Here at home, sadly we lost a great Rotarian with the passing of Past RI Director and PDG Neill Inkster.
Neill's life and Service Above Self exemplified through his Rotary commitment was acknowledged in Masterton with wife Margaret, family and friends gathering with local Rotary Club of Masterton Rotarian's, 17 Past District Governors and Rotarian's from throughout the country. PDG Alastair Orsborn lead the tributes on behalf of Rotary, which included condolences received from Rotary International President Ian Riseley. Attached is the eulogy that gave an overview of Neill's significant local, cluster, District, National and International service that ensured Rotary evolved and changed to meet the future organisational vision and ensure Rotary would continue to Make A Difference in the 21st century.
A Rotary District Governor's eulogy to Past District Governor and Past Rotary International Director Neill Inkster
Good afternoon Margaret, your family and friends and fellow Rotarian's gathered here today to celebrate a life well lived and the significant contribution of Neill Inkster to Rotary International.
Firstly my apologies for not being able to attend in person as the current Rotary International District 9940 Governor, however I am humbled to have representation of Past District Governors and Rotarian's that have assembled today to recognise the life of Neill Inkster.
Neill, is a Rotarian that truly has been “Making A Difference” for many years, with the following Maori proverb that seems to be very fitting at this time... for a great Rotarian who has lived a life and exemplified by “Service Above Self”
“Kua hinga he kauri o te wao nui a Tane”
“A mighty kauri has fallen in the forest of Tane”
To put some perspective on the over 60 years of Rotary service that Neill and Margaret have achieved, I reflect on the fact that Neill service beginning on the 31 March 1955 then serving as club president in 1968 and was then our District Governor of District 9940 in 1974 - some 43 years ago !!
The Club which invited him to become a Rotarian in March 1955, yes over 60 years ago, was a ‘dry club’ – no liquor at any functions. This was a follow on from the whole Masterton area being a ‘no license’ area. In 1948 however licensing was voted in and the Licensing Trust which was in to bring about licensed premises was one of Neill’s clients.
Despite Neill’s wife Margaret going down with severe polio in 1955, the last epidemic in New Zealand, Neill continued his membership and in 1968 became president of his Club and went on to become District Governor of District 9940 in 1974. District Conferences until his year had been stiff and formal but that did not suit Masterton his “country type” home town. So they decided to have a “Bavarian Festival” on the Saturday night The notice went out and by 30 November they had 750 registrations and only 560 beds in the town. They managed!
He was elected to serve as a Director of Rotary International from 1984 to 1986. They were times of great change and Neill was a champion and leader of the necessary evolution of our great international service organisation.
Neill was well connected in the Rotary world, in his community, in the District, in the Zone and clearly internationally and I know that our kiwi world leaders of Rotary, the late Past Rotary International President Harold Thomas and my good friend Past Rotary International Presdient Bill Boyd have had a special connection with Neill.
From the article that legendary Aussie Rotarian Bob Aitken reflected on Neill and Margaret's time in Rotary in a 2015 edition of Rotary Down Under - the contribution of Neill noted these points;
The change of rules to have Rotary be no longer a male bastion was part of Neill's time as a Rotary International Director and on the Rotary International Board.
Probably most who hear these words would not realise that some 35 years ago such an invitation was simply not possible! At that time the rules of Rotary provided that only men were eligible for membership – yes it was a male only organisation.
A small Rotary Club in California by the name of Duarte had decided not to abide by the rules and had admitted women into membership of their Club. This was contrary to the Constitution and accordingly in the early 1980’s the “Board” had started a court case against The Rotary Club of Duarte. That action had proceeded for a year or so with Board approval when the decision whether to continue the action came before the Boards 1984-86.
With the same commitment to make change and bring Rotary into the modern age a rather special Board decided not to continue with the action against the Rotary Club of Duarte and instructed the General Secretary to prepare a resolution for the next Council on Legislation to remove the “male” requirement. In due course the change was made and this action secured a new future for Rotary.
Those Boards dared to be different. One must wonder what Rotary would be like if those two great decisions had not then been made. Those mid -1980’s Boards deserve our grateful thanks.Yes it was “THE TIME” for change.
Past RI Director Neill Inkster was there 1984-86 and priviledged to be part of making those decisions. However an architect is continuously designing things to be new and perhaps this is what drove him to seek change in Rotary.
After his term was over he attended Institutes, always with Margaret, and in 1977 at the Institute chaired by Director Royce Abbey in Napier Neill presented paper on ‘Group Study Exchange’. At the conclusion he posed two questions –
Why do we continue to exclude women from Group Study Teams?
Why don’t we accept the real challenge to have an ‘Exchange with a non Rotary Country?
These words apparently were the catalyst for the rules to change and the first “Women’s GSE Team” came out to District 9940 in 1983. But, District 9940 had also worked for 6 years negotiating and finally had secured an Exchange with the Peoples Republic of China which completed its visit to China in March/April 1983. This contact with China has continued in various forms till this day.
I am sure there will be more detail presented today about the significant contribution that Neill and Margaret have made to our Rotary world. In line with this years Rotary International theme - Rotary: Making A Difference, can I finally note the following from our current Rotary International President and great Aussie mate Ian Riseley in his comments to me having heard the news of Neill's passing ....
Hi Mitchell,
Thank you for passing on the sad news. Neil was a giant of Rotary, in New Zealand and beyond, and will be greatly missed by the Rotary world.
New Zealand has produced many great leaders for Rotary, well beyond what could reasonably be expected. Neil was a genuine change agent, and our great organisation is much the better as a result of his outstanding contribution.
Condolences from Juliet and me, on behalf of Rotary International, to the family and friends, of which there were many.
Kind regards,
Ian
Ian Riseley
President, Rotary International
2017/18
Mitchell Brown
District Governor 2017/18
Rotary District 9940
E-mail fiona.mitch@xtra.co.nz
Phone 027 4822295