An interesting and action packed life
It is customary that shortly after becoming a Rotarian that he or she gives a short talk to their fellow Rotarians on the highlights of their family, work and social life. This bonds Rotarians who often find they have a lot in common with each other. Last week it was Julie Ludlow, Rotary Nowra’s newest Rotarian’s turn to give her most interesting background story.
Julie was born in Sydney then moved to Canberra with her parents Kevin and Hazel Waugh where she lived till the age of 30 years. Julies side stories on her school life were most entertaining and whilst on her own admission they were not the best years for her to learn her now wide range of skills, they did provide her with the platform to becoming NSW school girl champion in High Jump and Javelin and Captain of the Championship winning Marching Girl’s team the Canberra Highlanders.
On leaving school Julie joined the Department of Defence as a typist where she met and married an accomplished musician Anthony Taunton who was also a watchmaker at the time. Together they also managed the Southside Canberra caravan Park along with Anthony’s family.
With Julie inheriting her singing talent from her father, who had produced a number of records with 2CA in Canberra, this union produced a very successful duo that won a National Star Quest competition akin to today’s X factor or the voice that embarked them on an entertainment path in Australia.
They also produced two beautiful children Jody Taunton and now Nicole Taunton-Gibb. With Julies father moving to Nowra to become the Manager of Mates, and then J.B Young’s, Julie and Anthony soon followed to enable them to continue their entertainment career with Julie’s parents support. After several years they stopped travelling with their entertainment skills and opened Coffee shop in Nowra which they ran for 12 months.
Julie separated from her husband and became involved with Shoalhaven Basketball as a player and referee, where she met her husband Michael Ludlow. They married and between them had three daughters adding Micks daughter Mia Ludlow to the bunch. Not long after they had another two children Sian and Alex. Julie and Michael now have five children, eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Julie is well known in the Shoalhaven for her singing abilities, singing at many functions and weddings and Carols by Candlelight in Shoalhaven and on the East Coast over the years.
Nowra CBD Promotions Committee then employed Julie to be the Promotions Officer for four and half years undertaking around 23 promotions a year, some of which many will remember; the Xmas Street Parades, the Nowra Car races held at the Nowra Show with the business owners racing their boxed cars. Another promotion organised by the committee and Julie was the Guinness Book of records involvement with the World’s Biggest Pumpkin competition in Junction court.
At this time Julie was also commissioned by SCC to organise and conduct the Year 2000 Celebrations for Nowra with a crowd of around 10,000 people.
After four and half years it was time for a change and Julie then moved on to working as Secretary to the CEO of Shoalhaven Employment and Training where she met Arthur Moorhouse a member of the Board, who was also a Rotarian. Several years later Julie was asked to Manage an office for
Shoalhaven Group Training, managing and recruiting Apprentices for SCC, Paper Mill, Manildra, Tyco and various other small businesses throughout Shoalhaven and Ulladulla.
During this time Arthur approached Julie to become a Rotarian but due to work commitment she declined and said her husband would make a good Rotarian, so Michael was invited and 12 years later he is still with the Rotary Club of Nowra. Julie alongside Michael spent many occasions assisting the club with fund raising events and recently organised with other Club members the Shoalhaven Rotary Fund Raising Calendar 2015, which raised around $32,000 for various charities in Shoalhaven. The Rotary Club of Nowra presented Julie last year for her work with this fund raiser a Paul Harris pin and made her an Honorary Member of the Club.
Finally Arthur Moorhouse decided to ask Julie again to become a Rotarian and she accepted and was inducted into the Club on 2 November 2016. Julie has now accepted the roll of International Director for the next incoming 2017-2018 Board of the Rotary Club of Nowra. Julie’s interest in this roll stems from her varied travels around the world and overseas connections and her attendance at several International Rotary Conferences over the years.
Julie finished her talk thanking the Rotary Club of Nowra’s members for many memorable times spent with Rotary and introducing her to caring community like people.
