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75 Years of Service

A History of

The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc.

The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. Rotary International Club No. 2985

Number 22 in Australia

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75 Years of Service A History of the Rotary Club of Horsham Inc.

The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc. PO Box 75 Horsham Vic 3402

Copyright © 2003 The Rotary Club of Horsham Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHT.

Except for the purpose of genuine review, no part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system,

transmitted or reproduced in any way, including, but not limited to photocopy, magnetic or other record,

without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Research and typing of manuscript by Rtn John Glover

Design, formatting and printing by Alan Vickers, Vickers Printing, Horsham

First printing October 2003

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I n April, 1925, the Rotary Club of

Melbourne opened an appeal to raise

£10,000 throughout Victoria to endow

the Boy Scout Administration

Headquarters. This was taken up in Horsham,

and in a spin-off, the local Australian Natives

Association and churches suggested that a

„Branch‟ of Rotary in Horsham would be

beneficial to all.

It was to be another three years before this

became a fact. Our sponsoring Club, Ballarat,

was itself only chartered in December 1925,

sponsored by Melbourne.

This is a condensed history of the Rotary

Club of Horsham Inc. from its formative

meeting in 1928 through to the end of the

Rotary year 2002-2003, a span of 75 Years.

Space can not allow for all Club projects to be

covered, and many individual‟s stories will

never be told, as much of the Club‟s early

history, and even some recent records are lost.

We are deeply indebted to those who

contributed to this update, especially the late

Don Garth, a Past President, who prepared

„The First 50 Years - 1928-1978‟, a publication

which is, in many cases, the only record of

much of our early history.

Unfortunately, there is little of our early

history surviving - newspapers of the time

were methodically read with little added

information but confirming many projects.

Thanks are due to Rotarian Jack

Gillespie for his “10 Years of Rotary 1978-

1988”, and to the committee under Tom

Harmsworth‟s mentoring for the 1988-1998

publication. To the Bulletin editors over the

past 40 odd years, the Directors who prepared

the Annual Reports, and the Secretaries who

filed the Board Minutes and correspondence,

and to anyone else who has recorded or

volunteered information, we are most

appreciative.

Early in the life of our Club, Inaugural

President Les Brookes spoke to the District

Governor, Fred Birks on perceived difficulties

and shortcomings of Horsham Rotary Club.

He felt he had „a body of men willing and

eager to be up and doing, but found the greatest

difficulty in knowing just what to do.‟

The DG‟s consoling advice was:- “The

Clubs the thing - do your Rotarians look

forward to meeting each other each week? Is

there a spirit of hearty co-operation, of good

fellowship between all members? Have they

“got together? I am confident that in your first

year you have done that. Your Club is

functioning „jolly well‟, and Rotary

International looks forward to a long and

fruitful future from your Club.”

In 1964, a plea was printed by Club

Historian Jack Mole in the Club Bulletin for

the return of any early records. None were

forthcoming. Fortunately, Past President Don

had been able to interview Foundation, Senior

Active and past Rotarians for his „50 Years of

Rotary‟ publication.

Searches of the early Horsham

newspapers confirmed but did not add much to

Don‟s monumental work, a sign that Horsham

Rotary Club preferred to work anonymously

even then.

A history of the Rotary Club of Horsham Inc.

Don Garth: „The First 50 Years 1928-1978‟

Jack Gillespie: „10 Years of Rotary 1978-1988‟

Tom Harmsworth: Club History - „1988-1998‟

Club Records in the our archives, made up of :-

Bulletin Copies 1962 - present, plus some earlier

individual copies

Board Minutes 1953 - present, patchy in some

years in the 1990‟s

Annual Reports 1946 - present, [few missing -

from newspapers]

Miscellaneous notes and papers, including

newspaper cuttings.

Also Horsham Historical Society and the

Wimmera Regional Library for access to old

newspapers and files

John H Glover

Bibliography

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The Rotary International Charter

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Historical Review

1905 First Rotary Club organised in Chicago USA

1908 Second Rotary Club organised in San Francisco USA

1921 Rotary Club‟s of Melbourne (April) and Sydney (May) formed

1925 Rotary Club of Ballarat formed - who in turn sponsored Rotary Club of Horsham

1928 Inaugural Dinner of Rotary Club of Horsham, RI Charter No 2985 signed

1929 Presentation of Charter to Rotary Club of Horsham: High School supported

Boys Week celebrated - Large involvement in Boy Scouts in Horsham

1931 District Young Farmers Clubs formed by Rotary Club over several years

Visit to Club Dinner by State Governor, Sir William Irvine and his wife

1932 Stewart Brown inducted into Horsham Rotary Club: Club commence Youth Week

1933 First Plantation at Pine Lake - Green,Taylors, and Dock Lakes soon followed.

1934 Sponsored the Charter of the Rotary Club of Warracknabeal: Horsham Hospital main

effort for Club members.

1936 Job/Life talks implemented to let members know each others interests

1937 Horsham Base Hospital - paralysis patients taken on trips to Grampians- public

meetings banned because of fear of Polio

1939 Club opens funds for Soldiers Relief and also Neglected Children

1941 Orange & lemon trees planted around hospital and Bolton Park. Free milk for Children

Fund commenced

1945 AWL‟s at Dinner meetings were becoming a problem

1946 Many trees planted on site of present swimming pool for a „City Picnic Area‟.

1949 Free Kindergarten appeal sponsored by Club: Migrant assimilation scheme commenced

Rotary obtained an area at Laharum as a permanent scout camp.

1950 Inter-City Rotary meeting- guest RI President Sir Angus Mitchell

1951 Herald „Learn to Swim‟ campaign commenced by members in old pool.

Rotary launched Public Appeal for Memorial Swimming Pool on land donated by

Rtn. Jack Bolton. Members prepared site with earthmoving and landscaping.

1954 Club „s huge response to NSW floods : Flat Rock parking and camping area

constructed by Club members -signboards also paid for

1955 Horsham Housing Co-operative formed by members

1956/7 PP Stewart Brown District Governor of District 33: Members again responded to NSW

floods with financial and material donations

1958 Jack Kramer‟s Professional Tennis Troupe brought to Horsham to raise money

1959 Youth Week ends after 30 years - schools want more vocational training, eg, mock

interviews preferred. Ambulance Appeal successfully sponsored by Club for new

Station in Horsham.

1961 New Youth Centre given all gymnasium equipment required

1963 First overseas Exchange Student arrived - Charlotte Roberts from Pennsylvania, USA

1964 Sponsored the Charter of the Rotary Club of Dimboola

Official Visits from Moorabbin & Henley Beach Rotary Clubs

Tucker‟s Christmas Tree Plantation established near Horsham

1965 First Exchange Student to leave Horsham - Carolyn Dawson - to New York State, USA

Rotary calls Public meeting to establish Community Aid Abroad Committee

1966 Meals on Wheels started in Horsham by Rotary Club, in conjunction with hospital

1967 Two Malaysian nurses sponsored for training at Wimmera Base Hospital

1968 First annual social visit by Rotary Club of Camberwell : Club paid for the learners pool

1969 First Group Study Exchange Team to visit Horsham from New Jersey, USA

1970 River Beautification - Club filled in the Sawyer Brickworks for the Soundshell

Forecourt

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and developed area along river : Vocational awards given for workplace excellence.

1971 Sponsored the Charter of Rotary Club of Horsham East

Moved Club Meetings to La Fontana Restaurant : First RYLA awardees

1973 Joined with WMT to sponsor „Junior Sportsman of the Year‟

1972 First Elderly Citizens Christmas Dinner at La Fontana

Co-sponsored the Charter of the Horsham Rotaract Club

1973 Official Visit by the Rotary Club of Melbourne

1974 Wimmera Base Hospital „Million Dollar Appeal‟, members heavily involved

Stud Bull shipped to Philippines to improve their national herd

1975 Rotary House at 12 Carter Street built to aid of the Wimmera Base Hospital

Clubs first Paul Harris Fellowship to PDG Stewart Brown

1976 Club sponsored team in „Sun Tour‟ Cycle Race. First Youth Hike through Grampians.

Developed the Student Driver Training Track in racecourse together with schools.

1977 Installed Road Fatigue Road signs, CRB took over as a Statewide major program -

which is now Australia-wide.

1978 Clubs 50th Anniversary Celebration of Charter in Horsham Town Hall

3H Program commenced - to alleviate problems of Health, Hunger and Humanity

Gained from State Government grant to build State Emergency Service‟s HQ Building

Sponsored Ruth McIntyre in Miss Victoria - who won Country Charity Queen section

1979 First year of Club catering at the Apex Fishing Competition

1980 Organised „Jaws of Life‟ Appeal - three sets provided instead of the promised one

1981 Helped establish the Wool Factory, with work in kind and donations

1982 Club‟s Shed in Selkirk Drive completed - all club property finally under one roof!

Organised Public Appeal for $12000 for a cardiac care unit for the Ambulance Service

River Flood Levels markers installed. Sponsored Ron Barassi to speak at a Public

Meeting on „Motivation. Music Master Classes commenced

1983 Club members installed foundations and flooring at Wool Factory sheep shed

Club sponsored it‟s first National Youth Science Forum student

1984 Sponsored Bob Ansett to speak at a public meeting on „Perception and Reality‟

1985 Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser spoke on „Very Important Persons‟ group.

1986 Camp Quality held its first Camp, our Club made a substantial donation

1987 Conducted District 9780 Conference at Town Hall and other venues with Horsham East

Polio Plus Program - Club‟s donations exceeded expectations over the 3 years:

RYPEN awards commenced

1990-1 Club‟s First Siemens ASIA Science Experience candidates.

1992-3 Catering Caravan purchased, renovated and put to good use

1993 Junior „Citizen of the Year‟ awards initiated at all primary schools

1995 Conducted District 9780 Conference at Secondary College with Horsham East &

Dimboola : First year sponsoring Secondary College Debating

1996 Catered for the Ninth Australian Caravan Rally at Longerenong

First Max Taylor Music Award : Sponsored first RAWCS team member

1997 Visit by Rotary Club of Moorabbin: Rtn. Keith Murdoch Club‟s first Sapphire Awardee

Coffee Break provided on highway for Adelaide Crow & Port football fans on route

Club nominated first Rotary „Shine On‟ recipient

1999 Named Pavers produced and placed in Roberts Avenue

2000 The Shed renamed the „Rotary Club of Horsham Clubrooms‟.

Clubs 1st Foundation „Centurion‟ member PP G.Leak

2002 Schools „Hugh Jenkin‟ Photographic Competition commenced

2003 Horsham Rotary Club‟s 75th Anniversary of Inaugural Meeting and Charter

Major Project - Public Appeal for a „Rotary House‟ at Wimmera Base Hospital

2005 Rotary International‟s Centenary of first meeting in Chicago

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Rotary House # 1

In 1974 the Club accepted the challenge

of building a house, the profit being directed to

the Wimmera Base Hospitals „Million Dollar

Appeal‟. Over £13,400 was raised by the

building of the house in Carter Street,

purchased by the Education Department. The

project started with the donation of the land by

Rtn. Col Jenkinson.

The Club assumed responsibility for the

road, footpath, water and sewerage extensions

and other site improvements. With the weather

against it, but with perseverance and patience

and oceans of iced coffee, the house was

finally completed on 5th October 1974. Club

members assisting tradesmen made this a

financial and fellowship success.

Christmas Trees

Horsham Rotary Club has been „green‟

long before it became socially correct. Our

first plantation was in 1933, with the

establishing of the now magnificent pines at

the northern end of Green Lake, some

unfortunately being removed to allow a car

park. Further planting's were at Dock and Pine

Lakes, Bolton Park, Haven and at the Base

Hospital.

However, commercialism approached,

and in 1963-64 Club members cleared and

fenced land on Tuckers Farm near Horsham,

and in 1965 planted 1000 pine trees to be sold

@ $1.00, with further trees being planted at PP

Jack Russell‟s property in 1978. Since then,

other plantations have been established on

Reynold‟s, Eagle‟s and Hutchinson‟s

properties. Our first sales were in Christmas

1966, and over the past 40 years have raised

$44,921.

Fishing Competition

Despite hints of bankruptcy and even

more dire threats, President Ned Carter felt the

Club needed a „Fellowship project‟. This was

even after a fellow service club „lost their shirt‟

in 1978. After heated discussion the Club

agreed to offer their services to cater to the

fishermen. Who could forget the huge

marquees at the sound shell, peeling potatoes

and onions, making hamburgers, Ned and the

ladies making salad rolls at Lehmann's Shed,

iced coffee, the graveyard shift with skinny

dippers, utes along the river, patrons who

actually purchased our product. Words cannot

do justice to this fabulous Club effort over the

25 odd-years.

This major effort raised over $50,000

and built the Rotary Shed/Clubrooms. To date

the shed and extensions have now cost

$18,410. The scale of operations will be

recognised from the following statistics from

our second year:- Ned‟s ladies made 1500

salad rolls at Lehmanns Shed, using 23 kg

corned beef and 15 kg cheese. The „boys‟ used

4500 rolls; 159 kg mince; 1356 frozen

hamburgers; 63 kg Saveloys; 9 bags of

potatoes; 2 bags onions; 7 boxes lettuces; 3

boxes tomatoes; 172 dozen soft drinks; 2040

Big M; 1656 Choc Wedges; with 2000 chip

cups; 4000 paper bags; 26 litres tomato sauce

and 4 drums cooking oil-all for a profit of

$2,528.

Later, commercial hamburgers, chips,

etc, were eased in, but the friendships struck up

peeling potatoes and onions at 2.30 am in a

huge marquee, with memories of PDG Stewart

Brown and PP Malcolm Taylor, with „Tam-

o‟shanter‟ actually involved in this menial task,

or our Exchange Students [and our own kids]

stealing „the‟ iced coffee can never be erased.

Road Fatigue Zones

One of the least known, but one of the

most impacting projects of this Club was

initiated in 1977 by the Youth Committee. For

several years prior, Past President Eddie

Brownstein , horrified by the tragic loss of

lives, especially of young people on the

highway from Stawell through to Serviceton,

had compiled statistics and these were

submitted to the then Country Roads Board for

their consideration.

With typical bureaucratic speed, nothing

happened. This Rotary Club had its own road

signs prepared with financial help from Mobil

Oil, and applied to the CRB for permission to

install these signs along the Western Highway.

Surprisingly, this approval was soon granted,

Our Special Projects

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and the signs erected by Rotarians from

Stawell to the border. They attracted much

public attention, and with this support „Fatigue

Zones‟ were recognised as a reality, and the

Government had the CRB place their own

signs on all highways throughout the State.

Since then, other States have followed, using

the figures which Eddie provided and had been

added to by the Australian College of

Surgeons.

Gate Keeping In the past few years after the change in

catering arrangements for the Fishing

Competition, our members have become expert

„gate keepers, at the Annual Show and the

Wimmera Field days, plus other minor days.

This now raises over $5,000 each year.

Caravan Rally

Rtn. Keith Murdoch at a weekly meeting

announced „I have a project with no work

involved which can make this Rotary Club a

lot of dollars.‟ Always eager to „make a quid‟,

the Club agreed, and we catered for the 1995-

96 Australian Caravan Rally at the Field Days

Site. Stories are still being told of the length of

the queues, [which get longer every telling] of

the placid customers, several members melting

over the barbecues and being revived by huge

liquid intakes.

This „minor‟ catering effort involved a

100% Club effort. Members cooked and

served over 2300 meals, plus sweets, with over

300 meals served to member helpers. This

worked out to over 7 meals cooked and served

per minute at dinner time each night. The ten

consecutive nights of „no work‟ raised the

profit of $6,767.

Christmas Puddings

This project started in 1978 and early returns

were slow. However, from 1993 sales have

boomed, and profit is now over $13,000.

Wine Bottling

These were quite frequent, and possibly even

profitable, but due to evaporation, „necking' of

bottles, etc, profit on these events was never

able to be firmly established. Do you

remember.. „Ole Borer‟....„Pig Bin‟...‟Fathers

Fortifier‟....? All great vintages? Or were they

just memorable? Lots of good fellowship and

a healthy [?] profit at each bottling.

The Club has been involved in many

other projects, some large, some not so large:

eg. Kannamaroo, raffles, scrap metal drives,

drought relief, Karkana; etc. Often the value of

these projects has been hidden in the annual

Balance Sheet by the “new creative accounting

methods” used by Treasurers in some years,

the Club being unable to gauge the actual

worth of a particular project.

Members have co-ordinated public

appeals such as the Memorial Swimming Pool;

the State Emergency Service‟s headquarters

building, the purchase of the Jaws of Life for

three Wimmera SES Units, supplying a

Cardiac Arrest Unit for the Ambulance

Service, or work in kind similar to the flooring

at the Wool Factory, valued at $3,000 in

labour.

Organisations such as the Wimmera

Base Hospital, are helped with on-going

donations. Annually we help support Hospice,

Camp Quality, Portsea Camp, Prostate Cancer,

Christian Emergency Food Bank, Salvation

Army, along with many others on a semi-

regular basis.

Rotary House # 2 For our 75th Anniversary, together with

Horsham East Club, an appeal has been

launched for $250,000 to build a block of units

for temporary accomodation at the Wimmera

Base Hospital. Over $100,000 was raised

within 3 months, and Horsham tradesmen have

already promised much „work in kind‟. At

time of printing, the fund had exceeded

$250,000. Work has commenced on site.

Major beneficiaries

Three major Rotary beneficiaries of Special

Club Efforts have been:-

3H Programme In 1978-79 the then Australian Rotary

International President Clem Renouf

announced a commencement of a 2 year fund

raising of the 75th Anniversary Fund for the

Development of the Rotary International‟s

Health, Hunger and Humanity Programme.

Easier known as the 3H Programme, it was

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initiated to improve health, alleviate hunger

and enhance human and social development as

a means of advancing international

understanding, goodwill and peace. This Club

became a Banner Club from its donations.

ARHRF

Was started in 1981 by the Rotary Club of

Mornington to halt the „brain drain‟ of medical

researchers overseas, and is now the largest

independent research Foundation in Australia.

The Australian Rotary Health Research Fund

has funded research into Sudden Infant Death,

Environmental and Mental Health, and many

other research programmes in Australia.

POLIO PLUS

A Rotary International Programme started in

1984-85 to immunise all the children in the

world. By 1992, Rotary, together with WHO

and UNICEF, had immunised an estimated

80% of the world‟s children against 6 major

diseases, including polio. It is hoped to finalise

this programme by Rotary International‟s

Centennial year, 2005. A spin-off from the 3H

1987 District Governor Barry Downs of

Hamilton East Rotary Club approached the two

Horsham Clubs and asked them to jointly

conduct his District Conference in 1987. The

challenge was accepted, with PP Jim Amos of

Horsham Club as Chairman, Geoff Leak as

Secretary, Deputy Chairman PP Bill Ower of

Horsham East, and John Airey, Treasurer.

The Rotary International President‟s

Representative was Paulo V C da Costa, who

in 1990-91 became Rotary International‟s

President himself.

Keynote Speakers for the Conference

were Paul Sheahan, Australian Test Cricketer

and Principal of Geelong College, Malcolm

Mackerras, Political Journalist, Len Beadell,

Explorer and Stephen Smith, Apex National

President. The City welcomed 900 Rotarians,

wives and exchange students.

Various venues were used in Horsham.

The Town Hall was the main auditorium, the

Secondary School Hall was used for the men's

luncheon and the skating rink was the venue

for the ladies‟ luncheon with a fashion parade.

Saturday night saw a bush band concert at the

skating rink (Shades of Troopers Creek), a jazz

concert at Jakades Restaurant (the Seaside

Stompers), and a piano recital by Mack Jost at

the Art Gallery.

Sunday‟s lunch was a pre-packed box-

lunch at the Sound Shell. All morning and

afternoon teas were partaken at Bethellford‟s

premises, while buses ferried people around

the venues. Everything ran with military

precision. A Conference profit of $2,740 was

struck after applying the District Conference

Allowance of $10,000.

1995: District Governor Geoff Tually of

Horsham East Rotary Club invited Horsham,

Horsham East and Dimboola Clubs to jointly

organise the 1995 District Conference.

