Welcome
2005 - the year that was Rowville’s Centenary! An event marked by tremendous zest and energy with which our various clubs and groups threw themselves into celebrating this unique event. This heart beat with pride at being a Rowville resident. More recent events included the Rowville Apex Centenary Ball and the celebration of Connie Fordham’s hundredth year!! The final icing on the cake was the delightful news that our centenary was capped by four of our local individuals and groups winning Knox Pride awards.
Farewell Bryan
Bryan Power, President of the Rowville and Lysterfield Community News and one of its long-time members, local historian and a former editor has retired from his position after 15 years of dedicated service to the paper. Bryan announced his retirement at the Annual General Meeting on 21 November, an announcement received with much sadness and regret given the high esteem in which Bryan is held in the community.
Indeed an era has come to an end at the News. Bryan was a source of inspiration to many in the community including myself. His dedication was truly exemplary and he had a passion for everything he did. Bryan had the rare ability to make people feel welcome even if he was meeting them for the first time. A wonderful mentor, he was always generous with his time and careful with his advice and nothing was too difficult or impossible for him when it came to the News. The magnitude of work Bryan did behind the scenes for the paper is beyond description. He was committed to not missing a single issue no matter what the constraints and for 15 years under his leadership the News has kept up this commitment.
A committed Rowville resident, Bryan moved to Gisborne with his wife Jock six years ago. A terrific grandfather, he regaled us with stories of his grandchildren who loved visiting him and Jock. In 2001 when Bryan and Jock went to the UK for an extended holiday, he continued to keep in touch with us committee members from the UK through email and it felt as if he was just around the corner. Bryan was always on the lookout for a news item or something for the Local History column or the People Who Make Things Happen Locally column. A passionate writer, his interviews with a wide spectrum of local Rowville and Lysterfield residents culminated in the marvellous three volume work Rowville and Lysterfield Stories which was fittingly awarded the Proud Heritage Award in our Centenary Year. Bryan may have retired from the News but we know that our association with him has not ended. We wish Bryan and Jock and their family many happy years ahead and remember them with fondness. Farewell Bryan!
The spirit of giving in the community is well and truly alive at Rowville Baptist Church which is offering a free Christmas lunch on Christmas Day. Please take note of RSVP details here. Local businesses are encouraged to support Rowville Baptist Church in its truly generous endeavour.
Once again Nick Dube of Rowville Baptist Church has kindly obliged us with his artwork for our front page. We thank Nick for his contemporary representation of the true spirit of Christmas.
The News Committee wishes our formidable team of distributors, our advertisers and our sponsors, notably all the Rowville schools and churches as well as individual sponsors Councillor Mick Van De Vreede, Ms. Anne Eckstein and the Apex Club of Rowville, the peace and joy of the Christmas season.
A Happy Christmas to all Rowville and Lysterfield residents. Amid all the debate about whether or not to ban Nativity plays, hijabs, crucifixes, yarmulkes and everything in short, why don’t we simply focus on enjoying the birth of a baby as we would the birth of any baby, simply because the event brings us love, joy and peace. May your 2006 be everything you want it to be. We look forward to our next edition in February 2006 after we have had a short break.
I end with a parting thought - What will be remembered and recorded about Rowville in our bi-centenary 2105?
2005 - the year that was Rowville centenary!
Judeline Wadhwani
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