Honouring 50 Years of Rotary Service – Bob Burgess
Today, we have the pleasure of recognising and congratulating a valued and highly respected member of Rotary Melbourne — Bob Burgess — who this week celebrates an extraordinary 50 years of membership of our Club.
Bob was inducted into Rotary Melbourne on 8 September 1976, under the classification of Actuarial Services.
He was nominated by his boss, Ted Knight, and interviewed by Jock Reid.
Rotary was already very much part of the Burgess family. Bob’s father, Sam Burgess, was a member of our Club at the time, having joined in 1952. Sam went on to enjoy 41 years of Rotary membership before his death in 1993 at the age of 90.
During his 50 years with Rotary Melbourne, Bob has made an enormous contribution to the Club and to its service.
He served as a Board Director in the early 1980s and has contributed to a remarkable range of committees and activities, including Rotaract, Community Welfare, International Programs, Welfare of the Young, Welfare of the Elderly, Reception and Investment.
Bob served for four years as Chairman of the Reception Committee and remained a committed member of that team for many years — bringing, appropriately, a degree of actuarial precision to the welcoming of members and guests to our lunches.
His commitment to fellowship has also been evident through his time as Group Captain for the Malvern Group.
In recognition of his support for Rotary Foundation, Bob was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2018 and has since been elevated to Ruby status for his ongoing support.
Bob has been with Rotary Melbourne through an extraordinary period of change.
When he joined the Club, we met at the Masonic Centre in Victoria Parade. Since then, Bob has seen close to 50 Presidents come and go, while remaining a constant and steadfast member of our Club.
And importantly, Bob’s commitment to Rotary has been shared by his wife, Jean, whose support has been an important part of Bob’s long association with the Club.
Bob, we thank you for your 50 years of belief in Rotary Melbourne, in our projects, in fellowship, and in our commitment to serving the community.
Through your continued support, you and Jean have helped our Club do what Rotary does so well — make a difference, both here in our own community and around the world.
Congratulations, Bob, and thank you for everything you have given to Rotary Melbourne over the past 50 years.
And, in true Rotary style, we have a small token of our appreciation for you — a pair of 50-year Rotary socks, a fitting reminder of your tremendous contribution, your friendship, and your remarkable half-century of service to Rotary Melbourne.
Congratulations, Bob.
