The Charter was granted on 13 December with the Charter meeting being held on 15 December. In the Club's first annual report, the Charter President admitted that members had begun their community duties 'without our having the faintest idea' of what Rotary was all about.

They soon learned and learned quickly. The Rotary Club of Ballarat's family tree shows that it has been directly or indirectly responsible for the foundation of 25 Rotary Clubs throughout Victoria, from Ballan to Bordertown and from Mildura to Ballarat South. Its own achievements and those of is 'family members' have been outstanding.

In 1927, that unique Australian organisation, the Young Farmers Club Movement, was initiated by the Club; eventually flourishing Australia-wide and providing youth with agricultural knowledge and debating and public speaking skills, thus becoming a forum for potential community leaders.

Throughout the years, the promotion of Ballarat and the ongoing welfare of its citizens has been of utmost importance to the Club. The devastating years of the Great Depression saw Rotarians involved in giving assistance in welfare, study and employment for adults, and the equipping and administration of a workshop catering for unemployed girls and boys. In the troubled years of World War 11, energies were directed to the war effort; members not on active service being involved in a multiplicity of major and minor fund raising efforts to assist not only those at home but also overseas. Liaison with the Rotary Club of Hackney in London in these years saw the Club presented with one of its heirlooms - the "Loving Cup".

Bushfire relief in the form of both labour and financial assistance has been a regular service over the years to those in need.

Youth welfare and development have always been at the forefront of club activities. The scourge of polio struck in 1934 and long before the PolioPlus program was initiated, Ballarat Rotarians in the 1930s were purchasing surgical and educational equipment, and for ten years involved in the transportation of stricken children between home and hospital. In later years, a brick home was built and sold with the proceeds being donated to PolioPlus.

Road Safety programs, establishment of a speech therapy centre, careers assistance, peer support programs in schools, provision of UHF radios in school buses throughout the district and the introduction of the highly acclaimed Life Education program are just a few of the Club's initiatives.

Rotary programs such as youth exchange, RYLA, RYPEN and the various educational seminars in science for young people have always been fully supported.

In 1957, another Ballarat 'institution' Craftspersons Awards to graduate apprentices was begun by the Club and is now an important annual event in the city with input from the City and University of Ballarat. The Botanical Gardens have been the recipient of major gifts including the Wishing Well, Azalea Garden, water fountains in the fernery and the Quarantine House.

Rotarians were also active in the erection of the Eureka Diorama and the 1956 Olympic boating events on Lake Ballarat led to the Club erecting the well-known Olympic Rings monument.

In 1931, the Rotary Club of Ballarat initiated, despite some opposition from Rotary International, the first InnerWheel Club to be established outside Great Britain; a Club that commenced its community service and continued it vigorously for seventy years. The Club also was instrumental in the establishment of the first Probus Club in the city in 1983. By 2003, this has blossomed to fourteen Clubs.

Undoubtedly, the most spectacular reminder of what Rotary is about is the Rotary House project begun as the Club's 75th Anniversary contribution to its wider community. The success of this million-dollar-plus venture is a tribute to the six Ballarat clubs and Ballan who together worked tirelessly and co-operatively to bring the idea to fruition. The two local hospitals utilize the refurbished three-storey building as accommodation for short term radiology patients from throughout Western Victoria, the mallee, North Central and Wimmera regions and their family members who wish to be close to them. This facility will be an everlasting legacy to Rotary.

The history of the Rotary Club of Ballarat is a long and illustrious one. A full history of the first 75 years, "Without Our Having The Faintest Idea" is available from the Club.

John Louttit, Chairman Rotary Global History Australia