Award of Excellence for Club Bulletin 2018 2019 BEHIND THE ROTARY BADGE - DAVID REDFEARN Pages 3 and 4Moreland Rotarian David Redfearn talks about his life, his family and his interests THE MORELANDER EDITION 4|16 AUGUST B2022 ulletin of Moreland Rotary
Cover: David and his brother Richard in the middle of a Moulamein rice crop in 1961 (image courtesy of David Redfearn) THE MORELANDER 2
Moreland Rotary acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct our business. Moreland Rotary respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Moreland Rotary also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
At our August 3rd meeting, our guest speaker was our very own David Redfearn, giving a ‘behind the badge’ presentation David’s early life was on the open plains of the NSW southern Riverina, where his father was born and grew up, and where he took his Western Australian war bride in 1947 to a farm about 10km outside Moulamein.
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The eldest of four brothers, David grew up on the 1,500 acre rice and sheep farm that, in the early days, had no phone or electricity It was also subject to the occasional flood (and drought!) Trips away included crossing the Nullabor a challenge in those days where much of it was not sealed to visit his mother’s family in Western Australia. School was the Moulamein Primary School followed by Swan Hill High School, with a year of correspondence during 1956, a year when there was a particularly significant flood, with the farm cut off from the outside with entry and exit via tractor and trailer. Post secondary, David took some time to find his niche Studying science at ANU only lasted a year, followed by a year in Melbourne working for the Repatriation Department Eventually he completed a Diploma of Teaching in Wagga Wagga, and began a career teaching in rural NSW with his first school in a remote community in western NSW having a majority of indigenous children. It was in Griffith NSW across the counter of the Bank of NSW! that he met Deanna They married in Yoogali in 1976 and 46 years later are still married In Griffith David took up Italian conversation classes (Donald MacKay was a classmate google his name, it still comes up first) and later resumed tertiary
4THE MORELANDER Behind the Badge - David Redfearn David and Deanna then took off for a year or so to Italy, studying and teaching English in Perugia and Terni, where talking in the corridors during ‘smoko’ was where David’s Italian improved most rapidly In Italy he also first met active communists, workers at the steelworks where he taught English a different brand to the Soviet model who were part of the tumult of that period in Italian history Melbourne followed Italy; it is still home and where his children Joanne and Michael grew up in Northcote Work was initially for AMES, but then he entered the public service and worked for many years in Commonwealth Employment Services (CES) in various locations in the inner suburbs, specialising in later years working with migrants and people with a disability In this period, David completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Italian, from Melbourne University In 1982 David stood for Northcote Council as an ALP councilor, and remained until amalgamations in the early 1990’s. He was twice elected Mayor, and from feedback he received from residents over the years, was clearly a hardworking and attentive representative His achievements include the development of the Merri Creek Management Committee, supporting various playgrounds, parks, child care centres and a pioneering women's neighbourhood house, and advocating for more and refurbished public housing.
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These days David’s loves include his family now including two grandsons, Alexander and James, growing up in Malta, travel, community, the cosmopolitan nature of Australia, and the Australian landscape and environment. As an active (and excellent) photographer, many of these loves are apparent in his photographic work
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It’s always interesting to hear about a person’s life journey, and David’s has certainly been a varied, interesting, creative and productive one.
David has always been an active person in the community, with his interests including Community Health, School councils, the Merri Creek and the Yarra River, Rotary (former Apexian), neighbourhood house (PRACE), Darebin Environment Reference Group, DIVRS (Darebin Information and Volunteer Resource Service) and served on the board of the former PANCH hospital. In recognition of this wonderful service, David was awarded and OAM in 2012
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5THE MORELANDER
Rotary districts are a way of grouping a number of clubs in a particular geographic area The area covered quite often crosses state and even international boundaries. Rotary District 9790 encompasses the northern suburbs of Melbourne and stretches north and north east of Victoria to the Murray River and up into parts of NSW. For more information about Rotary District 9790, click here Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of community and professional leaders working to address community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world Rotary clubs receive a charter from the worldwide organisation Rotary International A Rotarian belongs to a particular Rotary Club often near his/her home or work or sometimes because of the club meeting time.
About Rotary "IMAGINE What your Rotary can be" is the monthly newsletter of our late District Governor David McPherson in 2022-23. There is a lot of information about the many Rotary projects and events across our District. Simply click here to read the last edition District Governor's Newsletter
Chartered 14 August 1996 Sponsor Club Coburg Rotary Club | Incorporated 13 August 2019 President President Elect Secretary Treasurer Community Service Vocational Services Membership, International Service and Assistant Bulletin Editor Rotary Foundation Youth Club Administration and Governance Environment Bulletin Editor and Public Image Australian Rotary Health Club History Valued members Honorary Members Trevor Moyle Jo Connellan Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano Rosemary Freeman Brian Bennett Trevor Moyle Rosemary Freeman Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano Jo Connellan David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano John Hoffmann, Russell Stuckey, Lee Garwood, Emma Davis The Hon Kelvin Thomson, Helen Bailey, John Awler, Richard McCarthy Rotary International: President: Jennifer Jones (Nick Krayacich), Windsor Roselands Rotary, Canada District Governor: David McPherson, Deniliquin Rotary Assistant Governor Group 2: TBA Moreland Rotary President: Trevor Moyle Moreland Rotary Club meets most Wednesdays at 7.30 for a 7.40 am start. We meet at the Sorrento Bar, 801 Sydney Road, Brunswick, 3056 Rotary Leadership 2022-23 District 9790 /Multi District Roles 2021-22 Director, 2023 Convention Host Organising Committee Australian Rotary Health District Legal Officer District Bulletin Editor and Peter Toomey Community Police Award Shine On Awards Emma Davis Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett 6THE MORELANDER If you would like to receive our bulletin via email each week, email our editor at: dredfearn@vtown.com.au Attention: The Secretary, Moreland Rotary Club, PO Box 219, Coburg, Victoria, 3058 WHEN AND WHERE WE MEET: Moreland Rotary Service Roles 2022-23 HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE MORELANDER: WHERE TO SEND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE: Designed using Canva www canva com Images by David Redfearn and logos from rotary.org unless otherwise specified.
THE MORELANDER Upcoming events and meetings click here @RotaryMoreland 7 A standing invitation exists for all readers of The Morelander to attend Moreland Rotary Club meetings and some of our other events. Please let us know if you intend to join us by ringing David Redfearn on 0448 852 747 or emailing on dredfearn@vtown.com.au (click on email address). Upcoming speakers/events Our Guest Speakers Moreland Rotary invites speakers to our club both from our local community and further afield. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and are invited because they hopefully inform and stimulate our members and guests. We feel that this is of value in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse community and even providing guidance as to the types of activites and projects our club may engage in. However the opinions expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect any official viewpoint of Moreland Rotary nor those of individual club members. Irrespective of this we always offer a warm Rotary welcome to all of our speakers. 17 August: District Governor's visit 24 August: Emma Davis on the 2022 Rotary International Conference in Texas 31 August: Michael Carney, Coburg Harriers 7 September: Planning update and membership survey
During the pandemic restrictions we met via Zoom on Wednesday mornings from 7.30 8.30 am but we NOW MEET in person at our usual venue (listed on page 7). You should contact us beforehand in case restrictions are in force but you can still join us on Zoom at any time and the link is below. We always aim to have great guest speakers whether meeting in person or virtually! Why not join us one morning? Simply ring David on 0448 852 747 the day before to RSVP or go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3068589175 just before the meeting to join in.
