AUSTRALIA DAY BREAKFAST A HUGE SUCCESS  IN  RUTHERGLEN A very successful Australia Day Breakfast was held in Rutherglen with more than 250 people attending at the new venue in Lions Park near the old railway station. This was marginally more people than last year and the whole crowd gave their approval for the change of venue. After setting up the venue, the Rutherglen Rotary Club served up a traditional breakfast of bacon and eggs. Presentations were got underway with a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair. Chairperson Councillor Peter Graham then    announced the winners of Indigo Shire Awards and Councillor Bernie Gaffney then presented each with a framed certificate for their achievement. Stephen Ronnfeldt was announced as the Indigo Shire Citizen of the Year. This very deserving award was presented for an outstanding performance in many community programs which apart from being tackled enthusiastically in project development and labour inputs he has a strong history of raising quite large amounts of money to cover the project costs. “I would like to thank Apex for leading me down the path of working in the community” said Stephen Ronnfeldt. “I would like to commend to everybody the satisfaction of working in the community and encourage them to get involved” Mr Ronnfeldt said, “if you don't try it you will never know”. Brendan 'the Fox' Smith was awarded the Rutherglen and District Certificate of Achievement for the work he does in the community. “We do not hear quite as much about 'the Fox' as we do about the previous recipient” said Chairperson Peter Graham “but he quietly goes about working on many projects about the town”. Of particular note was the huge efforts he had made in getting the light and sound system installed running in the Rutherglen Memorial Hall. “I am not going to say much” said Brendon Smith “but I enjoy what I do” The Emma George Junior Sporting Scholarship winner was announced and he too came from Rutherglen. “Adam Shale won the award from a class field of applicants” said Peter Graham. The 17 year old is well known in shooting circles where he has been winning high accolades for many years. Adam Shale has won numerous local and state titles and has represented Australia. On receiving his award and a cheque for $800, Adam Shale gave a very polished response to receiving the award and is clearly used to winning and having to make acceptance speeches. He thanked all of the people who had helped him along his journey and in particular his mother Gay. Richard Rozen then gave a very emotional and enlightening speech as the Australia Day Ambassador. He told his story as a Polish Jewish child caught up in the holocaust. He told of spending 13 months in a cupboard with his mother and father, never getting out and being fed by the farmer where they were being hidden. After leaving the cupboard he spent time in the woods finding ways to avoid the Germans, being disguised as a girl for a period and then lying on river beds, underwater for days breathing through his mouth “like a carp”, to avoid detection. After moving to Australia he went to school in Melbourne and has since become a very successful businessperson, he became a naturalised Australian in 1956 and has represented Australia in both Bridge and Chess. Both he and his wife Rysia have the Medal of the Order of Australia. Richard Rozen obtained his award for services to Chess, Bridge and Services to the Community. Rysia obtaining her award for services to Jewish Women.