Longtime local Rotarian Lorraine Coffey was installed as the district governor of the service club on Saturday night.
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While it’s a new president, it’s still an Armidale Rotarian in charge of Rotary District 9650, which stretches south to the central coast and west to Narrabri and Lightning Ridge.
Lorraine took over the reins from Rotary Club of Armidale North member, Bob Ryan, at a changeover dinner held at Armidale City Bowling Club, and looking ahead to the next 12 months, Lorraine said she wanted to ensure Rotary was an enjoyable experience for members.
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“(We will) continue our projects and service, but make sure we have fun in doing them,” Lorraine said in her speech after being installed as DG.
Rotary founder Paul Harris did not create an old person’s club, Lorraine said, encouraging the packed auditorium of members to make the service club a better experience.
In making their service work fun, Lorraine said Rotary clubs could focus more on their projects themselves, rather than focusing on the fundraising for them.
“We’re looking at fundraising all the time, instead of thinking about the projects we’re putting these funds into,” she said.
This year, Rotary International has adopted the theme, Be The Inspiration, and Lorraine picked up on the theme on Saturday night.
“I hope you will all be an inspiration in your clubs, in your communities, and wherever you wear proudly your Rotary badge.”
Lorraine has been a member of Rotary since 1992, when the newly-formed Armidale AM club made the decision to include female members.
Three years later, she was elected the club’s first female president, in 1995, then 20 years later, she was again president of the club, in 2015.
On Saturday night, Bob thanked all of his team for their efforts over the last year, during his term as DG.
One of the projects in that time has seen clean drinking water in Indian schools, which was the subject of a presentation during the changeover dinner.
Guests on the night included mayor Simon Murray and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Before retiring in 2013, Lorraine was regional manager of The Armidale Express.