Under the Chairmanship of Geoff Leak,

Deputy Chair Glen Savage, Secretary John

Glover and Treasurer Trevor Bysouth, together

with a combined team from the three Clubs,

plus some Warracknabeal Rotarians, conducted

what was voted the best ever „country

fellowship‟ Conference.

Keynote Speakers at our Second District

Conference were Mary Delahunty, TV

Journalist & Politician, Les Twentyman, Social

Worker, Roy Knudson, Australian Kidney

Foundation, Frank Green, Victorian Police

(Traffic) and John Ackland, WGGTCo.

Again Horsham entertained over 960

visitors, only this time on the one campus at

the Horsham Secondary College. The

Conference used the main Assembly Hall and

several classrooms, and in one of the biggest

marquees ever seen in Horsham, the main

meals were served.

Morning and afternoon teas were served

in the school quadrangle. At the Conference,

Dimboola Club stalwart PP Roy Zanker was

presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Entertainment was provided on Saturday

night by the Secondary College Band, followed

by a group led by John Lidgerwood, which

included Judy Holah, Mal Meikle and Gordon

McKenzie. With prudent management, the

District contribution of $14,000 was returned,

and financial support given to local groups

with the balance left.

District Conferences held in Horsham

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Australian Rotary has hosted three R.I.

Conventions, the first by Sydney Club‟s in

1971, Melbourne Club‟s in 1993, and

Brisbane‟s turn in 2003.

Members of this Club have attended the three

Conventions held in Australia. Others have

been more fortunate, and attended Conventions

overseas.

Rotary Conventions in Australia

Australia R.I. Presidents

1948-49 Angus S Mitchell, Melbourne Vic

1978-79 Clem Renouf, Buderim Qld

1988-89 Royce Abbey, Essendon Vic

1997-98 Glenn W Kinross, Brisbane Qld

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Stewart Fiddes Brown

S tewart F Brown was born in Albert

Park, Melbourne on 5th January,

1906. He was educated at Fairfield

Primary School and later at

Melbourne High School.

He matriculated and went to Melbourne

University to study Law. He satisfactorily

completed this study at age 20, too young to be

admitted to the Bar, so he studied a further 2

years in the Faculty of Commerce, and was

then admitted.

He was articled to Proudfoot and Horton

from 1923 until 1929. On 1st April, 1929

Stewart arrived in Horsham after being

admitted to law practice on 1st March that

same year.

For five years he practiced law in

partnership with Mr Norrie Muntz, later of

Muntz and Maroney, Dimboola, after buying

the Horsham practice of H. Balfour, Cathcart

and Company.

On 26th October, 1929 he married

Evelyn Rosetta Margaret Reaby at Canterbury,

and they settled in Horsham. They had one

son, Geoffrey, also a solicitor, now of

Melbourne, and a daughter, Margaret (Mrs

Purviss, in Perth, W.A).

In 1934 Stewart bought out his Muntz &

Maroney partner, and in 1938 moved from his

office in Young Bros building to new brick

premises at 74 Wilson Street.

During the depression he represented

many Horsham and Wimmera people for little

or no remuneration, and was able to keep many

farmers on their land and ordinary people in

their homes as a result.

Alexander Proudfoot was employed in

his office from 1937 until 1940, and

commenced in partnership with him in 1946

after war service.

Their association as Brown & Proudfoot

continued until Mr Proudfoot‟s death in 1973,

when Stewart retired from full-time practice to

tend his roses at his home at 75 Natimuk Road

home after a coronary. He continued as a

consultant with the firm until 1983.

Stewart was inducted into the Rotary

Club of Horsham on 18th August, 1932, when

it was in District 65, covering Western

Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory,

Tasmania and Victoria and into NSW to

Wagga. Horsham was the 22nd Club in

Australia being formed by the Ballarat Club.

Soon after, Horsham sponsored the 34th

Club in Australia, Warracknabeal. From his

induction, Stewart held almost every position

in Club and District including Club President

(1939/40), Past District Governor (1956/57).

He sailed to the USA where he attended

the District Governor‟s Assembly at Lake

Placid in May 1956, the Philadelphia

Convention in June and then onto Rotary

International headquarters at Evanston, where

he met the World President.

After a very successful year as District

Governor of District 33, Stewart held his

Conference in Warrnambool. The theme for

that year was „Keep Rotary Simple‟, a theme

which Stewart followed for the rest of his life,

sharing his Rotary and it‟s philosophy with all

whom he met, Rotarians, friends, clients and

acquaintances.

During his year as District Governor he

ordered the survey of Darwin for a future

Rotary Club - a fact two years later.

Stewart was a keen cricketer in his

youth, and had an interest in football, tennis

and golf, and he worked hard to promote

Longerenong Agricultural College as an

academic centre of agricultural science.

He was also interested in politics,

commerce, economics and the Liberal Party.

Together with Mr Ian Bennett he founded the

Wimmera Law Association, and he was the

solicitor for the City of Horsham from 1929

until 1964.

He was an active member of the College

of District Governor‟s for many years even

after his retirement. He was directly

instrumental in the forming of both the

Warracknabeal and Dimboola Rotary Clubs.

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In all, Stewart devoted 62 years of his

life to Rotary, which both he and Evelyn loved.

At the 1975 District Conference in

Geelong, Wilbur Pell, the Rotary International

President‟s personal representative, presented

Stewart with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Rotary‟s highest award was a fitting tribute to

his magnificent contribution. At that stage,

Stewart had given over 40 years to his Rotary

dream.

In 1992, the Horsham Rotary Club

honoured Stewart with a special dinner to

celebrate his 60th induction anniversary. He

received presentations from RI President

Clifford L. Dochterman, of Stockton,

California, past District Governors, and Club

Presidents.

Stewart continued to give his advice and

support to others, despite a long illness, with

Evelyn‟s help, until his death at his home in

Horsham on the 22nd October, 1993.

He was buried at the Horsham Lawn

Cemetery 4 days later, the 64th anniversary of

his marriage.

Stewart‟s quiet dignity and oratory is

sorely missed by all who knew him, not only

by his fellow Rotarians.

He will long be remembered.

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T he first venue for Club meetings was

Perrings Cafe in Firebrace Street, the

first meeting being held there on 5th

September, 1928.

For over 13 years, most meetings

including Christmas and District Governors

Visits were held there. Rotarian George

Perring was a Foundation Member.

In 1941 the cafe was taken over by Rtn

Ray Emanuel, and then by Rtn Mick Haranis.

In 1947 the Club met for a time at the Central

Cafe, returning to Perrings from 1948 until

1951.

Because membership was growing, new

premises were sought, and in 1951 the Club

was meeting in the R.S.L Memorial Hall and

from September 1959 the Buffs Hall.

Larger or special meetings were held

either in the Masonic Hall or the Town Hall.

The Club then moved to the Royal Hotel in

1961, to the Locarno Hotel in December 1962

and finally the La Fontana Restaurant in 1971.

Accommodation has always been

difficult to obtain owing to our number of

members, but this Club has remained at the

same venue since 1971. La Fontana was later

renamed Jakades Restaurant, and more recently

the Horsham Sports & Community Club.

Until the 4th February, 1959, the Club

appointed a roster of members to act as

stewards for serving meals at meetings. Their

duties were to wait on the tables, serve the

meal, then clear the tables afterwards.

In Perrings and the Central Cafe, the

Rotarians met in an upstairs room and contact

with the kitchen was made via a dumb waiter

(lift). This was a box approx. 2‟6” x 3‟,

attached to a rope and balanced by a weight on

the other end.

This box was filled with a number of

meals at the kitchen and would then be pulled

up to the dining room and distributed by the

stewards.

The only contact with the kitchen staff

was to call down through the well. Although

unusual, this method was very effective.

The Rotary Club, not being able to find

accommodation at the hotels or cafes owing to

numbers, was forced to go to the RSL Hall and

the Buffs Hall. Meals were then supplied by a

caterer, Mr Ted Omant.

Shortly after this arrangement, the Club

felt that the stewards were missing too much of

the meetings, and Mr Omant was approached

to supply waitresses, which he did, and

members paid an extra 1/- for their meal from

4th February 1959. The Club has continued to

be served ever since.

The cost of meals has increased over the

years. At the start in 1928 a 3 course meal cost

1/6d. Prices had increased to 4/9d in 1952,

and by 1959 the cost was 7/-.

In 1967 a meal cost $1.10, 1978: $4.00,

1979: $4.50, 1980: $5.00, 1981: $6.00, rising

progressively to $8.00 in September 1983,

which included a 50c exchange student levy.

In July 1984, the Club decided to keep

costs down, and opted for a two-course meal at

$8.00. Wives and guests were charged only

$7.00, the $1 difference being 50c for the

exchange student, and 50c for the soft drink on

the table and the guest speakers meal.

In July 1989 the cost had risen to $9.50

to everyone. In 1992 it rose to $10.50 and in

1995 to $13.00.

By 2002 the charge rose to $14.50, a

cost which included a 50c surcharge for

exchange student expenses and 50c for the

Heads & Tails competition. There was no

discount for guests. In March 2003 the cost

increased to $16.00.

Fines were generally 2/-, but were

discretionary, depending on the severity of the

sin, from 2d to £2. Birthday fines rose to 5/-

for a number of years, then abolished for a

period, and reintroduced on 21st June 1961 at

$1.00.

This amount was increased to $2.00 in

August 1978. The fine for general

misdemeanours, originally 2/- (20c), was

increased to 50c in July 1989, an amount that

was still current in 2002.

At one stage a new car purchase incurred

a fine of $2.00, and all anniversaries were

Venues & Charges for Club Dinner Meetings

14 14

$1.00. Club subscription originally in 1928

was £6/5/0 [$12.50. By 1978 these were set at

$36.00 per annum, 1989: $130.00, rising to

$165.00 in 1993, to $175.00 in 1997, to

$180.00 in 1998, $185.00 in 1999 and by 2003

had risen to $230.00. This figure covers our

Club costs for Administration, Bulletin, etc,

District costs including Administration,

Conference, Club Insurance [Property,

Personal and Liability] for members and family

members, and the Club‟s affiliation with

Rotary International.

Our earliest record of affiliation to RI in the

USA, the 1st January 1933, shows the

exchange rate as A£1 buying US$4.866, or

A$1= US$2.433.

In 1975, an Australian Dollar would buy

only US$1.24. By March 2003 our A$1 was

worth only US$0.58c, but has risen to US0.69

as at 16th October 2003.

15 15

T he Formation Meeting for invited

gentlemen was held in the Horsham

Town Hall on Saturday, 25th August

1928, and attended by 23 of Horsham‟s leading

business and professional men.

This meeting was called by Ballarat

Rotarians - President Mr C.P.A. Taylor, Past

President W.J. Pullum, and Secretary Rotarian

L Maddern, all members of the Rotary Club of

Ballarat, which was our sponsoring Club for

membership to Rotary International.

Horsham men who attended the interest

meeting were :-

David Anderson, Auctioneer

James Barnes, Veterinary Surgeon

John Bennett, Solicitor

Leslie R Brookes, Principal - High School

Jack Crase, Men's Wear Retailer

George Gardiner, Manager AMP

Henry E Goode, Manager Union Bank

Reg Grant, Dentist

Alfred Langlands, Wine & Spirit Retailer

Frank Langlands, General Merchandise Retail

Percy Learmonth, Water supply Engineer

William Lyons, Postmaster

Chas W McDonald, Building Contractor

Frank Miller, Grazier & Financier

George Perring, Cafe Proprietor

Rev Ernest (Ben) Petherick, Religion (Pres)

William Pryor, Town Clerk

Charles Rennison, Jeweller

Harold Smith, Hardware Retail & Sawmiller

Fred Tucker, Furniture Retailer

Jack V.S Ward, Horsham Times Ppr.

George White, Manager, Wilson Bolton‟s

Doctor J.G.Roy Felstead was at the meeting

but due to business pressure did not join.

This group of local identities first met as

a Club on Wednesday, 5th September 1928 at

Perrings Cafe, later the Niagara Cafe, and now

Brian Murray‟s Camera World and elected the

following as the first Board of Directors of the

Rotary Club of Horsham. It was also decided

that the Club would meet weekly at Perrings

Cafe, at a cost of 1/6d, on every Wednesday

evening.

Charter President: L e s l i e R

Brookes

Vice President: Jack Bennett

Secretary: William Lyons

Treasurer: Henry Goode

Sergeant at Arms: Jack Barnes

Board of Directors: H Smith, C McDonald, G Gardiner and J V S

Ward.

The territory allotted to Horsham Club

was within the Town of Horsham to a radius of

20 miles (32 km) of the Civic Centre. Annual

fees were set at £1/-/-, with an Entrance and

First Membership Fee of £5/5/- to defray the

costs of badges, books, etc.

The Board of Directors approached Mr Sam G

Cahill, photographer and a group photograph

of Charter members was taken at a cost of

£7/08/9d. at his studio.

The first meeting of the Board was on

the 8th October 1928 also at Perring's Cafe,

and arrangements made for the Inaugural

Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, the 10th

October 1928.

Catering was in the hands of Rotarian

George Perring, and it was not to cost more

than 7/6d a head - members paying 7/6d and

guests paying 2/6d a head, with the 5/- balance

made up by the Club. Dinner dress was

obligatory, and the Press were guests of the

Club.

The Board of Directors met the

Melbourne-Ballarat train and six of the

Directors conveyed the visitors “in their

motors” to the Exchange Hotel, where they

stayed overnight. They later walked as a group

to Perring's Cafe at 8.00 pm. for the Dinner.

The meeting was chaired by President

C.P.A.Taylor of the Ballarat Club, who

presented the new Club with a „beautiful‟

mace. Secretary L Maddern also of Ballarat

gave a „wonderful‟ address on “Practical

Idealism”, and on this note the Inaugural

Dinner Meeting closed.

The First Nine Months - Birth of a Rotary Club - 1928-1929

16 16

19th December, 1928 saw the first Ladies

Night, the Christmas Dinner, also held at

Perring‟s with 21 members present and 28

guests. The special cost for the night was 4/6d.

On Wednesday 6th February 1929 the

Charter Presentation Dinner was held again at

Perring's Cafe. The actual presentation of the

Charter was made by Ballarat President

C.P.A.Taylor, standing in for District Governor

Fred Birks, who was unable to be present due to

illness.

Guests included 1 from The Rotary Club

of Melbourne (Ballarat‟s sponsoring club), 8

from Ballarat Club and 6 representing the soon-

to-be chartered Rotary Club of Mount Gambier.

Rotarian John Bennett submitted the Toast to

Rotary.

Other addresses were given by Rotarian

Arthur Chambers, Rotary Club of Melbourne,

on his recent trip to the 2nd Pacific Conference

in Japan, and Rotarian Len Maddern of Ballarat

RC. who spoke on his visit to Rotary

International Headquarters at Evanston, Illinois,

USA. Throughout the evening guests were

entertained with musical and vocal offerings.

Horsham‟s Charter, Number 2985, was

signed and dated on 5th November, 1928, at

Rotary International Headquarters. The Rotary

Club of Melbourne was Australia‟s first Rotary

Club, chartered on 1st April, 1921.

They in turn sponsored Ballarat, who

were chartered on 15 December 1925. Horsham

was the 22nd Club chartered in Australia, in the

then District Number 65. [Ref: PDG Stewart F

Brown - Bulletin 10/10/1986].

At the 1929 District Conference in the

newly established National Capital, Canberra,

Secretary William Lyons represented the

Horsham Rotary Club, at a District Conference

for the first time.

Recovering from his illness, the District

Governor, Fred Birks, of the Rotary Club of

Sydney, made his official visit on Monday 29th

April 1929. A special lunch time meeting was

arranged in lieu of the usual evening meeting.

It is interesting to note his term as District

Governor was for two years. District 65 then

covered the entire Australian continent, and the

extra year allowed him to visit every club in his

District. Fred was the first Australian Director

of Rotary International, elected 2nd Vice

President in 1932/33.

Only 27 weekly meetings were held in

the first year, plus 6 Board Meetings.

Youth was always the main topic of any

discussion, and Boys Week was celebrated on

Wednesday, 1st May 1929, when Boy Scout

Patrol Leaders were guests of the Club. An

address was given by Rotarian A. Chambers of

Melbourne Club. Rtn. Ern Petherick was an

early scoutmaster.

A High School Hostel was being looked

at as a future project, while a detailed and

exhaustive survey of local Industrial and

Commercial possibilities was envisaged which

could provide potential employment for local

boys and girls.

During the 27weeks, other guest speakers

included William Heughen, famous Scottish

singer and actor, Dr Rudolph Kuraz, Australian

Consul General for Czechoslovakia and

Rotarian E Peacock of Melbourne Rotary Club,

as well as a number of our own members.

Fellowship was to be the Clubs‟ heart and

soul, and the committee organised 2 Ladies

Nights, 2 Men's Social nights, including a Club

visit to the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier‟s

Charter Dinner.

During this first year, both the Vocational

and International Committees also looked to

local youth as their primary target. The first

year was a period mainly of Rotary education.

The Board could not have foreseen the future

Depression Years in the Thirties.

And so the fledgling Rotary Club finished

the formal part of its first year, alive, but

fighting for its existence - the bank balance

showed a debt to the Bank of £32/19/8d.

17 17

1929-1930

Board of Directors

President: John Bennett, Solicitor.

Vice President: H Smith;

Secretary: W H Lyons;

Treasurer: H E Goode;

SAA: J Barnes;

Directors:

L R Brookes, G H P Gardiner, C W McDonald,

J Crase & F B Langlands

District Governor C C Holtz visited in October

during „Back to Horsham Week‟.

Again, Youth was the main thrust of the

Club, with the Community Service, Vocational

Service and International Committees all

contributing to this Club effort. The Boy

Scouts and Girl Guides were the organisations

receiving the most attention, although

preliminary discussions were in train toward

the formation of Young Farmer Clubs around

the Horsham District.

The formation of a Horsham Boy

Scouts Committee was discussed on 14th

August 1929, where Mr C W Game, State

Organising Commissioner of the Boy Scout

Association, spoke to the Club luncheon in

connection with the Aims, Methods and Needs

of Scouting. The Club devoted a lot of time

assisting Mr Game in the formation of a Troop

Committee, which was formed on 21 August

1929, at a public meeting in the Horsham

Town Hall.

Many Rotarians were represented on the

committee and did excellent work in the

interests of scouting. On the 30th April, 1930,

the Rotary Club entertained 93 guests which

included Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and Cubs

accompanied by their Commissioners and

Leaders. Later in the afternoon, Rotarians

attended the opening of the new Scout Club

Rooms. A levy of 7/1d was struck by the

Board on members to pay for the 93 guests at

the luncheon.

Programs throughout the year included

the District Governors Visit, Christmas Dinner,

a visit by Rotarian E R Peacock from

Melbourne Club, together with 14 visiting

guest speakers, the balance our own Club

members.

There were 47 weekly meetings during

the year, with 7 separate Board Meetings.

The Fellowship Committee organised

two Ladies Nights, one the annual Christmas

Dinner with 25 Rotarians and 25 wives

attending, and on 4th July 1929 the installation

of the 1929/30 Board with 19 members and 26

guests present.

In November, Fellowship arranged a

visit by 9 Ararat Rotarians to our meeting. A

great night of song and interesting addresses

ensued. Club Membership increased to 26, and

the finances of the Club improved

dramatically, finishing with a credit balance of

£14/13/4d.

The District Assembly (for all Australia)

was held at Scott‟s Hotel, Collins Street,

Melbourne and Vice-President Horrie Smith

and William Lyons. Our Secretary attended on

behalf of the Club.

The 3rd Pacific Conference and

Australian District Conference was held in

Sydney and President John Bennett represented

the Club at the joint Conferences.

It is interesting to note that committees

collaborated on the one goal, and in the early

years Youth had all the Club‟s attention. In a

few years time the Club would look to local

Community works for its main projects.

