IAN EVANs
The Person Behind the Badge
Ian was born in Stawell in Western Victoria. His father worked in the railways while his mother worked part time as a nurse at the local district hospital.
He attended Stawell PS, and Stawell technical school where he was appointed year 12 head prefect and athletics Capt. He had also commenced a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering at this time, and moved to Ballarat where he completed the last 2 years of this Diploma, studying at the then Ballarat School of Mines (now Federation University).
He attended Stawell PS, and Stawell technical school where he was appointed year 12 head prefect and athletics Capt. He had also commenced a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering at this time, and moved to Ballarat where he completed the last 2 years of this Diploma, studying at the then Ballarat School of Mines (now Federation University).
He then joined Victorian Railways as a cadet engineer. His work involved a great deal of travel and responsibility.
It was at this stage in his life that he met his wife Helen. Helen came from a farming family in South Australia and was a nurse from The Royal Adelaide Hospital, studying midwifery at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Parkville, Victoria
They were engaged after a year and married 6 months later.
They moved to Adelaide, where he worked with Chrysler Australia, and they began a family.
When an opportunity arose for him to return to Melbourne Railways as Passenger Fleet Engineer, with responsibility for maintenance of country train network.
They ought home on Springvale Rd Nunawading, and moved 3 years later to quieter location in Mitcham.
Some years later, he left railways and moved to State Gov Dept Infrastructure: Construction Supplier Registry Unit. Now at Treasury and Finance. His role is to pre- qualify building contractors.
During this time, he also upgraded his engineering qualifications at RMIT, Swinburne and Monash.
He has 2 sons and 5 grandchildren.
His hobbies and interests include long walks, self-challenges on his treadmill, and travel.
Ian has an impressive record of community service, commencing as a child, when he sold raffle tickets at the Stawell Gift.
When in Adelaide he joined the Unley Apex Club where he served for 13 years in multiple roles including that of fundraising Director, Secretary and President. He also joined the Zone Board (of Apex) as Publicity Chair, publishing a monthly Action Magazine, and as a District Governor. He was surprised and delighted when Unley Apex Club awarded him a lifetime membership.
In Dec 2009 Ian became a member of RC Melbourne.
Once again, he threw himself into serving to the best of his ability, and his service was recognised in June this year with a Paul Harris. His ‘Rotary’ journey has been outlined at
He looks forward to continuing his Rotary experience with Nunawading and meeting again at Bucatini when we resume our dinner meetings.