Last Week's Rotary Meeting 16th June 2026
Welcome & Opening
President Peter Brock opened the 48th meeting for his term, welcoming members, guests and Chairperson Ali Bowyer.
Guest Speakers: Graeme Heatley & Gloria Hargreaves - Behind the Badge
Graeme Heatley - Behind the Badge
My name is Graeme John Heatley. I was born on 31 August 1963 and grew up with my brother Bryan and sister Rhonda — giving my parents one of each, plus a spare.
After moving schools a few times, I went on to Mitcham Tech, where I developed an interest in carpentry, electrics, plumbing and athletics.
Sport has always been a big part of my life. I competed in cross-country, athletics with Box Hill and Nunawading, and later took up canoe polo after a skiing injury.
I was also deeply involved in Scouts from 1979 to 1989, earning my Queen’s Scout Award and later serving as a Cub and Scout leader.
My working life has taken me in many directions, from plumbing and gas services to Foxtel, Metricon, events, retail and carpets, eventually helping me buy my own home in Bayswater.
In Bayswater, I met Penny. We built a happy life together in Wheelers Hill and were blessed with our daughter Sarah, who is now 23.
After Penny’s cancer returned and she sadly passed away, life changed again. With support, I eventually found my way forward, moved to Cockatoo, and began a new chapter.
Since then, I’ve worked at Tesselaar Kabloom Flower Festival, Viewscape, RV World Superstore and Fantastic Furniture before finding the right fit at Puffing Billy. As a wise woman once said, I needed to find my own people — and I have. So thank you, here I am.
Gloria Hargreaves - Behind the Badge
- Born in Whiston, near Liverpool, UK.
- My parents worked hard on minimum wages, and I lived with my grandma from age 3½ to 11, seeing little of my family.
- In 1958, my parents made the brave decision to emigrate to Australia as 10-pound tourists, with all our belongings packed into one cabin trunk.
- We travelled to Tilbury past wartime bomb sites and boarded the Orontes for the six-week journey.
- I was 12 and Paul was 5½ when we arrived. After six months in a migrant hostel in Preston, Mum and Dad quickly found teaching work.
- We spent three years house-sitting in Ivanhoe and Thornbury before moving to Warrnambool in 1961, where I completed high school.
- After Matriculation, I studied at Geelong Teachers College and loved hostel life on Pakington Street.
- I taught in Geelong for four years, met Ev, and we married in 1969 before settling in Boronia.
- I left teaching in 1970 to start our family: Chris was born in 1971 and Katie in 1973.
- From 1976 I did emergency teaching, then returned full time in 1989, later spending 14 years at Billanook Primary School before retiring from the classroom in 2002.
- In 1992, Katie’s mental health challenges tested us deeply, but the family fought together and she went on to build a fulfilling life in WA.
- Ev and I have loved travelling, especially to China, Canada, the UK and Europe.
- Teaching and Katie’s journey shaped my two great passions in life and Rotary: mental health and supporting young people.
Induction of Newest Member - Sue Oakley
Welcome Sue to the Rotary Club of Emerald & District
Debutante Ball 2026 - Ranges Trader - Star Mail June 23, 2026
Last Social Night for Peter's Year
Peter in Training for his new role - ChocLotto
