Members of the Millicent Rotary Club heard a positive message from their new Rotary District Governor Ian McKay when he called at their recent fortnightly meeting at the Grand Hotel.

Mr McKay took up the role at the beginning of last month and is well-known in the Mount Gambier community through his role as the Uni SA campus manager.

He plans to visit all 52 clubs in his charge in Rotary District 9780 over the coming year.

Millicent Rotary Club president Chris Skeer said the long-established service club was in danger of folding in 2022 but members stepped up and decided it would continue.

This action was praised by Mr McKay who said service clubs made a difference in their communities.

“Clubs respond to the particular needs of their communities and we have seen this at Millicent with the development of the Rotary Centenary Park on Williams Road,” Mr McKay said.

“Congratulations to the members of Millicent Rotary for their continued service to their community and Rotary.

“Millicent Rotary Club has been a vital part of the Millicent community for 66 years and I thank them for their individual and collective contribution.

“Rotary District Governors throughout Australia and New Zealand agreed to shine a light on the scourge of domestic and family violence and have asked clubs to consider how they can partner with their communities to raise awareness within towns.

“Rotary clubs are currently considering awareness raising activities such as a community walks, Purple Friday where businesses within communities join together wearing purple shirts that Say No to Domestic and Family Violence shirts or a range of other activities appropriate to each community.

“Australian Rotary Health’s (ARH) focus on mental health research in the 0-12 age group is important to my wife Sherril and I as we both have been teachers and have observed the devastating impact of mental health issues on young people.

“The impact of ARH research in a range of health areas has been extraordinary over the years through generous support from Rotary Clubs, individual Rotarians and the community.”

Joining Mr McKay was his Assistant District Governor Darren Brown from the Casterton Rotary Club.

Another guest-of-honour was Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll who has had decades of service club involvement in his own right through Apex and Lions.

“Service clubs like Rotary assist in the beautification of our towns,” Mayor Noll said.

“Local government cannot do it all.

“I congratulate the Rotary Club of Millicent for raising the issue of domestic violence.

“It has no place in our community and will not be tolerated.”