ALFREDTON Rotary Club members are celebrating a special milestone this December.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cnew ways of doing Rotary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose years of research have paid off with a club that is extremely active,\u201d Ms Rivett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA majority of our members are female, which is a change, and we offer a different way of doing community service.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur meetings are very relaxed on Monday nights at the Lake View, and we only discuss projects within that hour. We welcome families, and we\u2019re kid friendly.<\/p>\n
\u201cRotary has changed, it\u2019s not what people perceive it to be, and a lot of clubs are adopting our way of doing things.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Member, Garry Lyons, said he and his fellow Rotarians enjoy what they do, working to better the lives of others in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all about giving back, and having fun,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd, we get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2010, the Alfredton Rotary Satellite Club was one of 200 clubs, out of 1300 applications, accepted into the Rotary International Pilot program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ALFREDTON Rotary Club members are celebrating a special milestone this December. It\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n