1930-1931

Board of Directors

President: Harold Smith, Hardware

Retail and Saw Miller

Vice President: J Crase

Secretary: W H Lyons

Treasurer: H E Goode

SAA: J Barnes

Directors:

R S Grant, C W McDonald, F Langlands, L R

Brookes & J Bennett

During the year the Committee in charge

of Youth Organisations, with Reg Grant as

Chairman, together with Jack Crase and Bob

Newton, was very active, as were two other

Rotarians who were on the Executive

Diary of Events & Activities

18 18

committee of the Horsham Boy Scouts. Due to

the interest taken by Rotary, scouting was

showing a distinct revival. On 29th April,

1931, the Club entertained Girl Guides, Boy

Scouts and Cubs, and their leaders in the

Presbyterian Hall, the entertainment taking the

form of a social night in which the guests were

treated to sleight of hand, moving pictures,

comic songs and ventriloquism, all of which

were greatly appreciated by the audience.

This was followed by supper, with

Rotarians acting as waiters. The guests did full

justice to the supper.

This year the Club passed through what

was to be the worst time ever experienced in

the Wimmera - known since as „the Depression

Years”.

President Harold Smith said that the

weekly luncheons and mutual friendships

formed had been well worth while, and the

balance sheet proved this. In 1928-29 the Club

was overdrawn at the bank £32/19/8d, 1929-30

showed a credit balance of £14/13/4d, while

1930-31 finished with the Club in credit to the

amount of £22/16/1d.

Meanwhile however, membership had

dropped to 22, a concern to the Board. Average

attendance per month was 66.62%. This was

due to business problems and even failure,

unemployment and families leaving the

Wimmera.

During this year three Ladies Nights

were held, the first on 2nd July, 1930, the

installation of Officers, where 15 members and

29 guests attended. Although the Club

members considered the year a poor one for

Rotary Service, the ladies, guests and members

declared all Ladies Nights a success. At one

stage during the year membership dropped to

15.

1931-1932

Board of Directors

President: Jack Crase, Accountant

Vice President: H Smith

Secretary: W H Lyons

Treasurer: H E Goode/J Morrow

SAA: J Barnes

Directors:

F Langlands, R S Grant, G B Woodgate, L R

Brookes replaced by N C Newton, J Morrow

replaced H E Goode, D Clark replaced J

Morrow.

The Red Letter day for the Club in 1931-

32 was the attendance of their excellencies, Sir

William Irvine, Lieutenant-Governor of

Victoria, and Lady Irvine at the weekly

meeting in the Masonic Hall during Horsham

Show week. Borough and Shire Councillors

together with their wives and friends

combined with the members and their wives to

make this a very enjoyable function. Sir

William was an Honorary Member of the

Rotary Club of Melbourne.

Membership slipped to 21 while the

bank balance showed a credit of £23/2/7d.

This was a year of consolidation, with

some projects put on hold until the members

and the community were able to support such

efforts.

At a Directors‟ meeting held on 7th

October, 1931, the Directors discussed the

possibility of establishing Young Farmers

Clubs throughout the Horsham District, and

finally in 1932, through the efforts of the

Rotary Club and a local executive committee,

the Club was successful in establishing

branches of the Young Farmers Club at Haven,

Pimpinio and Horsham.

1932-1933

Board of Directors

President: Frank Langlands,

Department Stores

Vice President: G B Woodgate

Secretary: R S Newton

Treasurer: R S Grant

SAA: J Barnes

Directors: J Crase, J Barnes, D Clark, & H Smith

Youth was again the main thrust of club

committees. Another Boys and Girls Week

was arranged, and some 30 children from the

Horsham High School and the Convent were

taken on a number of outings by Rotarians,

who provided their cars and drove the students

to places of interest.

The first trip was to Murra Warra, where

they were able to view the reservoir and

channels being constructed by the State Rivers

and Water Supply Commission, in connection

with the conservation and distribution of water

19 19

through the Wimmera-Mallee Irrigation

System. Full particulars of the work in

progress was explained by Rotarian Don Clark,

the Officer in Charge.

Another outing was arranged to

Longerenong Agricultural College at Dooen.

On arrival the party was welcomed by Rotarian

George Woodgate, Principal of the College,

who gave a brief outline of the College, its past

and present activities. They were then

entertained at afternoon tea, after which they

were divided into two parties, one in the charge

of Rotarian George Woodgate, the other by

Ivan Tulloh, the farm manager, and a tour of

the college farm taken and all workings

explained. Judging by the expressions of the

students, a profitable and pleasurable time was

spent in both outings.

On 10th August 1932, the Board

directed President Frank Langlands to contact

the State Rivers and Water Supply with a view

to obtaining pieces of land to establish

plantations and picnic grounds. In 1933

Rotarian Don Clark (SR&WS) was given

charge of the plantations, and arranged the

grading and fencing of the Green Lake area,

and this was achieved with the help of the

Country Roads Board.

A day was set aside for the planting of

the pine trees and a number of Rotarians,

assisted by school children from State School

No. 298 planted 400 pine trees on the north

side of Green Lake, and the 150 trees left over

were taken to Taylor's Lake, planted and

guards placed around them.

he Club then allotted each Rotarian a

certain number of trees to look after. Water

had to be carried from the Lake in buckets;

weeding and digging around was also part of

each Rotarians work. Keen interest was taken

with this work, and the trees did beautify the

area.

In 1941 signboards were commissioned,

and erected at the Green Lake and Dock Lake

Plantations. They read “THE ROTARY

CLUB - HORSHAM PLANTATIONS”]

Membership in this year rose to 24, a

loss of 4 but with 7 new inductions, attendance

also was rising, to 80.35% - the effects of the

depression were starting to ease.

The ladies were invited to two Ladies

Nights. Guest speakers were again from our

own ranks, supplemented with DG Sinclair

McGibbon, Professor Osborne, Melbourne RC;

and ten other invited speakers.

Stewart Brown was inducted into this

Club on 18th August 1932, having purchased

the practice of Mr H Balfour Cathcart in

Horsham in 1929. Later in that year Stewart

married Evelyn Reaby, of Melbourne. During

the depression, he helped many families in

Horsham and the Wimmera, giving his advice

free, and often on their behalf obtaining

valuable time to allow them to get back on

their feet. He suffered a coronary in 1970,

retiring from active business life two years

later. He held most Club positions before

becoming President in 1939-1940, and after

that many District positions. At the 1954-55

District Conference he was appointed District

Governor 1956-57.

During his term as President he had

formed a friendship with Sir Angus Mitchell,

who was District Governor in that year. Sir

Angus visited Horsham often, as a Director of

Nuske Consolidated Industries, and always

made a visit to this Club. He had many friends

within our Club. Angus Mitchell, Rotary Club

of Melbourne became President of Rotary

International in 1948-1949. He died in 1961.

Stewart Brown was this Clubs „Grand

Father‟, and always willing to pass on his

knowledge of Rotary and general knowledge to

all. He received his Paul Harris Fellowship

Award at the District Conference in 1975.

Stewart passed away on 22nd October 1993,

aged 87, having actively and tirelessly worked

for Rotary for over 60 years.

Our bank manager was happier this year,

finishing with a final credit balance of

£50/6/4d, and the Club felt confident enough to

make a donation of £2/0/0 towards Boys and

Girls Week.

President Frank Langlands at his

induction, said that the Young Farmers Clubs

established within our territory were fast

becoming objects of pride to Rotarians who

were practically responsible for their

functioning, and asked the members to

consider the possibility of more new clubs in

our area. So during the year three new clubs

were established at Jung, Dooen and Dooen

North.

20 20

At a luncheon held in Horsham, the

Young Farmers Club were guests of the Rotary

Club. During this dinner, Rotarian Past

President Jim Sawyer was appointed „Father of

the Dooen North Young Farmers Club.‟

1933-1934

Board of Directors

President: George Woodgate,

School Principal

Vice President: R S Grant

Secretary: R Newton

Treasurer: J Crase

SAA: P Oates

Directors

H Smith, J Barnes, H Charlton, D Clark & F

Langlands.

Youth Week was proving so successful

that the Club decided to extend this project,

and in 1933-34 the whole week was given by

the Rotarians to the youth of Horsham and

district. On Monday morning, students from

Horsham High and the Convent proceeded to

Longerenong College for a tour as in previous

years.

Tuesday night was the usual weekly

dinner meeting, with each Rotarian being

asked to bring one or more children as his

guests. Rotarian J Morrow arranged with his

firm, Shell Oil Company, to show a film

entitled „McRobertson‟s Tour Around

Australia‟. Intense enthusiasm was shown and

the children pronounced the evening a

wonderful success.

On Wednesday Rotarians took thirty

students from the Horsham High School and

the Convent to the Stawell Woollen Mills.

The management of the mill donated

four suit lengths, 2 for girls and 2 for boys who

wrote the best essay on the visit. Afternoon tea

was provided by the Club. Winners were Jean

White and Beth Dougall, and Noel Glancy and

J. Farish.

On Thursday, Rotarians Gordon Forsyth

and Stewart Brown delivered addresses at the

Horsham Elementary and High Schools.

On Saturday, trucks and cars were made

available by the Club for a tour of the new

Mount Zero water scheme by 100 students of

the Elementary and Catholic schools.

Tea was provided at Green Lake after a

very enjoyable day. Sunday‟s finale was a

Pleasant Sunday Afternoon for the children of

the town, held in the Horsham Theatre.

Speakers were the Mayor, Rotarian J Barnes,

and Mr Hughes, assisted by the Horsham

Choristers and Miss Joan Jones, followed by

community singing. Rotarian Don Clark

stated in his report that this week was the best

in the history of Horsham Rotary Club, and

asked that Youth Week be repeated again next

year.

Meanwhile, Horsham continued its post

Depression surge: membership increased to 30,

and attendance averaged 88.17%. Eleven

invited speakers spoke to the Club, including

Messrs Middleton and Must of Apex Club of

Ballarat. By now our finances were good with

a credit balance at the end of the year of

£82/5/4d.

President George Woodgate asked for at

least one meeting with 100% attendance. He

got five during his year. This year the Club

actually held three Ladies Nights. The District

Assembly was held at Craig's Hotel, Ballarat,

and the annual Conference at Mount Gambier.

On 7th May 1934, our Club paid its first

Official Visit to our own sponsored Club,

Warracknabeal, for its combined Inaugural and

Charter Dinner.

1933-34 saw the Community Service

Committee direct some of their activities, for

years concentrated on Youth affairs, to raising

money for the Horsham Base Hospital. The

money raising scheme was taken up very

enthusiastically by members, with the objective

of raising £50/0/0d by means of a Hoop-La

Stall, assisted by wives and daughters who

kindly donated gifts, and Mr Dahlenburg, M

White and S Davey, who also helped on the

stall. This effort was successful in raising the

sum of £63/10/-d.

At the 1933 Horsham Agricultural

Show, a special section was made available for

Young Farmers exhibits. It was well supported

by district young farmers, and so much interest

was shown by the public that Show officials

and members of the Young Farmers Clubs

started planning for the 1934 Show.

Past President Frank Langlands stated

that the Young Farmer Clubs were a great

achievement and there was no doubt that the

21 21

movement would sweep the State of Victoria.

Through the co-operation of Rotarian

Morrie Smith, the Club was able to obtain

temporary Commonwealth Bank premises for

the Young Farmers Club and further help was

given by Rotarians at a field Ddy organised by

the Young Farmers themselves.

1934-1935

Board of Directors President: Reg Grant, Dentist

Vice President: H Charlton

Secretary: R Newton

Treasurer: J Crase

SAA: P Oates

Directors:

F Langlands, J Barnes, D Clark, S F Brown &

G Woodgate.

District Governor Angus Mitchell made

his official visit to Horsham on 4th December,

1934, and received a 100% attendance of

members. In addition to his official Club visit,

Angus made a personal call on every available

Rotarian at his place of business. This kindly

act was much appreciated. Membership was

26, with attendance of 83.86%.

Among several notable speakers during

the year, Dr Kagawa gave an interesting and

instructive address on the Economic and Rural

conditions in Japan. The ladies again were

entertained on their usual two nights, while our

treasurer announced a credit of £69/1/1d,

interest received was 1/10d.

Boys and Girls Week would again take

up a week full of activities, with the main

attraction a hobbies exhibition. This was held

in the Methodist Church Hall.

Other events were run on similar lines to

the two previous years, and concluded with a

Pleasant Sunday Afternoon at the Horsham

Theatre. Speakers were the Mayor, followed

by Rotarian J Barnes. The main address was

given by Reverend Britton of Melbourne on

„The Challenge of Youth”. Vocal numbers

were contributed by Miss Joan Jones and Mr J

Hoskin.

The District Assembly was held at the

Australia Hotel, Collins Street, Melbourne,

shortly after Angus Mitchell‟s return from the

USA.

The Annual Conference was also held in

Melbourne in March, and was attended by Paul

Harris and his wife - 8 Horsham Rotarians

were in attendance.

Community Services‟ big effort was again

helping with the Hospital Carnival. The Hoop-

la and Chocolate Wheel were operated by

Rotarians and raised £84/0/0. In addition, a cot

was placed in the hospital, made possible by

donations subscribed to by Club members.

1935-1936

Board Of Directors:

President: Jack Barnes, Veterinary

Surgeon

Vice President: H Radford

Secretary: H Charlton

Treasurer: H Barbour

SAA: P Oates

Directors:

S F Brown, J Foster, R S Grant, F Langlands &

G Woodgate.

Youth was the main area to suffer due to

a membership drop and other projects already

undertaken. The two Rotary members agreed

to continue on their positions on the Boy

Scouts Committee, and a donation of £5/0/0d

was made to strengthen the movement in

Horsham.

Fellowship were able to hold three

Ladies Nights during the year, it is interesting

to note ladies were not invited to the District

Governor‟s official visit.

Many non-Rotarians were invited to

speak during the year, including Reverend B L

Semmens on three occasions, James McRae,

the Director of Education in Victoria, Mr T H

Scholfield MLA; Mr Reid, Auditor of the Bank

of NSW; Mr Van de Veldt of Kodak, A J

Vasey of Victorian Department of Agriculture

and Mr Haynes, Installing Engineer at Western

Regional Broadcasting Station, in addition to

our own members.

Another 220 trees were planted at Dock

Lake, making 370 in all.

Several Inter-club visits were arranged.

The first one was to Ararat, later with

Warracknabeal Club coming to Horsham

following a challenge of a Tournament at

Horsham Bowling Club. The Club once again

manned the booths at the Annual Hospital Fair.

22 22

This year‟s District Assembly was held

at Scot's Hotel, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne;

while the Annual Conference organised in

Adelaide.

Finances allowed for larger cash

donations to be made, and from a credit

balance of £77/18/2d, donations were given to

the Boy Scouts £5/0/0d. The hospital received

£21/0/0d. Bank interest this year amounted to

£1/2/6d. Starting this year, presentations were

given to guest speakers, etc, and these

amounted to a Club cost of £10/16/0d.

1936-1937

Board of Directors:

President: Henry Radford, headmaster

298 School

Vice President: S F Brown

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: H Barbour

SAA: J Foster, replaced by

J Sawyer

Directors:

J Barnes, J M Johns, R Newton, G Woodgate,

& F Langlands.

Aided by the induction of 7 new

members, the Youth Week program was again

successfully staged. The Clubs main project

involved twelve members with their cars

loaded with boys and girls making a trip

through the Grampians to the Victoria Valley

where a picnic lunch was provided for all.

The Students were then taken to the

Wimmera-Mallee Water Scheme headwaters

area, and the entire scheme explained to them.

This was a full days outing. The balance of the

week included a tour of Longerenong College,

and finished with a Sunday Concert.

An area of land on the Hamilton Road,

near Haven was fenced off by the Wimmera

Shire Council and planted with pine trees by

Rotarians over a weekend working bee.

Afternoon teas were supplied by Rotarians

Clem Perrin and George Perring. Some

evidence of this plantation is still evident.

The Annual Hospital Carnival was

postponed because of inclement weather, but a

cash donation was made by the Club to keep

the cash flow open.

In 1936 the Vocational Service

Committee started implementing „My Job‟

talks, which were a great success [and are still

in our 75th year].

Chairman Bob Newton reported in the

Annual Report:

„I would like to emphasise early in my

report that the value of my committee,

Vocational, cannot be accessed in spectacular

works as is the case of other committees. it is

the opinion of members of the committee that

they are the „policemen‟ of Rotary, whereby all

members are educated, and we hope, inspired

to take into their professions and callings the

teachings of Rotary.

The work of my committee is to see that

each member of the Rotary Club of Horsham is

seized with the fact that he is an ambassador

from his profession to Rotary, and from Rotary

to his profession. It is calling men in their

professions to a higher life of service for their

colleagues and the community as a whole.‟

Like the Vocational Committee, the

International Service Committee had

committed all its efforts to Youth in Horsham

for its first eight years.

It now looked to its Internationality and

contact was sought through correspondence to

selected overseas Clubs, for inspiration in

planning future projects. Reverend B L

Semmens was again invited to speak on

International subjects and it was suggested that

“Nationals of other countries” living in

Horsham be invited to join the Club

The Club finished with a credit of

£94/6/11d in the bank, and donations were

given to the Arts & Crafts Room: £5/0/0; the

Joan Jones Testimonial: £3/3/0d; and an

amount towards new Horsham Band Uniforms

£3/0/0d.

A cairn was erected by the Club on the

Western Highway between Green Lake and

Dock Lake in honour of Major Mitchell, who

passed between the lakes on his journey of

exploration in July, 1836. The cost of the cairn

was £16/19/11d.

Several members and their wives

enjoyed the hospitality of the Ararat Club‟s

Inter-Club rally, and several members and their

wives attended the Conference in Hobart.

23 23

1937-1938

Board of Directors:

President: Don Clark, State Water

Engineer

Vice President: Dr G Forsyth

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C H Sherman

SAA: J Sawyer

Directors:

H Radford; R Newton; S F Brown: G Salmon.

Membership rose to 32 members, the

highest since the Club began. Programmes

during the year included 6 visiting speakers

and 6 „My Job‟ talks by new members.

The District Conference was in Perth

and 4 members attended on behalf of the Club.

Youth Week, renamed from Boys and

Girls Week, was again given highest priority

by the Club, with Primary children joining

Secondary students. Rotarians gave a number

of addresses on citizenship to the High School

and the Primary School.

Parties of students were conducted over

Longerenong Agricultural College, Town

Council‟s various undertakings, local

industries such as Noske‟s Flour Mill, the

Butter Factory and Dooen Wireless Station as

well as a number of other industries.

A picture night was also given for the

children of the town. Another important outing

this year, in conjunction with the Apex Club,

was provided for some 20 inmates of the

Infantile Paralysis Section of Wimmera Base

Hospital to the Grampians.

Later, when it was found that these

children had recovered sufficiently to resume

some small activity, the Club provided

specially designed easels and blackboards for

instruction purposes. Because of this outbreak

of Infantile Paralysis, all major public

gatherings were banned, causing the hospital‟s

carnival cancellation. Members made a direct

contribution of £12/10/0d.

Rtn Gordon Forsyth reported to the Club

that numbers of crippled children were not

sufficient in the Wimmera to warrant the

formation of a branch of the Crippled

Children‟s Society, but asked that as Rotarians

we should assist these children by taking them

on trips and doing what we could to help them

obtain positions.

More trees were planted at Dock Lake,

and the Club has now the satisfaction of seeing

what was recently a bare piece of ground

transformed to a beautiful picnic ground, with

a full sized football ground and dressing sheds

and all due to the efforts of this Club working

with the Country Roads Board and State Rivers

and Water Commission (whose local managers

are members of Horsham Rotary).

Following a report by Rtn Reg Mumme,

of Geelong Rotary, stating that Vocational

Service was not a „Cinderella‟ Committee, and

functioned better in small, country Clubs, our

committee pushed for more Job and Vocational

talks in the weekly programming.

Addresses on International topics aimed

at broadening members‟ outlooks and

developing a deeper interest in other lands

were given. Subjects such as „How Rotary is

Governed, and its world-wide influence‟; the

Peninsula of Sinai and the British Governments

problems there; Impressions from a trip to

Europe; Canada‟s place in the Commonwealth

of Nations; The Jew; Customs of the people of

Tonga; etc.

Letters were again sent to overseas

Rotary clubs and several replies received. A

cheque of £5/0/0d was sent to the Rotary Club

of Shanghai in response to a plea for help.

