Volunteers to be missed

There is a lot to learn from a lifetime of volunteering and a Manjimup man hopes others take up the role for the betterment of the community.

Born and raised in Manjimup, Don Faulks — and his wife Glenda — yesterday moved onto a new chapter in their life when they moved to Perth to be closer to family.

A third-generation Manjimup resident, Don comes from a long line of community-minded family members, who include his grandmother Anne McKay.

After schooling at Manjimup Primary School and Manjimup Senior High School, Don left school to work at the family business, that later came to be known as McCay’s Mitre 10 and Retravision.

Don was instrumental in setting up Warren Youth Centre activities, which provided after-school activities for children and teens in town.

Don’s lifetime of service to the community includes the Tourist Bureau committee, Manjimup Apex Club, Manjimup Rotary Club, Manjimup’s Probus Club and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His involvement in Apex began in 1966, the year after he married Glenda, who had been a new teacher in the region.

“I was playing hockey at the time and she came along to a game,” he said.

“I came up to her and sat beside her on the fence.”

In his time in Apex, Don was the president, district governor and also helped in establishing Apex clubs in Pemberton, Waroona and Derby.

As an Apex life member, Don has been recognised for his years of dedication to the community.

His involvement in Apex included hosting the South East Asia Exhibition in 1968, where representatives from 23 countries visited Manjimup.

Apex also brought a variety of entertainment to town, including the WA Ballet and WA Symphony Orchestra.

“Teamwork and fellowship were key in Apex,” Don said.

Don was also in Apex when the first Senior Citizen’s Christmas Lunch was held.

He was presented his Apex life membership by a co-founder of Apex, during the Apex Zone Convention in WA, in which 500 people attended.

After “ageing out” of Apex, Don joined Rotary in 1998, of which he was a member for 21 years, including 15 years on the board.

Don’s positions in Rotary included president, secretary, Timber Towns Wine Show inaugural committee member and the director of Rotary International.

He is the third member of his family to be the president of the Manjimup Rotary Club, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

During his time as Rotary International director, Don urged his towns to form a Probus Club to better service and provide activity for towns’ retirees.

“Manjimup Probus is very successful at the moment, with 60 members,” he said.

Don’s time in Probus also included 10 years on the committee and two stints as president, as well as being the South West representative at the Probus Association WA.

“It’s a means of discovering other things you can do, I try and convince others to join Probus because there is so much to learn,” he said.

“Get involved and get others involved in the community, whether it’s Apex, Rotary or something else.

“Encourage your friends to join these sort of clubs, we’ve got plenty of organisations in town and they all need more members.”

As Don and Glenda leave Manjimup to be closer to their two daughters, they said they had mixed feelings about leaving town.

They have sold their home, where they lived for the 55 years of their married life.

“I have loved living and working here in Manjimup and have many friends, we will be back on occasion,” he said.

“But we’re on to a new adventure.”