On 17th November 2020 the Rotary Club of Geelong East celebrated PP David Beretta’s 50 years of service when he was presented with congratulatory letters from RI President Holger Knaack and DG Phil Beasley, and an attractive plaque. The Club honoured David with a third sapphire to add to his Paul Harris Fellow recognition
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During the evening, David’s years in Rotary were retraced by viewing a nostalgic PowerPoint presentation prepared by his Rotarian daughter-in-law, Sue Beretta.
David was a young, hard-working plumber with a growing family when he joined the club in 1970, one year after the Club was chartered. Over the years he has participated in a wide range of service activities including as President in 1980-81.
In March 2009 David was honoured by the-then RI President Dong Kurn Lee with an ‘Avenues of Service Award’ that recognized his outstanding contribution to four areas of service: club, vocational, community and international.
In accepting the many accolades, David reflected on his fifty years in Rotary and spoke fondly of his time in Tonga in 1995 when he was a member of a Rotary team that replaced the roof of the local hospital.
He and his family also enjoyed hosting Rotary exchange students from India, Denmark and Holland.
David also recalled the early days of community service, cutting fire wood; collecting, bagging and selling sheep manure; painting seats; organising art shows and dinner auctions; selling hotdogs at the Geelong Show; building a drinking fountain and wood BBQ in Eastern Gardens – to name a few.
Although now in his eighties, David continues to be a loyal, hard-working and passionate supporter of the ideals of Rotary.
Well done David!
You Can't Keep a Good Rotarian Down!!
