Lions Australia

Robert N (Bob) Korotcoff of Adelaide SA was born and educated in Cairns NQ & served his National Service in the RAAF at Amberley. He was employed in the Accountancy and Earthmoving Industries in Cairns before he joined the Insurance Industry where he spent over 40 years, mainly in the areas of management. He joined the Lions Club of Cairns (Barrier Reef) in 1961 and is proud of his 49 years 100% Attendance in Lions. He transferred to Townsville (Host) in 1964 and served as President of that Club during 1971/72, followed by a year as Zone Chairman.

Bob was transferred to Adelaide in 1974 when he was appointed Manager for SA & NT for the Hartford Monarch Insurance Group and immediately transferred to the Lions Club of Brighton, where he remained an active member until his transfer to the Marion Lions Club. (District 201 C2) in 2003. During 1994 / 95 he was President of Brighton and is very proud of the fact that during that year, Membership was increased by 9. He has served in every Club position including eleven (11) terms as Club Treasurer. He was the Marion President for 2006-2007 and is currently the Treasurer and the Bulletin Editor for that Club.

He served during 1979/80 as District Governor for District 201 S3, and travelled extensively throughout South Australia & the Northern Territory. Prior to that high office, he served as Cabinet Secretary and District CBL Chairman and has been the District Convention Organising Chairman on three occasions and in the period since 1980, Bob has served Multiple District 201 as Chairman of the "Lion" Magazine Editorial Committee, Chairman of the MD 201 Insurance Committee (8 years), Chairman of the MD 201 Information Committee and 9 years as the Sergeant at Arms and Credentials Chairman at the MD Conventions. He was appointed the Public Officer for MD 201 in July 2002. Bob was also the Chairman of the MD201 Convention Standing Committee.

In 1978, Bob was appointed to the MD 201 Insurance Committee and has been involved with the Lions Insurance Programme since that date, nearly 32 years in all. In 1987, he was appointed the Lions Insurance Programme Consultant with the task of administering this facility on behalf of J U A Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd and in this Role, Bob has travelled throughout the Multiple District speaking at many District and Multiple District Conventions. During 1995, he travelled to New Zealand to assist MD 202 with their Insurance Programme and in 2004, he was present at the Liability Insurance Seminar held at the International Convention in Detroit USA. Bob holds a Diploma of Financial Services, holds an Australian Financial Services License # 278958 and is an authorised representative of J U A Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd. At the 2010 Lions International Convention in Sydney, Bob co-presented at the Insurance Seminar.

Bob has been presented many Awards including: 49 years 100% Attendance, International President's Award, International President's Leadership Award, 2 International President's Certificates, 100% District Governor, 100% Club President (3), a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship, James D Richardson Fellowship, Ian Stockdale Humanitarian Award and a Professor Douglas Coster Fellowship and is a Life Member of Lions and of the Australian Past District Governor.s Association. Recently, Bob was presented with a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians which recognized his efforts to the Community of South Australia and also an Unsung Hero Award from the City of Marion. At the recent Mildura Lions National Convention, Bob was admitted to the Australian Lions Foundation Hall of Fame.

When not involved with Lions, Bob was Treasurer for the Brighton Senior Citizens Club Board of Management for 10 years and the Secretary/Treasurer for the Abbeyfield Society (Marion)-an Organisation which provides Safe, Secure, Supportive Housing for 10 Elderly Folk, a role which he filled for ten (10) years; Treasurer of the Flinders Sub Branch of the National Servicemen.s Association for 3 years; and currently is the Treasurer of the South Western Schools Ministry and is the current President of the Brighton Conference of St Vincent de Paul. Both Bob and Erica are Foundation Earth Angels for Angel Flight and are actively involved in promoting this wonderful Facility.

Married to Lions Lady Erica for 51 years, they have three Daughters and a Son and 6 wonderful Grand-children. (and a Golden Labrador) Two of their Daughters, Ruth and Lea have followed their Father into the Insurance Industry. And what has been one of the many Highlights in Bob's 75 years? Walking in his Father's Footsteps, when he visited St Petersburg, Russia in 1995 and Gallipoli in 2006, and the enjoyment of visiting many new places during their holidays overseas. They also enjoy caravanning and cruising.