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The Rotary Club of Hamilton was formed with 21 Charter
Members at the Inaugural Meeting held on 23 November 1923. The first
luncheon meeting was held on 12 December 1923, and the first President
was Harry Valder of Ellis & Burnand (the timber firm), and he held
office for two years from 1923-1925.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton was the fifth club to be
formed in New Zealand and the 1634th internationally. The original Club
Charter was received at a Club meeting on 18 February 1924. and
consequently we became the foundation club in present District 9930
Today there are six Clubs in this City, most of which
were chartered by our club. In addition to our five sister Rotary Clubs
in Hamilton, there are also neighbouring towns, which have been
established over the years, usually with the sponsorship and assistance
of Hamilton Rotary Club. The most recent one directly sponsored by
Hamilton was Waikato Sunrise Club in 1986.Today we share the same
meeting premises as the Waikato Sunrise club and we often hold combined
meetings to further Rotary fellowship.
Our club is enjoying a good growth in member numbers, and
has won the District 9930 prize for most new members in 2000-01 and
2001-02 years.
Meeting Location
Presently we meet at the Hamilton Club, in Grantham
Street at 12.30pm each Monday. The Club originally met in tea rooms
above Pascoes Jewellers at the corner of Garden Place and Victoria
Street. Later venues were at the Winter Show Building and/or at the
Y.M.C.A where it maintained an office, before moving into the Cardrona
Building near Fairfield Bridge which was our base for many years.
History Timeline
The success of a Rotary Club depends very much on the
personality of its President, and over the seventy nine years of its
existence, this Club has been fortunate in its leadership.
The founder President (1923-1925) Harry Valder was the
General Manager of a large firm of builder’s merchants – Ellis and
Burnand. He played an important part in the development of Rotary in
this area, becoming District Governor of Rotary District 53 in 1932. In
1927/28 our President was George Boyes, founder of the Real Estate firm
which still bears his name. His son Stewart Boyes, who was drowned
tragically attempting to cross the Raglan bar, was Club President in
1965/66.
In those days of the 1920s, Rotary made great progress,
but this changed when the great depression came with the problems of
1929, and from then until about 1937 little progress was made.
In 1928/29 the President was Campbell Macdiarmid, who was
a senior partner of then the largest legal firm in the city Macdiarmid
Meares and Grey. This firm is now defunct as it had a policy of not
replacing partners as they retired or died. In 1930/31 our President was
Doctor Hugh Douglas, a prominent general practitioner who became
Superintendent of the Hospital Board.
In 1932/33 our club's founding President Harry Valder
became the club's first District Governor.
The President in 1935/36 was H.E Annett who continued as
a Club member until his death a little over ten years ago. H.E Annett
came to New Zealand after a career as a scientist with the Public
Service in India. He played a prominent part in the establishment of
Ruakura Animal Research Station Centre. We remember him as a keen and
capable Rotarian.
In 1942/43 our President was Arthur Fow of Fow’s
Floorings. His younger brother Harry Fow followed him into the Chair in
1955/56. During the 1939/45 war period, the Club was much engaged
in-patriotic works, including the Patriotic Hut for servicemen in Garden
Place. At the conclusion of the War, Guy Bindon became President and
put the Club onto a peacetime footing.
In 1946-47 our Club was awarded by Rotary International
the President’s Award, and this reads as follows: “The President’s Award
– To all Rotarians, greetings. This citation is awarded by the
President of Rotary International to The Rotary Club of Hamilton, New
Zealand – for the most significant achievements in promoting the ideal
of service in this district during 1946-47, in developing a strong Club,
in promoting high ethical standards in business and professions, in
benefiting the community and its people, in advancing international
understanding and goodwill”. Signed by the President of Rotary
International, the Governor of District 52, and endorsed by the incoming
President of Rotary International for 1947-48.
Strong leadership was provided in 1948/49 by President
Derm Street of Ready Mixed Concrete, and again in 1951/52 by Clive
Henry. Sadly Past President Clive died in 2001 at the age of 98. Clive
joined Hamilton Rotary in 1947 and we believe that his length of service
to Rotary in New Zealand of 54 years is unparalleled in today’s times.
