Hero photograph
PDG Mark Lean
 
Photo by Mark Lean

This Month's highlighted Rotarian is District Programs Chair, PDG Mark Lean from Mackay.

PDG Mark Lean —

"And yes, members of the Programs Team are all ready to be a speaker at any club meeting or function. Please put us in your calendar."


· A little about your history/family

Born in Townsville in the early 1950’s – Father a carpenter/builder and mother a shop assistant.

They were both my heroes. During their lifetime they were each awarded civic and national recognitions for their many community services involvements.

Educated by Primary Correspondence and taught by my mother as we travelled around sheep properties in the Richmond, Hughenden, and Winton areas of regional Australia, whilst Dad built and/or repaired buildings or other structures. This lasted until I reached year 7 and then Mum and I, and my newly born sister Fiona, relocated to Townsville. Dad continued to work out west as the building industry on the coast was very depressed.

Started work for Stewarts & Lloyds (Steel & Pipe industry) in Townsville in 1969 as a junior. Riding the push bike to work collecting the mail was a daily experience. Went to night school and completed year 12. Started a Business degree but had to relocate within the company, to Brisbane, to complete it.

Met my wonderful wife, Karen, and we married in 1976. Promoted and relocated to Manager of the Tubemakers location in Gladstone in 1987. The business environment was tough and recognising signs that I didn’t, Karen urged me to join the local Rotary club, to give me a better work/life balance. So, I joined the Rotary Club of Gladstone, the home of singing songs and pumpkin and chicken with almost every meal.!! Yuk.

Work transferred me to Mackay in 1989 as Branch manager, which in time led to a Regional Manager Role (OneSteel), with a staff of some 150 spread from Cairns to Lismore in 11 various businesses.

After spending 42 years in the corporate world, I retired for 12 months only to join a not-for profit organisation, providing real job opportunities for people with a disability (physical or other).

This lasted for another 8 rewarding and challenging years.

We have three wonderful children, eldest Son, Scott and wife Rachel in Townsville. He is a 23 year regular army veteran (WO2) with 3 children: Jack, Tom & Emma. We have a daughter, Jess and her husband Chris in Mackay. She is an Admin and Support person with 2 children: Will & Henry. We also have a son, Matt and his wife, Ellie. He is a Chef in England with 1 Son, Alfie.

For us, family is everything, and visiting them is always a highlight. It’s what we live for.

· Briefly what is your Rotary background?

Having been in Rotary for more than 34 years I have a million amazing stories to tell.

Ordinary people like me, get to do extraordinary things. That is the real power of Rotary.

But all of this started when I realised that sitting in a club and complaining about what needed to be better, was just not productive. If I wanted it to be better, then I should really have a go.

This led me to many roles including Club President, Group Study Team Leader to the UK, Assistant Governor, District Governor in 2013-14, RAWCS Team leader and many District and club roles. Always with the mantra, don’t complain if you don’t want to be part of the solution. It has been uplifting and challenging, each and every year. Even now, I’m still learning about myself and Rotary.

· Who is your Rotary hero?

Without doubt, my Rotary hero is my wife, Karen. Without her my Rotary journey would not have even started. And since then, she has been my constant support and wise confidant.

During my year as District Governor, Karen chose Australian Rotary Health as her charity of choice. We were at that time, in a tragic period of rural suicide and conversations needed to happen. Sadly, not much has changed.

Karen spoke at 48 Rotary Clubs during our visits, and this resulted in a significant flow of contributions to ARH for research into Mental Health and more importantly, a start to better conversations.

You don’t have to be a Rotarian to be a Rotary Hero.

· What do you like about living in Mackay?

The winters are short – the people are great – no real COVID lock downs (so far) – only 1 hour by plane to Brisvagas – the fishing is top shelf – grand kids are nearby, and my Rotary Club is terrific.

· What is your favourite Rotary passion?

Australian Rotary Health - It is an amazing program that is seriously little understood by many Clubs and most Rotarians. Yet, the work it does in providing ongoing financial support to research into Health and Mental Health, in particular, is without peer in our country.

To have been a Director at the National level for the past 4 years has been a special experience.

It really is one of the best Community Service Projects that a club can engage with.

Rotary has no other Program like it in the world.

· What is your role as Programs Chair and how can you support clubs? Can they contact you as a Zoom speaker?

It really is a privilege, to be in a position to support the many Program Leaders, to promote and to assist Rotary Clubs in their activities. They are all talented and experienced Rotarians, who are a great resource. However, the smorgasbord of Rotary Programs for Clubs to explore, is enormous. It is almost impossible for every club to participate in everything.

We really do understand this. We just ask clubs to choose what is best for them and we will give all the support that is needed.

And yes, members of the Programs Team are all ready to be a speaker at any club meeting or function. Please put us in your calendar.

Cheers Mark

mark.lean@rotary9560.org

+61 408 186 473

***************************