The Westlock Golf Club and Westlock Rotary Club teamed up June 8 to present the 19th annual Jean Duteau Memorial Classic golf tournament, in honour of the late, long-time Rotarian and golf enthusiast.
Unlike the 2017 edition, the weather held and 116 golfers were able to finish all 18 holes.
The tournament was about much more than the competition though. It was to honour Duteau and his belief in the Rotary’s motto ‘Service Above Self.’
Proceeds are going towards Rotary youth programs.
“I knew Jean for quite a few years. We used to golf lots together,” said Dale Hutchison. “We’ve come out since Jean started it, every year we come out just to support the function and Jean. He’s always here with us and loving every bit.”
Duteau was president of the Rotary Club when he started the event in 1999 in support of the Special Olympics, as his daughter was a Special Olympian. It was called the Westlock Rotary Golf Tournament at the time, but was renamed after Duteau’s passing in 2008.
“He was a give-the-shirt-off-his-back type of guy. He would do anything for anybody,” said Hutchison. “He loved golfing and just being with everybody and just hanging out.”
Jennifer Christensen was a long-time friend of Duteau’s and a protegee of his at Windsor Plywood. She is also a Rotarian.
“I walked into Windsor Plywood in Westlock one day looking for a job. There was a very kind, very helpful man behind the counter ... From my very first day at Windsor Plywood, Jean and I had an amazing relationship and he saw something in me that I didn’t know existed and we very soon became mentor and student,” she recalled. “I’ve learned everything that I know about what I do now because of Jean. One of the greatest gifts that Jean gave me was planting the seed of becoming involved in Rotary.”
The Rotary Club is always looking for opportunities to encourage youth in the community and abroad, she said.
“One of the things that Rotary is always focused on is creating young leaders in our community and in the world. That was near and dear to Jean’s heart, and so one of the things that is nearest and dearest to me through Rotary is the youth programs, so we’re very proud to do this and all of the funds, of course, go towards Rotary youth.”
In fact, there were several Rotary exchange students from around the world at the golf club to help out with the tournament.
“It’s about making the world a better place, about fellowship, international relations. Service above self is Rotary’s motto and it’s really what we strive for,” said Christensen.
“Jean was an incredibly generous, forward-thinking man who always had the best interests of his community and his Rotary club and those around him, at heart. Always, service, for him, was above self.”