We acknowledge his help and that of Past President Don Edmond (1975/76)
and Paul Harris Fellow Don Robson in the preparation of this article by
the provision of historical facts.
During the 1930’s the Club was involved in a number of
activities aimed at alleviating the suffering of the unemployed and
distressed. In 1936, the Y.M.C.A was in crisis as its resources were
not enough for the needs it was facing. The Club took a special
interest in helping, and the Club supplied many of the Y.M.C.A board
members. This assistance continued after the war, when the job of
Organising Secretary was offered to pre war Secretary John H Legerwood
who was in Europe having just been released from prisoner of war camp in
Germany. He accepted the position, and with Rotary help started to
re-instate the Y.M.C.A. Club member Bill Luxton, later club President
in 1958/89 owned a property in Pembroke Street, which he made available
to the Club on generous terms. On this site, the present Y.M.C.A
building was erected in stages as funds were raised. John Legerwood
became one of our most distinguished Presidents in 1952/53, and was
chosen in 1958 to be District Governor, only to die tragically at the
early age of 48 after addressing a gathering of ex serviceman at Hopu
Hopu camp on Anzac Day 1959 in the course of his duty as Rotary District
Governor. The Y.M.C.A Stadium was dedicated as the John H Ledgerwood
Memorial Stadium in his honour.
The President in 1954/55 was Ret Turnwald and he was
followed into the Chair by Harry Fow of Turners and Fows. Harry was a
most popular person, and as an auctioneer who with Ralph Fear also an
auctioneer was a great asset to the Club at its annual Christmas Auction
until his death in the early 1980’s. He was followed in 1955/56 by
Dudley Lorimer an apiarist whose honey is will known, and who is now
very active in the Probus movement. In 1960/61 the President was C.L
Walter of the Electric Power Board, a distinguished soldier in the last
war, and whose lawyer son Deryck is a present club member, and was
President in 1998/99. In 1961/62 the late John Meeney, a
physiotherapist was President, and is fondly remembered by older members
of the Club. Lloyd Nisbet was President in 1964/65, Ralph Fear in
1967/68, Doug Bullick in 1973/74 and Don Edmond in 1975/76 many of whom
are now senior members of the Club.
Ian Drabble became District Governor of District 293 in
1970/71 and continued in this position for another year when his
proposed successor died.
The book - “Rotary in the Seventies” written by Bert
Dreaver, records Ian’s year as District Governor and then states that
" following the untimely death of Eric Wiig, who was to
follow Ian as District Governor, Ian received the following telegram on
3 July 1971 from the new Rotary International President: |
“Deeply regret loss of Eric Wiig STOP Would be grateful
if you would agree to serve as Acting District Governor pending Board
selection of District Governor STOP It would mean much to Rotary
International and your district if you would serve throughout the year
if elected by Board STOP Await your favourable cable reply – Ernst
Breitholtz”.
This was a situation almost unprecedented in New Zealand,
requiring an answer which, from a man like Ian Drabble could only be one
of acceptance. How often have we heard the declaration “a Rotarian
never declines a job for Rotary”? How many of us could have said “Yes”?
In 1976/77 the President was the late
Wilbur King whose
major interest was in Rotary Youth activities. He was noted for his
work in the establishment of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award which
sponsors young people such as the annual RYLA seminar, which is
residential, to Outward Bounds, and Outdoor Pursuits etc. He was
followed as President by local lawyer, later City Coroner John Webb,
President in 1977/78. A relatively young man he was attracted to Rotary
after being a member of a Rotary Group Study Exchange team to the USA.
He went on to become District Governor in 1983/84, but his death soon
afterwards brought a tragic end to a promising career.
In 1984, when we celebrated the Club’s 60th anniversary
Bruce Hill an Army Officer was President.
