Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

GUEST SPEAKER:

Tim Duggan introduced Dan Hunt. Dan was raised in San Anselmo, California in a family of 9 kids. Life was not easy as Dad died early and Mum worked for family to survive. Dan liked baseball and fishing but because of his height was lured to basketball. This was his pathway for the future and he played centre in a high school team that was undefeated. This led to a college basketball scholarship and a degree as a B.Sc in Education. An interesting point was made by Dan that he disliked and was not successful in English, but because of his status in the school with basketball, he was never failed and came out of high school with a reading age of a Grade 3 !!

Basketball led Dan to Geraldton to play for the inaugural Buccaneers and he stayed for 25years. In that time he drove a Toyota from Rob Houwen , was “serviced” by Doc Taylor and met the love of his life, Helen Kannikoski.

Dan ran a driving school, taught at John Willcock, worked at STAY and was a prominent figure in the Geraldton community.

A major point raised by Dan was that in his teaching experience, the RESPECT shown by students in the U.S towards teachers was far higher than that in Geraldton.

Dan and his family returned to the U.S seven years ago for his sons’ education. Liam secured a basketball scholarship after impressing in the Summer League and has completed a similar degree to his father. Liam is currently playing in the Buccs SBL team. Jesse is also completing his college education on a basketball scholarship.

Dan currently teaches kindergarten/Grade 2 students at a private school.

Dan and Helen have expressed a desire to maybe come back to Australia in 2 years. Geraldton is a consideration.

Questions;

Raj: The money in the NBA

Ray: Respect of kids in schools

Doc Taylor expressed a vote of thanks to Dan and presented him with a bottle of wine specially pressed from his "own" vineyard and a torch from Svenno!!