Congratulations to Dan Sawyer and his team, Stan Somers, Darrin Halcrow, Gordon Shaw and others who have raised $3808 for Men’s Health at the end of November. Dan has advised the books have not yet been closed so there is still time to donate to their team this week. If you haven’t donated it is still not too late to do so. Go the the web or hand your donation to Dan and he will lodge it on the web. www.au.movember.com/donate type in Dan Sawyer and select the team member you want to donate too

It is with deep regret, announce that Alan Hodge, Charter Member, Past President, and Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Albury Hume, passed away early Saturday morning 1st December 2012.

Born on the 7^th July 1937, Alan attended the Albury Public and Albury High Schools before commencing a mechanical apprenticeship in 1993. Alan progressed from being an apprentice, to mechanic, used car sales man to new car sales manager and then to an AMP Insurance and Financial agent.  Alan and his wife Phyllis raised a family of 3 and were always active in the community. Alan joined the Volunteer Fire Service in 1955 serving 21 years in Albury before relocating to Table Top where he has served in executive positions such as Duty Captain, Secretary–Treasurer, receiving a 50 year membership recognition and Life membership.

Alan & Phyllis were avid sailors and were foundation members of the Albury Wodonga Yacht Club with Alan serving several terms as Commodore in the 1960’s. It was a family affair with heir children sailing and crewing in many State & National Titles. Both Alan & Phyllis are Life Members for the club.

As a Rotarian Alan increased his active role in the community with community service work, fund raising and being involved in the running of the club. He served many years on the board and was President for the 1986-87 year. For 35 years he was very active in all aspects of Rotary, including hosting Rotary Exchange students, Group Study members and Friendship Exchange team members from all over the world. Alan and Phyllis also participated in outgoing Friendship Exchanges to South Africa, Alaska, British Columbia, Brazil and Sri Lanka-India being the team leader of the latter. Both Alan and Phyllis are Paul Harris Fellows.  Alan and Phyllis delivered meals on wheels and acted as stewards for the Albury Show Society.  Life was not always easy for Alan. They lost their son Peter aged 17 years old to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1987 after a long struggle. While preparing to load horses in 1984 Alan was run over by their horse float resulting in a dislocated shoulder and broken 5^th & 6^th vertebra’s. After a stressful time in traction in the Albury Base Hospital was allowed home fitted with halo traction requiring several months to recover. In 2005 as the result of a accident in the high country suffered a compound fracture of his right ankle which after many operations resulted in his leg being amputated below the knee. Just after having a new leg being fitted was doing fencing of his farm and a flailing chain from a fence post puller wrapped around his left ankle breaking both bones and putting him back in rehabilitation. Three months ago Alan commenced chemotherapy for a serious illness.  Through all these incapacities Alan always had a positive attitude to life and continued to do service work where possible, hopping around on crutches and doing lighter chores like taking the cash at fund raising BBQ’s and the like. Alan was always the first to put up his hand to volunteer.

Alan’s passing is a great loss to the community on a wide rage of levels, and he certainly was the epitome of the Rotary motto “Service above self”

Welcome to David Gordon and his wife, Mandy upon David officially becoming an Albury –Hume Rotarian at last weeks meeting. I’m sure you’ll both have an enjoyable time within the family of Rotary, and especially Albury – Hume.

   35th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Albury Hume was celebrated by the cutting of a cake as seen here. Charter Members Ron Haberfield, Dennis Hickey and Alan Hodge cutting the Anniversary cake at last week’s meeting