CABINET SECRETARY
PDG BILL BURGES
Born 1942 raised and educated in Newcastle Bill
has tertiary qualifications in Metallurgy and Education. He worked as a
Metallurgist in the Newcastle steel industry for seven years before taking up
teaching at secondary level. Bill has taught Science at Newcastle Boys High,
Courallie High School at Moree, Melville High School at Kempsey, Bourke High
School, where he was Principal for two years and finally Quirindi High School
where he was Deputy Principal until his retirement in 1999. He also lectured at
TAFE to Diploma Students for 2 years. During his teaching career, Bill was an
active member of the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve that he joined at
University. He was commissioned on graduation in 1965 and completed his service
as a Flight Lieutenant when he moved to Bourke. Bill was also active as an
examiner of the Royal Life Saving Society spending over 20 years as a Senior
Examiner (Level 3). He has been a Justice of the Peace for the State of New
South Wales since 1972 and a Member Harrington Crowdy Head RSL Sub-Branch and
Taree Legacy Club.
Bill was invited to join the Lions Club of Moree
in 1977 by Lion Bert Carroll. He transferred to Kempsey, Bourke, Quirindi and
Harrington Lions Clubs as his work moved him about the State. At Club level
Lion Bill has been a Director and Bulletin Editor (Moree), Secretary (Kempsey),
Secretary and Vice President (Bourke), Secretary (15 terms), Treasurer(2), Tail
Twister, Secretary (3rd term) (Harrington) and President (2 terms)
(Quirindi).
Lion Bill was invited to join 201N4 District
Cabinet by PDG Max Cosier where he was Zone Chairman and Deputy District
Governor (2 terms). On returning to 201N1 he was appointed to District Cabinet
as Zone Chairman (2 terms) and has been a District Chairman (many terms) and
Cabinet Secretary (2 terms). At the Kempsey Convention, Lion Bill was elected
Lieutenant Governor (1993 -94) but due to changes to the International
Constitution, Lion Bill became this District's first Vice District Governor.
Bill Served as Vice District Governor 1998 – 1999 and District Governor 1999 –
2000.
At Club Level, Lion Bill has been awarded many
President Appreciation Awards and at least 18 100% Secretary Awards as well as
two Treasurer’s Awards. At District Level he has three Zone Chairman, Deputy
District Governor and many District Chairman Awards as well as two District
Governor Appreciation Awards and two Star Awards. District 201N1 also nominated
Lion Bill as a Life Member of the NSW ACT Save Sight Foundation. At
International Level Lion Bill is a 100% President, Key Member and holds a
Membership Achievement Award. Quirindi Club made him a Melvin Jones Fellow in
1993 and a Life Member in 2003. The Lions District made Bill a William R Tresise
Fellow in 2000.
Lion Bill has completed Leadership Skills, Train
the Trainer and the Advanced Trainer Certificate awarded by Multiple District
201. He also completed Certified Guiding Lion Training at the Hong Kong
International Convention. He served as a member of the MD201 Leadership
Development Sub-Committee for three years prior to his election as District
Governor.
Bill is a member of a small family. Both his
father and mother are deceased. His brother Stephen lives with his wife Sylvia
in Seattle in the United States where he is Professor of Civil and Environmental
Engineering in the University of Washington.