At the end of our first decade, the Club

had withstood the Depression period, and held

£84/7/3d at the bank. Interest received this year

was 4/4d.

A Ladies Evening and Mock Court, with

fines, raised £3/0/0d, and a further donation of

£3/0/0d given to the Cancer Appeal. £20/0/0d

was incurred with Dock Lake plantation

improvements, and an amount of £12/0/0d

handed to the High School for Scholarships to

Janet Irving and John McAuley.

During the Years 1938-1946 Club

records are almost non-existent. PP Don

Garth used press cuttings and interviewed

members and widows over the period 1970-76

in preparation for his „Fiftieth Year „

publication - unfortunately, these notes have

been destroyed.

To fill in any gaps, archival copies of the

24 24

„Horsham Times‟ were read to check dates and

obtain extra information, without much success.

Rotary was fighting it‟s own war.

1938-1939

Board of Directors

President: Robert Newton

Vice President: A Wood

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C H Sherman

SAA: D Wallis

Directors:

G Forsyth, G Salmon, S F Brown, W Gunn, J

Sawyer, D Clark, & F Langlands.

President Bob Newton returned from the

Perth Conference convinced more than ever

that we had a lot to learn about Fellowship, and

asked Directors to plan the year ahead with

fellowship in mind, and circulated a copy of his

Club Plans for the year. He hoped for regular

Inter-club meetings between Horsham,

Warracknabeal, Ararat and Hamilton to give

members the opportunity of meeting one

another.

Other plans were for regular cricket

match‟s and bowls tournaments against local

organisations, a monthly Heckle Hour, and a

special monthly feature could be incorporated

into the club‟s programme.

International Committee planned regular

talks by speakers on a variety of overseas

themes, with a visit by at least Consul or Pro-

Consul of another country visit and speak

during the year.

The project of writing to Rotarians

overseas with a similar Classification was

encouraged, and the preparation of a Club

Banner for exchange with other Clubs was

pursued. The reading of extracts of „The

Rotarian‟ be a part of each meeting was also

commenced.

Youth Week was still a priority, with

regular transport and outings for the crippled

children from the Wimmera Base Hospital,

continue help with the Hospital Carnival, offer

assistance to local benevolent institutions,

including Red Cross, and Local Government to

assist in recently established gardens.

The Club‟s own plantations around the

district were to be restored and upgraded.

Stewart Brown was in charge of the

Vocational Service Committee (spelt

Vacational)and offered a continuation of „My

Job‟ and Vocational talks, regular visits to local

businesses, support of other Rotary Clubs

projects, and produced a playlet on Vocation

written by Geelong Rotarian Reg Mumme, a

past member and regular visitor to our Club.

With regard to membership, it was

moved that any member would retain his

membership while on Active Service with the

Second AIF or other branch of the Military.

Rotarian Harry Radford stated that the

Hamilton Road Reserve needed more trees.

This request was agreed to and a working bee

formed to finish the work.

From the Balance Sheet of the Year,

donations were made to:-

Horsham Primary School No. 298

£18/5/0d

Ladies Benevolent Fund 5/5/0d

Hospital Cheer Guy Fawkes Night 7/0d

Christmas Cheer 10/0d

Bush Fire Relief 5/5/0d

High School Scholarship 6/2/6d

Youth Week Picture and Transport 7/2/8d

1939-1940

Board of Directors

President: Stewart F Brown, Solicitor

Vice President: N L Jamieson

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C H Sherman

SAA: R Ludbrook

Directors:

H Radford, F Langlands, G Forsyth, R Newton,

G Salmon, W Gunn, J Sawyer, & A Colville.

Records of Stewart Brown‟s year are few

in the Clubs files, and mention only that a

donation of £3/3/0d was given to provide milk

for neglected children.

Also, as a note, it was decided that, after

lengthy discussion, the prevailing war-time

conditions might continue for some months,

and the usual Christmas Ladies Night would be

postponed, and should the Bowling Club be

available in February, a “Ladies Night on the

Green” could be in lieu.

A picnic at Great Western Winery was

evidently a great hit with members, and Youth

25 25

Week continued as usual.

President Stewart attended the District

Conference in Melbourne and continued his

friendship with DG Angus Mitchell, one that

would last many years to this Clubs benefit.

Disbursements were made during the

year to:- Infant Welfare: £12/0/0d; Relief

Longerenong College Domestic Staff :

£10/0/0d; Comforts Fund: £30/0/0d;

Ambulance Fund: £20/0/0d; Soldiers Comfort

Fund: £2/0/0d; Ladies Benevolent Fund:

£5/5/0d; High School Scholarship:£6/0/0d;

Hospital Carnival: £2/2/0d; Conroy Milk

Supply: £1/0/8d and the Hospital Christmas

Cheer: £1/17/9d.

1940-1941

Board of Directors

President: Nelson Love Jamieson

Vice President: J Sawyer

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C H Sherman

SAA: R Ludbrook

Directors:

F Langlands, S F Brown, D Wallis, H Bartlett,

A Tapfield, A Colville, G Forsyth, & W

Gunn.

During the year the Club donated

£5/0/0d to the Prisoner of War Appeal and a

further £5/0/0d to the Ladies Auxiliary of the

R.S.S.A.I.L.A.

The Pine Lake plantation was still being

worked on, and the preparation was completed

by Rtn Don Clark who had also watered the

trees during the summer months.

It was decided to place signboards at

both Green Lake and Dock Lake, and Rtn H le

Plastrier was asked to arrange for their

preparation and later erection.

Youth Week continued as a major event

visiting many local businesses and places.

Further to the granting of Leave of

Absence to members in the Armed Forces, on a

motion by Gordon Forsyth and Stewart Brown,

this membership was changed to Honorary for

the duration of the War.

Donations at the end of the year were

given to Hospital Christmas Cheer: £1/4/4d;

Infant Welfare: £3/3/-d; Children's Milk:

£2/0/8d and the Ladies Benevolent Society

£5/5/0d.

1941-1942

Board of Directors

President: James Sawyer, Real

Estate

Vice President: R Ludbrook

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C H Sherman

SAA: W Lawrence

Directors:

F Langlands, N Jamieson, A Colville, S F

Brown, W Gunn, D Wallis, & G Forsyth.

The account for the two signboards at

Green Lake and Dock Lake amounted to the

sum of £6/0/0d, and were placed at the lakes

early in summer for publicity purposes.

The Club purchased 50 War Savings

Certificates on the motion of Frank Langlands

and Gordon Forsyth.

President Jim Sawyer was given

permission to purchase a quantity orange and

lemon trees, six of each to be planted in the

hospital grounds, with the balance along

Hamilton Street surrounding Bolton Park.

In his Annual report President Jim

Sawyer stated „Although attendance at our

weekly luncheons at times might be better,

when consideration is given to present

conditions, there is little ground for complaint,

and I am pleased to state that the percentage is

steadily increasing.

It was my ambition on taking office, to

increase membership, and this has been

accomplished by enrolling eight new members.

What is of most importance is the excellent

fellowship which prevails, and makes our club

a very happy gathering.

Our Secretary, Prid and I attended the

Albury Conference, and the Annual Assembly,

again held in Melbourne, was attended by our

incoming President and Secretary. I pray that

Gordon's year of office will see the end of

hostilities and a victory for the Allies, that will

ensure a lasting peace and a better world‟.

£5/0/0d donations were given to

26 26

Prisoners of War Appeal, Ladies Auxiliary,

Benevolent Society, HMAS Sydney Fund,:

£3/0/0d given to Horsham Red Cross. Horsham

Base Hospital, Horsham Comforts Fund; with

High School Books Account: £4/3/5d;

Horsham V.A.D: £2/2/0d, Parcels to Rotarians

on Active service: £2/0/6d, Institute for the

Blind: £1/1/0d, and Needy Evacuees and books

for their children: £3/0/0d.

1942-1943

Board of Directors

President: Gordon Forsyth

Vice President: P Oates

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: C Sherman/A Colville

SAA: H McGregor

Directors:

I Tulloh, A Wood, S F Brown, D Wallis, F

Absolom, R Grant, & J Sawyer

During the year an amount of £4/10/0d

was paid for orange and lemon trees which

were planted around the Base Hospital and

Bolton Park, and £3/0/0d for patients

Christmas Cheer.

The State Schools Mothers Club was

given an amount of £5 /5/0d towards the

Children's Cocoa Fund, with the Comfort Fund

and Red Cross receiving £3/0/0d, Junior Red

Cross P.O.W Appeal £3/3/0d, Crippled

Children £5/5/0d, R.S.S.I.L.A. £3/10/5d and

Benevolent Society £5/0/0.

There are no other records of projects for

1942-44, and only Membership/Committee

lists are held by the Club.

Attendance Officers: R Emanuel (C) and R

Thomson.

Club Service: A Colville (C) W

McFarlane; R

Emanuel; W

Lawrence; W

Gunn;

F Rodda; R Grant; R

Ludbrook; A Wood.

Vocational Service: I Tulloh (C) H

Tritschler; J

Johns; F Absolom; S F

Brown.

Community Service: H le Plastrier (C) J C

W a l l i s ; C a n o n

Fettell; H McGregor;

T Green; R Thomson; W

Sinclair; Mel

Russell.

International Service: F Langlands (C); D

W a l l i s ; A

Tapfield; J W a r d ; J

Sawyer;

C Sherman.

Committee with R.S.S.I.L.A. G Forsyth; S F

B r o w n ; W

Gunn; J Sawyer.

A search of the „Horsham Times‟

revealed that Youth Week was held in the first

week in June, and Club members spoke at the

State and High Schools. Visits were made to

20 places of interest. Our guest speaker on

29th October was Hedley Jones, State

Organiser for Young Farmers Clubs who

thanked members for starting clubs in and

around Horsham.

1943-1944

Board of Directors

President: Prideaux Oates

Vice President: R Ludbrook

Secretary: J Sawyer/ F Langlands

Treasurer: A Colville

SAA: W R Allen

Directors:

S F Brown, G Forsyth, R Grant, F Absolom, I

Tulloh, H J Tritschler, D Wallis, A C Wood.

Again, lack of records make this year a

difficult one to report on. Membership and

Committee lists and a Balance Sheet are all

that exist:-

Attendance: H D McGregor

Club Service:

S F Brown (C); E Martin;H McKinnon; W

Shepherd; Canon Fettell; W Allen; R Emanuel;

W R McFarlane; I Tulloh Vocational Service:

H Tritschler (C) W Lawrence; A Wood; J

Wallis; H McGregor

Community Service:

D Clark (C) F Langlands; R Ludbrook; A

Tapfield; D Wallis; H le Plastrier; J Johns; R

Grant; A Colville; J Ward.

International: G Forsyth (C) F Rodda; F Absolom; T Green;

R Thomson; W Sinclair;Mel Russell

Committee with R.S.S.I.L.A.

P Oates; S F Brown; D Clark; J Sawyer.

From the Balance Sheet, a list of beneficiaries

27 27

from our project income can be obtained.

Horsham Hospital £5/5/0d

Hospital Christmas Cheer £3/0/0d

Comforts Fund £3/0/0d

Red Cross £3/0/0d

Benevolent Society

£5/0/0d

Agricultural Education - Council £22/0/0d

State School Mothers Club:

various appeals £37/6/0d

From reading a year of „Horsham

Times‟: 30th June start of Youth Week, many

visits were made around the District. W

Bleakley, of Young & Co spoke on „Wool‟ and

on 18th July Ararat Rotary visited us. On the

13th October, guest speakers were Flying

Officer Gardiner and Petty Officer Hall, both

well travelled members of the Armed Forces.

1944-1945

Board Of Directors

President: Reginald Ludbrook

Vice President: A C Wood

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: A Colville

SAA: H M McKinnon

Directors:

G Forsyth; H McGregor; R Grant; H

Tritschler; F Absolom; I Tulloh; S F Brown; D

Wallis; J Sawyer.

After lengthy discussion, it was moved

at Board by Artie Wood and seconded by

Frank Absolom to recommend to Club

members that ‟the number of Board members

be reduced from 8 to 6 next year and that 3

retire each year and that the Board consist of 6

Directors, plus President; Vice President;

Secretary and Treasurer, the Vice President

being a member for one year only‟. Members

agreed, and this was to be implemented during

the last year of the War.

Dinners and AWL‟s were a problem

even then. After another series of lengthy

discussions in the Club, Harold Tritschler

finally moved a motion on payments seconded

by Ivan Tulloh: „ that members notify the

Secretary if unable to attend the Rotary Dinner

before 2.00 pm on day of the Dinner, and the

Secretary to give number to the caterer.

Should the number of meals served

exceed the the number given, the club pay the

caterer for the number of meals served. Any

member not advising of his non-attendance

must pay the full price of his dinner.

Unfortunately, for this year, there is not

even a membership list in Club records.

1945-1946

Board of Directors President: Arthur C Wood

Vice President: H Tritschler

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: A Colville

SAA: F Absolom

Directors:

W R Allen, R Ludbrooke, H McGregor, E

Martin, T Green, H le Plastrier, J Sawyer, I

Tulloh, G Forsyth. (During year many

changes.)

Only one Bulletin exists, but small notes

were found in the Public Notices in the

„Horsham Times‟. Youth Week was a huge

success, despite one enthusiastic member who

liaised with all the schools, one week

prematurely.

The week commenced with visits to

Perring's Bakery, Horsham Base Hospital, the

Pumping Station, and Prestige Factory. During

the week other visits included the Court of

Petty Sessions, Noske‟s Flour Mill and Mt

Zero Water Supply.

On 5th October the guest speaker was

K.A. Skey, RN, from Cheltenham, Gloucester.

At the Changeover on 11th October Arthur

Wood was presented with his Past Presidents

badge. Addresses were given at the High and

Primary Schools. Eight Students from the

three secondary schools gave talks on „Islands

in the Pacific Basin.

1946-47

Board of Directors

President: Harold Tritschler

Vice President: I Tulloh

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: A Beynon

SAA: W Lawrence

Directors: J Ward, A Wood, W Allen, J Wallis, F

Absolom, H le Plastrier, & N Fettell.

Thankfully, Annual Reports are again

held in Club Archives, and Full Reports of

28 28

Club activities can be substantiated. AWL‟s

were still a problem, and the Sergeant At Arms

was instructed to openly fine offending

members at the next meeting the price of the

meal, 1/6d.

Guest speakers for the year included DG

Horrie Holmes; Rtn Arnold Seitz, Director

Education, Victoria, and Rtn Les Gough, both

of Melbourne RC., Mr Mullet, Director of

Agriculture; Hon. R C Rankin and Dinkur

Kherdekir of India. Another 18 invited guest

speakers entertained the Club, and our own

members filled out the programmes.

Contacts with other Clubs were

restricted, with visits to Hamilton RC and a

return visit from Warracknabeal RC. A special

Meeting at Portland saw 6 Rotarians inspect

the new textile factory, and later heard an

address on Decentralisation, a current question

being asked by many country towns.

With the war now over, Committees

again became more active. Community

Service started the year off sponsoring a

swimming carnival, proceeds going towards

improvement of the pool area. The plantation

work at Green Lake was continued, and brush

shelters were erected.

TheMilk Appeal, whereby school

children are supplied with cocoa during the

winter months, was continued. A Ball,

organised in conjunction with the Apex Club

was a success and the profit of £27/0/0d was

given to the Arts & Crafts Centre at the local

State School. Members gave addresses to the

Club on various community matters over the

year.

Rtns. Frank Langlands and Don Clark

have completed a tree planting on vacant land

opposite Beaurepaire's in Hamilton Street.

[Bolton Park - this plantation was destroyed in

the clean up for the new swimming pool]

The Vocational Service Committee

undertook a Club Education responsibility for

the year and members were addressed by two

of the legal profession, Stewart Brown spoke

talk was realistic, penetrating and challenging:

the need of raising the standard of life in all its

implications was implicit.

Rtn Ned Kelly of the Warracknabeal

club spoke on „The Ethics of Court Advocacy‟

- he pointed out that the maxim of English Law

is that a man is innocent until found guilty. It is

the duty of defending counsel to fight for his

client, and to use all his persuasive powers, in

the interest of the defendant, regardless of any

knowledge he may have of his guilt, leaving

the verdict to the jury and presiding judge.

Rtn Les Gough of Melbourne RC. spoke

on the „Relationship between Employers and

Employees‟. Phonograph records of the

speeches given at the 1946 Rotary Convention

were played for all Rotarians. After a slow

start Vocational finally found its feet.

The International Committee also began

a programme of education, with 9 guest

speakers, on issues such as the United Nations

Organisation; Agriculture Overseas; Life in the

Philippines; Esperanto - A World Language?;

People of the Straits Settlements; Experiences

over Germany by an RAF bomber pilot;

Broadcasting in London during the War;

Experiences in the RAAF; and Dinkur

Kherdehir, who spoke on „British Rule in

India‟ which had just ended.

Financially the Club again had a good

year, with the usual donations being made, but

including a few new ones, Food for Britain,

and a donation of £10/10/0d made to the Paul

Harris Foundation, the first of many.

1947-1948

Board of Directors

President: Ivan M Tulloh

Vice President: W R McFarlane

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: A Beynon

SAA: J S Bolton

Directors:

H Tritschler, W Lawrence, J Ward, S F Brown,

W Allen, R Newton, & J Bolton

Club membership now stood at 47,

within sight of the goal of 50.

Fellowship Committee began its first

year as a separate committee, and presented

each Rotarian with a buttonhole on his

birthday, and accompanied this with a card.

There was a push to include more Ladies

Nights into the year - the traditional two

annually hopefully was to change. The

Fellowship committee operate only during the

weekly meeting.

29 29

The plantation projects were

rejuvenated, and more trees planted at Green

Lake. Also an area near the swimming pool

had been cleared and fenced. It was intended

to plant Golden Poplars down the centre of

Stawell Road.

The cocoa and hot milk programme

continued in the State School, and in line with

our emphasis on youth, members teamed with

the Apex Club and assisted at a carnival to

raise money for the Free Kindergarten.

Youth Week was again a great success,

with addresses given at both the High and State

Schools, and visits to various places of interest,

including the Stawell Woollen Mill. It was

proposed that the Club plant trees on the South

banks of the Wimmera River.

Vocational stated their main object for

the year: help other Rotarians in their business,

and ensure that their staff were aware of the

ideals expected. Guest speakers again spoke

on ethics, and subjects included „The 40 Hour

Week, Banking, My Life as a Doctor,

Taxation, and Theatrical Reminiscences.‟

The function of the United Nations and

its ancillary Councils was the topic of three

nights by Rtn Harold Tritschler. The Secretary

of the Army, Mr F Sinclair, gave a very

informative and authoritative talk on „World

Affairs from a Military Angle‟.

Major Hanby spoke on India's problems,

while Mr Shiv Charan Dass, studying at

Longerenong College helped us understand its

economic and political difficulties. Rtn. Mick

Haranis told us how prejudiced Australians can

be to newly arrived migrants. In all, 16

addresses were delivered to the Club on

International themes. On a motion from the

floor, it was agreed to provide £25/0/0d

devoted to food parcels to be sent to Horsham

in England.

Youth, for the first time, had a separate

report, usually being reported with other

Committee projects. Fifty senior students made

a trip to the Court of Petty Sessions,

accompanied by Rotarians. After observing an

interesting morning‟s procedures, Mr P

Biggin. PM, delivered an inspiring and useful

address on the history and functions of the

Courts of Petty Sessions.

Youth Week commenced with Youth

services in the various churches, and ended

with a visit to Mt Zero Water Supply. During

the week, 19 visits to various public

institutions and factories were arranged,

including Perring's Bakery, McKenzie Creek

Quarry, Base Hospital, Steam Laundry, Gas

Works, Butter Factory, Town Council, Prestige

Ltd, Horsham Times, Foundry, Electricity

Supply and Stawell Woollen Mills as

examples.

The highlight was the Rotary Dinner

when prefects from Horsham High and

Longerenong College were guests. Prefects and

students from the Brigidine convent were

unable to be present at any of the functions

because of an outbreak of Scarlet Fever at their

school.

The balance shows a turnover of

£413/10/9d. Among the new beneficiaries of

our annual disbursements was the Lord Mayors

Homes; The Base Hospital received

£60/14/7d; the Milk Fund £17/5/6d; and

Youth Week £10/10/0d.

