RETIRED teacher Rex Blatch has great confidence in youth and he is keen to see them given more opportunities in life.
That is why he became a Rotarian.
And his commitment to the organisation during the past 41 years was recently acknowledged with Rotary’s highest accolade, the Paul Harris Fellow.
The award is given to Rotarians in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian and educational programs.
It is presented in the memory of Paul P Harris, the founder of the Rotary movement in Chicago on February 23, 1905.
Humbled by the accolade, Mr Blatch, of Willow Vale, said his involvement in rotary had been inspired by the organisation’s commitment to youth projects such as the youth exchange program.
He first joined the Rotary International movement in 1968 as a member of the Kiama Club.
Mr Blatch continued his close association with the group as he moved around NSW in his role as a teacher.
He became a member of both the Lithgow and Queanbeyan Rotary Clubs during his time living and working in those communities.
Mr Blatch, who was born and raised in the Southern Highlands - and returned to his hometown in 1994 after retirement - has continued his Rotary ties in recent years with the Bowral-Mittagong Club.
He said he was proud to be a part of such an active club and was impressed with its commitment to youth in the community.
Mr Blatch said he was especially enthused by one of the club’s more recent youth initiatives - a science challenge.
It is not surprising considering his long-standing affinity with science.
He studied a science degree at Macquarie University, majoring in climatology and geology, before specialising as a primary school teacher from 1951.
Mr Blatch spent about 14 years of his teaching career working with troubled children under the direction of the NSW child welfare department, both in the Southern Highlands and Berry.
“These were terrific kids with a lot of problems,” he said.
“I think my work in this area helped me to better recognise the need to do more in the community for all youth.
“I have a lot of faith in youth and I think, in most cases, they will get there in spite of their environment.
“My main Rotary commitment in the early days was to co-ordinate and host young people through the Rotary Exchange program conducted at the Kiama club.
“I was also involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in my role as a teacher and school principal for many years.”
Mr Blatch said he believed Rotary was making a valuable contribution toward furthering education and support of youth through practical activities such as public speaking programs, youth exchange and the science challenge.
“The activities develop confidence and life skills among young people,” he said.
“Any youngster can take part in these projects that enable them to explore and expand their abilities.
“I think it is important to provide further educational opportunities in a practical way.”
Mr Blatch has more recently been responsible for writing articles for the Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club’s weekly bulletin.
It is a role he held from 2004 to June 2009.
Mr Blatch said that while he had stepped down from his commitment on the bulletin he would continue to be involved in the Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club wherever and whenever he was needed.
He said he also expected to keep busy in his garden and entering two of his pets, a Japanese and a Finnish Spitz, in dog shows.
He said showing dogs had been something he had enjoyed since 1965.
Another long enjoyed pastime of Mr Blatch was flying.
The qualified commercial pilot spent about 30 years flying mostly single engine planes all over Australia.
And while he no longer takes to the air as a pilot, his enthusiasm for flying has never waned.
However, Mr Blatch said his greatest disappointment in recent time was that he no longer had the company of his wife Jeanette, who had been his best friend in life until she passed away in 1998 after 45 years of marriage.
“We had a wonderful life together and traveled quite a bit. I miss her company, but I’m staying busy,” he said.
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