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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"

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 25 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 who did the design and layout of the original document has provided me with a series of PDF files that can be collated and used as an electronic record. "Over the coming weeks these documents, relating to each year, will be available through the enews" from the enews 25 April 2012 (I will extract from the web records)

• comments by the 1991-1992 Secretary Shane Smallwood;

• the Charter from Rotary International;

• our first program (Bulletin) page1 and Page 2

• about our Charter year and see a list of our Charter members

• 1972-1973  our 2nd year. Peter Roach was President

• 1973-1974  our 3rd year. Clarrie Edwards was President; and

• two photographs of the Change over from Peter Roach to new President Clarrie Edwards

• 1974-1975  our 4th year. Maurie Moroney was President

• 1976-1977  our 6th year. Merv Perry was President

• 1978-1979 our 7th year Peter Foss  was President and the year Ross Brown was inducted.

• 1979-80 our 8th year. Lew Wilson  was president. It was first year of the ANZAC day breakfast and also the first time the Club conducted debates