Geelong Rotary celebrates 100 years since inaugural lunch

ROTARY is celebrating 100 years since its inaugural luncheon on July 14, 1925, where work started to introduce a club in Geelong.

About 65 Rotarians from around the region commemorated the anniversary with a dinner on July 14 at St Lords in Newtown.

The celebration was chaired by Rotary Club of Greater Geelong president Andrew Lawson, who welcomed members and guests and facilitated the evening’s proceedings.

Present and past Rotary members took turns behind the microphone, reminiscing about their time with the group and their many projects through the years.

Alec Hand, a Rotarian of 52 years, spoke about his belief in the importance of the service.

“He recalled his early years in Rotary and a major project in his year as president,” Mr Lawson said.

“For this project the club joined with the City of Greater Geelong and City of Newtown to share half the cost of installing the water slide at the Kardinia Park Pool.

“The club borrowed their half of the slide’s cost and over three years the members worked to collect money for slide tickets to pay off the loan.”

Mary Lewis, a former director of nursing at Geelong Hospital, was the first woman to join the club and is a past president, and also spoke on the night.

“Mary told us that she was honoured to be invited to join the club,” Mr Lawson said.

“She mused that not many of the male guests were wearing ties as they would have done back when she joined the club.”

The recent amalgamation of the Geelong Rotary Club with the Corio Bay Rotary Club to form the Rotary Club of Greater Geelong was also acknowledged.

A more formal celebration with a dinner at Club Italia will also be held on October 18 to mark 100 years since the first club in the region was officially chartered.

All District 9780 Rotary clubs, members and friends will be invited.