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HISTORY OF OUR CLUB
Its 2020-2021
- Our 50th Anniversary year
50 years ago Strathfield Rotary
Club was born. On 19th April 1971, at a formal dinner held at
Macquarie University, the official charter was presented to the President Bill
Boyce, Vice President Don Killip, Secretary Bill Veitch, Treasurer Brian
Cullen-Ward and the Board.
During the first year there were 12 members inducted, 3
resignations and sadly one member (Leo Langley) passed away. There new members
inducted post Charter Night including Roger Vince who is
still an active member and our Club historian.
Meetings for the first two years were held at the
Strathfield Recreation Club. This was followed by many moves and finally in
2003, to Strathfield Golf Club. Charter President Bill Boyce, was the first
recipient of Paul Harris Fellow on 21st August 1980. (For the full story of how
our Club began
click here).
Extract from DG Harry Pickett's Charter Night address at
Macquarie University:
“Tonight’s ceremony marks
an auspicious occasion for the community of Strathfield. Leading business
and professional men of this community have banded together to form a Rotary
Club accepting the constitution and by-laws of Rotary International and
agreeing to further the object of Rotary. This new Rotary Club of
Strathfield formed by men who accept Rotary’s philosophy of ‘Service above
Self’ and who will exemplify high ethical standards in business and
professional life, aided by the friendship and fellowship of Rotary will add
to the wellbeing and way of life of the community"
CLUB HISTORY: FIFTY YEARS OF THE ROTARY
CLUB OF STRATHFIELD
Almost 50
years ago on 19 April 1971 the Charter for the Rotary Club Strathfield was
presented by the then District Governor Harry Picket (left) representing Rotary
International at the investiture of our Charter President Bill Boyce.
The first 20 years of the Rotary Club of Strathfield was compiled into a history
by PP Maurie Moroney and produced as a written document. Some of us still have
copies. Lesley Smallwood did the design and layout of the original document . Following Maurie's document PP Roger Vince and his
committee (Harley Tarrant and Peter Foss) developed a follow up yearly histories for the 40th
Anniversary. A series of PDF files which were provided weekly in the enews
from 25 April 2012 to May 2013 This last stage was carried out by Raymond
McCluskie (webmaster) with the help of others and has now produced the final 10
years utilizing the yearly reports of the past presidents. 50 years of
celebration comes up with some surprises and Alexey Prokopenko produced a
slide show; a pictorial record of the Rotary Club of Strathfield. A superb
presentation either as a
PowerPoint slide-show (click) or
as a PDF file (click)
NB these are large files patience while downloading. Use a mouse click to
advance powerpoint slides or just scroll the pdf.
On the 29 May 2021 we celebrated 50 years of Strathfield
Rotary with over 160 guests at the Strathfield Event Centre read the committee
Chair PP Roger Vince's report
"50 years of Success" (click)
Presidents at 50th Year Celebration
More 50th Year Celebration photos (click)
The whole record (below) will be soon on one document but
in the meantime scroll down and click the hyperlinks in blue.
The history begins in our Charter
year 1971 with our Charter President Bill Boyce
from
Rotary International;
our first program (Bulletin) page1 and Page
2
about our Charter
year and see a list of our Charter members
our
6th year.
Merv
Perry
was President
our
7th year.
Bob Taylor
was President. Bob later was Strathfield Rotary's first District Governor.
Remembering Bob by Harley Tarrant
our 8th year Peter
Foss
was
President and the year Ross Brown was inducted.
our 9th year. Lew
Wilson
was president.
It was
first year of the ANZAC day breakfast and also the first time the Club
conducted debates
980-81
our 10th year. Dr
Brian
Hennell
was president. This was a year that sustainable things happened. The year that the first Probus Club was chartered in
Strathfield under Director PP George Hallworth; and the Rotaract Club of
Strathfield was chartered under Director PP Bob Templeman. Raymond
McCluskie was inducted.
our
12th year
was David
Croft
AM. This
was the year of our first District Governor PP Bob Taylor. There is a photo
of Margaret and David, another Peter Pan set; the photo could have been
taken last week. As you know David also went on to be District Governor in
2000-01.
