AXLE AWARD 2019 – DR JIM ORCHARD
Jim was born in Sydney and attended the University of New South Wales, completing an undergraduate degree in Industrial Chemistry and a PhD in the same discipline.
After university, Jim spent some 18 years with Comalco, variously in Melbourne, Launceston and Invercargill NZ. He then transferred to Rio Tinto’s US coal mining division, where he spent 11 years working in logistics, sales and government affairs. When Rio Tinto exited the US business in 2009, Jim became Senior VP, Marketing and Government Affairs at Cloud Peak Energy. He retired in 2016 and returned to Melbourne.
Jim and his wife Frances have four sons living in Melbourne, Auckland or Christchurch, and two grandchildren. Jim enjoys playing golf, running and exploring parts of Melbourne he didn’t visit before. He and Fran like to travel and will regularly visit family in Sydney and New Zealand.
Jim had not been involved in Rotary before relocating to Melbourne and first attended an evening meeting in late 2016. He was immediately attracted to the opportunities Rotary Melbourne offered for service to the community, and since his induction on 8 March 2017 (under the classification Engineering – Resources), he has responded in significant measure.
Around the Bay
In his first year in the Club, Jim involved himself in all aspects of this activity without fuss. It became natural that in the second year he took the lead role for the project, liaising with The Smith Family and Bicycle Network Victoria, finding participants, volunteers, sponsors and auction prizes and acting as a team leader to assist Rotarians positioned around the route. Again, he is leading the 2019 event.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
Jim immediately answered the call for attendants at the Breakfast in support of the Organising Committee.
Donations In Kind
Jim is seen most Tuesdays at West Footscray to assist with receipt of inventory, sorting, dispatching and container loading.
SecondBite
He is a regular volunteer at Prahran market and has readily swapped with others on many occasions.
End Trachoma 2020
This is where Jim has done outstanding work during the past year. He has been involved in the program from the very start, especially the water trailer project, quietly and confidently contributing with his engineering skills to help supervise the building of the trailer and working with the teams at MITI (Monash University) and Melbourne University. Jim drove with Peter Rogers on the delivery trip last year and, along with local Rotarians and social services, set up demonstration arrangements in a number of settlements. Jim has personally taken on the liaison role with the Aboriginal Community Services in the APY Lands and has made three trips to this area over the last 12 months, sometimes at his own expense. Ongoing needs have been identified and now he is developing a strategy for the second trailer.
The Axle Award is given to a Rotarian who has given a little bit extra in ‘Service Above Self’ and is presented as the ‘Vice Presidents’ Encouragement Award’. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of it this year. Congratulations Jim.
Robert Fisher, President, 19 June 2019
