Michael Lapiña with Rochester Rotary’s newest member Liz Wells, who was inducted at the weekend. Photos: Supplied.
More than 50 people gathered for Rochester Rotary Club’s annual changeover recently, enjoying an evening of good food and guest speakers.
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The changeover dinner on June 14 was more of a rollover, with club president Eric Bish continuing into next year.
New Rotarian Liz Wells was inducted, consolidating the club’s resurrection from just three members 12 months ago to now eight — and counting.
Kokoda ‘veterans’ Oakley Tarrant and State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh both spoke at the Rotary evening.
Ms Wells lives in Bendigo but works with Campaspe Shire as a flood recovery officer and is in Rochester five days a week. She felt joining the local club was the logical step.
Echuca-born and Bamawm-raised Colin Honey also made the trip from his Melbourne home, his first time back for 50 years.
In 1981, his aunt, Peg Honey, was the first woman elected to the then Shire of Echuca council and went on to become its mayor.
Bendigo Rotarians David Bannon and Helen Hobley.
And he had to admit, Echuca had changed beyond recognition for him.
Members and guests heard from State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and Rochester Secondary College student Oakley Tarrant about walking the Kokoda Trail.
Mr Walsh outlined the Colin Sinclair Kokoda Scholarship, which he established last year and which takes Year 11 students from across his electorate to walk the trail and immerse themselves in the story of this pivotal part of Australian history.
He made the trip in 2023 and is going again this year with five more district students, supported by Moama RSL, Rich River Golf Club, Freemasons Victoria Foundation, Kyabram Club and Tiverton Agricultural Impact Fund.
Rochester Rotary stalwart Heather Watson with Tatura member Rhonda Rose and Rochester Mural Committee member Kayte Lee.
Oakley was an inaugural scholarship recipient and he walked in 2024, representing the Sinclair family.
He said the walk had literally changed his life and given him a “much clearer understanding of what hard really is”.
“That’s not just the walk itself but also getting a perspective on how other people live, such as the ones we met in the highland villages where power is non-existent and running water is a rarity,” he said.
The Rotary club made a $500 donation from the money it raised at its pie and port night.
The final highlight was a stunning rendition of Nessun Dorma by outgoing district governor and operatic tenor Michael Lapiña.
Rotarians Jan and Barry Douglas from Altona City, with Mark Costello from Eaglehawk.
Rochester locals enjoying the pie night were Ray Mason, Greg Walkley and Bruce Weeks.
A trio of Echuca-Moama Rotarians, Neil and Cathy Sproal and Allan Locke.
Colin Honey from Melbourne and Helen Dalwood from Echuca.
Outgoing district governor Michael Lapiña, his wife Nina and State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and his wife Liz.
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