(E_news 11 07 2012 (Click).
-
1984-85
our 14th year was Harley
Tarrant.
Harley's year was a ground breaking year for accommodating change; the
Rotary sing-a-long, an anachronism of days of past, was banned. Harley
went on to be District Governor in 2006-07. Harley was the also the CEO of
the South Pacific Office of Rotary International. We knew him as "Mr Rotary"
-
1989-1990 our 19th year
Max Douglas was President.
PP Joe Saad was Max's Secretary. Peter Douglas who is now a member of
Narellan Rotary Club was Sergeant.
-
1990-1991 our 20th year
when
Dr Brian Driver was President and Angelo Franco was secretary. It was
the year that Peter Manenti was made a Paul Harris Fellow. The Changeover
from Max Douglas was longest ever. We didn't see Brian til about midnight.
-
1991-1992
our 21st year
and
Bert Houston was President. the Gala Night at the Regent Hotel was
memorable.
-
1998 to 1999
Angelo Franco's Year. Fun run and walk with 380 participants. The major
fundraiser was an “Evening of Elegance” at La Montage. $45,000 raised for
Camp Quality, Youth off the Streets and Youth Insearch with 500 guests and
entertainment by Julie Anthony, Don Burrows and the Navy Band.
-
2000 to 2001
Raymond McCluskie's year.
The Sydney Olympics year. 30 year birthday celebration. Club banner and
bulletin cover included olympic site image. The web page was developed. The
time capsule was exhumed. Youth Cultural awarded to Camile Erskine. David
Croft was DG - involvement with Conference on Central coast. Mental health
forum. Literacy program for women in India with the Rotary Club of Nasik
Road, India. RI Presidential citation.
-
2002 to 2003
Steve Taylors year. Moved from south strathfield bowling club to Strathfield
Golf club. Two initiatives - the Olympic Park Cycle Challenge and the Youth
Achievement Awards. The second Trish Golf Day. $9000 to Foundation for Polio
Plus. Lost Bob Taylor. Changeover visit from President of RC of Moree where
earlier $11,000 had been donated earlier.
-
2004 to 2005 Keith Byrn's year.
Rotary’s Centenary Year was celebrated with Burwood Rotary Club. Bike in
Olympic Park raised $10,000 for Cystic Fibrosis.Dr John Taylor passed
away.The Meriden Interact club continuedas District with $5000 donations to
various charities. Treasurer Allan Petersen presented his reports in verse
with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan.
-
2006-2007
Rod McDougall's year. Sponsored inaugural SGHS "Literature Extension
program". Inducted 15 new members and received RI Certificate. Forbes-Parkes
drought relief project with the Salvation Army provided $10,000. Rotary
Against Malaria project supported. PHFs for Bradley Ayres, Kevin Beltrame,
Niall King and Ray Wilson. Praised for organising the district conference in
Newcastle. One of 15 clubs in district to receive a Presidential Citation.
-
2009-2010
Kevin Freund's year. District 9690 Conference was held at Forster where
we all dressed up in a circus theme. PDG Harry Pickett, who chartered our
Club, his wife Lilian and also Fred Haddon passed away. Club's first
Strategic Plan initiated. PolioPlus, ShelterBox and the School of St Jude’s
in Tanzania supported and Meriden Interact contributed $7000. TRISH Golf Day
raising $52,135 bringing the total raised in the last 9 years to just over
$250,000. Ted Ingall celebrated 50 years as a Rotarian. Connie Galletta
received a PHF.
-
2010-2011
Peter Smith's Year. Peter died in July 2021. The club celebrated its 40th Anniversary at the Castel D’Oro in Five Dock on 6 May 2011. Shirley Del Prado passed away.
