Greg Handley

President Peter Clark introducing Greg Handley to Royce Abbey

Greg Greg Handley with Past RI President Royce Abbey

Royce Abbey with all Rotary Club of Strathmore RAA Awardees

DG Peter Gilbert with Barbara and Rotary Club of Strathmore RAA Awardees PP Rod Gurry, Daryl Lee and Greg Handley.

Susan Alberti giving talk to guests

President Peter Clark presenting cheque to Susan Alberti in presence of DG Peter Gilbert

DG Peter Gilbert, Greg Handley, Royce Abbey (Past RI President), Daryl Lee, PP Rod Gurry and President Peter Clark.

The Royce and Jean Abbey
Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship

The award encourages clubs to contribute US$1000 through the R.I. Foundation to the Royce and Jean Abbey Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship, a program that is available to assist the training of young men and women in developing countries.

On Wednesday 3rd of December 2008 Greg Handley was awarded a Royce Abbey Award by the Rotary Club of Strathmore. He was recognised for his meritorious service to the Club since joining Rotary in 2005. He was presented the award by Royce himself.

The evening was organised by the Rotary Club of Essendon at the Moonee Valley Reception Centre. Some 300 Rotarians and friends from the greater Melbourne area, including many clubs and Districts were represented. Representatives from District 9790 included DG Peter Gilbert and Barbara, DGE David Cooke, PDG Gordon Milne, and members of the Rotary Club of Strathmore.

Gregory Handley

Greg Handley is married to Jenny and has 3 grown up children, three boys and a girl. He lives in Essendon.

Greg had exposure to Rotary when he was selected to be an exchange student to Canada in 1972. He was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shepparton and hosted by the Rotary Club of Prince George in British Columbia, Canada. The experience left an indelible mark on Greg who blossomed both intellectually and scholastically. He made lifelong friends in Canada and now has two sons living in Canada.

Greg works for Probuild Constructions in Melbourne as a Project Manager having worked on a range of significant commercial, industrial, residential and hospitality projects.

Greg was inducted into the Rotary Club of Strathmore in June 2005. In the three years he has shown great promise as a future leader in Rotary. He has been actively involved in Club projects whenever asked.

He was elected onto the Board in his second year, took on the role of Secretary in his third year and was nominated and elected to the position of President-elect for the year 2009-10. He will be President of the Rotary Club of Strathmore in 2010-11.

Greg and Jenny hosted a GSE team member from California and were involved in hosting an exchange student from France and are looking forward to hosting another exchange student from Brazil starting in January.

Significant Project

Susan Alberti Night

At a Board meeting Greg raised the idea of a membership interest meeting to encourage more women to join Rotary. From this germ of an idea came a major project involving all members of the Club driven by a special committee chaired by Greg. He wanted a high profile female speaker for the night.

He approached Susan Alberti AO, Hon LLD, co-founder and Managing Director of DANSU Group based at Wheelers Hill in Melbourne. Susan, with her late husband Angelo, established the company as an industrial and commercial builder and developer of industrial estates and business parks.

Susan is National President of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Australia, a voluntary support organisation that has contributed over $52 million to diabetes research and related initiatives in Australia.

In 2004 Susan became a Board Member of the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Susan Alberti was a finalist in the Victorian of the Year Award in 1997.

Susan was awarded her AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) on January 26, 2007. This is in recognition of her long and outstanding contribution to major medical research institutions, particularly as a philanthropist, fundraiser and advocate for juvenile diabetes care and research.

Susan has been recognised with a PHF by the Rotary Club of Brighton.

Susan accepted the invitation to be guest speaker on Wednesday 22nd October 2008 at Windy Hill.
She was a truly inspirational speaker with her theme: "Make a Difference".

President Peter Clark presenting cheque to Susan Alberti watched by DG Peter Gilbert.

Some 180 Rotarians and guests attended the evening.
The Club presented Susan with a cheque for $10,000 as a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund with the help of the Strathmore Community Bank branch of the Bendigo Bank.

The evening was an outstanding success.

President Peter Clark praised the activities of Rotarian Greg and went on to say that he is a worthy recipient of the Royce Abbey Award and is a future leader of our Club who will inspire newer members.

Prepared by:
David Meller PP PHF
Rotary Club of Strathmore

The Cog Editor 2008-09
Ph: (03) 9379 3577
Mob: 0409 165553
e-mail: dmeller@optusnet.com.au

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