Rotary Eulogy - Howard Timms. PDG Dugald Graydon.

Past President Howard Timms - Paul Harris Fellow.

Howard Timms was inducted into the Rotary Club of Mullumbimby in 1968, was President in 1975 - 76 and has held every executive position within our Club. He has also held many positions on District Committees with a particular interest and love for our youth programs. Mullumbimby Rotary Club recognised Howard's commitment and dedication to Rotary by naming him a Paul Harris Fellow - a very high and much coveted recognition.

Howard Timms was a Rotarian in every sense of the word and in every aspect of our ninety five year old organisation - Rotary International. Rotary International has high ideals with genuine aims to make life better for all, in this world of ours, and Howard believed and practiced these ideals in every thing that he did.

We as Rotarians aspire to a standard - The Four Way Test - which states - "Of the things we think, say or do:

• Is it the truth
• Is it fair to all concerned?
• Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"

Howard genuinely believed in this 'life standard' and practiced it every day of his life. Rotary also has a motto of 'Service Above Self'. A hope that we can think of others, help others, before we succumb to our own personal needs and wants. Howard practiced Service Above Self and he did it without fanfare or public acknowledgement.

There are many people in this community who have been 'served' by Howard Timms. There are many lawns that have been mown. Garbage bins put out for collection, people driven to the doctor, dentist, solicitor or to see family, and many other community services, that very few people knew about, except Howard and the recipient of these kindness'.

Rotary has international avenues of service, as well as local, and Howard and Val took great delight and pleasure in participating it Rotary's Youth Exchange Program. We have lost count, and so, probably have Howard and Val, of the number of young people who have benefited from their care and above all their love.

It is not only the exchange students that have benefited from this love - there are many people in this community, in our Rotary Club, who are better people because they are friends of Howard and Val and I am proud to be able to say that Judy and I are amongst those privileged people. And, of course, Howard was not only focused on selflessness and service to others - Howard enjoyed the fellowship of Rotary and Rotarians. I can, and I am sure that many of the older Rotarians can, recall Howard making the cutest debutante that anyone could wish to see. In many fundraising activities of the Mullum Rotary Club, we seem to have had a need to improvise for the, then, lack of females in our organisation, by having members dress as women. Howard was among some of 'the most beautiful' women that you could wish to see.

Other members will recall the great times that we had when attending District Conferences and other District events. I recall on one occasion Howard's accuracy with a 'beverage' can when pot-shotting vermin at a motel on the banks of a certain 'unnamed river' on the Gold Coast. We also remember, fondly, Howard's ability to extract the last dollar from passers by, for raffle tickets during Chincogan Fiesta. We remember his "Don't pass up your luck", "You've got to be in it to win it", "Only a few chances left", etc. as he persuaded passers by to swell the coffers of our Rotary Queen Candidate Fund.

We also remember how proud he was to have his daughter and his grand daughters, as Rotary Queen candidates.

We remember Howard as a dedicate Rotarian, as a wonderful citizen, as a loving husband and father and as a great mate.

Howard Timms was a 'good bloke'.