Retired at Last!       

Old Virgilian, Dennis Breen (1956-64), drew the Archivist's attention to a photo of Paul Cairnduff in the December 2021 edition of the Derwent Valley Gazette.  Paul was pictured with his wife, Mary, at a Lions Club Dinner and the associated article indicated that he was about to become the District Governor for Lions Tasmania (District 201T1) which encompasses 48 individual clubs spread throughout the State.

I doubt I had had any contact with Paul since 1961 the year he and I were in the Head of the River Eight – he as a worker; me as a passenger in the coxswain’s seat.  I managed to track him down, and after a lengthy catch-up, I convinced him to let me tell his story.   

1961 Eight:  Graeme Rainbow (cox) Peter Vanden Bosch (stroke), John Butterworth, John Moore, Gerard McGarrfy (R.I.P), Mark Hopkins, Paul Cairnduff, Tony Dowd and Rick Gayewski (RIP)

Paul attended St Virgil’s College from 1956-61, and upon leaving the College he commenced a career as a cadet Electrical Engineer for Australian National Railways and worked there for 30 years specializing in communications, safe working systems and environmental management.

He then became involved with tutoring at TAFE and other tertiary institutions in the areas of Workplace Safety Management and Risk Management. After12 years he and wife Mary chose to retire.

However, he was approached by a multi-national insurance company as its Risk Manager with the proviso he would take on the role for two years only - but he stayed for ten years working with local, national and international clients.

Having retired once again, Paul chose to establish himself as an Independent Risk Management Consultant operating out of Kingston - finally he did retire in 2011.

 As part of their retirement planning, Paul and Mary joined the Kingborough Lions Club in 2011.   Paul moved on through the Lion’s ranks as opportunity presented, serving three terms as club president. Then he moved up as Lions Zone Chairperson, Regional Chairperson, vice district Governor to his present position as District Governor Elect, taking up the District Governors role in June.  Mary and he will travel to Montreal in Canada in June to attend the Lions International Convention at which he will be officially inducted as Governor of District 201T1.

Paul is always on the lookout for more recruits and is contactable on cairnduffp1m@bigpond.com

Mary and Paul have travelled extensively in Asia and Europe and Paul is a keen fly fisherman in Tasmania’s highland lakes and rivers when time permits, is an avid ‘Hawks’ fan, and  is a student of the Roman Empire (4th Century CE) and Latin.

Happy ‘retirement’, Paul!