Conrad Crisafulli with wife Bethne (left) and Trisha Keogh-Hodgett at Rotary of Crawley’s One in a Million cocktail party in March
Camera IconConrad Crisafulli with wife Bethne (left) and Trisha Keogh-Hodgett at Rotary of Crawley’s One in a Million cocktail party in March Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Founding member of Crawley Rotary Club dies, aged 66

Denise S. CahillWestern Suburbs Weekly

CONRAD Crisafulli spent his 11 years as a Rotarian helping young people to develop into leaders.

The former Rotary Club of Matilda Bay member and Rotary of Crawley (ROC) charter member died on July 23 at the age of 66 with his wife Bethne and children Karl, Kurtis and Taarin by his side.

ROC president Yaap Poll met Mr Crisafulli when they were both members of the Rotary Club of Matilda Bay.

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“We wanted to make Rotary more attractive to younger people so we started Rotary of Crawley and Conrad was one of the founding members,” Mr Poll said.

“He helped a lot with the young committees, that’s where his heart was.

“He introduced the club to potential donors to support our scholarship scheme.”

ROC’s scholarships offer young people opportunities to develop interpersonal, leadership, and project management skills and offer opportunities to network with and be mentored by business and community leaders.

Mr Crisafulli, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya and moved to Perth when he was 14, studied to be a mechanical engineer and eventually started his own business helping innovators launch their concepts.

His other passion was acting and it could have become a career from an early age but he followed his heart and stayed in Perth so he could be with Bethne, the woman he went on to marry 45 years ago.

The couple met on a blind date on December 14, 1971 and married on Anzac Day in 1973.

Mr Crisafulli’s life will be celebrated on August 19, which is his birthday.

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