Rotary Club of Narrabri celebrates 75 years of service | PHOTOS

A gala dinner at The Crossing Theatre on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Narrabri.

Current club members and partners were joined by dignitaries, other Narrabri service organisations, neighbouring Rotary clubs as well as former Narrabri Rotarians for the momentous occasion.

The club’s president, Darrell Tiemens, welcomed attendees to the dinner before inviting Narrabri Shire mayor Ron Campbell to the dais to reflect on Rotary’s role in the community.

“In this community, organisations like Rotary, like many other community organisations, get into the community and volunteer their services and their know-how and passion to community,” Cr Campbell said.

“Rotary is a fine example to our youth and to other members of the community.

Rotary Club of Narrabri president Darrell Tiemens, long serving member Pat Carberry and secretary/vice president Dylan Smith. Rotary Club of Narrabri president Darrell Tiemens, long serving member Pat Carberry and secretary/vice president Dylan Smith.

Mayor Ron Campbell, Peter Rozendaal and Jimmy Duncan. Mayor Ron Campbell, Peter Rozendaal and Jimmy Duncan.

Paul Harris fellows -back, Mal Donaldson, Wayne Wheeler, Richard Ritter, Mike Beale, Julie Herbert, Tricia Hadley, Daryl Bartlett, Wayne Madden, Bruce Pyke, Mark Hanrahan, Jo Wilkin, Darrell Tiemens, Patti Parsons, Phil Norrie, Lindsay Wilkin, Neville Parsons, front, Charles Radford, Len Hall, Pat Carberry, Sue Hanrahan, Bev Bartlett, Grahame Herbert, Rob Walker, Pat Norrie and Joan Pyke. Paul Harris fellows -back, Mal Donaldson, Wayne Wheeler, Richard Ritter, Mike Beale, Julie Herbert, Tricia Hadley, Daryl Bartlett, Wayne Madden, Bruce Pyke, Mark Hanrahan, Jo Wilkin, Darrell Tiemens, Patti Parsons, Phil Norrie, Lindsay Wilkin, Neville Parsons, front, Charles Radford, Len Hall, Pat Carberry, Sue Hanrahan, Bev Bartlett, Grahame Herbert, Rob Walker, Pat Norrie and Joan Pyke.

Past presidents - back, Richard Ritter, Mike Beale, Julie Herbert, Tricia Hadley, Daryl Bartlett, Wayne Madden, Bruce Pyke, front, Phil Norrie, Len Hall, Pat Carberry, Darrell Tiemens, Bev Bartlett, Grahame Herbert and Charles Radford. Past presidents - back, Richard Ritter, Mike Beale, Julie Herbert, Tricia Hadley, Daryl Bartlett, Wayne Madden, Bruce Pyke, front, Phil Norrie, Len Hall, Pat Carberry, Darrell Tiemens, Bev Bartlett, Grahame Herbert and Charles Radford.

Andrew and Margo Carberry, Chief Inspector Robert Dunn and Jocellin Jansson. Andrew and Margo Carberry, Chief Inspector Robert Dunn and Jocellin Jansson.

Kim and Peter Rozendaal. Kim and Peter Rozendaal.

Sue and Jimmy Duncan. Sue and Jimmy Duncan.

Sue O’Connor with Ann and Doug Brown. Sue O’Connor with Ann and Doug Brown.

Daryl and Bev Bartlett. Daryl and Bev Bartlett.

Bruce and Joan Pyke. Bruce and Joan Pyke.

Neurelle and Adrian McTaggart. Neurelle and Adrian McTaggart.

Len and Ros Hall with Rod Onus. Len and Ros Hall with Rod Onus.

Dominique and Wayne Madden. Dominique and Wayne Madden.

Tricia Hadley and Sheryl Barnes. Tricia Hadley and Sheryl Barnes.

Grahame and Julie Herbert. Grahame and Julie Herbert.

Mike Carberry, Lynette Landkauf, Pat Carberry, Lachlan Ford, Georgia Archibald and Sam Carberry. Mike Carberry, Lynette Landkauf, Pat Carberry, Lachlan Ford, Georgia Archibald and Sam Carberry.

Mike Carberry, Lynette Landkauf, Pat, Margo and Andrew Carberry. Mike Carberry, Lynette Landkauf, Pat, Margo and Andrew Carberry.

Jo and Lindsay Wilkin with Mal and Judy Donaldson. Jo and Lindsay Wilkin with Mal and Judy Donaldson.

Kedar and Mira Adhikari. Kedar and Mira Adhikari.

Sally Jardine and Horst Merten. Sally Jardine and Horst Merten.

Rob Walker, Kerrie Forrester and Margaret Norrie. Rob Walker, Kerrie Forrester and Margaret Norrie.

Annette and Charles Radford. Annette and Charles Radford.

Annette Radford, Margaret Sendall and Jean Cameron. Annette Radford, Margaret Sendall and Jean Cameron.

Jocellin Jansson, Sam Werleman and Kat and Jason Denniss. Jocellin Jansson, Sam Werleman and Kat and Jason Denniss.

Bebe Mackey and Jane Williams. Bebe Mackey and Jane Williams.

President of the Rotary Club of Wee Waa Andrew Greste, president of the Rotary Club of Narrabri Darrell Tiemens and district governor elect Neville Parsons. President of the Rotary Club of Wee Waa Andrew Greste, president of the Rotary Club of Narrabri Darrell Tiemens and district governor elect Neville Parsons.

Neville and Patti Parsons with Pat and Phil Norrie. Neville and Patti Parsons with Pat and Phil Norrie.

Mark Strahle, Karen Kirkby and Sue and Mark Hanrahan. Mark Strahle, Karen Kirkby and Sue and Mark Hanrahan.

Bev and Daryl Bartlett with Kedar and Mira Adhikari. Bev and Daryl Bartlett with Kedar and Mira Adhikari.

Liz Campbell and David Peirce. Liz Campbell and David Peirce.

Cr Campbell praised Rotary for leaving a lasting legacy in Narrabri.

District governor-elect Neville Parsons told the gathering the need for Rotary in communities, Australia and the world was greater today than it was before.

“I acknowledge the great work of this Rotary club and the work it has delivered to this community and it will continue to do so,” said Mr Parsons.

Mr Tiemens thanked the dinner’s organisers, Tricia Hadley and Dylan Smith.

He also thanked representatives of the Lions Club of Narrabri, the Rotaract Club of Narrabri and the Inner Wheel Club of Narrabri as well as visitors from Rotary clubs in Wee Waa, Boggabri, Coonabarabran and Gunnedah West.

The club’s newest member Kat Denniss delivered a reflection on her early time on Rotary and the organisation’s importance at a local, national and international level.

To celebrate the milestone, a 75th anniversary book was published by the club and compiled by Pat Carberry and Dylan Smith.

Mr Carberry, the son of late charter member Stan Carberry MBE, also spoke at the dinner about the extensive history of Rotary in Narrabri.

Mr Tiemens described the pair as the book ends of the club as the oldest and youngest members.

Mr Carberry and Mr Smith officially cut the cake before commemorative photographs were taken of past presidents and Paul Harris Fellows.

Following the formalities, members and guests enjoyed music by Jazz Junction which performed throughout the evening.