Rotary Club of Toowoomba South Inc.
For this is Rotary
A poem penned by former club member Ross Vernon
(with apologies to Frank Sinatra)
and presented to the club at our annual Christmas Party in 1997, on the eve of him leaving Toowoomba for greener pastures.
And now, the end is near, and so I face, my final meeting
my friends, I'll say it clear, I'll miss you all, your friendly greetings
we've laughed, we've fellowshipped, and through the years, we've raised some money
and more, much more than this, for this is Rotary
There's Jim, who runs the bar, along with Phil, they serve the odd beer
and Bob, who keeps the books and good old Len, always in good cheer
we meet each Tuesday night, to share a meal, and hear the odd tale
we've got a special thing and it's called Rotary
There's Rog, who tells those jokes, and Michael B, our legal court man
and Noel, who sells the club, at conferences, he's quite a spokesman
and Bob and Ian and Ed and old Aub, who takes our money
we've got a special thing and it's call Rotary
There's Bobby Pierce, who falls asleep, with plastic hip, he keeps our mail right
and Gordon B, who starts at 5, amongst the rocks, he hates a late night
and John Macleod, who's served the board, for many years, he led the drought fight
we've got a special thing and it's called Rotary
There's Stan, who snaps the shots, and good old Karl, our famous baritone
and little Derm, who does his best, to sell us all, his latest telephone
and John, what can I say, you've fined me heaps, the jokes where all on me
we've got a special thing and it's called Rotary
For there is Jon, who leads us all, and hobby and craft, we have a ball
and there is Bob, whose always there, with tools in hand, he's still got hair
It may be tough, we love the stuff, this is Rotary
It may be tough, we love the stuff, this is Rotary.
Ross Vernon as the Cleaning Lady with Dr Jim Blaikie at the Club's 35th Birthday Party in 1994
Pres Jon Hamilton fare-welling Ross Vernon in 1997
Ross Vernon as his alter ego, Dame Margaret Ruthven, in 1994
Members referred to in the poem
Jim Blaikie, Phil Philp, Bob East, Len Board, Roger Britton, Mike Browning, Noel Williamson, Bob Kretchmann, Ian Yoxall, Ed Kretschman, Aub Baker, Bob Peirce, Gordon Blackett, John MacLeod, Stan Carter, Karl Hertle, Derm Guerin, John Houston, Jon Hamilton, Bob Gooderham.
Ross Vernon, a former teacher at Toowoomba Grammar School, was a very colourful and likeable member of our club, and as can be seen from the photos above, was a willing and regular participant in providing interesting and entertaining skits for our social evenings during his time in our club. Thank you Ross.