Long standing member of Inverell East Rotary, Derrick Yee, passed away last Monday morning  February 25.

Derrick has been a valued member of the club for 37 years.

Derrick’s daughter Kristal writes

Derrick Yee was born in Bundarra on 19 August 1930. He was educated in Bundarra and Inverell before becoming a legal article clerk at Borthwick & Butler under the mentorship of Mr John Butler Senior – a man, and gentleman, he held in high esteem. He resided in Inverell until his death on 24 February 2019.

Apart from family, legal profession, fishing and shooting, Derrick enjoyed people – professionally, socially and in his community. In 1973 he joined Inverell Rotary East after leaving Apex. The club’s camaraderie and service work has always been one of his greatest enjoyments. He also enjoyed his wife Pat’s involvement, as a Rotaryanne.

Derrick joined Rotary East in 1973. He served as President of the club 1983 – 84. In 1992, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow and in 2018 made an Honorary Lifetime Member and acknowledged as a Companion of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. This was in recognition of the tangible and significant support given for the development of Rotary Health Research with in Australia, specifically for the annual promotion and distribution of Bowel Cancer Kits – something he did for eleven years. It is perhaps this gong that he appreciated above others. But let’s not forget that his favourite role in Rotary was Sergeant-at-Arms. He’d gad about town each week, gathering evidence to prosecute unsuspecting Rotarians and hand down sentences and fines with humour and significant amounts of glee. No doubt we will all miss his laughter.