President Ken performed the induction. Jerry Casburn was asked to introduce Ross to the club.......and it went something like this. Ross was bred and legally educated in Brisbane. He was seduced into coming to SA when he met and married Mary, an Adelaide girl. Early professional years were spent working for the Federal Government's SA office of workers' compensation. 3 years in private practice followed, and then back to the Feds handling commercial litigation. He retired in 2011. He and Mary have 3 sons.
The quiz team of Gerry and Justin served up a brilliant quiz..........many many hours/days in the making. Beside the 6 lots of 10 questions, Garry introduced a wine tasting/smelling segment which worked a treat. He took us around the world testing our knowledge of places, people, events, current affairs, algebra, calculus and a whole lot more, finishing with memorable music....the tin-eared group at the editors table experienced a few problems with this last 
Posted on April 11, 2023
by Taiwo ‘Orbs’ Okunlola, Rotaract Club of Surulere South, Lagos, Nigeria
I grew up in a community where young children were not supposed to speak. That was something reserved for elders. If I forgot these community rules, I could sometimes expect a knock on the head or a hard twist of my ear from a disciplinarian. As a result, I had a reluctance to speak out – almost a trauma around speaking – that followed me into university and lecture halls.
The effect was so pronounced that I would honestly have preferred the ground to open up and swallow me then to have had to speak in public.
But as I grew into a young man, I gradually developed a desire to contribute. I realized my growing need to speak publicly stemmed from more than just curiosity, but from a desire to make a positive impact in my community. I became interested in student government, which allowed me to develop my personal and leadership skills.
Then I discovered Rotaract. Since joining my Rotaract club, I have had many opportunities to contribute what I call the “Four T’s” – treasure, time, thinking, and talent – to various community service projects. I have served at different leadership levels in my club, providing me with ample opportunities to speak up and contribute in public discussions. As club president, I helped organize a digital conference attended by over 270 youth and young adults who learned about public speaking, copywriting, project management, and branding from six experts. I also launched a fundraising drive for donations to an orphanage, and co-organized a drive to provide feminine hygiene projects for young women.
Through Rotaract, I have worked with creative minds all over the world, and I have grown to see how even the smallest actions can make a big difference. I have learned that money is not the only currency that is important, and that building valuable friendships is worth more than riches.
Whether I am volunteering at a local shelter or raising funds for a global cause, being in Rotaract allows me to be part of a larger movement dedicated to making the world a better place.
I am so passionate about Rotaract that I love to share my story to encourage other people to find what I have found. Let’s continue to work together to create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.