In 1999 the Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with
Deryck Walters as President. Today the club is proud to have a
significant number of Past Presidents as members
1974-75 Don Edmond
1985-86 Noel Vickeridge
1986-87 Murray Day
1987-88 Les Allen
1988-89 Jerome Pickering
1989-90 Rod Bryant
1990-91 Graeme Young
1991-92 John Campion
1992-93 Allan MacDonald
1993-94 David Wright
1994-95 Campbell Paterson
1995-96 Richard Small
1996-97 Keith Fletcher
1997-98 Fred Phillips
1998-99 Deryck Walter
1999-00 Nigel MacRae
2000-01 Ron Hancock
2001-02 Chris Luoni
Since 1978 the Club has honoured many of its members by
making them Paul Harris Fellows in honour of outstanding service to
Rotary. First and second honoured were Past District Governor Ian
Drabble and the late H.E Annett. Of special interest was the
recognition in 1986 of the late Henry Cook a long time club member who
was our pianist as well as being a dedicated Rotarian.
Today our Paul Harris Fellows are Les Allan, Rod Bryant,
Murray Day, Don Edmond, Ralph Fear, Dick Hewison, Don Kwok, Campbell
Paterson, Fred Phillips, Jerome Pickering, Don Robson, Wally Vautier,
Noel Vickeridge, Dufty Wilson, and Frank Woodward.
The standard of speakers at the weekly meetings has
always been maintained at a high level, and Club committees pursue busy
schedules with regular meetings. There is an active social side as well
in which the ladies participate, and there is an annual golf tournament
which raises funds for Club projects, and an annual cricket match
against the Auckland Rotary Club.
A welcome event in 1993 was the introduction of lady
members to the Club. Today we have eight women members, including two
husband and wife teams; Past President (1997-1998) and Past Assistant
Governor (2000-2001)- Fred and Yvonne Phillips, and Past President
(2000-2001) Ron and Patricia Hancock.
Club Projects
During the seventy nine years that the Club has existed
many projects to benefit the community have been undertaken. We have
mentioned the involvement over the years with the local Y.M.C.A – this
was probably one of the largest. In the 1930/31 year the major activity
was aid to the people of Hawkes Bay after the earthquake, and the
following year assistance was given to the Bryant Land Settlement Scheme
for the unemployed – during this year the Club was visited by the
President of Rotary International. In the 1935/36 year the Club was
honoured by a visit by Paul Harris the founder in 1905 of the Rotary
movement. In the 1930’s the Club was involved in the wider Rotary
movement which set up the Crippled Children’s Society. The war years
focussed attention on patriotic projects, and in the early 1950’s help
was directed to Barnado’s Home, the Boy Scout movement and to the
Prisoner’s Aid Society. In 1960/61 equipment was purchased for the
children’s play area at Parana Park, and buildings financed in 1962/63
on The Junior Naturalist’s Club Land at Oparau.
In more recent times, a Golden Anniversary project in
1973/74 provided an ambulance for the St John’s Association. Talking
books for the Blind were provided at the Public Library in the early
1980’s and funds raised to provide a body scanner at Waikato Hospital.
In the mid 1980’s a major project established the Neighbourhood Watch
scheme.
Polio Plus, was the major worldwide project of the late
1980’s, and the Club was given a target to raise $12,000. It achieved a
total of $17,000 as part of the worldwide total of about $240 million
which is now being used to stamp out polio world-wide as a target to
mark the centenary of Rotary International in the year 2005.
Other recent Club projects include the following:
* Finance for the provision of the John Webb Memorial
room at the Hamilton Gardens Complex.
* Financial assistance to fund a Coast Guard rescue
vessel at Raglan.
* Assistance to set up the Kidney Foundation.
* Assistance with the establishment of the Victim Support
scheme.
* Aid for schools in the Pacific Islands by the provision
of tools, stationery, books and reconditioned typewriters.
* Sponsorship of student exchange schemes and help to
overseas graduate and post graduate students at Waikato University.
* Providing experience for school leavers, and career
evenings for students and parents.
* Sponsoring a “Peer Support” scheme at local colleges.
* Recognition of outstanding citizens of Hamilton.
* Vocational visits by Club members to work places such
as the Huntly Power Station, Martha Hill Gold Mine and to Maraes.
Our fundraising projects involve annual events such as
Hamilton Rotary Charity Golf Day, and the Hamilton to Whangamata bike
ride. Each year the Club raises on average $30,000 in funds for
fundraising purposes.
Rotary has many rewarding youth activities, and our club
is an active supporter of the annual district Rotary Youth Leadership
Award (RYLA) programme and Rotary Youth Enrichment Programme (RYPEN).
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