Michael Mastronardi has taken on the challenge of running Rotary for the 2012/2013 term.
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Michael said he is confident in the ongoing success of the club thanks to the great team he will be working with.
Known in the local area not only for his role in Rotary, but for his job as a paramedic with the Ulladulla branch of the NSW Ambulance Service, Michael is excited about the role.
“I think it’s a pinnacle – a real icing of the cake role,” Michael said.
“I work with a really good team of really good people – they form the backbone of the group.”
Supporting Michael in his role as president this year are Tony Fondacaro, taking on OH and S for Rotary, Phil Brown as community director, Wayne Fry in the new role of protocol and consultancy officer, vice president Dick Crouch, Issa Shalhoub, Jenni Wilkins, Yvonne Young, president elect Brian Morrison, secretary Alison Tyquin and treasurer Keith Bennet.
Michael moved to the Ulladulla area in 1990 to take on the role of officer in charge at the Ulladulla Ambulance station.
Michael and his partner Christine, a bookkeeper at Kennedy and Cook, “loved it here” so much so that they raised their four children in the local area.
Their eldest son Luke is now a school principal, Justin is in electrical maintenance, Dane is a teacher at Ulladulla High School and youngest child, daughter Meegan, has just graduated from the Institute of Design with plans to go on to university.
He said his family have always been very supportive of him.
“Because of the shift work, and the work I do, there’s no way I could have done all that I have done without Christine,” Michael said.
“I owe her a massive debt – I have a lot of respect for her.
“No one can do a good job without a supportive family.”
Michael joined Rotary six-years ago and said the group had become like a second family to him.
“Rotary a home away from home – it’s like an extended family,” Michael said.
“It actually takes you away from what you know – you get to see how others live and be inspired by them.”
Michael said he would love to see more people come along to find out what Rotary is about.
“Rotary is a service club for people who want to give something back to the community – who want to be part of something constructive,” Michael said.
“We have a mass of people in the area looking for something to do.
“We would love to see more people come along to the meeting to find out more about what we do.”
People interested in joining Rotary, Michael said, will find a warm welcome.
“It’s important you make people feel welcome – feel that warmth and that belonging so they want to come along, want to learn more about what we do and be a part of it,” he said.
Michael said being part of Rotary is a way to help shape and improve the region.
“If you are going to have a whinge about something then have an answer too,” Michael said.
“At Rotary we don’t say much but we do a lot.”
In Michael’s term as president he hopes to continue the great work already started by the club, including the revamp of Rotary Park in Ulladulla, and hopes to support the Stroke Support group and the Mollymook Surf Club.
Michael is also a big supporter of Rotary’s Driver Education program and said Rotary will continue it’s running of the Blessing of the Fleet Festival and annual Car Boot Sale.
To find out more about Rotary, people can attend an upcoming information night with details to be announced soon, or attend a Rotary meeting.