15 years service for Bill Petschack

Drouin Rotarian Bill Petschack received a certificate of appreciation for his 15 years' service to the club at its meeting last week.

In a brief response after accepting the award, Mr Petschack said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time in Rotary.

Over the years he has been a major contributor to the many community projects undertaken by the club.

Members at the meeting got a look into the operations of the Costa Group, now a stock exchange listed company of 23 technology companies focused on sustainable and commercial horticultural production and innovation in many parts of the world.

Chief executive officer and managing director Sean Callahan's address to the club said the company had gone a long way from a Costa family fruit and vegetable shop started in the 1950s to an organisation that now retained only a small family ownership alongside predominantly institutional shareholders.

It has major holdings in a number of overseas countries, including China and Morocco, was the biggest grower of avocados and berries and produces 550 tonnes of mushrooms each week, about half of Australia's productions.

Mr Callahan said it also “by far” the country's biggest citrus grower with 30 per cent of the production exported.

He said Costa Group had the equivalent of about 9000 full time employees including some 6000 seasonal workers that came from Pacific Islands with travel and accommodation costs making it unattractive for young Australians to work in the industry.

Mr Callahan said genetics would be the key to managing climate change in the industry to provide sufficient food in the future and that producers needed to be aware of their “social licence” to continue operating in communities.

Club secretary Russell Ford announced at the meeting that the club would sponsor three year nine students from Drouin Secondary College to attend a three three-day Santos Science Experience at Federation University.

The course is designed for years nine and 10 students studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

Managing director and chief executive of the Costa Group Sean Callahan (2nd from left) was guest speaker at a meeting of Drouin Rotary Club. He is pictured with, from left, club president Gary Scanlon, his wife Tracey and parents-in-law Pauline and David Proposch of Drouin.

Drouin Rotarian Bill Petschack (right) received a 15-year certificate of appreciation for his service to the organisation. at last week’s meeting from president Gary Scanlon.