PROLOGUE

This history of our Rotary District 9570 from its inception in 1979 has finally been born after several miscarriages and a couple of still-born infants. Even this child has had a long gestation period.

The former District Historian, Bob Nunn, had conceived the idea of publishing a booklet on each District Governor. He actually published two of them on PDG Ron Downs and PDG Bob Grant. This proved too time-consuming, too ambitious, and too expensive, especially as sales of the booklets to recoup some of the expenditure to the District were very disappointing.

Bob has collected a lot of material, which he has categorised and handed on to me. Some of this is quite detailed. However, the responses from a few of the Past District Governors are disappointing. If some parts of this history are sparse, lack of material on a particular year is the reason.

To make sure this history was completed as soon as possible some drastic decisions had to be made. A small chapter in the same format has been devoted to each Rotary Year. The number of photographs, accompanying the text of each chapter, has been limited. The history will not be printed as a book, but “burned’ on to a compact disc, a copy of which will be given to each club. If anyone then wants a printed copy of parts of the history, they can download the parts of interest to them.

This new District 957, to begin operating from the 1979-80 Rotary Year, was created while Clem Renouf was President of Rotary International. Formerly most of the clubs in this District were either in District 255, later renamed District 955, which took in all of Queensland north of Gladstone and the Northern Territory, or in a District 260, later renamed 960, based on Brisbane. The new District 957 was formed by taking territory from both these districts to form a new district, occupying about a third of Queensland from Maryborough in the south to Mackay in the north. All the Districts of the world were changed to four figure numbers in 1991 by adding a zero, so from that time we were known as District 9570.

If there any errors in the text that have upset anyone, I apologise. Most of these would not be my mistakes, but were contained in the original material from which I worked.

PDG Len Roles District Historian.

List of Governors

• Reg Brown
• 1979-80

1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002
Brian Brosnan Frank Hoeter Monty Martin Roy Schuh Bob Grant Dudley Wood Kevin Newitt Bill Walker Kevin Harris Ron Downs Roy See Mick O’Riordan Len Sutherland Len Roles Bruce Hiskens Sandy MacGregor George Golding Kevin Wirth John McKay David Fordyce Rod Cunningham Alan McTaggart

THE 1979-80 ROTARY YEAR

Theme: “Let Service Light the Way”

[Clem Renouf, from the Rotary Club of Nambour, and the second Australian to be President of R.I., was R.I.President in the preceding year, and it was he who made the decision to form our new District. This was also Rotary International’s 75^th Year]

R.I. President: James L. Bomar Jr.

A native of rural Bedford County, Tennessee, he attended the Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, where he gained his B.A. and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees. He also later received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Samford University. He was a member of the Tennessee, American and Federal Energy Bar Associations as well as the International Society of Barristers. He was active in Tennessee politics, as he served for 18 years as a member of the Tennessee Legislature. In addition he served as Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and as Chairman of the Tennessee Legislative Council for 18 years. His other interests included the Tennessee Livestock Association, the American Angus Society, and the
Tennessee Farm Bureau. He was an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville. He was also an aviator and an amateur actor. A Rotarian since 1924, Jim was a Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Shelbyville. He had served Rotary International as District Governor, Director and Vice-President.

District Governor: Reg Brown

Reg was the first District Governor of this new district. He joined the Gladstone Rotary Club in 1953, and was its President in 1975-76. Reg spent most of his childhood on a diary farm, “Riverview”, near the Calliope River. In 1942 he leased his own diary farm and began a milk delivery business. By 1947 he was running two diary farms as well as delivering milk. His Auckland Creek diary farm is where the Auckland Creek Caravan Park is now. The other farm was in the Boyne Valley. He was a Patron of the Blue
Nursing Service in Gladstone and made a significant contribution to the hostel, dedicating a room to his wife who had died a few years before he became District Governor. He too passed away in 1988 at the relatively young age of 69.

International Convention: Chicago, USA First Combined District Assembly and District Conference: Rockhampton

The combined Assembly and Conference was held over three days, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The District Governor’s Dinner was held on Sunday night at the Leichhardt Hotel with Sir James Foots, Chairman of Mount Isa Mines and a Past District Governor of 1963-64 as the Guest Speaker. The other sessions were held at the Municipal Theatre and Scotia Place. Home Hospitality was arranged for the Saturday Night. The R.I. President’s Special Representative was PDG Bob Yarnton, a clothing retailer from Auckland, New Zealand. Other Keynote Speakers were PDG Glen Kinross, later to become the International President, Mr. Jagdish Ajmani, the High Commissioner of India, and PDG Neville McPhee The Clem Renouf Trophy for the Best All Round Club was awarded to the Moura Rotary Club.

