Fifty years of service to, or membership of, an organisation is remarkable in any context, but 50 years of virtually 100 per cent attendance as well is something else.
That, though, is just what Shepparton businessman Sam Sali has done through five decades as a member of the Shepparton Rotary Club.
“We definitely need more Sam Salis. Really committed to making the place that they live in just that little bit better,” club president Josh Freeman said.
“It’s a real testament to Sam.”
Mr Sali was born in Albania, moving to Australia with his family as an infant.
The influential Goulburn Valley businessman is managing director of the transport and orchard growing company S. Sali & Sons.
“The impact that Sam and his wider family have been able to make in Australia, also specifically Shepparton, through, not only his involvement in Rotary but also in other organisations aligned to transportation, fruit growing and other businesses is really spectacular,” Mr Freeman said.
In the 50 years of membership and service to the club, Mr Sali has virtually never missed a weekly meeting or has attended another club meeting if he was unable to make his club meeting.
“That’s just a really remarkable achievement and demonstrates Sam’s dedication to Rotary and the impact it has had in his life and his commitment to both the local club and the purpose of Rotary more broadly in an international perspective,” Mr Freeman said.
Mr Sali said his family helped make that happen, particularly when he was still driving trucks for the family business.
“My brothers always dipped in or if there was somebody else that could do the job for me they would go and load the truck,” he said.
“Then I would go to Rotary, then come back from Rotary, change into my work clothes and go to Melbourne.”
Mr Sali said he kept turning up to Rotary meetings for the friendships and to give back to the community.
“All that. It’s all based on service to the local community,” he said.
Mr Sali received a certificate of recognition for his long service during the club’s meeting on January 17.
Another long-serving member Angelo Talarico received a certificate of recognition for his 30 years of service.
Mr Talarico, the club’s second longest-serving member, is a former president and is a two-time Paul Harris Fellowship recipient for outstanding service to Rotary.