75 Years of Service A History of The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. Rotary International Club No. 2985 Number 22 in Australia 1 1 75 Years of Service A History of the Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. PO Box 75 Horsham Vic 3402 Copyright © 2003 The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHT. Except for the purpose of genuine review, no part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or reproduced in any way, including, but not limited to photocopy, magnetic or other record, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Research and typing of manuscript by Rtn John Glover Design, formatting and printing by Alan Vickers, Vickers Printing, Horsham First printing October 2003 2 2 A history of the Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. n April, 1925, the Rotary Club of publication. To the Bulletin editors over the Melbourne opened an appeal to raise past 40 odd years, the Directors who prepared £10,000 throughout Victoria to endow the Annual Reports, and the Secretaries who the Boy Scout Administration filed the Board Minutes and correspondence, IHeadquarters. This was taken up in Horsham, and to anyone else who has recorded or and in a spin-off, the local Australian Natives volunteered information, we are most Association and churches suggested that a appreciative. „Branch‟ of Rotary in Horsham would be beneficial to all. Early in the life of our Club, Inaugural President Les Brookes spoke to the District It was to be another three years before this Governor, Fred Birks on perceived difficulties became a fact. Our sponsoring Club, Ballarat, and shortcomings of Horsham Rotary Club. was itself only chartered in December 1925, He felt he had „a body of men willing and sponsored by Melbourne. eager to be up and doing, but found the greatest difficulty in knowing just what to do.‟ This is a condensed history of the Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. from its formative The DG‟s consoling advice was:- “The meeting in 1928 through to the end of the Clubs the thing - do your Rotarians look Rotary year 2002-2003, a span of 75 Years. forward to meeting each other each week? Is Space can not allow for all Club projects to be there a spirit of hearty co-operation, of good covered, and many individual‟s stories will fellowship between all members? Have they never be told, as much of the Club‟s early “got together? I am confident that in your first history, and even some recent records are lost. year you have done that. Your Club is functioning „jolly well‟, and Rotary We are deeply indebted to those who International looks forward to a long and contributed to this update, especially the late fruitful future from your Club.” Don Garth, a Past President, who prepared „The First 50 Years - 1928-1978‟, a publication In 1964, a plea was printed by Club which is, in many cases, the only record of Historian Jack Mole in the Club Bulletin for much of our early history. the return of any early records. None were forthcoming. Fortunately, Past President Don Unfortunately, there is little of our early had been able to interview Foundation, Senior history surviving - newspapers of the time Active and past Rotarians for his „50 Years of were methodically read with little added Rotary‟ publication. information but confirming many projects. Searches of the early Horsham Thanks are due to Rotarian Jack newspapers confirmed but did not add much to Gillespie for his “10 Years of Rotary 1978- Don‟s monumental work, a sign that Horsham 1988”, and to the committee under Tom Rotary Club preferred to work anonymously Harmsworth‟s mentoring for the 1988-1998 even then. Bibliography Don Garth: „The First 50 Years 1928-1978‟ Annual Reports 1946 - present, [few missing - from newspapers] Jack Gillespie: „10 Years of Rotary 1978-1988‟ Miscellaneous notes and papers, including Tom Harmsworth: Club History - „1988-1998‟ newspaper cuttings. Club Records in the our archives, made up of :- Also Horsham Historical Society and the Wimmera Regional Library for access to old Bulletin Copies 1962 - present, plus some earlier newspapers and files individual copies Board Minutes 1953 - present, patchy in some John H Glover years in the 1990‟s 3 3 The Rotary International Charter 4 4 Historical Review 1905 First Rotary Club organised in Chicago USA 1908 Second Rotary Club organised in San Francisco USA 1921 Rotary Club‟s of Melbourne (April) and Sydney (May) formed 1925 Rotary Club of Ballarat formed - who in turn sponsored Rotary Club of Horsham 1928 Inaugural Dinner of Rotary Club of Horsham, RI Charter No 2985 signed 1929 Presentation of Charter to Rotary Club of Horsham: High School supported Boys Week celebrated - Large involvement in Boy Scouts in Horsham 1931 District Young Farmers Clubs formed by Rotary Club over several years Visit to Club Dinner by State Governor, Sir William Irvine and his wife 1932 Stewart Brown inducted into Horsham Rotary Club: Club commence Youth Week 1933 First Plantation at Pine Lake - Green,Taylors, and Dock Lakes soon followed. 