Reg Brown was installed as District Governor of the new District 957 by the former Governors of the two Districts from which it was formed – PDG Reg Pain of District 960 an PDG Graham Cossins of District 955

Year’s Highlights:

 The first District Rotaract Conference was organised by the Rotary Club of
Bundaberg West. It was a resounding success with 84 Rotaractors attending.
 The fourth Agro Trend was organised by the Bundaberg Rotary Club.  Blackwater Rotarians and Rotaryannes spent a week-end as guests of the
Rockhampton South Rotary Club. One of the highlights of the week-end was a trip up the Fitzroy River. Reg had suggested that this should be the month of combined meetings. Maryborough North and Mackay also responded by going to Childers and Sarina respectively.
 DGN Brian Brosnan became our District’s Delegate to the Council on
Legislation held in 1980, because the original nominee, PDG Bruce Johnston, had moved from the district.
 The Rotary Club of Rockhampton West started building a walk-in aviary at the Botanical Gardens as their Rotary’s 75^th Anniversary Project. Its construction, a geodesic dome, was a new concept in building.
 Bundaberg Club celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary.  Two new Interact Clubs were formed. Aldridge State High School Interact
Club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Maryborough North, while Rockhampton North Club sponsored Glenmore State High School’s Interact Club. Brad Lorraway, the Charter President of Glenmore Club, is now a General Practitioner in Rockhampton.
 Rockhampton Rotary Club sponsored a successful Art Competition.  The District supported the Study Girl International Quest to raise funds for
International House at the University of Queensland.

Dg Reg Brown presents the charter of the Glenmore State High School Interact Club to its founding President Brad Lorraway PDG Bruce Johnston of Biloela was presented with a Citation of Meritorious Service to the Rotary Foundation by PDG Graham Cossins of Cairns

PDG Reg Brown, the Foundation President of the Gladstone Probus Club, installs their second President, Jim Mills

THE 1980-81 ROTARY YEAR

Theme: “Take Time to Serve”

R.I. President: Rolf Klarich

Before retiring in 1973 Rolf was owner and managing

• director of Oy Merijal Ltd., confectionary
• a

manufacturing firm in Oulu, Finland. He then became a consultant to the food manufacturing industry. Born in Oulu, Finland, he was a graduate of the Swedish Economic University in Helsingfors and the City of London College. He served as the British Consul for the Oulu District and in several civic and industrial organisations. His principal hobby was photography. A Rotarian since 1953, Rolf was a member of the Rotary Club of Helsinki-Helsingfors, Finland, and had served Rotary International as District Governor, Director and
Vice-President.

District Governor: Brian Brosnan (Joyce)

Brian was born on Brisbane in 1928. After attending a Christian Brothers College in Brisbane, he then worked at Cossey Motors. He came to Rockhampton in 1948, where he started in the business of road construction as ownerdirector of Brosnan Road Services. He joined the Rotary Club of North Rockhampton in 1960 and served as its President, Secretary, Treasurer and on most committees. At District level he served as the District Governor’s Zone Representative, and the District Governor’s Special Representative for the formation of the Rotary Club of Rockhampton East. In 1985 he also became the first President of the first Probus Club in Rockhampton sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rockhampton North. He has been this District’s Representative at two Councils on Legislation – Chicago in 1980 and Anaheim in 1992. His wife, Joyce, passed away some years ago, and he also lost an adult daughter and a son in tragic accidents.

International Convention: Sao Paulo, Brazil District Assembly and Conference: Mackay

The Conference was opened by His Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, Sir James Ramsay. The Rotary International President’s Special Representative was “Mick’ Shepherd from the Rotary Club of Parramatta, New South Wales. The Conference followed on from the Assembly and its sessions were wholly confined to Rotary topics. The Clem Renouf Trophy for the best overall performance was awarded to the Rotary Club of Rockhampton North.

Highlights of Year:

 Henry Chancellor, a sugar mill manager of Bundaberg, led a Group Study
Exchange Team of five males to District 6080 in the states of Missouri and Arkansas, United States of America. One of Missouri’s team members, Randy Cahearne, later became Governor of his state.
 Rotaract was very strong in the District with twelve very active clubs. The
Rotaractors also held a ball at Clermont with 97 Rotaractors among the attendees.
 The Southwest Pacific Branch of Rotary International opened in Sydney.  A successful week-long RYLA Camp was held at Cool Waters, Yeppoon.
Over 120 Rylarians attended.
 Brian established a firm friendship with Hector Lopez from Bueno Tuerto
Rotary Club in Central Argentina. From this developed a short term Youth Exchange program which has been going on between the two clubs for many years.

Brian being inducted as the first President of the Rockhampton Probus Club by D.G. Dudley Wood
District Conference Dinner. With Brian and Joyce are DGN Frank Hoeter and Ruth, and Les Parker, President of the Rockhampton North Rotary Club and his wife, and PDG Reg Brown

Brian and Joyce with the D.G.N. and his wife of our Matched District 5360, Missouri, U.S.A.

