Dear Keith,
It is a true privilege to recognise a remarkable milestone — 65 years of service in Rotary by a truly remarkable man, Keith Woolnough.
Sixty-five years is not just a number. It represents a lifetime of commitment, contribution, and an unwavering belief in the value of service to others. And Keith has lived that principle every single year.
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Keith’s Rotary journey is defined by action — he has always been a hands-on Rotarian, someone who doesn’t just talk about service but gets out there and makes it happen.
Keith’s Rotary journey is defined by action — he has always been a hands-on Rotarian, someone who doesn’t just talk about service but gets out there and makes it happen.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy is the tree planting project at Glenaroua near Broadford, which he initiated more than 20 years ago. What started as an idea has grown into something truly extraordinary. Through the efforts of successive Rotary clubs, over 130,000 trees have been planted, restoring land, improving the environment, and leaving a legacy that will benefit generations to come.
Keith’s Rotary journey is defined by action — he has always been a hands-on Rotarian, someone who doesn’t just talk about service but gets out there and makes it happen.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy is the tree planting project at Glenaroua near Broadford, which he initiated more than 20 years ago. What started as an idea has grown into something truly extraordinary. Through the efforts of successive Rotary clubs, over 130,000 trees have been planted, restoring land, improving the environment, and leaving a legacy that will benefit generations to come.
And at the heart of that project, year after year, has been Keith — organising, encouraging, and leading teams, with some years seeing close to 10,000 trees planted. That is not just a project — that is a legacy.
Keith’s leadership in Rotary has also been significant. He served as President of the Rotary Club of Northcote in 1965, and later, in 1990, played a pivotal role in delivering the District Conference in Albury-Wodonga — a major undertaking that reflected his ability to bring people together and get things done.
Keith is someone who has always had strong views, and those views have helped shape conversations and decisions within Rotary. Not everyone has always agreed with him — and that’s part of what makes Rotary strong — but Keith has always acted with the intent of achieving the best possible outcome. And importantly, he has shown the ability to grow and evolve. His early reservations about change softened over time, recognising the strength and contribution of members like Pauline Nolan, who demonstrated that Rotary is strongest when it embraces diversity and inclusion.
He also has a unique ability — what I might call a gentle persistence — to nudge people into action. Many of us here would know exactly what that feels like. And more often than not, those nudges have led to great outcomes for our clubs and communities.
Outside of Rotary, Keith’s achievements are equally impressive. He was an outstanding sportsman, playing with the Northcote Football Club, representing the VFL/VFA, and competing in a demonstration match during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. In 1958, he was awarded the prestigious J. J. Liston Trophy, recognising him as the best and fairest player in the competition — an incredible honour.
But perhaps what defines Keith most is his resilience and determination. After losing his leg in an industrial accident, many would have stepped back. Not Keith. He took up squash and, in true Keith fashion, not only played regularly but managed to beat his opponent — fellow Rotarian Alan Gray — even with one leg. That says everything about his spirit.
Keith, your life is a story of service, leadership, resilience, and impact. Through Rotary, through sport, and through your personal example, you have inspired so many people and made a lasting difference in countless ways.
On behalf of everyone here, and the many people whose lives you have touched over the past 65 years, thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to join you in celebrating Keith Woolnough — a remarkable Rotarian, a true leader, and an inspiration to us all.
Kind Regards
Peter Behm
Peter Behm
District Governor
