Peter Patton, the new president elect
of the Rotary Club of Cobar, has vowed
to raise the profile of the club in the
community and involve more young people.
Mr Patton was invested to the president’s role by Rotary District 9670 Past District Governor Brian Coffey from Maitland on Saturday night at the club’s annual Change Over Dinner at the Empire Hotel.
“During my tenure as president I will be looking at membership and activity participation,” Mr Patton said.
“Cobar Rotary has a great model that is community focused and actively supports local projects and other charitable groups and organisations in our region.
“We don’t have to fix a model that isn’t broken but we do need new members,” Mr Patton said.
Outgoing president Tony Punzet proudly outlined the club’s numerous fundraising activities over the past year and said it had been a very busy one for their group of nine members.
“Over $405,000 has been raised and donated by the Rotary Club of Cobar to the local farmers in Cobar plus in and around the surrounding districts and to our local organisations,” Mr Punzet said.
He spoke about the club’s drought appeal which commenced last August with club members making up and delivering food parcels which extended to the provision of goods and services, cash, food and fuel vouchers and also the delivery of fodder for needy farming families.
The Cobar club was involved in the running of the Farmers Nights in Cobar, Tilpa and Hermidale.
Mr Punzet praised the assistance of the local farmers Sheena and Paul Geppert, the Cobar Masonic Lodge and also acknowledged the generous financial support received from their ‘sister’ Rotary clubs with their Drought Appeal.
During the night Mr Punzet also presented donations to a number of local organisations including: $2,000 for the Bill Brennan Centre $2,000, donations of $500 to the Cobar Amateur Pistol Club Cobar Cadets 221, Macquarie Home Stay and ROAR – Rural Outback Animal Rescue and a further $300 was also donated to Cobar Community Health.
Past District Governor 9670 Brian Coffey praised the work of the Cobar club.
“This club truly astounds me,” he said.
“I have been to 47 clubs in our district stretching from Newcastle to Bourke and it’s wonderful to see so many people from the community involved in your Change Over dinner.
“I have faith that this club is going to do continued great work in our community,” Mr Coffey said.