R. I. President Elect Rolf Klarick congratulating D.G.N. Brian Brosnan at the R.I. Assembly at Boca Raton

The Rylarians at the RYLA Camp at Cool Waters Holiday Village, Yeppoon, 10^th – 16^th May, 1981. The group is flanked by host parents, Peg and Bunny Garner. Camp Leader, P.P. Len Roles, is in the front row. The T-shirts they are wearing were screen printed as one of their activities.

All the District Governors’ Nominee and their wives at the Cypress Gardens, Orlando, Florida early in 1980.

THE 1981-82 ROTARY YEAR

Theme: “World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary”

World Understanding and Peace Through
Rotary

R.I. President: Stanley E. McCaffrey

Stanley was involved in University Administration as the President of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, the same position that a future R.I.President, Cliff Dochterman, held. He was also Past President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and of the Western College Association. He also served as a Vice-President of the University of California and President of the San Francisco Bay Area Council. He joined Rotary in 1948 and served as a District Governor, Director and Vice-President. He was a Past President of the Rotary Club of Moraga, California, USA.

District Governor: Frank Hoeter (Ruth)

Frank Hoeter MBE was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa. He attended the Sydney Grammar School and matriculated in 1942. When he was demobbed from the AIF, he joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1946. He transferred to the Papua New Guinea Police Force in 1949 and retired with the rank of Chief Superintendent in Rabaul. He had a long association with Rotary in Papua New Guinea. He was Charter Secretary of Goroka Rotary Club, Charter President of Wewak Rotary Club, Secretary of Boroka Rotary Club and President of Rabaul Rotary Club. When Papua-New Guinea obtained their independence, he retired to Hervey Bay and joined the Rotary Club there, taking on a number of official positions. He operated an insurance brokerage business there for many years. He retained his interest in the New Guinea and the Pacific Islands as a member and Treasurer for many years of the Northern Region of FAIM and later RAWCS. He is a connoisseur of fine wines, especially reds.

International Convention: Dallas, Texas USA District Conference: Hervey Bay

On the decision of Frank, this was the first year that the Conference was “split” from the Assembly. Ruth had to be taken to hospital with a life threatening illness and missed the District Governor’s Dinner. Unfortunately the caterers quit a few hours before the meal. People had to scurry around for Kentucky fried chicken etc. The R.I.President’s Special Representative was PDG Wal Oakes from Coonabarabran, N.S.W. The Keynote Addresses were delivered by P.D.G. Sir James Foots, Chairman of MIM Holdings; Professor of Asian Studies at Griffith University, Col Mackerras; P.D.G. Paul Henningham, Editor of “Rotary Down Under”; and P.D.G. Sir Arnold Bennett. The District Governor’s Handover Ceremony was conducted at the dinner at the last night of the Conference. The Clem Renouf trophy for the Best Overall Club Performance was presented to Rockhampton North.

Highlights of Year:

 The Rotaract Club of Biloela was chartered on 12 September, 1981.  The R.I. President solicited stories and photographs from clubs throughout the world so that he could publish a booklet about the importance of “Women TO Rotary” irrespective of what we think of “Women IN Rotary”.
 The District Conference and District Assembly were split for the first time with the Conference in June and Assembly in July.
 Mackay Interact Club, under the guidance of North Jacklin of the Mackay
Rotary Club, sponsored a new Interact Club at Sarina State High School.
 The first Australian and New Zealand Rotary Regional Institute took place in
Melbourne. This is now a yearly event of great importance especially to District Governors and Incoming Governors.

Past District Governors Bob Grant, Roy Schuh, Monty Martin and Frank Hoeter
DG. Frank Hoeter and his wife, Ruth
PDG Brian Brosnan inducting Frank Hoeter as District Governor

The Official Party on stage at the District Conference at Hervey Bay

THE 1982-83 ROTARY YEAR

Theme: “Mankind is one – Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World”

R.I. President: Hiroji Mukasa

Hiroji Mukasa was a director of the Mukasa Hospital, a position he held for more than thirty years. Born in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan, he was a graduate of Kyushu University Medical School. Dr. Mukasa was a Trustee of the Psychiatric Association of West Japan, and served as Chairman of the Pita Prefectural Board of Social Welfare. He was also interested in the arts and education, being Past President of the Nakatsu Cultural Association, the Nakatsu Art Association and the Nakatsu Board of Social Education. A Rotarian since 1957, he was a member of the
Rotary Club of Oita, Japan and a Past President of The Rotary Club of Nakatsu. He had served Rotary International as a District Governor, Director and as Rotary Foundation Trustee.

