Past District Governor Tony Castley and his wife Sandra head an impressive list of Rotary major award winners for 2020-21.
Tony, nominated by District 9685, was recognised for his outstanding leadership and service with The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award – one of only 50 made throughout
the Rotary world.He is a member of the Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney, NSW, and his wife Sandra was honoured with the Rotary International Excellence in Service to Humanity Award for non-Rotarians as
a result of her outstanding commitment to the acclaimed SewAID project – a by-product of her family’s business.
In the most amazing coincidence, Tony’s great friend PDG John Barnes, of the Rotary Club of Clayton, Vic, also received The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award at the District 9810 Changeover.
The two friends were district governors together in 2008-09 and both followed similar Rotary paths into dedicated service of The Rotary Foundation.
Tony has been an inspiration to NSW Rotarians through his dedication, leadership and sponsorship of The Rotary Foundation for the past 15-plus years.
He was Governor of District 9685 in 2008-09 and District TRF Chair for four years – during which time he introduced many new initiatives for clubs and established his district as Australia’s premier district, with the largest number of district and global grants. Tony says The Rotary Foundation provides the best value of any project in Rotary for ‘doing good in the world’.
“Some 92 per cent of all funds go straight to the chosen project and, when you add the value of volunteer hours, the final result is amazing,” he said.
While Tony was District Foundation Chair and later Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, he encouraged and assisted clubs to apply for TRF grants at all levels. He led TRF training and education sessions at district PETS and assemblies between 2012 and 2016 and presented at national TRF training seminars and district conferences, utilising his own specially designed PowerPoints and programs.
His membership of Rotary’s Arch Klumph Society underlines his generous sponsorship of The Rotary Foundation, and he is recognised as one of Australia’s fundraising ‘kings’. He launched the Centurion program’s ‘poles’ project (50 $2 coins per pole), which took the district's Centurion membership from 300 to 800 and remains very popular today.
His generous sponsorship and business resources launched the acclaimed series of Humanity in Motion coffee table books promoting Rotary’s amazing service across Australia and internationally. More than 100,000 books were produced in three editions between 2009 and 2014, providing great promotional value for all Australian Rotary districts.
In more recent times, Tony has had six years with The Australian Foundation Trust – serving as trustee, director and treasurer.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary Down Under, wherein he has been the driving force behind the successful sale of the Rotary Down Under property at 43 Hunter Street, Parramatta, NSW, and the purchase and development of an impressive new property at 25/1 Maitland Place, Norwest, Sydney.
The purchase of the expansive property will facilitate housing of the various major Rotary organisations (RI, RDU, ARH, RAWCS and ShelterBox) under the one roof – the original concept for RDU’s first major property in Argyle Street, Parramatta, 36 years ago.
Sandra Cast
ley has claimed her own special piece of Rotary history by way of her principal role within the SewAID program.
ley has claimed her own special piece of Rotary history by way of her principal role within the SewAID program.SewAID has initiated projects within 13 developing countries and Sandra has been heavily involved with every project. She coordinates the organisation of containers to deliver necessary resources, works with the organising committees in each country and assists with the training of teaching staff.
Sandra said the SewAID program means so much to her and Tony.
“Launched in 2006, every workshop we put in place enhances the quality of life for the women involved and their families,” she said.
The Castley's go far beyond normal boundaries with people involved in the program.
Sandra tells the story of a young woman in the Philippines program.
She was pregnant and never smiled. Sandra took time to befriend her and found her teeth to be the problem. They were in advanced stages of decay, black and falling out of her head. The Castley's arranged and financed immediate medical/dental treatment and were delighted to receive a photograph of the smiling recipient with perfect white teeth some months later. A baby boy was born, and the mother chose to name him Anthony, after Tony. Had the baby been a girl, Sandra was the chosen name.