To mark 100 years of Rotary marks in Australia five local clubs presented a Rotary baton and Commemorative book to Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne at a special afternoon tea at Council last month
Mike Blair from Castle Hill Rotary Club which organised the event said Rotary International sent two Canadian Rotarians over to Australia in April 1921 with charters to start Rotary clubs in Melbourne and Sydney.
There are 35,000 Rotary Club’s globally and 1,100 Rotary clubs in Australia.
District Governor (9685) David Clark whose area covers over 65 Rotary Clubs stretch from the Blue Mountains to the Central Coast.
He said the biggest achievement of Rotary International was the Polio Plus program started by Australian Rotarian Clem Renouf in 1987.
“At the time 365,000 children were dying every single year from polio up until last week in the whole world we only had two cases of polio that was actually recorded and that was in Afghanistan.”
Mr Clark presented the book, Humanity in Action, detailing the history of Rotary in Australia to the Mayor. He also presented the R100 baton engraved with the names of the Rotary Clubs in Hills Shire: Castle Hill, Norwest Sunrise, Hills-Kellyville, Glenhaven and Kenthurst.
Dr Byrne said the baton represented: connection, represents community spirit and responsibility to making the world a better place.
“I am very proud of Rotarians in our community. The things you have done are absolutely incredible: Jazz in the Pines, Community gardens and raising funds for fire victims and flood victims. Thank you for making the Hills such a great place to live.”
To find out more about Rotary visit rotarydistrict9685.org.au
Rotary Marks , Rotary Marks