District Governor: Monty Martin (Bess)

Monty was born in Melbourne on 11^th October, 1930. In 1936 his parents moved to Mackay, where he went to school at St. Mary’s Convent and the Christian Brothers. He finished his schooling at St. Brendan’s College, Yeppoon. After finishing his apprenticeship in carpentry, he entered the family butchery business when his father became ill. In 1957 he went into partnership with the builder from whom he learned his trade, continuing on his own when his mentor retired on “Dollar Day” in 1966. After adding a concrete business to his portfolio, he had a career change in 1970 when he and Bess bought a food business, adding a supermarket and a restaurant to it in the next few years. All these, except a corner milk bar was sold in 1980. They finally retired in 1988. Bess and Monty have two daughters and six sons. Monty joined the Rotary Club of Mackay West in 1968 and was President in 1975-76. He is proud of his 100% attendance from 1968 till 2002. For many years he was the District Chairman of the Rotary Foundation. He received a sapphire pin to Paul Harris Fellow Award in 1997 and the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. In 1997 he was also awarded the Order of Australia for his community service. He has been Chairman of the Mater Mackay Hospital General Administration Committee since 1989 and a Director of the Mercy Health and Aged Care Board since 1975

International Convention: Toronto, Ontario, CANADA District Conference: Bundaberg

The Conference had a special theme, “Make a Stranger a Friend”. The R.I. President’s Special Representative was Past R.I. Director and Treasurer, Les McGregor, from Sydney, and the Conference was ably chaired by P.P. Noel Bullpitt M.B.E. The Keynote Speakers were David Hartley, founder of Hartley Computer Company; Kerry Walk, Queensland State Manager of Mobil Oil Australia Ltd.; Mrs. Mons Grimes, Past President of Bundaberg Inner Wheel Club; Mrs. Quinten Bryce, Convenor of the National Women’s Advisory Council; and Jack Dawson, Director of Corporate Planning, Qantas.

Highlights of Year:

 The Rotary Club of Gladstone-Port Curtis, with 25 Charter members, was presented with its charter on Saturday, 21^st August, 1982. Ian Milnes was its first President, but was transferred in December and replaced by Leon Shingles.
 In April, 1983, a Group Study Exchange was made with District 587 in
Texas, USA. Our team was led by Tony Wadeson
 Monty had the thrill of presenting an Interact Charter to his old school, St.
Brendan’s College at Yeppoon, the second Interact Club sponsored by Yeppoon Rotary Club.
 Other Interact Clubs were chartered at Emerald State High School and Sarina
State High School.
 Our collection of flags of other countries, which are displayed at all our important functions, originated in Monty’s year. He asked each club to donate a flag. The solid stands were built by Doug Ashton.
 Past R.I. President and current Chairman of Trustees of the Rotary
Foundation, Clem Renouf and his wife, June, visited Mackay.
 $8,625.39 was raised by 35 clubs in the District for bushfire victims in
Victoria and South Australia.
 33 young men and women attended the RYLA Camp at Hervey Bay.

Youth Television Program during Youth Week
Monty with his Incoming Presidents at the District Assembly at Neerkol
Charter Members of the Gladstone-Port Curtis Rotary Club on their Charter Night
Monty with the R.I. President’s Special Representative, Past R.I. Treasurer Les McGregor, at his District Conference

Monty with Paul Harris Fellows at the 1983 Bundaberg Conference Back Row: _______, ________, Alec Black, Frank Hoeter, Monty Martin, Brian Brosnan, Dick Hewitt Front Row: __________, Bob Nunn, ________, Reg Brown, Joyce Brosnan, Alan Stedman, Bert Tagell

District Youth Exchange Program Chairman, P.P. Colin Meng, and P.P. Mick O’Riordan, with a YEP Student at Conference

PDG Frank Hoeter congratulating DG Monty Martin at the his installation as District Governor

THE 1983-84 ROTARY YEAR

Theme: “Share Rotary – Serve People”

R.I. President: William E. Skelton

William Skelton of Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, was Dean Emeritus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Bill had been National President of Epsilon Sigma Phi, a professional organisation that specialises in Adult Education and 4-H Programmes. He served on the board of the Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First National Exchange Bank of Blacksburg. He had twice received the Superior Service Award from the U.S. Government. Bill joined Rotary in 1955 and was a Past President of the
Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America. He had also been a Director and Vice-President of Rotary International.

District Governor: Roy Schuh (Dawn)

Roy was brought up in Bundaberg and served his apprenticeship as an Electrical Fitter Mechanic. He started his own business in Walker Street, Bundaberg. Roy was a member of the Rotary Club of Bundaberg West. He owned an electrical contracting business. He flew his own plane to many of the club meetings he attended. He is no longer a member of Rotary.