This year 3 Rotarians had 100% attendance.

Rotarian Information was given by a

member of Club Service, on some particular

aspect of Rotary at each meeting throughout

the year.

During the year a complete

reclassification of vocations was instituted, and

the results circularised throughout the Club. In

another new move, Committee meetings were

held in the private homes of Rotarians on

nights not Club Meeting nights.

1948-1949

Board of Directors:

President: Wm R McFarlane

Vice President: R S Dowling

Secretary: P Oates

Treasurer: A Beynon

SAA: I Anderson

Directors:

C Fittell, F Harvey, S F Brown, R Newton, J

Bolton, I Tulloh, H Tritschler, & F Henstridge

During the year all Committees were

asked to meet at private homes as suggested by

Fellowship last year. The International Service

Committee discussed educating the local

community in the assimilation of new arrivals

30 30

in our country using the press and radio, as

well as utilising short wave radio

communication to overseas. Various speakers

were organised with this assimilation in mind.

Members were encouraged to correspond with

overseas Rotarians via the District Governors

of other districts.

Four members gave „My Job‟ talks,

while a well researched debate between two

members, one taking the employer position and

the other the employee demonstrated how easy

it is for problems to arise in a business

situation.

Youth Week was once again organised

by the Club, conceived at a slightly amended

time so as not to interfere with examinations,

but this unfortunately clashed with the

differing school holidays of State Schools and

the Catholic Convent. Visits to places of work

and interest continued, with 414 children being

transported by Rotarians. School prefects were

again entertained.

The Club‟s War Savings Certificates

were cashed during the year, and work at the

various plantations continued with further

planting's.

1949-1950

Board of Directors

President: Walter R Allen

Vice President: R S Dowling

Secretary: C Wale/P Wilken

Treasurer: A Beynon

SAA: P Oates

Directors:

W R McFarlane, F Mayne, I Robertson, D

Millen, M Haranis, & R Ward

During the year, Mick Haranis, Rotarian

and owner of Perring's Cafe, invited several

members to his cafe to enjoy coffee after the

meeting, which were now held at the R.S..L

Memorial Hall. This was much appreciated,

and very soon Mike and his wife found

themselves entertaining most of the Club after

each meeting.

This „extra-Rotary‟ gathering soon

became an institution, and in consequence, the

„Rotary Annexe‟ was now a focal point for

Fellowship in the Club which was envied by

visitors from near and far Rotary Clubs. The

Club met at the cafe on occasions as well as the

R.S.L Hall.

Fellowship in the Club continued to

thrive, with four ladies social nights, the first at

the Masonic Hall, and the other two visits to

Ararat Rotary Club, the first to inspect the

Prestige Ltd factory with a dinner following,

and later to help Ararat celebrate its 21st

Anniversary.

Later in the year an Inter-City Rotary

Meeting was arranged involving over 200

Rotarians from all over the District at the

Horsham Town Hall. This meeting was

attended by Angus S Mitchell, Past President,

Rotary International. Rotary International‟s

45th Anniversary was also celebrated by the

Club with a Ladies Night.

It was in this year that Rotary placed two

large metal frames, one at each end of town on

the major highway, with Rotary emblems

advertising the time and place of meetings.

The project previously envisioned to

plant Golden Poplar‟s along the centre of

Stawell Road was amended to „native shrubs‟,

and preliminary work commenced, but was

abandoned as both the Council and the CRB

questioned responsibility along a highway.

Youth Week again included visits by the

Town‟s youth to major industries and

institutions in Horsham and district.

Arrangements for improving Bolton Park were

held up by Council, who had other other

projects in mind, and was not pursued at this

stage. Two young boys from Warrnambool

were invited by Rotarians to Horsham‟s

Centenary Week.

The International Committee‟s first

project was an offer via the Rotary Board to be

of assistance to the „New Australians‟ at the

Wonwondah Camp, and for that purpose the

Club visited the camp one evening and spoke

of our intention. We helped in expediting the

appointment of a teacher from the Immigration

Dept., with help from the Education

Department, with a good result.

In June a social was arranged for their

benefit, and a very nice supper was served.

Now becoming a Rotary custom, the Club had

several dozen pennants bearing greetings from

Horsham, made for presentation to other

Rotary clubs. Several speeches on

International themes were arranged during the

year, and members corresponded with

31 31

Rotarians in 10 countries.

United Nations Day was included on our

programme, with the flag of a country

displayed on the head table on its National day.

The King‟s Birthday was celebrated by

drinking the Royal Toast, and singing the

National Anthem. A letter to His Majesty was

written, and a reply from his private secretary

received.

The Four Way Test and the Second

Object of Rotary were discussed during Club

Meetings. Members „Job/Life Talks‟ were

again a feature of vocational meetings. Several

Vocational Talks by outside guests were

delivered. Copies of the Four Way Test were

to be delivered to all business houses in

Horsham.

Major recipients of Club projects this

year were the Wimmera Base Hospital and the

Free Kindergarten.

1950-1951

Board of Directors

President: R Serge Dowling

Vice President: B Hutton-Jones

Secretary: P Wilken

Treasurer: A Beynon

SAA: N G Waller

Directors:

M Haranis, F Mayne, C Perrin, W Alle,: D

Garth, J Bolton, & D Millen

Guests from all service clubs combined

to hear Mr Eugene Gorman, MC,KC, Consul

for Greece, speaking on „I‟m Damned if I

Know‟. Other guest speakers were Brian

McNamara, a member of the Australian Motor

Cycle team in Europe, „Dick‟ Reid, a local

Union leader on Employer/Employee

Relations, and Rtn. Bill Murphy gave his Job/

Life talk on the „The Good Oil‟. Several talks

were based on the United Nations

Organisation.

Rotary Library was installed at Mick

Haranis‟ cafe in Firebrace Street and open

every day. An Old Folks Christmas Picnic was

organised to take 50 persons to Natimuk Lake.

The Club started a public appeal to

continue the Free Milk for Children, as the

Government decided to cease their assistance.

The Club arranged for the local Boy Scouts to

obtain a permanent campsite at Hawkers Gully.

A former member, Dr Bill Lawrence,

and now Federal MP, showed films and spoke

on his experiences, PP Harold Trischler

attended with him.

Bulletins show that even then, members

were not happy being meeting stewards serving

the meals.

1951-1952

Board of Directors

President: Basil Hutton-Jones

Vice President: J Ward

Secretary: M Haranis

Treasurer: N Waller/W Pascall

SAA: W Murphy

Directors:

C Perrin, D Millen, G Forsyth, P Wilkin, F

Mayne, D Garth, J Anderson, & A Beynon

The weekly meetings settled into a

regular format: the weekly song was enjoyed,

short „Rotary Information‟ spots were given,

regular „Job/Life‟ talks were presented by

members, and vocational talks every five

weeks, were interspersed with guest speakers.

Fellowship had, until this year,

functioned only during the weekly meeting, but

this year a Bowls Night was organised by

them, plus the usual two Ladies Nights, with

several Fireside Meetings. No visits to other

Clubs were carried out at Club level this year,

however several members „made up‟ at nearby

Clubs keeping the friendly ties alive.

Vocational „Job/Life‟ talks were given

by Jack Ward, Wimmera Times Editor. Don

Amos, Plastering and Perc Lowe, speaking on

the Postal Department. Several Rotary

publications were reviewed by members and

Gordon Forsyth gave an address explaining

Vocational Service from RI view.

The committee also conducted a „Learn

to Swim Campaign‟, and 130 children received

their „Herald‟ certificates. A public appeal was

organised and successfully raised enough

money to equip the „Sun Youth Travel‟ boy,

Donald McLean for his trip abroad.

International activities included the

meeting of „New Australians‟ in our

community. It is estimated that at present

Horsham‟s population includes over 100

Italians, 80 Dutch, 20 Greek and 20 German by

birth. Arrangements were also made with

32 32

Women‟s organisations to entertain, instruct,

assimilate and advise the womenfolk of the

newcomers.

Rtn. Bert Roe organised a Magic Show,

featuring Len Morgan, and raised £141/1/9d

for the International Foundation Scholarship

Fund. Several Asian students from Melbourne

University were billeted with members, and the

Apex Club members were invited to a joint-

service club dinner.

On a weekly note, vignette talks on

foreign countries were given by committee

members, with miniature flags of the United

Nations decorating the head table.

The Club‟s main project for the year was

the development of Bolton Park. Rotarian Jack

Bolton had donated the land for an area of

public use, Rotary instigated the preliminary

survey, and with the interest of Apex and the

Progress Association, a provisional committee

had been formed.

A deputation was sent to meet with the

City Council to stimulate the establishment of

a swimming pool in Bolton Park, and as a

result the Mayor circularised most City

Organisations, inviting each to send

representatives to a convocation in the Mayoral

Chambers. This meeting was extremely well

attended and most enthusiasticly, and in

consequence, a public meeting was held in the

Town Hall, attended by about 200 people from

which the Bolton Park War Memorial Youth

Centre Committee was formed.

Many Rotarians were on the committee,

with Rtn. Jack Bolton elected Chairman. The

year saw the levelling of the eastern end of

Bolton Park, the erection and painting of a park

-type fence, tree planting and the launch of an

public appeal for £20,000. A monster street

carnival was being organised.

After talks with the Public Works Dept.

a building of conveniences at the Green Lake

picnic area was completed. Wimmera Shire

now assumed responsibility for the plantations

at the lakes, and were to be congratulated on its

public spiritedness.

On the Club‟s initiative, Wimmera Shire

and the Forestry Commission now had

bulldozers at work constructing access roads to

Flat Rock, the quarries and Hawkers Gully. To

round out the year, members and their wives

helped teach handicrafts to hospital patients,

and ran Traffic Safety classes.

1952-1953

Board of Directors

President: John Vivian Snaith Ward

Vice President: D Millen

Secretary: M Haranis

Treasurer: N Waller/R Whitelock

SAA: T Green

Directors:

G Forsyth, I Tulloh, A Beynon, W Pascall, D

Anthony, D Amos, J McDonald, & H Kettle.

For the first time in the club‟s history,

Horsham could boast a membership of 50

members.

Ladies enjoyed their usual two nights, as

well as a pleasant outing to the Grampians.

M e mb e r s t h i s y e a r h o s t e d

Warracknabeal Rotary Club, and enjoyed the

challenge of a game of bowls after luncheon.

Main beneficiaries of the year‟s

activities were the Wimmera Base Hospital

£200/0/0 for a Gastroscope, and £651/15/11 to

the British and European Food Appeal Fund.

Other donations were to The Lord Mayor‟s

Camp at Portsea and the State School Milk

Fund.

With the Bolton Park project on hold

until the monies were raised, the Community

Service Committee set about raising funds for

the hospital‟s Gastroscope. A working bee

helped keep Bolton Park mowed and tidy

pending development.

Six vocational talks were given by

members, from Road Building, Salesman

Service and Courtesy, Dentistry and Employer/

Employee Relations.

Several speakers on International topics

kept us from becoming parochial in our

outlook. The committee sponsored the local

appeal for relief for those who suffered in the

English and Netherlands flood disaster, the

money being halved and sent to Rotary Clubs

in each country.

Members cont inued on with

corresponding with overseas Rotarians. Again,

33 33

Asian students studying under the Columbo

Plan at Melbourne University were guests of

the Club during the Christmas and May

holidays.

At one Club meeting a very moving

address was given by Rtn. John Bosanko on

what he considered to be Rotary‟s primary

function in International Service, namely, to

use all its influence to mitigate famine and

starvation in backward countries. His

suggestions were endorsed by the Club and

sent on to District Governor Alan Drayton for

consideration at a higher Rotary level.

Up until this year‟s Presidential

Changeover in July, it had been our Club‟s

practice to allow the incoming President from

1st July until the approximate date of our

formation, October, to „learn‟ the position from

the previous President. This then fell into line

with Rotary International‟s year. This tradition

continues today.

1953-1954

Board of Directors

President: Don Millen

Vice President: A Beynon

Secretary: S Tippett

Treasurer: R Whitelock

SAA: H Jenkin

Directors:

J Ward, H Richard's, S F Brown, B Roe, G

McDonald, D Amos, A Wood, & T Green;

Membership dropped to 49, after its high

last year. To promote Fellowship, a scheme

was initiated whereby each member was given

a card; this card was brought each meeting to

be signed by the member on his right at each

dinner during the year, thus creating better

fellowship by endeavouring to have each

member‟s name on one‟s card.

A well attended church parade was

organised by Rtn. Canon David Anthony. Later

in the year this was followed up with Rtn.

Howard Kettle conducting another service.

Our 25th Anniversary was held in the

Masonic Hall, with guests from our parent

Club, Ballarat, plus Rotarians from

surrounding towns.

Toasts honoured that night were : Rotary

International, Charter Members, Rotary Club

of Ballarat, Past Presidents, Rotary Club of

Horsham in England, and the Rotary Club of

Fremantle who also celebrated their Twenty-

fifth at that time.

A beautiful notice board was received

from Horsham Club in England [now in use in

the Clubrooms as an Honour Board]

Fellowship organised a bowls trip at

Warracknabeal RC, and a Question and

Answer Night. Music was taking a prominent

part at meetings with Ivan Tulloh in charge and

Clem Perrin on piano, while Bill Murphy was

doing a great job as Chairman of Programmes.

Community Service were able to

negotiate with the R.S.S.A. I.L.A for the

Memorial

Hall to be made available to the Horsham State

School to use due to lack of classrooms.

To raise money for the Bolton Park

project, the committee organised the „Swallows

Parade‟ and an amount of £105/0/0 was raised.

Twenty people from the Lutheran Old

Folks Home were the club guests at a picnic at

Natimuk Lake. Members cars were utilised,

and afternoon tea was served at the Lake. An

„Emu Parade‟ was organised to clean up

around Green lake, with a barbecue Tea.

Miss Judith Lyall spoke at the Christmas

Dinner. She was a worthy recipient of a

Rotary Foundation Scholarship and had spent

her time in London.

Another interesting night was given by a

panel of speakers representing Melbourne

University International House Appeal. Later,

an International Revue was run in conjunction

with the Apex Club, and an amount of £200

raised for the Appeal. A copy of „The

Rotarian‟ was now placed in the High School

library each month.

Vocational Committee sought to educate

the public about the correct use of the English

language and the avoidance of slovenly speech

which was appearing more and more in public

usage, often by listening to radio stations, and

the Club approached educators in this regard.

Arrangements had been made to give a

series of talks to senior girl students at the

High School, acquainting them of the nobility

of the nursing profession which was suffering a

serious shortage at that time.

34 34

1954-1955

Board of Directors

President: Alexander Beynon

Vice President: H McGregor

Secretary: S Tippett

Treasurer: R Whitelock

SAA: R Sim

Directors:

E Dunstan, L Butler, D Millen, D Amos, H

Jenkin, H Richards, A Pulling, T Green, & C

Perrin.

Fellowship now included a reminder in

the Bulletin of members‟ birthdays, wives‟

birthdays and wedding anniversaries, and was

greatly appreciated by all. Rotary‟s Golden

Anniversary was celebrated with a Black Tie

Dinner at the Horsham Town Hall, and

attended by some 150 Rotarians and guests.

PP Stewart Brown was at his best giving the

main address on Rotary International.

During the year Community Service

members organised working bees to clear and

construct the parking and camping area at Flat

Rock, the track to the caves, and make and

erect 17 painted signs at appropriate points for

tourists information.

A prompt response to the N.S.W flood

Relief Appeal saw £344/0/0 despatched almost

immediately. A wheel -chair was presented

to the hospital at a cost of £45/0/0. This

gesture so impressed a local businessman that

he donated a further 9 chairs.

The „Swallows Parade‟ was again

organised for the War Memorial Appeal, and

Rotarians levelled Bolton Park in preparation

of the pool‟s start.

A proposal of tree planting at the three

schools was taken up only by the High School,

and 43 trees planted in the front of the School.

Vocational films were shown on two

occasions, and also a vocational play

presented. Members were asked to bring along

a businessman guest as it was felt that this

would more directly influence a greater

number of people.

Copies of the Four Way Test were

distributed to all three schools. A Safety Week

in conjunction with Education Week was also

being planned, and police co-operation sought.

A speaker from the Good Neighbour

Club was invited to speak on International

Contacts. United Nations Day was celebrated

with four guest speakers of Dutch, German,

Italian and Greek origin, and migrant citizens

were invited as guests.

A talk on the United Nations

Organisation was given by Mr W Lamb, and a

film shown at a later date on the work of

International House, London.

It was a great honour to this Club for

Stewart Brown to be elected District Governor

Nominee for the 33rd District for the year 1956

-57.

1955-1956

Board of Directors

President: Hugh McGregor

Vice President: D Garth

Secretary: S Tippett

Treasurer: R Whitelock

SAA: A Cross

Directors:

E Dunstan, W Murphy, C Vaughan, C Perrin,

B Roe, B Hutton-Jones, A Beynon, & F

Graham.

Talks were given by the „Brains Trust‟

from Melbourne, and Eric Tomlinson from the

Dept. of Labour and National Service, and

members again impressed with „Job/Life‟

Talks and travel subjects, with many invited

guest speakers.

Hock Leon Tang, a Malayan, spoke on

his home country. Several musical nights were

enjoyed, as was the weekly sing-along.

Youth Week was again one of the year‟s

highlights, with many activities being enjoyed

by the High and State school students. With

students moving through the system, it was

relatively easy to plan full weeks‟ activities

each year.

An appeal was being held to raise money

for the proposed Youth Centre to be built on

Bolton Park next to the proposed Memorial

Pool.

Past President Gordon Forsyth received

35 35

the Club‟s support for the formation of a

Historical Society in Horsham. It‟s inaugural

meeting was held in May 1957 with JVS Ward

as Foundation President and J Bolton and W

Smith on committee.

Assistance was been given with the

formation of a co-operative housing society in

Horsham. A meeting was arranged for the

people of Horsham to have the scheme

explained. Community Service again worked

on the Green Lake Plantation, with fencing off

of a new area.

The contract for the swimming pool was

let out at a cost of £25,000. This Club started

the project, and would also support the Youth

Centre and pay for a learners pool.

International members were again

active in the naturalisation ceremonies held in

Horsham. An advisory panel to assist „New

Australians‟ was also working hard.

President Hugh McGregor was laid up

over his last few months, and his report was

submitted by Incoming President Don Garth.

1956-1957

Board of Directors

President: Don Garth

Vice President: S Tippett

Secretary: S Tippett

Treasurer: A Pulling

SAA: J Bolton

Directors:

L Richardson, B Maddison, K Ditterick, B

Roe, F Graham, C Vaughan, D Amos, R

Whitelock, A Beynon, & E Dunstan

During the disastrous Murray River

floods, this Club answered the District

Governor‟s „Sand Bag Appeal‟, and sent over

8000 sandbags to Murray Bridge and Renmark.

DG Stewart Brown thanked all district clubs so

involved for their support.

The Conference in Warrnambool, DG

Stewart Brown‟s, was attended by six Horsham

Rotarians and five wives to support Stewart

and Evelyn. Attendance was over 500, a

record at that stage. The Conference was

opened by Sir Wilfred S Kent Hughes; K.B.E.;

M.V.O.; M.C.; M.P.; The Representative of

the President of Rotary International, PDG

Frank Ayre was suitably welcomed by

Governor Stewart.

In March, a further 7 acres was fenced

and prepared at Green Lake Number 2

plantation, and another 600 trees planted. A

new sign was erected. More road signs were

placed in the Flat Rock area, which was now

becoming a popular picnic area for locals.

Members surveyed, and then canvassed,

Horsham and Melbourne businesses with

Horsham connections and an amount of

£1681/0/0 raised for the Base Hospital. Wives

also participated in the sale of Children's

Hospital buttons, and over £80/0/0 raised.

Youth Week was held in May, and

students from the High School, Horsham

Central [298] and West State Schools and

Longerenong College were shown educational

films, and visited selected places of interest

and institutions throughout Horsham and

District.

This was the last Rotary Youth Week, as

many organisations decided to run their own

events over the week from 1958. Many

businessmen and women became involved in

vocational information to students.

