NATHAN Free is no stranger when it comes to leadership roles.
Not one to sit on the sideline, he believes it’s important to contribute and support community-based initiatives – which in return, benefit the community.
Heavily involved in a range of industry and community-based organisations, Mr Free is on the committee of the Lake Boga Golf Club, the local fruit fly council and is horticulture president at Victorian Farmers Federation.
Recently, he added another feather to his cap when he was appointed president of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Swan Hill.
Settling into his new role, Mr Free said it was great to lead the organisation which he first joined three years ago.
“It’s really great to be able to give back to the community in our local area,” Mr Free said.
At a local level, Sunrise Rotary Club of Swan Hill is involved in a host of community events and programs which include markets and Rotary Youth Exchange.
They also participate in worldwide initiatives, alongside Rotary’s global network of 1.2 million members who strive to create lasting change through various projects which aim to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene, support education and grow local economies.
During his 12 month term as president, Mr Free said he was looking forward to once again achieving great things for the Swan Hill district with the help of likeminded fellow members who wanted to benefit the local community.
“We’re a very positive group of people and we all come together to create something out of nothing,” Mr Free said.
“There are no overheads here, so every dollar earnt is injected back into a project.”
Mr Free said being a Rotarian was all about “being part of a community working for greater good”, and it was satisfying seeing all the “members band together to make it happen”.
The club is currently working on an emergency housing initiative in collaboration with a number of other local organisations.
With Rotary overseeing this initiative, Mr Free said it was one of the club’s biggest projects in recent times.
During his 12-month term as president, Mr Free would also like to attract more members to the club, because as with any not-for-profit organisation, volunteers are the club’s greatest asset.
“I’ll be looking at how we can attract more members, while exploring ways to better support the community,” Mr Free said.
