Morwell - Fifty year Membership Certificates were presented to two Latrobe Valley members at a combined Social Afternoon Tea gathering in Morwell on Sunday, July 22.
Morwell branch chairman Bro. Noel Black and long-time Traralgon branch secretary Bro. Robert Drenen received the awards respectively from State Secretary Bro. Michael Palma and Sale Diocesan chairman Bro. Jim Johnson, Warragul.
Bro. Noel joined the Order at Benalla before moving to Morwell in early 1970’s. In early 1980 he went to Colac for three years before returning to Morwell where he still resides. In 2012 Bro. Noel was elected KSC life member for his contribution to the Knights and Morwell’s Sacred Heart Parish and schools. He organised community support following the Traralgon South bushfire when a Morwell member Bro. Fred Frendo and his son were among the eleven deaths.
Bro. Robert was welcomed into Wangaratta Branch after his nomination by Rutherglen branch and within a few months moved to Gippsland and joined the now defunct Iona branch where in four years ?lled the positions of chairman and treasurer each for one year. He moved to Latrobe Valley in 1973 and was Morwell’s secretary when he moved residence to Traralgon in 1975 and has been active in the Knights affairs, with many years as secretary, and St Mary’s parish events ever since.
In 1981 Bro. Robert received an award for special service to the Order after being liaison secretary for the ?rst of the country conferences across regional Victorian dioceses. Due to low membership and age related health problems Morwell and Traralgon hold monthly combined afternoon meetings.
