Benalla Rotary Club recently held a celebration for two of its longest-serving members, Ray O’Shannessey and Graeme Budd OAM.
Mr O’Shannessey, who is now an honorary member of the club since retiring from full membership, was given a special 90th birthday celebration.
Mr Budd was honoured as a “Rotary Living Treasure”, following in Mr O’Shannessey’s footsteps.
A Rotary spokesperson said both milestones were celebrated at a recent meeting.
“Mr O’Shannessy joined Benalla Rotary in October 1985 and was a very active member until his retirement from full membership in August 2020,” the spokesperson said.
“(He) was then made an honorary member in recognition of his many years of service to the club and the community.
“Over the years he has held many positions within the club including president in 1988-89.”
During his presidency, the club supported two International projects:
- Raising money to bring a Vietnamese child to Australia for reconstructive facial surgery under the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children program; and
- Helping refugees from Kosovo who had been granted asylum in Australia, which included providing more than 200 bicycles and numerous wooden toys that had been produced by the club’s woodworking group.
“Mr O’Shannessy also produced the weekly bulletin for the club, in the days when such things were produced on a stencil method copier which used ink to print off the copies, very time consuming and with pungent fumes,” the spokesperson said.
"Mr O’Shannessy and his wife Bernadette hosted many Rotary Youth Exchange students over the years and Ray was also involved in running the Rotary Junior Community Program at St Joseph’s Primary School.
“Both ... are Paul Harris Fellows, a prestigious Rotary award that acknowledges outstanding contributions to the club and the wider community.
“Mr O’Shannessy’s Rotary contribution was not limited to the Benalla Club.
“He also served on the District Committee of Management as treasurer, district auditor, district nominating committee, which selects the District Governors, and on the district Health Research Fund committee.
“When he turned 80 he was elevated to a Living Treasure of the Club; perhaps we now need to find a new category for a treasured member who has turned 90.
“Our thanks to Lois Smith for creating a very special birthday cake for the whole club to enjoy.”
While members were tucking into the impressive cake, the club then took time to honour Mr Budd with his “Living Treasure” award.
This distinction is bestowed on members of the club who have celebrated their 80th birthday.
"Mr Budd has been a member of the club since June 1995 and has held many board positions in that time,“ the spokesperson said.
‘He has also been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for outstanding contributions to the ideals of Rotary.
“In 2012 he went to Budapest as the Australian representative of the Rotary Youth Exchange program and rates this as one of his most memorable Rotary experiences.
“(His wife) Joy said that his work with Benalla Rotary’s International project at the Awake and Shine School in India was another important Rotary experience.
“In particular, bringing two teachers, Anju and Pascalina, to Benalla for professional development training was one of his great achievements.
“Congratulations to Graeme 80 years young and now a Living Treasure.”