District Governor 1994/95 David Rosback AM was Committed to Service Above Self.

Having lost his father who was 48 years of age, a young David Rosback promised himself that he would retire before that age and assist with his children’s development. In keeping that promise, he long-outlived the benchmark, going on to achieve so much over his 35 years of retirement. He and wife Judi had a son, two daughters and five grandchildren who also kept them both busy.

David had a  men’s clothing business in Hawthorn, and in 1979, he was invited to join Rotary Hawthorn. He became Club President in 1989-90 and District Governor in 1994-95.

David’s early Rotary activities focused on the Club’s Hawthorn Kitchen project in Phuket, Thailand. This was a self-help project to provide meals for children. It involved roasting and selling cashew nuts with the sale proceeds used to purchase chickens and vegetables. Simple cooking facilities were also provided. This project was so successful that it received accolades from the King of Thailand.

Another wonderful project that David highlighted was when he teamed up with Past District Governor Dr John Reddish OAM to assist Past District Governor Jack Nankervis with his highly successful Literacy and Numeracy program that was introduced throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands.

David was quick to praise others for their initiatives and selflessly avoid the spotlight, but he had a wonderful life of achievement in Rotary and beyond.

In 2000, Past Rotary International President Royce Abbey and President Brian Hamley invited David to became Chair of Fundraising for Epworth Medical Foundation and “with a good committee”, he took annual funds from $800k to $4 million plus per year. Epworth’s aggressive expansion program resulted in it becoming one of Australia’s leading surgery, teaching and research hospitals affiliated with 14 Universities – it is the only hospital outside America affiliated with the Cleveland Institute. 

During his year as District Governor, David raised considerable funds to revitalise the Portsea Camp for country children to enjoy a beach holiday. He also promoted Employ Australia as a national and highly successful employment campaign using the song “We are Australian. He helped introduce Australians Against Child Abuse; and, oversaw the expansion of Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC), initiated by Kangaroo Flat Rotarian Barrie Cooper, adopted by other Australian Rotary Districts, then internationally, and whose patron was Max Walker. Conference Chairman Noel McInness adds: David Rosback, as DG in 94/95 set a new benchmark for District 9800 District Conferences. He took the conference to Sydney for the first time and with an attendance of 1300, finished with fireworks on Darling Harbour. The program had people laughing with Amanda Gore one minute and in tears with Jesse and Max Walker the next. Working on the conference with David was like riding a rocket, bursting every day with new ideas. The hardest word to say to David was “no”. His enthusiasm for everything he did was unbridled and he will be greatly missed. 

PP Bill Troedel adds an aside: on my final night as President at Changeover I had asked my secretary Ian Cathels to arrange a Paul Harris for David, head office Sydney asked Ian how many (the club had five credits) without my knowledge Ian said we will take all five. Changeover came along and without looking I presented David with all five Paul Harris medals. Jack Cathie fell off his chair (at the time Jack was the last of our charter members) and Ray Steven’s came forward and  congratulated David. David went onto to earn them twice over. A true Rotarian.

David was awarded an AM in 2001 for service to the community, particularly through the programs of Rotary International and Australians Against Child Abuse.

The decreased emphasis on vocational classifications in Rotary clubs is something that troubled David, as this was the founding approach of Paul Harris so many years ago, enabling diverse representation from communities.

So, what did David believe should be the mission of individual Rotarians? The answer is simple: “Commitment to Service Above Self.”

David Rosback was a valued member of Hawthorn Rotary Club and Rotary District 9800: our thoughts are with Judi and family at this time.  David will be fondly remembered and sadly missed. 

You can see David’s own articles on “Rotary as a Conduit”  at https://hawthornrotary.org.au/stories/rotary-as-a-conduit  and “The Origins of ROMAC” at https://hawthornrotary.org.au/Stories/the-origins-of-romac 

Yet more about David:  https://hawthornrotary.org.au/Stories/hosting-district-conferences  and  https://hawthornrotary.org.au/stories/pdg-david-rosback