The late Bill Heath OAM contributed much to the Narrabri community and to local individuals and families over many decades.
Two of the organisations through which Mr Heath’s voluntary services were channelled were the Rotary Club of Narrabri and Freemasonry – he was a member of each respectively for 50 and 70 years.
Those many years of service were acknowledged with the presentation of certificates of appreciation, accepted by Mrs Beryl Heath on Monday.
Mr Heath was an achiever and a significant contributor to Narrabri community life over many decades.
However, for Bill, his wife Beryl said on Monday, the voluntary work was not onerous.
“He did what he enjoyed doing,” Mrs Heath said.
Mr Heath was engaged in many voluntary roles but Monday’s presentation of certificates acknowledged two – one for 70 years service to Freemasonry and the other for 50 years community contributions as a member of Rotary.
Mr Heath’s positive attitude to life was summed up in the advice he regularly gave to his kids, his daughter Neurelle McTaggart recalled.
“If we were wondering what course of action to take in a situation he would say ‘just give it a go, otherwise you will never know’.
“He would say to us kids ‘if the wheel falls off, just put it back on and keep rolling.’”
Bill Heath lived up to his own advice and launched and operated successful businesses alongside his community work.
Presenting the Narrabri Rotary certificate of appreciation to Mrs Heath, incoming president Darrell Tiemens emphasised that Beryl Heath always complemented Bill’s role in business and community work.
“He exemplified what it is to be a great community citizen and a Rotarian.
“If we could achieve just 10 per cent of what he achieved in our lifetimes we would be well satisfied,” he added.
Bill Heath joined Rotary soon after arriving in Narrabri and soon became president, also leading Rotary Narrabri in later years, twice as president again and in many other offices over the 50 years of his membership.
He was actively engaged in all the major Rotary activities which took him around Australia and overseas.
His long-time friend and fellow Rotarian Pat Carberry, who was with Bill on many Rotary trips nationally and internationally, said Bill was a very active and tireless participant in Rotary activities.
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