Rotary Connects the World

Meeting 3098 held on 13^th December 2021 was opened by Chair Colin Bazeley. Toast was given by Alan Harris and Rotary Grace by Pres Mark Smeaton.

Guests for the evening were- Guest Speaker Nick Kelly, Grace Barilla, and Alan and Mary Holland, parents of Angela Moore.

Apologies were received from Bob Ahrens, Daniel Barratt, John Lyons, Kevin Clarke, Wayne Murphy, Mark Forgie, Leanne Clinch, Julie Tekell and Patsy Johnson.

After the formalities, Colin invited Directors and members to come forward for their spots.

We have also secured some spots to hold a Bunnings Barbecue fundraiser the first one is late January, more details later but we will be looking for people to go on the roster.

Rotarians were invited to join in some fellowship over their meal.  

Barry’s Sergeant session began as usual with the wheel spin. The first winner was Deb Williams and the second person was Chris Edmonds who won the ‘coveted’ mystery bag of collectables.

While presenting the bunyip clippings to members Barry discovered he had a picture of tonights guest speaker Nick. Nick had been awarded this year’s, year 12 Dux of music at Trinity College. Nick pays the Tuba.   

Fines for the evening went to End Polio now.

Colin then introduced the first guest speaker. Nick Kelly who was sponsored by the club to participate in the One and All Sailing Challenge recently.

Nick gave an entertaining account of his time on the ship, much of which was spent throwing up due to sea sickness! Despite that he would recommend the experience to others. Nick believed that they had to work as a team to overcome the challenges and complete the tasks. When they joined the ship the group was divided into colour watches and had to do all the tasks required to sail the ship. Nick learned 3 things on the trip a) he is not a very good sailor b) That even the most unlikely group of people can form strong bonds with each other and work as a team effectively. And C) that you will always need people around you to help. Nick felt it was a bittersweet moment arriving home at the end. While he was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed he had made some great friends who are keeping in touch with each other. Nick thanks Gawler Rotary for their sponsorship and he would be recommending the experience to others as it helped build leadership skills, form lifelong friendships, and gave them skills when faced with challenges.

Colin then introduced the second speaker member Tom Kelly to speak about his life so far.

Tom was born in Melbourne in 1963 and is one of eight children. His mum was a teacher, and his dad began studying as a doctor but left in third year and became Australia’s number 1 car dealer and was awarded OAM for his community work. Tom’s Grandfather trained as a medical officer was one of Australia’s fist pilots and his grandmother was a famous opera singer who understudied for Dame Nellie Melba.

Tom’s grandfather was a major influence in his life. This and the philosophies he live’s by shape every thing for Tom. From an early age, these philosophies have provided a framework which has modelled/influenced him in how he:​

Some of Tom philosophies are:

Tom attended school in Launceston and excelled at sport particularly running. His first job was “rubbish Officer” at Fitzgerald’s Department Store where he worked 2 nights a week collecting everyone’s rubbish. This helped him buy proper running shoes and he became state champions for athletics, so also 5000 metre private school state champion.

After leaving school Tom worked for Statewide Bank as a teller transferred to Devonport as a senior cashier ended up in Sheffield as a branch manager before then getting into Holyman motors, because they needed a state distribution manager for Nissen.

It was in Launceston that Tom met his wife Helen. She had qualified as a dentist in Perth and moved to Launceston to work. Helen and Tom married in 1989 and this was when Tom discovered he wanted to do/be something else- he knew he couldn’t stay where he was in life but needed more so he went to uni to study a business degree.During this time they had 2 Children Nick and Tahlia. They relocated to Alice springs in 1993 with Helen 50% owner of the local dental practice . Tom worked for the Central Australian Aboriginal Family Resource Centre 1993 - 1994​; the Ngurratjuta Aboriginal Corporation 1994 - 1995​; Arrernte Council of Central Australia 1996 – 1998 and Horwath Chartered Accountants 1998 – 1999. In various leadership roles.

In ​ 1999 – Tom started at the Peter Kittle Motor company and restructured the company including cutting the amount of franchises, introducing job descriptions and cutting the HR department out Between 2000 and 2004. They closed Katherine because that was a nightmare. But they needed to get ready because they wanted to grow in in another state. They were winning a lot of awards, including national awards and would come to Adelaide but other dealers would say they were only winning awards, because they were in Alice Springs, In 2006 they purchased Port Lincoln Mitsubishi, Whyalla and Salisbury Toyota.

It was also at this time that Tom’s knees were giving him trouble while he was training for the Sydney marathon. Surgery was suggested and he was advised to give up running and climbing. Tom being Tom ignored this and went on over the next few years to do Kokoda 4 times; Everest base camp in 2012 and 2017; Mt Kilimanjaro 2014; and the Barossa Goldfields whenever he can get there.

Peter Kittle Motor Company is owned by 50% Aboriginal people and directs its profits back to the Centacorp. One of the key goals for the foundation support Indigenous students to achieve at  school and then once they finish school, to help them get a degree get through trade school, and then start a real job.

By 2018 Tom had been CEO for 14 years and believed it was time to step aside and bring in fresh ideas. Andrew Kittle took over the CEO role and they purchased Mildura Toyota, Mazda, BMW and Tom went to work there for 12 months. He also was invited to address the senate in Canberra on we can improve engagement in indigenous businesses.

After a long and successful time with Peter Kittle Tom has has decided the time is right to resign (or Retire) and will do so in March next year. He wants to spend time with his parents who live in Tweed Heads and Helen is also keen to travel around Australia and visit her parents in WA. The family also have a property at Brownlow where they can spend time relaxing, camping, riding motorbikes, enjoying good food and wine with friends and family and not having mobile phone coverage!

 

In his wrap up President Mark thanked guests for attending and reminded members that we are still looking for raffle prizes for next Monday and also gifts for children particularly aged between 12 and 16. 

The meeting was closed with the reciting of the Four Way Test.