1934 Sponsored the Charter of the Rotary Club of Warracknabeal: Horsham Hospital main effort for Club members. 1936 Job/Life talks implemented to let members know each others interests 1937 Horsham Base Hospital - paralysis patients taken on trips to Grampians- public meetings banned because of fear of Polio 1939 Club opens funds for Soldiers Relief and also Neglected Children 1941 Orange & lemon trees planted around hospital and Bolton Park. Free milk for Children Fund commenced 1945 AWL‟s at Dinner meetings were becoming a problem 1946 Many trees planted on site of present swimming pool for a „City Picnic Area‟. 1949 Free Kindergarten appeal sponsored by Club: Migrant assimilation scheme commenced Rotary obtained an area at Laharum as a permanent scout camp. 1950 Inter-City Rotary meeting- guest RI President Sir Angus Mitchell 1951 Herald „Learn to Swim‟ campaign commenced by members in old pool. Rotary launched Public Appeal for Memorial Swimming Pool on land donated by Rtn. Jack Bolton. Members prepared site with earthmoving and landscaping. 1954 Club „s huge response to NSW floods : Flat Rock parking and camping area constructed by Club members -signboards also paid for 1955 Horsham Housing Co-operative formed by members 1956/7 PP Stewart Brown District Governor of District 33: Members again responded to NSW floods with financial and material donations 1958 Jack Kramer‟s Professional Tennis Troupe brought to Horsham to raise money 1959 Youth Week ends after 30 years - schools want more vocational training, eg, mock interviews preferred. Ambulance Appeal successfully sponsored by Club for new Station in Horsham. 1961 New Youth Centre given all gymnasium equipment required 1963 First overseas Exchange Student arrived - Charlotte Roberts from Pennsylvania, USA 1964 Sponsored the Charter of the Rotary Club of Dimboola Official Visits from Moorabbin & Henley Beach Rotary Clubs Tucker‟s Christmas Tree Plantation established near Horsham 1965 First Exchange Student to leave Horsham - Carolyn Dawson - to New York State, USA Rotary calls Public meeting to establish Community Aid Abroad Committee 1966 Meals on Wheels started in Horsham by Rotary Club, in conjunction with hospital 1967 Two Malaysian nurses sponsored for training at Wimmera Base Hospital 1968 First annual social visit by Rotary Club of Camberwell : Club paid for the learners pool 1969 First Group Study Exchange Team to visit Horsham from New Jersey, USA 1970 River Beautification - Club filled in the Sawyer Brickworks for the Soundshell Forecourt 5 5 and developed area along river : Vocational awards given for workplace excellence. 1971 Sponsored the Charter of Rotary Club of Horsham East Moved Club Meetings to La Fontana Restaurant : First RYLA awardees 1973 Joined with WMT to sponsor „Junior Sportsman of the Year‟ 1972 First Elderly Citizens Christmas Dinner at La Fontana Co-sponsored the Charter of the Horsham Rotaract Club 1973 Official Visit by the Rotary Club of Melbourne 1974 Wimmera Base Hospital „Million Dollar Appeal‟, members heavily involved Stud Bull shipped to Philippines to improve their national herd 1975 Rotary House at 12 Carter Street built to aid of the Wimmera Base Hospital Clubs first Paul Harris Fellowship to PDG Stewart Brown 1976 Club sponsored team in „Sun Tour‟ Cycle Race. First Youth Hike through Grampians. Developed the Student Driver Training Track in racecourse together with schools. 1977 Installed Road Fatigue Road signs, CRB took over as a Statewide major program - which is now Australia-wide. 1978 Clubs 50th Anniversary Celebration of Charter in Horsham Town Hall 3H Program commenced - to alleviate problems of Health, Hunger and Humanity Gained from State Government grant to build State Emergency Service‟s HQ Building Sponsored Ruth McIntyre in Miss Victoria - who won Country Charity Queen section 1979 First year of Club catering at the Apex Fishing Competition 1980 Organised „Jaws of Life‟ Appeal - three sets provided instead of the promised one 1981 Helped establish the Wool Factory, with work in kind and donations 1982 Club‟s Shed in Selkirk Drive completed - all club property finally under one roof! Organised Public Appeal for $12000 for a cardiac care unit for the Ambulance Service River Flood Levels markers installed. Sponsored Ron Barassi to speak at a Public Meeting on „Motivation. Music Master Classes commenced 1983 Club members installed foundations and flooring at Wool Factory sheep shed Club sponsored it‟s first National Youth Science Forum student 1984 Sponsored Bob Ansett to speak at a public meeting on „Perception and Reality‟ 1985 Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser spoke on „Very Important Persons‟ group. 1986 Camp Quality held its first Camp, our Club made a substantial donation 1987 Conducted District 9780 Conference at Town Hall and other venues with Horsham East Polio Plus Program - Club‟s donations exceeded expectations over the 3 years: RYPEN awards commenced 1990-1 Club‟s First Siemens ASIA Science Experience candidates.