Six new members were inducted during the year – Naveed Chaudhry, David
Martin, Peter Revelos, Rod Rimes, Adrian Risi and Chris Virgona.
We were privileged to be addressed by Commissioner Andrew Scipione at the
police awards.
-
2012-2013
Ray Wilson OAM
Fellowship
meetings to the Tigers Club at Sydney Markets, Strathfield Croquet Club and
The Men’s Shed at Homebush. Involvement withV8 Supercars and Muscle Cars at
Eastern Creek. Graffiti trailer on the verge of being operational. Wine and
cheese tasting evening organised by Adrian Risi and Angelina Canturi. A
first Inter-Club Debate with Breakfast Point (in which our team of Joe Saad,
Allan Teale and Keith Stockall were victors). An International Korean night
developed by Anuradha Kamkolkar.
-
2014-2015
Allan Teale
Incredible humour each week by Sergeant
Chris Virgona. Memorable Anzac Day with Paul Flannigan, and his wife Judy
brought home the real meaning of Anzac, a truly great day for all members
and their guests to remember this moment of our history.
-
2015-2016
Allan Petersen was president.
Six new members inducted. Two PHFs for
Belinda Noonan and Arthur Crossan. Gift of Life Ball at Univ of Syd Great
Hall and donation of $26,000 to Lymphoma Australia. Celebrated 45th
Anniversary of club. $4,500 to Salvation Army Moree.
-
2016-2017
Steve Taylor .
Graffiti removal received a $10,000 grant from WestConnex for the purchase
of a utility. Global Grant to assist in rebuilding a run down old school in
the slums of Mumbai in India. David Croft writes stories on famous
Rotarians/events in Bulletin. Stroller Derby put on hold. Special night for
40 years of service by Rotarians
-
2017-2018
Rick Vosila.
12 new members. Raised a total of $14,700 for ARH. Partnering with The
Catherine Sullivan Centre to host a gala event, raised the $50,000 for a new
phonemic awareness program. President Rick vosila ran as Superman in charity
fun run; raised $10,000 for a wheelchair accessible bus for Chalmers Road
School. A first Indian Cultural Night, organised by Prabhat Sinha.
Fellowship nights included ghost tour visit to Old Government House.
-
2018-2019
Charles Pitt
"Christmas in July" raised $10,000 to
Chalmers Road School. Support for the children in a Colombian School with
the Rotary Club of Fusagasugá. Jamboree Girl Guide BBQ dinner provided at
Sydney Olympic Park. Trish Golf Day returns. Three PHFs: Dr Usha Garg, Peter
van der Sleesen and Rick Vosila. Peter Smith named Senior Volunteer of the
Year. Back at the new Strathfield Golf Club in October, 2018.
-
2019-2020
Arie Pappas
Rotary Citation with Presidential
Platinum Distinction. Best Club in the District Award. COVID-19 caused
projects being postponed or cancelledBUT Club involved with COVID-19 Relief
projects - Mother’s Day Gifts, Food distribution, Felicitation of service
Staff at Concord, computer equipment for Chalmers Road, Yuendumu Community
Project (Northern Territory), Drought Relief Project (Wellington NSW).
Contributed US$13,395 to Rotary Foundation. Overseas projects - Spinal Cord
Injuries (Sri Lanka), Prevention of Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS (Sri Lanka).
-
2020-2021
Usha Garg was President. Usha had to adapt to COVID-19 pandemic requirements.
Set a new pattern of alternate meetings (in- person/virtual) no meeting
cancelled. Events (all within COVID-19 restrictions) included POW awards,
BBQs, Youth events, Christmas Party, etc. First celebration of International
Women's Day with the theme "Choose to Challenge inequality". Great Anzac day
commemoration. Overseas projects in Sri Lanka and Columbia. Global Grant for
reconstruction of a school in India. Celebration of the club's 50th
Anniversary. The Changeover was conducted during Covid-19 lockdown as a
virtual Zoom meeting.
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