International Committee held several

nights where members were asked to invite a

„New Australian‟ guest; 27 guests were

entertained.

At the Changeover Dinner of Horsham

RC in June 1957, the last official act of his

year, DG Stewart Brown advised that he had

travelled over 3500 miles to over 50 official

functions, and had enjoyed every moment. He

then inducted Sam C Tippett as President.

1957-1958

Board of Directors

President: Sam C Tippett

Vice President: D Amos

Secretary: R Kitson

Treasurer: A Pulling

SAA: F Graham

Directors:

G Pavey, T Dawson, B Pascall, D Garth, A

Flack, L Richardson, E Dunstan, & R

Whitelock.

Rotary assisted with the Anti-Cancer

door knock appeal and „knocked' that part of

36 36

the city west of Bennett Road. The Club also

ran a show „Pixie Town at Easter‟ in aid of the

Ambulance Appeal, which raised £20/6/8. A

donation of £20/12/0 was given to the Girl

Guides for their new hall.

An appeal from the „Committee In

Charge Of Children From Horsham Attending

The Lord Mayor‟s Camp‟ at Portsea for

assistance to finance one under-privileged

child was met by the Club.

Consideration was given for the

formation of a Charity Account, and to open

this fund a cake and produce stall was held by

Rotarians and wives, which raised the sum of

£22. This Charity Account is now known as

our Service Account.

Ten Rotarians and five wives

represented our Club at the Conference at

Glenelg.

The usual Christmas Ladies Night was

held and again was a most happy gathering.

This year a concert was sponsored by the

Club and performed by “New Australians‟ in

their national costumes. This raised £110,

which was used to purchase a tape recorder for

Horsham Central (298) State School.

It was the privilege of the club to

nominate a Life Governor for the Base

Hospital, and this honour was given to PP Don

Garth.

The Club was informed that the

Lutheran Old Folks Home was in need of an

electric razor for use by the male patients, and

this request was filled with a whip-around.

From the Balance Sheet, the Lord

Mayor‟s Camp at Portsea and The Children's

Village were other major recipients of the

Club‟s fundraising.

1958-1959

Board of Directors

President: Don Amos

Vice President: W Pascall

Secretary: R Kitson

Treasurer: E Dunstan

SAA: N Stanway

Directors:

L Richardson, F Graham, T Dawson, G Pavey,

W Fairbairn, P Cook, D Garth, & S Tippett.

An aquatic carnival and musical festival

both with professional artists from Melbourne

made these Community Service projects

successful.

Later the committee organised the Jack

Kramer Professional Tennis Troupe, and was

able to donate £300 to the Youth Appeal.

A bursary was created to assist students

of the High and Technical Schools needing

financial aid to continue their studies. Another

section was planted at Green Lake.

The Club formed an advisory panel to

help prepare young people plan their future.

Vocational also sponsored Apprentice Week.

Talks by International students and visits

to Longerenong College were enjoyed during

the year.

The Club was considering the

possibilities of commencing a „Meals on

Wheels‟ programme for the old and infirm

people in the City. Plans were prepared for the

formation of a committee to carry out this

project.

On a local note, donations were also

made to Woodbine Centre in Warracknabeal,

the Lutheran Old Folks; Crippled Children's

Appeal and one scholarship to the Technical

School.

1959-1960

Board of Directors

President: William Pascall

Vice President: T Dawson

Secretary: N Stanway

Treasurer: Malcolm Taylor

SAA: W Murphy

Directors:

F Mayne, N Cunningham, A Flack, W

McDowell, J Hill, & D Amos

A copy of Bill Pascall‟s report was

obtained from the archives of the „Wimmera

Mail Times‟. Community Service were able to

support the opening of the Bennett Road

Kindergarten with toys and equipment, assist

the Youth Centre by running a Publicans‟

Booth, making available contributions to the

Benevolent Fund and provide a bursary to the

Technical School. The plantation at Green

37 37

Lake received its usual working over.

The Careers Advisory Committee was

still very active, with Rotarians visited the

Technical School giving vocational advice.

Practical help to a village in Pakistan was a

project being following up by the International

Committee.

Many guest speakers spoke to the Club

on a variety of subjects. Two nights proceeds

from the new drive In theatre were donated to

the Base Hospital.

Several Rotarians anonymously helped

needy families who because of illness or

accident required assistance, providing

accommodation and giving under-privileged

children time away from their normal

environment.

Unfortunately, only a dozen Bulletins

exist for the years activities. However, it is

apparent Lorna Pascall was very involved, and

commenced ladies coffee mornings at her

home. Ladies were invited to all Club

meetings where a feminine theme was

apparent.

The Club officially attended the opening

of the Drive In Theatre, with these proceeds

going to the Youth Fund. Speakers‟ subjects

ranged from health, Libya and wine. A

Foundation Fellow spoke on atomic energy and

there was a talk from the Inspector of Schools.

The Club actively supported an

Ambulance Appeal for £30,000 to build a new

station, opened by Chairman Rtn Jack Mole,

and hosted The 3DB -3LK „Happy Gang‟

radio entertainment group in aid of the

Hospital Appeal.

PP Don Amos brought along three large

bags of lemons to „raise a bob‟ by auctioning

for the hospital - he did not even make the

front door. Promised to bring the tree next

time.

In September, 1959, the Club moved its

meeting place to the Buffs Hall, at a cost of 15/

- pw.

For the first time other service club

presidents were invited to our Changeover

Night on 28th June 1960. The Induction was

followed by a film and concert items.

1960-1961

Board of Directors

President: Thomas Henry Charles

Dawson

Vice President: F Graham

Secretary: N Stanway

Treasurer: Malcolm Taylor

SAA: J Mole

Directors:

W l, A Burgess, F Mayne, A Flack, N

Cunningham, S Tippett, & R Drummond

The Club‟s Archives hold the sum total

of four copies of the Club Bulletin for Pres.

Thomas Dawson‟s year. However, thanks to

the Historical Society, a brief resume was

found in the„Wimmera Mail Times‟ of his

Annual Report, plus notes from the Club

Minutes.

Among the President‟s first actions was

an increase in the joining fee from £3/3/0

to£4/4/0, and the purchase of a new P/A

system for £50/0/0.

Both Ararat and Stawell Clubs were

involved in our Inter-Club visiting programme.

A cheque was presented to Miss

Lorraine Hutchinson who had obtained an

American Field Service Scholarship. The

amount would help her in her role as an

ambassador for Horsham and Australia.

The Club moved from the “icebox” of

the Buff‟s Hall to the Royal Hotel, and now

had a new fixed sound system, helping

members to hear the guest speakers. The first

meeting at the Royal, on February 24th, 1961,

was also the Club‟s first meeting on a Friday

night, after over 32 years of being regularly

held on a Wednesday evening.

Hugh Jenkin's „Photo Quiz‟ helped all

members to know his fellow Rotarians. The

Club sponsored Miss Lois Hanna in the RSL

Princess of Wool Competition. Members door

-knocked for Food for Peace and The Spastic

Children's Appeal.

Guest speakers included Rtn. Ern

38 38

Gerlach with an illustrated talk on his trip to

Japan.

The Club administration was now run as

a business club without detriment to members,

giving the public a professional image. The

Bulletin was now printed in a new format, and

bulk postage utilised.

In May, the only surviving Foundation

Member, and existing member of this Club,

Jack Vivian Snaith Ward, passed away. He was

accorded full recognition.

The project of establishing a Day Centre

for mentally handicapped children in Horsham

was still stalled, but it was hoped that in the

near future its approval would be most

gratifying to parents who have the misfortune

to have a child with a handicap.

A new Club banner designed by

Technical School Student Ken Hutchinson was

received from the printers. A prize of £2/2/0

was awarded.

1961-1962

Board of Directors

President: Fred Graham

Vice President: N Stanway

Secretary: J Mole

Treasurer: Malcolm Taylor

SAA: J Osmotherley

Directors: T Dawson, K Baird, R Drummond, H Schwarz,

I Stevens, A Burgess, & G Forsyth.

Programmes as usual covered a wide

range of topics: cancer; the Navy, fashions,

water planning, police work, gliding and a

host of other absorbing subjects interspersed

with valuable and informative talks by our own

members.

Foremost in the minds of the Committee

was the establishment of a retarded children's

centre, but the Board decided that the matter

should be held in abeyance until research

proved a need for such a centre, when the

project would then be pursued.

The Youth Centre Committee was

approached on how best Rotary could help.

Gymnastic equipment was requested and was

presented. Trophies were given for the most

outstanding boy and girl, as decided by the

Youth Centre Activities Committee.

Donations were given to the Youth Centre,

Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Again a bursary

was made available to support the further study

of a Horsham student in Ballarat.

The Lutheran Old Folks Home was

given a substantial donation, and several

residents, along with some from the hospital,

were taken to the Horsham Theatre to see a

programme. A tour of the city was organised

for the old folk from the Geriatric Homes at the

hospital.

Once again, working bees tended the

Green Lake plantation, and later the same work

was done at the Horsham Cemetery in a „clean

up your city‟ campaign.

A Pleasant Sunday Evening was held at

the Drive In Theatre, as a finale to the W.O.W

week, the proceeds of £250/0/0 being applied

to the Club Charity Fund.

Rotary sponsored four children to the

Lord Mayor‟s Camp at Portsea.

Three nights were arranged for

community speakers, one by Town Clerk Arch

Conn who spoke on various needs in Horsham,

such as Meals on Wheels, a social worker, etc.

A mannequin parade, sponsored by the

Rotary Club and Prestige Ltd was a huge

success, with £108/0/0 being raised for the

Royal Woman‟s Hospital and the Charity

Fund.

Twice during the year Rotarians billeted

members of visiting choirs.

The Vocational Committee arranged

several speakers and a film emphasising

vocation.

During the year International raised over

£50/0/0 for Rotary Foundation, provided four

programmes, and liaised with the Rotary Club

of Horsham in Sussex.

Donations were made to Horsham

Elderly Citizens Club, Boy Scouts and Girl

Guides, Youth Club, Miss Teenager Quest,

Lord Mayors Camp Portsea and Rotary

Scholarship.

39 39

1962-1963

Board of Directors

President: Noel Stanway

Vice President: I Stevens

Secretary: J Mole

Treasurer: Malcolm Taylor

SAA: R Grant/C Adams

Directors:

N Cunningham, H Schwarz, A Burgess, J

Marshall, A Pryor, M Smith, & F Graham.

The newly instituted Fellowship

Committee, as well as sending birthday, get

well and anniversary cards to members and

their wives, invited the wives of members as

Club guests to the meeting nearest their

wedding anniversary. Guest speakers were

given a copy of „The Rotarian‟, and visiting

Rotarians handed a Horsham Club banner.

Committee members were asked to

entertain with a weekly joke or two. A

barbecue was enjoyed at Zumsteins after a

Sunday car trip to Lake Wartook.

A combined Service Club Dinner joined

Jaycees, R.S.L, Lions, Apex and Rotary

together sociallyand hopefully, closer.

A new committee in Rotary was

frowned upon at the time by District, as

opening yet another avenue for Rotary. It was

another first for Horsham.

Over the twelve months, many varied

programmes were enjoyed. In that time we

had the DG‟s Visit, four Club Assemblies,

eight Vocational, eleven International and four

Vocational Service orientated programmes.

Job/Life talks by new members were always

enjoyed. Other speakers were from Persia,

India, Asian students, slides and films.

With Frank Lockwood as our Publicity

Officer, over 260 single column inches and

four photos were given to Club activities.

As a Combined Service Club project, a

Community Chest was considered, but for it to

work all organisations had to agree, and the

idea, after many hours of work, lapsed.

New meeting signs were placed at the

City's edges, and outside the Locarno Hotel.

Once again, working bees were held at our

plantations and the cemetery to tidy up.

Rotarians featured in raising funds for Spastic

Children, Freedom from Hunger, Association

for the Blind.

Members worked closely with the Youth

Centre, assembling a public address system,

complete with turntable for the playing of

recorded music.

The Club‟s latest plantation idea saw

negotiations begin for 3 acres of land to be

fenced at Frank Tucker‟s property at Lower

Norton. Over 3000 Christmas trees would be

planted there over the next three to four years.

Four Vocational meetings were enjoyed

during this year. The committee looked at a

Careers Night and Students‟ public speaking

promotions, these to be followed up the next

year as the groundwork had been done.

A visit by the Vice President and

Secretary of Stawell Rotary Club, accompanied

by an Exchange Student‟s father and the

Club‟s Filipino Exchange Student was very

successful. Our Club embraced the idea and

arrangements were made to host our first

student in 1963.

This year both the High School and the

Technical School availed themselves of the

bursary for aiding students to continue their

schooling.

1963-1964

Board of Directors

President: Ivan R Stevens

Vice President: Malcolm Taylor

Secretary: J Mole

Treasurer: M Smith

SAA: C Adams

Directors:

H Schwarz, T Thompson, N Cunningham, J

Gaffney, B Hufer, S F Brown, & N Stanway.

During 1963-64, two major Rotary

events occurred: our first Exchange Student,

Charlotte Roberts, arrived from Dallas,

40 40

Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and the Chartering of

the Rotary Club of Dimboola took place.

Following up the Stawell RC visit, Rtn.

Harold Schwarz was appointed Charlotte‟s

counsellor, and her charm soon had members

enthusiastic about continuing with the

programme to send a student overseas.

Rtn. Bill Murphy was appointed the

DG‟s representative in the founding of a

Rotary Club in Dimboola, and after 18 months

in the planning, the Charter was presented in

April 1964.

The Vocational Committee arranged for

representatives from the Defence Forces, the

Bank Education Service, the Commonwealth

Employment service and other organisations to

speak at the High School at a Careers Night.

Over 500 people attended this most successful

night. The representatives from the various

organisations were available during the day for

students to seek advice on careers. Job/Life

and vocational talks were again scheduled.

The Technical School hostel was the

recipient of proceeds of Community projects.

There was a Rotarian Golf Day, W.O.W Week

involvement, Drive-In night, LAC Choristers

Concert and an open day at Mel Russell's

property „Melrose‟.

Two rotary clothes hoists were installed

at the Senior Citizens Flats, and the club gave

help to a crippled housewife.

During the year, at Tuckers Plantation,

over 1000 pines were planted, and because of

the drought conditions, working picnics were

organised to water the plants.

A parcel of Redwood pine seeds was

received from USA, but unfortunately these

did not germinate. A further supply was

obtained, and given to the Bellfield Dam

Project.

Programmes organised by the

International Committee included Bob King,

MHR; „George‟ from Tanganyika and „Geoff‟

from Nyasaland.

We were delighted with our exchange

student, and looked forward to a student from

Kansas. Further great news was the acceptance

of our own Carolyn Dawson by the Oxley Club

in New York State.

Fellowship for the year included a joint

picnic at Zumstein's with our new sponsored

Club, Dimboola.

1964-1965

Board of Directors

President: Malcolm Taylor

Vice President: H Schwarz

Secretary: J Weight

Treasurer: M Smith

SAA: T Thompson

Directors:

F Lockwood, D Grant, E Eldridge, W Crouch,

H Jenkin, B Miller, & I Stevens

The Club continued with career

guidance, and names of Rotarians and their

occupation placed on special notice boards at

the High and Technical Schools. Another

Careers Night was arranged at the High School

and over 250 students received expert

counselling on many trades and professions.

Regular Club programs were arranged by

Vocational.

An evening with Asian students from

Melbourne University was again successful,

and a local „New Australian‟ migrant night was

enjoyed by everyone. The Club entertained the

Malaysian High Commissioner Tun Lim Yew

Hock at an Inter-City Meeting, and as a direct

result 16 District Rotarians went to the Kuala

Lumpur Conference.

The Tucker and Green Lake plantations

were again the scenes of well attended working

bees. Another Rotary sign was erected at

Green Lake.

Meals on Wheels was still on the

agenda, and with the hospital‟s support,

Horsham Council was approached for their

imput as it is felt a Council employee would be

best placed to administer the scheme. This

followed up the Town Clerk‟s talk to the Club

on town needs. It was anticipated that Meals

on Wheels would start the next year - a project

worthy of Rotary participation.

Fellowship saw the weekend visits by

two Rotary Clubs, Henley Beach (party of 43)

and the Moorabbin Club. Both Clubs enjoyed

great days at Green Lake, and „Melrose‟.

41 41

On the local front, visits from Stawell

and Warracknabeal Clubs rounded out a great

year.

Tom Moxley, exchange student from

Counsel Grove, Kansas attended Longerenong

Agricultural College. Tom‟s exchange was

very successful, and Tom and his wife returned

to this Club in 1990. He then owned a 4,000

acre cattle ranch in Kansas and managed

another 12,000 acres under a consultancy

service. Carolyn Dawson arrived in New York

State, and from reports appeared to have settled

in well. Carolyn and her father, PP Tom re-

visited the Oxford Club in 1985.

1965-1966

Board of Directors

President: Harold Schwarz

Vice President: H Jenkin

Secretary: D Paterson

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: P Cook

Directors:

E Eldridge, M Taylor, N Silvey, E Brownstein,

R Miatke, & J McKenzie.

During this year members at last

purchased name badges for their wives,

making it easier for the boys on the door.

Visits to Charlton and Dimboola Clubs were

successful.

The Fellowship Committee had a large

task in organising the South East Asian Forum

held at the Town Hall and attended by 280

Rotarians and wives from all over our new

District, 280. The year finished with a

barbecue at Jack Russell's farm.

Programmes included many on overseas

subjects, with Community Aid Abroad, The

Wimmera Machinery Field Days and Meals on

Wheels featuring prominently.

At its first meeting for the year,

Vocational decided not to hold a Careers Night

as it was felt that this service had been offered

very thoroughly over the last two years.

Instead, the major project was to involve young

people in community work. The R.S.L and

Legacy benefited by the cutting of an

enormous amount of wood.

A Public Meeting in November, under

the sponsorship of Rotary, a Community Aid

Abroad Group was established. The

Committee provided a well and pump in

Gudjaret with a second project of sending

seeds, manure and bullocks to Guniansol

Village Bihar in hand.

During the year 8 Asian students were

hosted for a weekend. Attempts to bring out

Malaysian nurses to train was put on hold for

the next year‟s committee. The Education

Department in Port Moresby replied to our

inquiries for sponsoring a student at Horsham

Technical College. This project was to

possibly proceed, not through Rotary but

through a church organisation.

Community Service commenced the

Meals on Wheels project, and started

delivering the first meals on 18th April, 1966,

with 69 meals. By the end of its first week,

196 meals were being delivered. The 8000th

meal was delivered on 13th June, 1967. Rtn.

Clem Jepson was the main organiser of this

major community service.

Once again, pine trees were a major

worry: no rain - no trees, and working bees

were needed to replace the 500 trees that did

not survive the ravages of drought. It was

hoped that that Christmas would see our first

sales.

The Lord Mayor‟s Portsea Camp,

Community Aid Abroad and the Crippled

Children‟s Appeal were the main recipients at

the end of year disbursements.

1966-1967

Board of Directors

President: Hugh Jenkin

Vice President: E Eldridge

Secretary: D Paterson/E Dunstan

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: Hal Hobbs

Directors:

N Silvey, H Schwarz, P Cook, E Brownstein, C

Adams, A Schwartz, G le Plastrier, & L Kift.

Speakers were again a varied group: Mr

Fallow from the Wool Board, Mr E Nuske

talking on China and a series of talks by our

own members.

Once again, Vocational organised the

Careers Guidance Clinic at the Masonic Hall.

42 42

Buses, financed by the local Rotary Clubs,

brought students from Kaniva, Nhill,

Dimboola, Rainbow, Warracknabeal, Donald

and Horsham. High, Technical Schools and

Convents were represented. A team of over 20

professional career advisers from Melbourne

did a splendid job.

Geoffrey Kaut Som arrived from New

Guinea, courtesy Pastor Rtn. Keith Nagel.

Geoffrey was to attend Horsham Technical

School for three years, and showed he was an

outstanding and conscientious scholar, settling

in well.

Ten Asian students were hosted over a

long weekend by Club members. Support for

the Community Aid Abroad Group continued

to grow.

