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Rotary Club of Geelong |
 President Spencer Nall, RI President Sydney Pascall (UK) and DG Harry Cummins in Geelong 1932 District 9780 |
 PP Spencer Nall, Paul Harris
and President Mac Ross in Geelong 1935.The formation of a Rotary Club in Geelong was considered by a small group of Geelong citizens in 1924. On 1 July 1925 the Club's 'interest' meeting was held in the presence of Commissioner Professor WA Osborne and President Alfred Holtz of the Rotary Club of Melbourne. President GG Jobbins was the Charter President when the Club received its Charter on 19 October 1925. At the Club's next meeting on 14 July 1925, a member from the Rotary Club of Bendigo presented a neatly inscribed aboriginal club to the Sergeant-at-Arms. This 'waddy' is still in use today. It has been associated with raising large sums of money over the years. From its formative years to the present the Club has been associated with youth and its programs. In 1926-27 it is recorded that very good work was done during the year by the 'Boys Work Committee' with Boys' Clubs and Guilds and the Scout Movement all benefiting. During the 1930s the Club's efforts were directed to crippled children. The Geelong Auxiliary of the Victorian Crippled Children's Association was initiated by the Club in 1939. During the days of WW2, much of the Club's effort was directed to assistance to those on active service. Nevertheless, Youth Weeks continued and the Club's piano gave excellent service to soldiers in local camps. After the War, the food needs of Britain and Europe were readily and generously supported. The success of a Christmas function for children and deserted wives in 1957 resulted in Club members supporting a number of these very worthy cases. The introduction of Group Study Exchange in 1965 saw the Club venture into this initiative of The Rotary Foundation. International Service through a large water project in India, educational assistance to a boy in India and school books to Papua New Guinea was to become a feature of Club projects. Vocational career assistance was provided to over 1000 secondary school children. It was not long before the Rotary Youth Exchange program was embraced by the Club - a student being sent to Japan in 1969. This was the beginning of a long involvement with this program. In March 1973, the Club sponsored the Rotaract Club of Geelong with forty members. From this time forward the Club embraced the four Avenues of Service with participation in a wide range of traditional Rotary activities to serve the local and wider community. In its 75+ years of service the Club has sponsored five Clubs who in turn have been responsible for the beginning of another 10 Clubs. It has also provided 5 District Governors for service to Rotary International. Many Club members have been recognised for their service to the community. The history of the Club can be obtained by contacting the Club at PO Box 119 Geelong Victoria 3220 Australia. |
| This page was compiled and provided by PDG John Louttit |
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