Bernadette, or as we like to call her, Bernie has a family of three children, three stepchildren and 15 grandchildren. You'll have to read on to learn more about her family.
Her time with Rotary goes way back to Toowoomba South & Mareeba. She has been part of the Rotary Club of Caloundra family since June 2004 and most recently and formally as one of our Rotarians, having been inducted as a member in February 2014.
Bernie assumed her official role as President for 2018-19 today (1 July).
Bernadette worked as a Customer Service Officer with Bendigo Bank for approximately seven years and with husband, Ron was instrumental in raising community awareness and setting up the Caloundra Community Bank that has now been operating for 10 years.
Her decision to retire in 2008 prompted her to become more involved in the Community and she is a member of the Caloundra Community Bank where she served on the Board from 2011 to 2017, Company secretary from 2014 to 2017, AICD Directors Course, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League, Vietnam Veterans of the Sunshine Coast, and T A P P.
President Bernie says "I was born on 8 January, 1953 to John and Maureen Morgan at the Toowoomba Mothers Hospital. I have three siblings Douglas, Denise and Keith. Toowoomba was my home for many years. I have three grown children June, Theresa and Anthony they have given her 7 grandchildren, a stepdaughter Natalie, who has given her another 3 step grandchildren. They are all married and living in different parts of Australia. When Ron and I married in 2002 I inherited another three children Vincent, Michelle and Lucinda who are also married and have added another 5 grandchildren to my family ( Ron’s grandson Jai was killed at the tender age of 16).
"My first involvement with Rotary was in Toowoomba as my number 2 husband was a member of the Rotary Club of Toowoomba South. I was involved and met some wonderful people through this Club and this made me very conscious of the need to be involved in the community. When the marriage dissolved I still felt the need to be involved and offered services whenever I could, mostly through my workplace.
"I moved to the Sunshine Coast where I attained work at the Telstra Shop in the Sunshine Plaza Maroochydore. This is where I met Ron and it was he who had a big hand in helping me become more involved in the community. We moved to Mareeba with Ron’s Police work and this is when we both were asked to be involved with Rotary. Ron, with the Rotary Club of Mareeba and I with the Rotaryannes. We made most of our free time volunteering with all sorts of fundraising events and functions. It was a wonderful and fulfilling time. I used to travel with him to the most further station in his district approximately 500klms to visit the troops and their families.
"Returning to the Sunshine Coast when Ron retired in 2002 we spent a little time getting settled when Ron was asked to become a member of the Rotary Club of Caloundra. He was happy in that he would be back in helping the Community. He spent 2 weeks in the Solomon’s helping build tanks stands and repairing buildings in Gizo after the tsunami. My recent trip to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands reinforced this, just to see the wonderful and continuous work that is being done in the past, present and future by members of Rotary Clubs in our district and worldwide.
"I have loved assisting Ron and the Caloundra team is servicing the Community and that it was an honour to be presented with a Paul Harris fellow for my involvement in hosting 4 Rotary Exchange students over the years. It was such a rewarding experience having these young people in our home and showing them what our beautiful country has to offer. In 2013 I had the opportunity to visit 3 of the girls in their own countries and was overwhelmed by the openness and generosity of their families. My decision to become a member and to be accepted by the Club has set the precedence for being President for 2018-2019 and I hope that I will not let the Club down in my vigilance to serve this wonderful Community."