Community work was carried out at the

Green Lake Foreshore, and additions made to

the Youth Club building. Meals on Wheels

was still gathering momentum, and became

firmly established in Horsham with 6378 meals

being served in the first year.

Two projects were worked on to be

ready by the next year: the learners pool

project for which the money had already been

raised, while a survey for a clinic for mentally

handicapped persons was being collated for the

Club and Community to consider.

This Club established a Trust Fund,

holding $392.21 pending the result of this

survey.

Other projects in review were a

decentralisation committee and an eye bank

project.

Soon after the disastrous Tasmanian

bushfires, a collection was taken up and an

amount of $539.75 sent to the Rotary Club of

Glenorchy, Tasmania, to use as required. Rent

on our Christmas tree plantation of one shilling

was paid to Mr Tucker.

March saw the arrival of the Club‟s first

Group Study Team, consisting of six members

and team leader from Tennessee for 4 days of

vocational visits. A local accountant, David

Greenall, was our unsuccessful nomination for

the return visit.

Children's art was exchanged with

Japanese Rotary Clubs. Some items were

exchanged and auctioned. The Club sponsored

Miss Marie Nuske in the „Miss Wimmera

Contest‟.

The Ladies‟ report in the Annual Report

was a first for this Club, and Lorna Jenkin‟s

report allowed members to know what the

ladies really do besides accompany their

husbands to Changeovers and Christmas

Dinners.

The main effort was a Christmas fete in

the Town Hall supper room, which was very

successful and enjoyed by all, bringing the

ladies together in a social atmosphere.

Two morning coffee parties were later

enjoyed, at the homes of Evelyn Brown and

Katie Sawyer.

The Board of Directors made two

decisions impacting on members. First, all

members had their subscriptions directed from

„The Rotarian‟ to the fledgling „Rotary Down

Under‟ which needed support, the other was

allowing members to wear shorts on hot nights.

For more sartorialy inclined members, suit

coats could be dispensed with also on hot

nights.

Wimmera Shire asked us to support

renovations and extentions to the Lord Mayors

Childrens Camp at Portsea. The work would

be over five years, with an annual commitment

of £40.

1967-1968

Board of Directors

President: Earle Eldridge

Vice President: N Silvey

Secretary: N Stanway

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: K Baird

Directors:

E Brownstein, H Hobbs, R Bethell, P Coutts,

M Lehmann, M Lehmann, & D Walter

Vocational ethics were aired for the

members to consider, as was a special

programme „Planning for Retirement‟. Six

Job/Life talks were given by members, and the

film „Three Views on Heart Surgery‟ was

shown to stimulate interest.

Programmes were wide ranging; from

Rock Climbing with Dr Rod Sutherland, a life

talk from a Rotarian who was with the Italian

Army in Stalingrad, later a German

43 43

concentration camp and finally came as a

migrant to Australia, to an address from the

Chief Economist with the National Bank.

Having obtained approval from the Board,

Fellowship ran two Cabarets in the Town Hall

Supper Room. During the year two car trials

were run with a barbecue after, and a well

attended meeting was held at Jack Russell‟s,

again with the committee catering.

The annual Bowls Night against

Warracknabeal Club was held on Horsham

Golf Club greens.

Eventually the Club‟s project of training

Asian nurses had a favourable result, with Soo

and Sri, two Malaysian nurses training at the

Base Hospital. Several other Malaysian

nurses at Naracoorte and Warrnambool

hospitals were brought over by local Rotarians

to an outing at Halls Gap, and all present

enjoyed the international barbecue.

New Guinean Geoffrey was now in his

second year and continued to impress all who

met him. We obtained an Indonesian journalist

as a guest speaker, and members were much

better informed on our near neighbour, the

largest Muslim nation in the world.

In conjunction with Horsham's „New

Australian‟ citizens, a soccer match was

arranged. It was a success both socially and

financially. The first Christmas tree cutting at

Tucker‟s Plantation was reasonably successful.

We involved the Scout Groups in this venture,

but more energy was spent clearing up the

havoc caused than the actual cutting down of

the trees.

The barbecue and working bee at

Sunnyside Park too was a social and financial

success, and would be repeated. Meals on

Wheels continued with Rtn. Clem Jepson still

as it‟s able organiser.

The committee sponsored the visit of the

Australian Boys Choir, and this was well

attended by members and the public.

The learners pool was in the process of

being put out for tender by the Horsham

Council. This Club was committed to the full

cost then of £5,000, double the estimate.

The Club again supported local schools

with bursaries to the High, Technical and St

Brigid‟s Schools.

Over a number of years the Club had

been concerned with money held in trust for a

retarded children‟s centre. A survey showed

that because of insufficient numbers of

children in the area, a centre could not be

proceeded with.

After calling a public meeting, it was

resolved that the amount of $408.09 held in

trust should be given to the Pleasant Creek

Special School at Stawell, for additional

education facilities not normally provided.

This amount, coupled with a subsidy, would

provide a substantial amount of equipment.

1968-1969

Board of Directors

President: Norm Silvey

Vice President: E Brownstein

Secretary: W Crouch

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: D Amos

Directors:

H Hobbs, R Bethell, P Coutts, M Lehmann, H

Jenkin, & D Walter.

Fellowship continued with a most

interesting programme of social re-education

of the Club. Again, wives were involved, with

a mixed golf day, two coffee cabarets, with

wooden horse racing(!), car trial and picnic.

At the car trial we welcomed for the first

time members of the Camberwell Rotary Club,

a friendship that lasted the test of time. The

Christmas Dinner was a success, being in the

format of a dinner-dance.

Meals on Wheels continued, but without

Rtn. Clem Jepson at the helm due to ill health,

Horsham Council took over the organising.

The Christmas tree cutting and sales was

carried out by members only, the profit going

to the Learners Pool Fund. After much red

tape, a raffle was organised for a wrist watch.

The pool was now finally finished and being

enjoyed by the town‟s youngsters - fully

funded by Rotary.

The Malaysian nurses both passed their

First Year exams, while Geoffrey Kaut

continued to shine - then in his third year with

us, and looked like finishing well. The hosting

44 44

of Asian students that year brought 11

Malaysian's from Latrobe University.

Vocational arranged a trip to the

Wimmera Base Hospital and Longerenong

College as part of their programmes. Job/Life

talks and What‟s New in my Profession were

often included in the evening‟s agenda.

The highlight of the year was a

management seminar open to the public in

which over half of the Club were involved, and

which showed what Rotary can do. The

seminar was featured in „Rotary Down Under‟.

Programmes saw 4 meetings away from

the Locarno Hotel, with 33 guest speakers (not

Rotarians) addressing the members. A new

method of appointing officers for weekly

meetings was instituted, and worked well. (the

same method is still working in 2003)

Membership that year reached 79, an increase

of 11 over the year.

1969-1970

Board of Directors

President: Eddie Brownstein

Vice President: R Bethell

Secretary: N Carter

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: Max Taylor

Directors:

D Schmidt, J van Duren, W Rentsch, I Stevens,

D Walter, & G le Plastrier.

Fellowship early on decided they could

not top the last year - then did. Trips were

made to Wyperfield Park, Victoria Valley and

Cherrypool. The Clubs sportsmen had their

bowls and golf days.

In October the first of many trips to

Camberwell Club was made.

A Premiere Night barbecue was held at

the Drive-In Theatre with public participation

and $850 raised.

The Christmas Dinner format was

changed, with table wine and entertainment

introduced. This carried over to the

Changeover night, where a change of menu

included liqueurs and coffee. Fellowship took

over eleven nights during the year, a record.

Programmes ranged from working bees

at Green Lake and Tucker‟s, Mr Aoki from the

Japan Trade Centre, the Vice Chancellor of

Monash University, Deputy Director of Bureau

of Agriculture, and a joint talk by other service

clubs - Jaycees, Lions and Apex.

A second Club was suggested for

Horsham, and the Director of Aboriginal

Affairs aroused many thoughts. A Group Study

Team arrived from New Jersey, USA, and

spent eight days in the Wimmera, relaxing after

a hectic first part of their tour.

Along with the visit of the Vice

Chancellor of Monash University, Vocational

arranged also for a team of teaching staff and

students to attend a public meeting to inform

local people on requirements, courses,

accommodation and scholarships available at

Monash.

The introduction of an annual Service

Award for outstanding employees in Horsham

businesses was instigated, with a silver tray to

be donated and presented by PDG Stewart

Brown.

The International Committee sought ties

with the Lae Rotary Club because Geoffrey

had successfully completed his final year and

was returning there for tertiary study. A

wheelchair was sent to the local hospital. Our

two Malaysian trainee nurses both passed their

finals at the Base Hospital, and were to return

home soon. An unsuccessful attempt was

made to replace them with two New Guinean

students.

An idea of Rtn. Andy Wood to bring to

Horsham a leading Indonesian journalist was

successful, and Satyagraha Hoerip duly arrived

from Djakarta, staying in the Wimmera for

nine weeks. He returned home with a better

understanding of Australians and our way of

life, and we hoped he was an ambassador for

Horsham as well on his return home.

Help was given to the River

Beautification Committee and the south bank

of the river was planted with native trees. The

Club moved over 2,000 yards of filling into

the Rotary area, long known as Sawyers

Brickworks, which is now the Soundshell

forecourt.

The fence from the bridge to the caravan

park was erected by all the service clubs.

45 45

Community also helped at the Mardi-Gras with

entertainment and a barbecue, proceeds going

to the River Committee. The Christmas trees

were again very successful, and another 1,300

young pines planted.

The Committee was liable for the cost of

the learners‟ pool, which ran seriously over

budget, but was able to discharge the debt with

the help of all members during the year.

Our plantations at the lakes were handed

over to Wimmera Shire for ongoing care.

1970-1971

Board of Directors

President: Bob Bethell

Vice President: W Crouch

Secretary: W Thirwell

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: N Carter

Directors:

J van Duren, D Schmidt, A Wood, G le

Plastrier, & G Bath.

An International Convention is a once-in

-lifetime for most of us. A truly tremendous

experience with outstanding events on

particular days, mixed with fellowship of local

and international Rotarians, and Horsham

members who attended the Sydney Convention

must be better Rotarians.

During the year, the Club moved

to its new „home‟ at La Fontana, with

everything pertaining to club services much

better and more enjoyable, the air conditioning

certainly being relished by all on hot nights.

Our third sponsored Club, The Rotary

Club of Horsham East, was chartered on 16th

April under the guidance of District Governors

Special Representatives PP Norm Silvey and

PP Malcolm Taylor. It is this Club‟s continued

responsibility to maintain whatever assistance

they may require.

Many varied functions were enjoyed

during the year, commencing with a car trial to

Rocklands, followed by a barbecue.

November saw Camberwell Club visit

us. The weekend started with a cabaret on

Friday. Saturday included a trip to Zumstein's,

followed by a barbecue and home hosting, and

next morning either golf or a trip to the

Russell‟s was enjoyed.

Members and ladies were entertained by

„Oliver‟, and a trip to Seppelts Winery

followed by a barbecue evidently sated most

members appetites for a while. Christmas

Dinner was a riotous affair, and early in the

year the Club enjoyed another visit to the

Russell‟s, together with the Horsham East

Rotarians and ladies - all enjoyed seeing

Mavis‟s collection of rare china.

The largest project for the year was the

organisation of the Horsham East Charter

night, with 370 attending the Black Tie dinner

at the Town Hall.

A challenge at cricket was issued by the

Lions Club - and some Rotarians found they

weren't as young as they thought they were.

During the year, the Fellowship Ladies

invited members wives who had a birthday or

anniversary in that month to a special evening

meal.

Programmes‟ aim that year was to teach

members as much as could be gained about our

own City, and speakers included Arch Conn

(Town Clerk), Geoff Leivesley (Promotions

Committee) and senior staff from the CES and

local police station.

Job/Life talks were still winners, while

the international flavours were from Northern

Canada to Antarctica.

Careers Week saw over 350 students

seek advice from fifteen counsellors on their

future choosing of a career. A business clinic,

while well run and organised, did not attract as

many local businessmen as had been expected.

Our fourth exchange student, Yasuko

Hashimoto, arrived from Koriyama West in

Japan. She was a delightful ambassador for her

country, and made an important contribution to

this Club‟s acceptance of the Exchange

Programme.

The Club put forward a student for

outgoing exchange but she was not successful.

Contact with Geoffrey was maintained

through Lae Rotary Club, and a parcel of

school books sent to Kila Kila Primary school

in Papua.

Once again, the Club hosted nine

46 46

Malaysian Students from Methodist

International House for a weekend.

Newspapers received from Indonesia

show that Australia and District 278 were well

publicised by Hoerip on his return.

The combined Rotary Clubs worked

towards the formation of a Rotaract Club in

Horsham.

That year Community was heavily

involved with the river improvement scheme,

and working bees poured concrete for under

tables and barbecue bases, painted picnic

tables, and designed and built the jetty near the

caravan park, as well as serving on the river

committee.

Two young people were sent to

Hamilton to the RYLA seminar. Christmas

tree sales were again successful, but it was

recommended that next year the Club increase

the price from $1.00 to $1.20. A public raffle

for a swimming pool was organised and $400

raised.

An Outstanding Community Service

Award was implemented, the first award going

to Mr L Rudolph for his contribution

spearheading the river improvement scheme.

Bursaries were again given to the three

Secondary schools, together with an amount to

the City Oval improvements keeping up our

local outlook.

1971-1972

Board of Directors

President: Bill Crouch

Vice President: D Schmidt

Secretary: D Greenall

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: K Nagel

Directors:

J Weight, J Cranage, O Thomas, N Silvey, G

Bath, & R Bethell.

Some of the social highlights included

the visit by Camberwell Club, and the very

successful barn dance held on that weekend.

Later in the year some of our members

journeyed down to Melbourne to enjoy their

congenial hospitality.

Christmas night, and later the trip to

Rocklands for a weekend once again proved

that fellowship was alive and well in this Club.

Other successes were the two golf days, theatre

night, a car trial and a cricket match.

Inter Club visits were made by

Dimboola and Stawell which also included the

ladies from all Clubs.

Programmes included the popular Job/

Life talks, and members talks on their travels,

interests and hobbies, along with many guests

on many subjects.

This Club sponsored Geoffrey Bath to

gain the two years practical experience needed

before receiving teacher training for Technical

Schools. Although privately financed,

Geoffrey would gain agricultural experience in

six countries being hosted by Rotary Clubs in

New Zealand, USA, Canada, Norway, England

and South Africa. If successful, the pilot

project would be put to Rotary International as

an educational scheme worthy of funding.

Forty-five prefects and student leaders

from the Secondary schools in Horsham and

Dimboola attended a seminar on leadership in

Horsham, later in the year a careers trip was

arranged to attend the Open Day at the

University of Melbourne.

In conjunction with Camberwell Club, a

third year apprentice was hosted in Melbourne

for one week, receiving vocational instruction

in all aspects of the building trade. Two

electrical apprentices were also sponsored and

hosted by Belmont Club.

For the first time, members received a

booklet recording personal and business details

of all Horsham Rotarians, named „Who‟s Who‟

- hopefully, an annual production of the

Vocational Committee.

Everyone agreed that the exchange of

Yasuko Hashimoto was an excellent one.

Several members were soon going to Japan and

would call on Yasuko and her parents. We

were fortunate that Yasuko was here when the

Group Study Team from Japan visited

Horsham. An International Dinner was held

with recipes from Japan, Netherlands, Italy,

South Seas and Australia on the menu, and

Yasuko helped with the preparation, and

performed a Japanese dance.

The project to bring two Papuan nurses

to Australia for further training finally came to

47 47

fruition, and Jill Unia and Bella Modulula

stayed at the Horsham Base Hospital for eight

weeks. They both moved on to Bethesa

Hospital in Melbourne to obtain their

midwifery certificates.

After much planning, the Horsham

Rotaract Club‟s Charter meeting was held on

16th March, at the Horsham Town Hall. Here

we had a mixed young group, who we hoped,

would go from strength to strength. Two

Rotaracters were selected as RYLA awardees.

Christmas time was successful with a

concert, sales of Christmas trees and cards.

Working bees were busy on the river

bank, the Christmas tree plantation and the

Rotary rest area in Firebrace Street. A wine

tasting was squeezed in somewhere, and

members combined in a joint club effort with

Camberwell, to host a young widow and her

three children on a holiday away from

Melbourne for ten days.

1972-73

Board of Directors

President: Doug Schmidt

Vice President: J Russell

Secretary: C Ballard

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: H Jenkin

Directors:

O Thomas, L Llewelyn, J Cranage, G Bath, A

Wood, D Miller, & W Crouch.

The first fabulous Christmas Dinner was

organised for some of Horsham‟s elderly

cit izens:the meal, atmosphere and

entertainment at La Fontana would long be

remembered, as would Pat and Rosaria Neri for

their hospitality.

Camberwell‟s visit was spoken of in

glowing terms - due mainly to the generosity of

Rtn. John and Reta van Dyk, and the return

visit to Camberwell equalled in fellowship.

A line of coins in Firebrace Street was

very well supported by the public. Other

functions organised by Fellowship included a

wine tasting, the annual Lions v Rotary Cricket

match, the annual bowls match against

Warracknabeal RC, a Christmas barbecue at

the river, and a visit to Halls Gap with Stawell

RC.

With fellowship in mind, eight Ladies

Nights were held over the year, and several

planned with younger families in mind. Two

major evenings celebrated were Stewart

Brown‟s 40 years in Rotary, and the visiting

GSE team from Maryland, USA. Speakers

from outside Australia spoke on seven

occasions.

Vocational provided a bus to transport

matriculation students from the secondary

schools to the Open Day at Ballarat Institute

for Advanced Studies.

The planned careers meeting did not

eventuate, and an award was made to our city

parking attendant Gerry Hawkins for his

personal concern for metered motorists.

Apprentice exchange saw two Horsham

mechanics go to Belmont and Camberwell,

and in return two of their mechanics were

placed with Horsham Dealers. Geoffrey

Bath‟s technical training continued into its

second year, and the Club was kept well

informed.

Contact was maintained with our

Indonesian journalist Hoerip, and our two New

Guinean Nurses. The Club greeted Gabriel du

Toit, from Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Ned

Carter was busy as student counsellor. Also in

his charge was the outgoing student to

California, Jennifer Payne.

The exhilarating project of providing an

efficient and safe water system to the Karamue

Hospital in New Guinea showed what Rotary

can do when challenged.

Billeting the National Boys Choir was a

big job, but Rotary did it. The event was a

social and musical success. Draw a line with

chalk down the footpath, and $250 was raised

in this way over a twelve hour period.

Christmas tree sales were stepped up, with

home delivery offered. The Club was involved

with the Karkana Project committee, with Club

support to be ongoing.

This was the first year a separate Youth

Committee was in existence. Many ideas were

put forward, including Little Athletics and a

driving school, but the local youth were well

served in these areas. The first year‟s efforts

centred mainly on Rotaract, helping out with

their projects, and sending two young people to

48 48

Glenormiston College to the RYLA seminar.

1973-1974

Board of Directors

President: Jack Russell

Vice President: D Walter

Secretary: C Ballard

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: S Olsen

Directors:

D Schmidt, L Llewelyn, A Schwartz, F

Rossbotham, G Bath, M Lehmann;, & A

Wood.

Thirty couples came from Melbourne

Rotary Club and enjoyed the International

Dinner, complete with the Mahatma, Gandhi

serving the Indian food. Other countries

represented also had their heroes. On Saturday

the visitors journeyed to Mt Arapiles, and that

evening there was home-hosting. Sunday‟s

events included a trip over the Grampians and

a barbecue at Halls Gap.

An oil painting of Sir Angus Mitchell by

Sir William Dargie was presented to the Club.

This was followed up one month later with

thirteen couples visiting from Camberwell RC.

On Saturday, eighteen Horsham couples

joined the group and all ventured away for a

weekend at Rocklands. Activities included

fishing, golfing, sing-a-longs etc. The food and

fellowship was never ending.

As a prelude to our Christmas Dinner, a

bus tour was arranged to give the elderly from

the hostels an outing at Zumstein's, with a

barbecue lunch and afternoon tea.

Over one hundred elderly folk were

transported to and from La Fontana for the

annual Christmas Dinner.

