The best way to learn about new club members is to get them to tell us their story though our 'New Member Talks'. At our meeting on Wednesday 3rd September, 2025 we heard from new members Karen Werner and David Sproules who told us their story.
Karen is a proud South Australian and was born a twin with her brother in North Adelaide and she spent most of her schooling life in Whyalla where her parents owned a retail business. Post school Karen had her first taste of Rotary heading to Newcastle in Natal, South Africa as an Exchange Student.
When Karen returned to Australia she completed nursing training after which she travelled around the world. On her return she completed her Grad year in Horsham where she met her husband and together they purchased a grain and wool property. Karen then completed Coronary Care training and travelled up and down to Ballarat for 12 months to complete Midwifery which was then followed by a Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Management.
Karen had a further Rotary experience taking part in a Rotary Group Study Exchange in Argentina and in 2005 Karen and her husband moved to Ballarat where she worked in community health and school boarding. In 2013 Karen and her husband bought Astec Equipment Services, a healthcare and mobility business and during their ownership the business has grown from four staff to twenty six staff.
David was born in Geelong and grew up in Wallington during his primary school years where his parents owned a farm. His family moved to a sheep farm in Vite Vite in the 1980's then onto Skipton and he completed his secondary schooling at Beaufort Secondary College. David's parents were heavily involved in cricket and football administration since he was three years old which resulted in him becoming a cricketer and running junior cricket for the Ballarat Cricket Association.
David moved into Ballarat in the mid 1990's and completed a degree in Commerce and Accounting at the University of Ballarat. From there he commenced a career in banking with Westpac, BankWest then went onto becoming a Senior Bank Manager with Bendigo Bank managing three branches in Ballarat. David currently works as a financial adviser with Hyaline Finance.
David has a long history of community involvement though Ballarat Connected Communities and as past Treasurer and Chair of Ballarat City Football Club. We welcome both Karen and David to our club and they are already proving to be a valuable addition to our club.
