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Women and
Rotary
History - At an early stage in its existence Inner Wheel began to spread overseas and, in Australia, Ballarat, Victoria held the first interest meeting during 1931. The Rotarian President at Ballarat , Mr Maddern, had written to Mrs Oliver Golding asking for details about the Inner Wheel movement in Great Britain and Ireland. Margarette Golding was overjoyed at the enquiry. In fact she said "This is the first enquiry from the Colonies". So in 1931, Ballarat, Victoria (disbanded in 2001) and closely followed by the still active North Sydney, NSW, were the first Inner Wheel Clubs to be chartered outside the UK. A quirk of fate saw both clubs issued Overseas Club No 1. News of the formation of these Clubs interested other ladies and many enquiries were received from Rotary Clubs. From these small beginnings and the dedication of original members, Inner Wheel has grown in all States. There are now a total of 15 Districts, two in Queensland, seven in New South Wales, three in Victoria, one each in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania and a non districted club in Darwin. National membership is now almost 4 000. In 1968, under the leadership of Mrs Kath Armstrong from Sydney Club, the Australian National Council was formed. The Council was represented at the International Inner Wheel Board meeting held in London in February 1969. In 1994 our current name change occurred - Inner Wheel Australia. The first International President from the Southern Hemisphere – in fact outside Europe – was Gwen Davies from Parramatta, NSW in 1975-76. Since that year, Gwen Bowman from Belmont, NSW in 1992-93, Lovise Richardson from Sutherland, NSW in 1998-99 and Carole Buchanan from Berwick, Victoria in 2001-02 have been International Presidents. Members have organised two International Conventions in Australia. The first in May 1976 was held at Willoughby Town Hall, N.S.W, and the second, held at the Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, NSW in October 1993. Both these Conventions were a great success with support from all members. The National Conference is held annually in October, can be held in any State and is hosted by a District or Club. In 2011, it will be held in Perth, Western Australia. Districts - For administrative purposes, Australia is divided into 14 districts although some clubs remain "un-districted. The Districts are as follows - Western Australia, District A40 with 13 clubs. > New South Wales comprising District A50 with 8 clubs; District A51 with 7 clubs; District A52 with 5 clubs; District A53 with 15 clubs; District A55 with 13; District A 54 with 7 clubs includes parts of Victoria. > Victoria comprises part of District A54; District A60 with 10 clubs; District A61 with 8 clubs; District A62 with 13 clubs. > South Australia, District A70 with 8 clubs. > Queensland, District A76 with 4 clubs; District A77 with 19 clubs. > Tasmania, District 80 with 8 clubs. > There are 9 un-districted clubs from north to south of the country.
| Clubs |
While the first club outside the United Kingdom was the IWC Ballarat, which was founded in 1931, it was disbanded in 2001. Retaining the distinction of being the first country outside the U.K, the IWC North Sydney  was
formed in 1932 and IWC Bendigo (Victoria) in 1933, both fall
within the first clubs outside the U.K. and both are still
flourishing.
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acknowledgements to Inner Wheel
Australia |
researched and posted by RGHF Webmaster, Greg Barlow, Malaysia. July 2011 |