By Casey O’connor
Members of the Rotary Club of The Granite Belt celebrated the induction of the club’s 2023-24 President Mary Puglisi on Saturday night at a function at the Stanthorpe RSL.
Although Mary has been by the side of husband Angelo Puglisi during his 51 years as a Rotarian and played an instrumental role in organising more than 20 Opera in the Vineyard Events held at Ballandean Estate in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe, she only became a Rotarian herself when the Rotary Club of the Granite Belt was chartered in 2020.
On Saturday night she was formally inducted as Club President by her long-time friend and Rotary mentor, Past District Governor Sandra Doumany.
PDG Sandra Doumany said she was delighted to be called upon to represent the District Governor at the Changeover dinner and was full of praise for resilience of the young club and its President and members.
In accepting her role as President for the upcoming Rotary Year, Mary introduced her board and announced the 2023-2024 Rotary International theme of Create Hope in the World outlining some of her hopes and plans for the club to do good things locally in the coming year.
“Although the club is small in numbers it is big in heart and were People of Action,” the incoming President said.
After a year punctuated by internal disruptions, Mary was pleased to be able to make several presentations on behalf of the Rotary Club of the Granite Belt. One of the recipients was the Stanthorpe State High School. SSHS representative, Melissa Pascoe accepted the donation saying the funds would be used to help students at the school who are in need.
Kerry Ryan also accepted a donation on behalf of the Stanthorpe branch of the St Vincent De Paul society which it is hoped will help ease the burden on some families in the district.
The club through their fundraising efforts over the past year were also able to make a significant donation to Angel Flight, the preferred Charity of 2022-2023 District Governor, Karen Thomas.
During the past 12 months the club has also been able to help the Stanthorpe Cancer Support Group while also supporting Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
There was no rest for the newly minted President. On Sunday she joined members of the club as they hit the ground running helping the 2024 Rotary Apple and Grape Young Ambassador, Anna Henderson with her very popular Pancake Fundraiser at Quartpot Creek bright and early on Sunday morning.
Members of the club will be back in action this weekend at the Snowflakes celebrations roasting Chestnuts and selling Mulled Wine.
Along with a variety of other activities the club is planning a major fundraiser in August, the “Bling and Bow Tie” Charity Dinner at the Stanthorpe International Club with proceeds going to Life Flight. Tickets for the event on the 19 August go on sale next week.
