

Christmas Tree Fundraiser Proposal

Bev Yakich gave a well researched presentation of a fundraising opportunity. The PowerPoint was circulated to members.

It can also be view here  (click on the underlined text) 

Note that It will auto-advance every 7 seconds  

 What's next?

BOOK NOW (only by Trybooking) 

This will be a great night where the club and its amazing record will be highlighted. Often the words "Balgowlah really punches above it weight" are said and you will find out why.

President Roger will pass the Presidential chain to incoming President Diana Hart who has extensive experience in so many avenues of Rotary service.

Please book using Trybooking website or just use your phone for the QR code.

And: 

Yes it back again and great fun for all ages. Note younger children are no charge; so families will have a great time and not break the budget.

The finish will have a BBQ with children's activities so make sure to book and join in the fun!

Lindy also needs volunteers at the start and the finish - please let her know if you can help. (you can still be in the rally).

Planner:

Finally: