Ex-mayor honoured

By Melissa Grant
PAKENHAM stalwart Charlie Rossetti was recognised for his service to local government and aged care on the Queen’s Birthday.
The former Pakenham Shire mayor was surprised and humbled to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia, saying there were many residents that were just as deserving.
“In receiving this I feel embarrassed but I feel honoured as well.
“When you see the amount of work people put in but, unfortunately, don’t get recognised, not just in our community but Australia wide,” the 72-year-old said.
A builder by trade for about 45 years, Mr Rossetti still found time to be heavily involved with his community.
He served 10 years on the Pakenham Shire Council, now Cardinia Shire Council and was mayor from 1988 to 1989.
He has been involved with Pakenham Aged Care, formerly known as the Pakenham Hospital, for about 30 years.
In this time he has been president, vice-president and on the building committee. He is still a committee member to this day.
Mr Rossetti also found time to serve on the Pakenham Sewerage Authority or Pakenham Water Board which is now amalgamated with Melbourne Water, as trust chairman of the Necropolis or the Springvale Botanical Cemetery and as chairman of the Pakenham High School Board where all of his four children spent their high school years.
Following his retirement in 2003, Mr Rossetti scaled back his volunteering commitments to spend time “smelling the roses”.
He now enjoys travelling around Australia and overseas with wife Rosalie and spending time with his grandchildren.