This article is a excerpt from Tribute given by Noel Trevaskis OAM at Michael’s funeral.
M
ichael was a committed Rotarian who began his journey when he was selected by Blackwood Rotary, to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award when he was 17 years old. The Rotary club then asked him to be a charter member of Blackwood Rotaract in 1977. He joined Rotary Club of Canberra South in 1986 and apart from a year in the Toorak Rotary Club in 1997 he was a member at Canberra South until it closed in 2017 then becoming a member of Tuggeranong Rotary. Tuggeranong made Michael an Honorary member in 2021.
ichael was a committed Rotarian who began his journey when he was selected by Blackwood Rotary, to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award when he was 17 years old. The Rotary club then asked him to be a charter member of Blackwood Rotaract in 1977. He joined Rotary Club of Canberra South in 1986 and apart from a year in the Toorak Rotary Club in 1997 he was a member at Canberra South until it closed in 2017 then becoming a member of Tuggeranong Rotary. Tuggeranong made Michael an Honorary member in 2021.Michael's Rotary involvements include two stints as Club President Canberra South, twice 1989-2000, 1999-2000. Because of his love for the Rotary Foundation, he was Chair of the Foundation for a number of years at both Canberra South and Tuggeranong. At District level he served in various roles including Chair, at different times, of the Rotaract, Scholarship, Membership Attraction and Engagement, and Fellowship committees. At Zone level he was the first Endowment and Major Gifts Adviser for our Zone 8. In 2010 Michael and Julia became Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation.
This year we are combining both PETS (President Elect Training) and Learning & Development (previously known as Club Assembly). This will ensure more time for Club members to learn their individual roles within their Club, and provide an opportunity to build a strong team, within your Club members and with other Clubs. There is strength in unity. We are providing two opportunities to attend - one in Merimbula and one in Orange. We encourage as many members of your Club as possible to come along.
During the recent Annual Conference, Reconciliation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were the themes around much of the conversations, talks, projects and entertainment. One key element of the Reconciliation journey is the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. 
