Brief histories of the early New Zealand Clubs

Rotary Club of Wanganui

Rotary International District 9940

The Rotary Club of Wanganui Inc.  Charter no. 1737  District 9940.

Wanganui is the home base for four thriving Rotary Clubs. The first and largest of these, is the lunchtime Rotary Club of Wanganui Inc. 

On Tuesday 5^th February 1924, a meeting was called by the Hon. George Fowlds, Rotary’s special Commissioner in New Zealand, to discuss the formation of a new Rotary Club. On March 3, the first weekly meeting of the new Rotary Club was held at the Returned Soldiers Association Rooms in St Hill Street. The Hon George Fowlds, International Director Charles Rhodes and Rotarian D. Philips of Dunedin were present and twenty-four business and professional men of the City became charter members.  

The club’s charter was presented on 14^th July 1924, making it the seventh club in New Zealand. Charter President was Louis Cohen, a well known barrister and he was joined by a who’s who, of the men of Wanganui. Through the years since that first meeting, the Rotary Club of Wanganui has been vibrantly, and intricately entwined, with the city’s business and community life. 

Presidents 1924-1999 click to enlarge

One of the first major accomplishments, was the establishment of a children’s health camp involving relocation of buildings and the planting of 4,000 trees. The camp closed during the second world war, being superseded by other forms of health care. Following Rotary International’s lead, the Club sponsored a branch of the Crippled Children’s Society in 1935. After fundraising in 1971-2 and 1973, the Club presented a rescue vehicle to the City, then the first set of “Jaws of Life” for police and fire departments in 1975. The club participated in the Tonga project, in 1976 to build a completely new hall, dining room and kitchen at Tuloa College. This project was spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Levin.  

(FOOD FOR BRITAIN with Maori carvings - These were donated provisions for Gt Britain during her time of need in WW2. Historian Calum Thomson 3 January 2006)

The Blue Beat Disco was formed in 1982, providing a meeting place for children and teenagers for eight years.

The Rotary Club was responsible for the formation of the YMCA camp at Ruakawa Falls, north of the city. Major Fundraisers included the Rarotonga Boat Building Project 1986 which wasrun in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Terrace End. The RNZAF flew the materials to Rarotonga and a 16 foot boat and five 12 foot canoes were built by the students of Tereora College. The project became a perpetual project, in that each boat was sold to an outer island which, in turn, funded another boat. !987 saw the raising of $21,000 for Polio Plus which fundraiser was the focus of the first Giant fair and auction, run in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club. This auction became an annual event, which still raises large sums each year. 

In 1991 the Club built a huge pumpkin in Kowhai Park - a children’s playground. This pumpkin houses gas-fired BBQs and tables for free use. Many of the features of this children’s playground have been provided by the Club, the latest being an Antarctic play area which features penguins and other ice loving creatures. In 1993, in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Wanganui North and Wanganui South, the club organised a huge undertaking, building two complete homes in a weekend. A total of $100,000 was raised towards the purchase of a CT scanner for the Base Hospital. 

The Rotary Club of Wanganui, has sponsored  five other Rotary Clubs and four Probus Clubs, hosted and sponsored many International students and twin students with Australia  and hosted and taken part in Group Study exchanges. The Club has organised and hosted five District Conferences, three of these for District Governors from its own ranks and has been prominent in the winning of District debates and quizzes. 

What has Rotary given to the many hundreds of members who have passed through? Abundant fellowship, and the opportunity to leave the world a little better than they found it. Does Rotary succeed because  those who become members would have served their fellow men in any case? Or does Rotary change the outlook of its members in spite of themselves? Perhaps, an amalgam of each. There is no doubt of the impact that Rotary Clubs, everywhere, have made on their communities. The difficult part of this exercise is endeavouring to record, fully, the impact of the Rotary Club of Wanganui on the City and District.  

Past President  Hugh Reid

Here are some suggestions, from rotaryfirst100.org, if you visit Wanganui

 WANGANUI 

Have a look at a map (click to enlarge) of the North Island of New Zealand. Down in the South West corner, see a wide, sweeping bay, stretching 300 kilometres from Wellington to New Plymouth. Along the coast, there is a band of black, volcanic sand hills and flat swampland. Inland from this band of hills, there is a long line of lakes, formed as sand blocked the gullies, dissecting this rugged country. Inland from this, there is a band of fertile farmland varying in width, but narrowest in the centre of the bay, where the Whanganui River enters the Tasman Sea.  

Planted along the estuary of this river, and on the hills, which enclose the river, you will find the beautiful City of Wanganui. Home to some 40,000 souls, few of whom would wish to live,in any other place on earth. The Wanganui region is dominated by the Whanganui River, a 330 kilometre gash, carved through very rugged tiger country. Long ago, according to Maori legend, Mt Taranaki (Egmont) had a huge fight with Mt. Tongariro, over the lovely Mt. Pihanga. Mt. Taranaki got a bit of a hiding and fled his home, heading for the sea. The journey left a huge gash in the countryside and when he reached the sea, he headed west until he reached the site where he now stands. Water flowed from the flanks of Mt Tongariro to cool the gash and form the river.   

You want to see this amazing scene for yourself, and may do so by jet boat, kayak, or canoe. From the river, you will see a countryside of native bush and forest, magnificent gorges, many Maori settlements, signs of unfulfilled farmer dreams where the cleared land has again been claimed by the forest. There is even a concrete bridge, spanning a deep gorge, which does not have a road at either end, The Bridge to Nowhere. Or maybe drive along the road,  which follows the river to Pipiriki. A more leisurely trip may be the desire of some and if so, a journey on the restored paddle steamer, the Waimarie, will bring magic to your life.  

There are challenging and amazingly beautiful walkways, well maintained, with strategically placed huts. Abundant places are available to stay in the city or in the countryside, a famous museum situated alongside the art gallery and world- class sports facilities, including a velodrome and racecourse, all within walking distance of the city centre. The main street, Victoria Avenue is a pleasure to experience in any season, tree lined and with ample pedestrian accommodation, and vehicle parking. You may wish to use the only elevator inside a hill, in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Take a ride up to the memorial tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and river. When you get hungry, there is an abundance of choice, with high class eating establishments and the usual fast food outlets. The weather is moderate, with only an occasional light morning frost in the winter and a high of around 28 Celsius in the summer. You won't want to leave.