New rotary head

KNYSNA NEWS - The induction ceremony for 2022-23 Knysna Rotary president George Coon took place on Tuesday 12 July at the Butterfly Blu restaurant in Brenton-on-Sea, with outgoing president Albert Lombaard formally passing on the presidential chain and club charter.

George is the club's 61st president. He hails from Michigan in the USA and he moved to Knysna with his family in 2017 on a charitable volunteer visa to undertake various ministry and community-upliftment initiatives in the Garden Route.

He joined Rotary at the beginning of 2018.

In his induction speech, Coon emphasised the need to continue with the Rotary project Lombaard initiated to address the scourge of gender-based violence in the Knysna area. He also expressed a desire to obtain support from Rotary International for the development of a local environmental project.

Another goal is to strengthen the fledgling Knysna Rotaract Club. Rotaract brings together young people aged 18 and older to exchange ideas and develop leadership and professional skills while serving the community.

"I want to thank past president Albert and our members for the outstanding work they have done and will continue to do for the good of Knysna! I look forward to leading this great club into the coming year with energy and productivity," said Coon.

2022-23 Rotary Anns president Jean Allan with George Coon.