ROSSMOYNE Rotary Club has awarded the club’s prestigious Eddie Holmes Award to Don Buchanan for his community work.
Named after inaugural president Holmes, the award has been presented annually to a standout Rotary member by its namesake since 1973.
Mr Buchanan’s work as a member at Cannington Men’s Shed since it began in the ‘80s, and he is the current president and initiated a computer club to help members cope with the technological age.
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READ NOWMr Buchanan has spent 10 years driving the community bus for members of the Herald Avenue Senior Citizens Centre, and his friendly and easy-going nature makes him very popular with the members.
Moving to Perth from Collie to join the Navy as a missile technician at 16 years-old, Mr Buchannan became a “beer bottle maker” at Australian Glass Manufacturers, initially in Adelaide, then at the Canning Vale plant.
In 1987, he took up competitive canoeing, establishing the Canning River Canoe Club in 1987 and winning gold at the Australian Nationals.
Around this time, Mr Buchanan became an active member of Rostrum and the Bullcreek Lions Club.
He has ridden thousands of kilometres with an over 55s club, riding across the state, the eastern states and participating in organised cycling tours to China and the UK as well as riding a Tour de France route.
He recently left for another 1000km ride around France with his wife Leslie.
The Men’s Shed Association aims to improve the health and wellbeing of members and reduce the number of men who are at risk from preventable health issues that may develop from isolation.
It is funded by the Federal Department of Health.
It was a night full of celebrations, as Mr Holmes and his wife celebrated their 70th anniversary among Rotary Club friends.