10 years for world-first satellite club

ALFREDTON Rotary Club members are celebrating a special milestone this December.

It’s 10 years since the group chartered as the first-ever satellite Rotary Club, and Rotarians marked the occasion with a beach-themed party on Monday evening.

Alfredton Rotary was born of founding members Kathy Rivett, and Ken Broadbent from Wendouree Rotary Club, taking part in a worldwide pilot program for three years about “new ways of doing Rotary.”

“Those years of research have paid off with a club that is extremely active,” Ms Rivett said.

“A majority of our members are female, which is a change, and we offer a different way of doing community service.

“Our meetings are very relaxed on Monday nights at the Lake View, and we only discuss projects within that hour. We welcome families, and we’re kid friendly.

“Rotary has changed, it’s not what people perceive it to be, and a lot of clubs are adopting our way of doing things.”

Key Alfredton Rotary projects have included the creation of two medical centres and the funding of health and dental initiatives in rural and remote areas in Bali, and a medical vehicle.

The Eat-Up program has seen 40,000 sandwiches made to feed school children across Ballarat, and buddy benches have been donated to primary schools to help lonely children connect with new friends.

Club members have sent containers to Zimbabwe for a medical centre and school, continue to provide flood relief to people in Lismore in New South Wales, and run the free annual community Halloween party in Lucas.

Member, Garry Lyons, said he and his fellow Rotarians enjoy what they do, working to better the lives of others in the community.

“We’re all about giving back, and having fun,” he said. “And, we get things done.”

In 2010, the Alfredton Rotary Satellite Club was one of 200 clubs, out of 1300 applications, accepted into the Rotary International Pilot program.