As a Charter Member, Past President and Paul Harris Fellow, Vance served the Rotary Club of Flemington as Secretary from its Charter and in 1987-1988, as President in 1995-1996. The Club made him an Honorary Life Member in July this year.
Vance Hilton was selected to serve as the District 9800 Governor in 1999-2000 and led a very successful District Conference in Canberra. He later served on the Australian Rotary Council of Governors and as a Board Member of Rotary Down Under from 2004-2010. He was Rotary Down Under chairman from 2008-2010, and was awarded theRDU Distinguished Service Award in August 2011.
Vance was also a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, an invitation extended to him by Royce Pepin of the Rotary Club of Footscray in 1978.
During Vance’s year as District Governor, one Ian Riseley also served as District Governor in his district. The Rotary theme for that year under then Rotary International President Carlo Ravizza, of the Rotary Club of Milano Sud-Ovest, Italy was “Act With Consistency Credibility Continuity”. This was an ethos which Vance followed. He embodied the ideals of Rotary in all his business dealings and was a dedicated Rotarian.
Our sympathies are extended to his widow Olga, Past President of the Rotary Club of Melton and to his family. Vance will be farewelled at a service at Overnewton Castle, 51 Overnewton Road, Keilor on Monday October 8th at 1pm. A Private burial will follow. Donations to Parkinson’s Victoria in memory of Vance are welcomed.
