The Yass Rotary Club recently gathered to celebrate the forty years of service given to the Yass Rotary Club by John Brassil. John is recognisable to many as Master of Ceremonies at the Australia Day Breakfasts held at Coronation Park in recent years.
Presenting a Certificate of Service and thanks to John, Club President Toni Hopkinson mentioned that he has been the Club President on two occasions and held many other positions during that period.
For example, John is currently the Chair of the Club’s “Glenlothian Education Foundation Committee”, which provides grants to local individuals to improve their educational opportunities – these use income from a bequest managed by Rotary since 2000 and help cover education costs ranging from pre-school fees for disadvantaged families to fees and accommodation expenses of people undertaking post-secondary courses. He is also currently the Club’s “Sergeant”, helping ensure that its meetings include fun elements as well as following required protocols.
He has been actively involved in Rotary’s overseas student exchange program over several decades, which has given many local students and Club members the benefits of experiencing cultures other than their own.
In 2005-06 he was the Convenor of the annual conference of the 45 Rotary Clubs in South East NSW, which made up the Rotary District that Yass belonged to at that time.
Responding to Toni’s thanks, John mentioned the great satisfaction he has experienced in helping others, meeting a wide range of personalities through the Club’s activities, and through the lasting friendships that have developed. He paid tribute to his fellow volunteers and stressed the vital role that community organisations perform to make the fabric of Australia’s society as successful as it is.
Finally, he acknowledged the critical supportive role of his wife, Vicki, over his four decades of service.
