GIVING has reaped rewards for Mario Peaver and James Pollock, who recently celebrated an impressive combined 103 years of service with Rotary.
Their efforts were commended at a Cleveland Rotary Club event where both men were presented with framed certificates recognising their decades of dedication.
Mr Peaver, 85, of Redland Bay, first joined Rotary in Griffith, NSW, driven by a desire to serve people in need.
A mechanic by trade, he built close ties with his community through his workshop, the Peaver Service Centre, which he still maintains today.
On moving to Redland Bay, he continued his Rotary journey as a member of the ever-popular Cleveland community club.
“It has given me so much pride,” he said.
“For anyone looking for the meaning of life, self-respect and pride are the most important.
“Also, giving help to those who need it. This is exactly what happens in Rotary.
“Rotary gives you an immense return. I have experienced it. It has allowed me to do what I want to do with my heart.”
Mr Pollock, of Cleveland, said he too joined Rotary to be an integral part of the community.
He began his Rotary service in Traralgon, Victoria, where the club was often used as an informal channel for the local council to communicate with residents.
While living in Traralgon, he grew trees for paper before relocating to Cleveland in 2004, where he joined the Cleveland Rotary Club on the recommendation of his son, Ross.
His primary contribution has been through Rotary’s bowel scan cancer awareness program.
“I was asked to become involved, and I thought ‘why not this?’,” he said.
“A man must do something in his retirement to keep him off the streets.”
Mr Pollock said the bowel scan cancer awareness program now runs throughout Queensland for any adult, but currently targets people under the age of 45.
It complements the Federal Government program.
Since 2014, 28,000 kits have been distributed with 17,000 results returned, 2220 showing a positive cancer result.
“Even if only 50 per cent of these are acted on, this is early detection and we all know that early detection changes outcomes and saves lives,” Mr Pollock said.
Fellow Rotary member Tony Willis praised Mr Pollock’s contribution, crediting him for the bowel scan program’s success.
Mr Pollock said the goal for next year was to increase awareness and boost the return rate of bowel scan cancer kits from 40 to 60 per cent.
“The other thing Rotary has given me are fantastic friendships, even when travelling overseas,” he said.
“You are always welcome at any club. “I visited a club in Sweden, and they switched their meeting to English, just for me.
“It was wonderful.”
