Meet the new Benoni Aurora Rotary Club president
Chetty highlighted that many of the community projects undertaken in the past could have enjoyed a higher rate of success if they had the backing and support of the Rotary International behind them.
Serving the community has been Yegalan Chetty’s passion for over 35 years, and he plans to continue doing so as the recently inducted president of the Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora.
Chetty was inducted as a member of the club in 2019 and said he had visited a relative who was the Rotary District Governor in Vancouver, Canada, at the time and he brought Rotary’s contribution to society to his attention.
“On my return to South Africa, I researched Rotary International and found there were many causes I could identify with and decided to join.”
Born and raised in Actonville, Chetty matriculated from William Hills Secondary School and served as a member of the Benoni Civil Defence Corps and completed his basic ambulance and fire-fighting courses, as well as becoming a Lifeline counsellor at the age of 19.
“As a passionate cultural and humanitarian ambassador, I served on many organisations, including the Benoni Tamil School Board as a councillor and exco member for many years.
“I also served as treasurer on several community-based organisations.”
The City Times asked Chetty what he hopes to achieve as president, and he said as an ambassador for Rotarians Against Human Trafficking, he hopes to highlight the plight of those who end up in this unfortunate situation and being taken advantage of.
“I also have a soft spot for the elderly and abandoned children,” he added.
“With our club’s involvement in the Garden for Life project, a garden tunnel project which grows food for old age homes, I count on the involvement of our club and the Benoni community to ensure its success.”
Chetty has also been a conservationist and served as the vice-chairperson for People for Wildlife, alongside the late Ian Dustan, and completed a game ranger course while visiting various game reserves.
“I’m excited that saving the environment is one of the focus areas of Rotary from July. I, therefore, welcome our club’s involvement with the Korsman Bird Sanctuary in Westdene to remove alien fish.”
He said many of the community projects undertaken in the past could have enjoyed a higher success rate if they had the backing and support of Rotary International.
“I am trying my utmost to encourage other local organisations to consider embracing the Rotary brand.”
He believes this will assist them with the following:
• Exposure of their causes
• Exposure to international best practices for managing their projects
• Showcase their projects
• Being able to apply for local and international grants to fund the completion of projects
• Partner with other Rotary clubs on joint venture projects
Chetty said Rotary promotes growth to an individual.
“As a Rotarian, we also have access to online courses in leadership development and public speaking development through a partnership with Toastmasters International, all within your minimal monthly contribution to Rotary of under R200 per month.”
When he is not serving the community, Chetty enjoys bonsai crafting, playing the guitar and saxophone, riding his motorcycles, playing golf, reading inspirational and motivational books and collecting vintage cars.
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