| 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.
 |
President Spencer Nall, RI President
Sydney Pascall (UK) and DG Harry Cummins in Geelong 1932
|
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.
| PP Spencer Nall, Paul Harris and
President Mac Ross in Geelong 1935 |
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|
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.
(Precis written by
PDG John Louttit from Club’s history ) |
