Citation
Ken Badenoch was inducted into Melbourne Rotary on 23 September 1998 with the classification of Industry Associations – Farmers Federation. He is a member of the Balwyn Group.
Ken was born in Adelaide and educated at Prince Alfred College and Adelaide University, completing an economics degree in 1963. After travelling extensively overseas he joined a subsidiary of Grace Bros. as company secretary and accountant. In 1969 he joined the Trade Commissioner Service and served in several countries over the next several years. He returned to Australia in 1969 to take up the position of State Manager of Austrade in Victoria. In 1988 he was recruited by the Victorian government and headed the Asian Export and Investment recruitment section of the Department of State Development. In 1999 Ken became the Victorian manager of the Australian Tourism Board followed by becoming the CEO of the Chiropractors Registration Board for 2002/2009 and later the CEO of the Dental Practice Board, which position he held until his retirement at the end of 2009.
Ken joined the Welfare of the Young Committee in 1998 and served as its chairman from 2001 to 2004 during which time he introduced the Peter Mackay Bequest to the committee. At that time, the President encouraged members to go out and seek sustainable funding for Club projects. Ken did just that with the application to the Peter Mackay Bequest which has, since 2005, provided more than $330,000 distributed to Rotary Melbourne. Ken’s application and action in identifying the Peter Mackay Bequest has benefited disadvantaged Victorian youth funded through the Welfare of the Young programs.
Ken has been an active Rotarian since joining. He was Director responsible for Youth Service for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, an active member of the Public Issues Committee for the period 2001/2004, and the International Committee for 2001/2006. The Welfare of the Young committee originated the Youth Hub project in about 1997/1998 in conjunction with the Melbourne City Council and the State Government. In 1999 Ken was appointed full-time co-ordinator to run the Youth Hub program which was held at the Exhibition Centre in April 2000. The Youth Hub was designed to support young people and make them aware of health, education and employment opportunities available to them.
Ken was Assistant Secretary and Minute Secretary to the Board for 2001/2002 and was Honorary Secretary for 2008/2009 brilliantly supporting Pauline Burren with good humour and friendship in her presidency. Fellowship is key to Ken’s persona at Rotary and his efficient, kind gentlemanly, ‘bon vivant’ character is often observed.
Ken, we thank you for your friendship, application and service to Rotary benefitting the disadvantaged youth of our community and today recognise you as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Late Update:
At Wednesday night’s meeting the Board approved an annual scholarship opportunity, for the next five years for two young people.
Scholarship 1 is for a primary school student, identified by the school where the family would benefit from financial support to assist the child’s education.
Scholarship 2 is for a secondary school student, identified by the school where the family would benefit from financial support to assist the child’s education.
The scholarships are to be funded by the Peter Mackay Bequest, which was originally sourced by Rotarian Ken Badenoch. The scholarships are to be titled “Badenoch Scholarships” in honour of Ken.