Some members made the return visit to

Camberwell, the highlights being chauffeured

to Flannagans Night Club, and the barbecue at

Bill May‟s home.

Other Fellowship events included a

yabby day, wine bus tour to Great Western and

a wine and cheese night.

Programmes again were varied, and

included the favourites, Job/Life talks and

member‟s interests. Outstanding among them

was the discussion „Apartheid‟ between

exchange student Gabriel du Toit and PP Eddie

Brownstein. Father Brosnan gave us an insight

into Pentridge Gaol, and a major address was

on the Wimmera Base Hospital‟s „Million

Dollar‟ Appeal.

The internationality of Rotary was

evident when Monsignor Garcia spoke to the

club on the Philippines, and the poor standard

of their cattle herds. This resulted in a

pedigreed bull being donated by Rtn. Reece

Bulle, and shipped to the Philippines.

This year‟s International Dinner had

representative food from India, British Isles,

Balkan States and China. A visit was received

for several days by a GSE team from Ohio,

USA, who enjoyed their break from

commitments. To round out our year, a family

night was organised at Austin Eagle‟s

woolshed.

Work on our river area involved mowing

and building a retaining wall each side of the

jetty to stop erosion to the banks. The barbecue

needed extensive repairs due to vandalism, and

a drinking fountain was erected next to the

barbecue.

Christmas trees were again a winner,

being sold from our rest area in Firebrace

Street. Another main street project was

another line of coins to aid the hospital appeal.

This raised $300. Once again the club helped a

widower and his four children in conjunction

with Camberwell Rotary Club.

This was Youth Activities second year,

and Rotaract was again the main focus.

Rotactors were painting the Karkana building,

and building chicken coops for Noske‟s poultry

research farm at Tooan. RYLA was supported

again and two awardees chosen to go to

Bendigo.

We combined with the Wimmera Mail

Times in choosing a „Junior Sportsman of the

Year Award‟ which would continue into the

next Rotary year.

Gabriel du Toit returned home after a

highly successful year. He was replaced by

Greg Pickering from Alberta, Canada. Jenny

Payne was still in California. Horsham was

now well established as the venue for the

District nominated exchange students

interviews.

49 49

Membership this year reached 89.

1974-1975

Board of Directors

President: Dave Walter

Vice President: A Schwartz

Secretary: B Thomson

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: N Silvey

Directors:

J Russell, A Wood, B Miller, G Bath, L

Llewelyn, F Rossbotham, & N Carter.

This became known as the “Year of the

House”. A sub-committee was formed under

Community Service guidance.The House

Project leaders were Stan Francis, Master

Builder and Barry Rogers, Public Works

Inspector, and under their guidance, the house

was built.

This concept of building a house and

giving the profit to the Wimmera Base

Hospital‟s Appeal was raised in 1973-74 and

passed onto the Club committee this year.

The Community Service Committee

agreed early in their year that the most

important project was to complete the Rotary

House, and decided not to involve the Club in

too many other projects, as this was a large

undertaking and part of the „Million Dollar

Appeal‟.

The work was done mainly by the

members, assisted by tradesmen in special

areas of the work. We were fortunate to have a

Master Builder and a Public Works Inspector

among our members, and while these two men

bore the brunt of the organising and execution

necessary, the sterling work of the rank and file

members was acknowledged.

It was a long job and weather conditions

were against it, but patience and perseverance

triumphed, and on 5th October, 1974, the

completed house was opened for inspection.

At the opening ceremony, the House Project

leaders were made Life Governors of the

hospital. Almost 1600 people inspected the

house while it was opened. The house, at 12

Carter Street, Horsham, sold for $30,762. The

Club‟s commitment to the Hospital Centenary

Building Appeal was an outstanding

achievement. Over $13,000 profit was raised

in the building of the House.

Camberwell‟s visit this year was spent at

the Dooen Golf Club, where members of both

Club‟s washed bottles and filled them with

wine, devouring a smorgasbord meal along the

way.

A bus tour to Rocklands and the

Christmas Dinner were organised for our

Senior Citizens. Eighty members and wives

attended „The Sound of Music‟, a challenge

cricket match played was against Horsham

East, and the picnic with Warracknabeal RC

were enjoyable occasions.

Programmes included speakers on

education, football, travel, youth, women's

electoral lobby, gambling, hypnosis, job talks

and alcoholism.

Vocational concentrated on only three

projects because of the heavy load of the house

project. The Careers Week was held, with

students being bused from schools 80 miles

away.

Club members also arranged over 50

„mock interviews‟ to give students experience

in real office situations, having to make the

initial contact through to the interview.

Early in the year, the report on Geoffrey

Bath‟s overseas study tour was published. A

copy was sent to the District Governor, but was

not forwarded on for RI recognition as a new

Rotary Project.

The International Dinner introduced us

to Canadian food, together with South Seas,

Malaysian and Australian favourites. Profit

from the night purchased chickens for

Bangladesh, and 3,000 finally made it to

Bangladesh. Greg Pickering from Canada and

Jennifer Payne in California were representing

their respective Clubs well.

Again, together with Camberwell Club,

a widow and her two young sons enjoyed a

week‟s holiday in Horsham.

Christmas trees were available again, cut

and delivered.

In conjunction with the Police

Department, a bicycle testing machine was

taken to all schools and over 1,500 given

roadworthies.

50 50

It was planned to build a shelter over our

barbecue at the river. Money from our Line of

Coins would go to the River Beautification

Committee.

Rotaract and RYLA were again

supported. Alan Vickers, a member of

Rotaract, was selected as Horsham East‟s

member of a GSE team to Louisiana.

At the District Conference in Geelong,

the award of a Paul Harris Fellowship was

made to PDG Stewart Brown, presented by the

personal representative of R.I President Bill

Robbins, R.I Director Wilbur Pell in

recognition of outstanding service to Rotary

over a period of forty years plus.

1975-1976

Board of Directors President: Arthur Schwartz

Vice President: G Bath

Secretary: D Hermans

Treasurer: R Bracher

SAA: V Burge

Directors:

D Walter, A Wood, F Treacey, B Thomson, F

Lockwood, B Miller, D Greenall, & B

Rogers.

Fellowship was again very active, with

the Camberwell visit early in the Rotary year.

That year we visited the Great Western winery,

then went on to Halls Gap for an overnight stay

at the Lutheran Holiday Camp. Later, several

Horsham members and their wives

reciprocated with the return trip, and enjoyed a

great weekend.

The Elderly Folks Picnic and Christmas

Dinner were both very successful. Members

enjoyed a wine bottling, and other outings

included a yabby day at Russell‟s, a golf day

and the annual Lions Cricket Challenge.

Programmes were aimed to be

interesting, informative or amusing, to an

audience with a variety of interests, and topics

included alcoholism, China, Langi Kal Kal,

Army, Bangladesh, art, Russia, disaster, Tally

Ho Boys Home, Foundation, gliding etc.

In the second term vacation, eighteen

Form 5 Commercial students were employed in

industry for one week under the provisions of

the Work Experience Act (1974). Employers,

employees and the students all saw the benefit

of work experience in exploring a career, and

this became an ongoing project. The end of

first term in 1976 saw 26 students thus

employed.

Mock Interviews were again offered to

senior students, and 63 were so interviewed. A

review of their performance was given. The

apprentice exchange continued with 2 motor

mechanics being involved between Belmont

and ourselves.

This year the International Dinner

offered foods from China, New Zealand, USA

and Spain. The guest speaker was Mr Bob

King M.H.R who spoke on his trip to China.

The Club hosted a group of 50 New

Zealanders travelling through Horsham to the

Melbourne Cup. Austin Eagle made his

woolshed available and really showed the

„kiwis‟ something.

At the request of the Melbourne District

280, we entertained a GSE team from Japan.

They flew in and were taken to inspect

Longerenong Agricultural College and the

Wheat Research Institute.

The Christmas tree plantation needed a

lot of cleaning up and replanting, and working

bees accomplished this in no time. The shelter

at the river barbecue was almost finished. A

„Mannequin Parade‟ in conjunction with

Langlands, and Ball & Welch, raised $800 for

the Karkarna Appeal. Also for the same appeal

a scrap-metal drive was organised.

Membership at the end of the year stood

at 93.

Youth committee looked at the report of

the Council‟s Welfare Officer on the need for a

hostel for young people in Horsham, but the

cost was considered prohibitive and actual

numbers low.

A questionnaire surveying youth needs

showed that they are critical of organisations in

town. Statistics showed that 78% would like a

regular dance, and 50% of replies indicated

that school leavers intended to leave Horsham

permanently.

Nine boys from Tally Ho Boys Village

were given a holiday in Horsham for a week -

this was so successful that it was recommended

51 51

that it be an annual event. Rotaract and

RYLA were again supported.

A new project was the Youth Hike, with

52 people taking part in the walk from Flat

Rock, over Mt Stapleton and Mt Difficult to

Lake Wartook. All received Certificates of

Accomplishment.

Colin Bethune was selected as our

Exchange Student to go to California, and

Michael Cases was our new incoming student

from the Philippines.

1976-1977

Board of Directors

President: Graham Bath

Vice President: A Wood

Secretary: G Leak

Treasurer: R Bracher/J Kuhne

SAA: Malcolm Taylor

Directors:

A Schwartz, A Cozens, N Carter, R Bulle, D

Greenall, B Thomson, & B Rogers.

The carry-over of the Scrap Metal Drive

raised over $1,000 for the Karkana Appeal.

Several working bees saw „The Welder‟

and his team finish what is now we hoped

would be a vandal proof barbecue.

Christmas trees were again a good

source of income, but looking further to a more

practical donation, a tremendous Club effort

saw over 1000 bales of hay carted and stacked

to be distributed to the victims of the

Gippsland bushfires.

Fellowship has all or nothing happening

- then everything at once; the wind up of a

wine bottling, Camberwell visit to Rocklands

with inclement weather but great fellowship.

The Sun BikeTour saw us involved with a

barbecue for riders, crews and a very

successful night was enjoyed, both socially and

financially.

Thanks must go to the Neri‟s for the use

of La Fontana as the venue for the Senior

Citizens Dinner. The year‟s activities closed

with a river barbecue, a night at Eagles

woolshed and the Changeover.

Membership briefly touched 100.

Contact was established with Sister Jill

in New Guinea to ascertain whether this Club

could help with equipment for her hospital.

This project was designed to follow on from

1971 when Sister Jill received special training

at the Base Hospital. She requested an audio-

visual projector for the training of nursing

aides.

Plans to bring out an Indonesian

journalist were put on hold after a lot of work.

International‟s dinner saw foods of several

different countries, including the Philippines,

being attempted, and our exchange student

performed his national foot-crushing dance.

A new committee, Special Projects, was

formed as a result of the success of the Rotary

House Project. A Dinner Auction raising

$1,650 was the first project undertaken, and

$1,400 of this was given towards the Driver

Education Project.

Promotion of Horsham was the main

purpose in three members joining the back-up

crews in the „Sun Tour‟ bike race. A specially

painted „Horsham‟ car, was used. The project

was self supporting and did not incur any costs

on the Club (also no profit). Who could forget

SAA Malcolm Taylor‟s little ditties!

Vocational continued the Mock

Interviews and Work Experience Programmes,

and became involved in the Thornlie Rotary

Club‟s productivity project.

Youth Activities had a busy year,

starting with a list of „Students to help the

Elderly.

The Tally Ho hosting programme

proceeded with 6 Rotarian families

participating.

Rotaract had a Rotarian attending most

of their meetings, helping them in procedures,

etc.

A RYLA awardee was sponsored to

Glenormiston College.

A seminar „Alcohol and the Teenager‟

was conducted in conjunction with the Health

Education Centre, and involved 93 High

School students. Feedback via a questionnaire

was encouraging.

Shauna Walter was our outgoing

52 52

exchange student to South Africa and the

Youth Hike that year took place from Roses

gap, via Briggs Bluff, Boroka Lookout to

Wonderland.

PP Eddie Brownstein worked on

statistics which showed a definite fatigue zone

from Stawell to the South Australian border,

and Mobil Oil look looked like sponsoring this

project. Representations to the Country

Roads Board received no favourable response.

1977-1978

Board of Directors

President: Andrew Wood

Vice President: N Carter

Secretary: D Hatherall

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: B Hoffman

Directors: G Bath, J Dare, F Treacey, D Greenall, B

Thomson, G Leak, G le Plastrier, T Francis, &

J Glover.

The finalising of the scrap metal drive

saw another $500 towards Karkana.

Our Christmas tree harvest again raised

a good amount. Many trees were now past their

prime, and PP Jack Russell generously offered

a site of 2.5 acres which was cleaned and

fenced. Rental for the Club was $1 per annum,

or a pot of beer- partaken by PP Jack at

Christmas.

Fellowship had a busy time, from the

film „Dr Zhivago‟ to a golf day at Natimuk.

After a car trip members enjoyed a white wine

and „Pig on a Spit‟.

The Elderly Citizens Dinner took place

plus our own Christmas Dinner, Camberwell

visit, two river barbecues, a social bowls night,

a car trip followed with a red wine, roast beef

day, and finally the Changeover Dinner.

Rev. Pecalli Ratawa, from Fiji, and the

Consul General of Canada both spoke at the

International Dinner. Over 170 members and

guests sampled foods of Italy, Netherlands, Fiji

and India.

Jennifer Dickson was selected as our

exchange student to Thailand. Liaison with

Horsham East was established for the selection

of both the Group Study candidates and

Exchange Students. Steven Phillips won a

place on the GSE team to Brazil, and Kathie

Maclean was selected as our Exchange Student

next year.

Special Projects‟ efforts to stimulate

business resulted in the creation of two jobs.

Research on the „50th Anniversary of

the Rotary Club of Horsham‟ was completed,

the book being almost ready for printing.

A Dinner Auction for the ‟Build A Scout

Hall‟ raised $2,022.

Vocational again promoted Mock

Interviews, and Work Experience Programmes.

The Apprentice Exchange saw another

exchange between the Camberwell and

Horsham members.

Personal Affairs Planners were made

available for members, and articles in the Club

Bulletin discussed extracts from „Service is my

Business‟ and the „Four Way Test‟. The

granting of a Courtesy/Vocational Award was

instigated. Four speakers were arranged for

Club meetings.

A „Magic of Music‟ Dance Night

featuring Melbourne group „Dove‟ was noisy

and terrific, but not very profitable.

Our road trauma campaign using PP

Eddie Brownstein‟s statistics was continued,

and 26 road signs made with a grant from

Mobil Oil were placed along the highway

between Stawell and Kaniva. Very soon after,

the Country Roads Board accepted our claims,

declared the length of highway a fatigue zone,

and erected their own road signs along the

highway.

Rotaract progressed with a membership

of 20. During Youth Week Snr Sgt Ray Harris

spoke about the Blue Light Disco which he

initiated. Our RYLA awardee was Paul

Ormrod, who later gave demonstrations of his

karate skills. The Youth Hike was again

successful, with 44 young people completing

it.

Our Club supported Miss Ruth McIntyre

in the Miss Victoria Country Charity Queen.

Ruth won this title with a total amount raised

of $33,482, losing the main title to Miss Italian

Community Queen, Maria Velona.

53 53

A sheep sale organised by this Club

raised $3500 for Ruth.

1978-1979

Board of Directors

President: Ned Carter

Vice President: D Greenall

Secretary: J Glover

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: D Hermans

Directors:

A Wood, C Heard, B Hoffman, G le Plastrier,

G Leak, F Treacey, B Thomson, & D

Hatherall.

The Club‟s 50th Anniversary of the

signing of the Club Charter was 5th November.

With this in mind, the Club was looking

toward to an outstanding year.

Rotary International initiated the 3H

Programme: Health, Hunger and Humanity, a

75th Anniversary Programme. This Club took

up the challenge and became a „Banner Club‟.

Community Service‟s first project was

cleaning and tidying Hazelmere Flats for the

Aged prior to the laying of floor coverings.

Christmas trees were at a premium but

stocks were augmented with trees from

Billywing. Our Toolondo plantation had many

trees due to mature the next year. The final cut

-out at Tucker‟s saw a total of over $2,500

taken from the original site.

The State Emergency Services were in

dire need of funds for its headquarters in

Horsham. Rotary explored possibilities, and

our Secretary wrote a submission to the State

Premier. As a result, the SES received a grant

of $20,000 to complete the entire project.

Red Cross urgently needed a wheelchair,

and we were able to help immediately.

Changeover saw a backdrop of the

'Patche Kid‟, complete with rabbits and traps.

The Camberwell visit gave the new

Fellowship Committee its first taste of catering

and entertaining. The International Dinner fed

the visitors. On Saturday there was a quick

visit to the Pioneer Museum at Jeparit, then to

Eagles woolshed, where PP Jack Russell won a

blade shearing competition. The fleeces were

sold with spirited bidding. Next day, our

visitors were taken to Bellfield via Zumstein's.

October came, and our expertise turned

to waiting on the tables at the Agricultural and

Pastoral Society‟s Centenary Ball.

The Christmas rush began with the

Senior Citizens Dinner, our own Christmas

Dinner, and a river barbecue. A family

activities night at the Wood‟s was a first,

followed by the Bowls Night. The second last

event was held in the Horsham Theatre: a

chicken and champagne dinner followed by the

film „Who‟s Killing the Great Chefs of

Europe‟.

The International Dinner was addressed

by the President of the Danish Club; no-one

knew his thoughts on the „Little Maid of

Copenhagen?‟

A group of Vietnamese were brought to

Horsham by the Camberwell Club, and these

were hosted by our members. A group of

International House students also spent time

with us. The Indonesian journalist, Agnes

Samsuri, arrived and worked with the

„Wimmera Mail Times‟ and associated papers.

Sue John, daughter of Mike and Jan

John, was selected as our exchange student to

South Africa in the next year. Our incoming

student was Sue Berndt from Oshkosh,

Wisconsin.

Due to one of our members activity, a

branch of Amnesty International has been

formed. Correspondence with a Japanese Club

saw our International committee send some

opals to them to be auctioned. The result was a

return of US$296 to each Club.

Programmes were even more diverse

this year, from Miles Bourke to Bob King, a

Brazilian GSE team, a POW who worked on

the Burma Railway, and many of our own

members. Who could forget the night the

Russian Embassy sent their team along in the

long, black limo‟s from Canberra, together

with the crates of vodka.

Special Projects organised the

celebrations for our 50th Anniversary, and a

Gala Dinner in the Town Hall saw the launch

54 54

of PP Don Garth‟s Book, and a Vintage Port

especially bottled.

A crop of peas was planted, the DG‟s

Changeover Dinner entrusted to us, and the

running of the Fishing Competition was ably

handled by the S.P. boys with a profit of

$2,250, not a bad result remembering that our

poor President had to plead with members to

accept this new challenge.

New technology embraced the Club, and

two job interviews were video taped for use by

schools. Dimboola High asked our Club to

hold mock interviews with their students in

addition to our local schools. Work

Experience continued on offer to senior

students. Job/Life talks were still being

organised for weekly meetings.

This year 40 youth hikers tested

themselves over the trip from Briggs Bluff to

Wonderland. It was great to see so many

children (?) enjoy the family games night. The

most popular games were the shooting gallery

and the mini-car.

Again we worked closely with our

Rotaract Club. A membership drive gained a

few new members.

RYLA selection was again worked in

conjunction with Horsham East Club, and two

awardees were sent to the Ballarat seminar.

Lifeline gained $400 from a Line of Coins.

This year the Club sponsored two

seminars on alcohol involving our three

Secondary schools. Local and Melbourne

based speakers were involved.

Kathy Maclean has settled into Penang.

During the year two Club Service

committees were directly involved with the

community in need, the Meals on Wheels and

the Accident and Illness Care Committee‟s.

Like all Club Service committees, their work

is often taken for granted and does not get the

richly deserved accolades that is warranted.

And so ended our first Golden

Anniversary, the Club in better stead than in its

first year.

1979-1980

Board of Directors

President: David Greenall

Vice President: B Thomson

Secretary: J Glover

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: L Deale

Directors: N Carter, V Jobe, R Smith, B Hoffman, D

Maclean, D Hatherall, L Ormrod, & I Garth.

The 75th Year of Rotary International

was celebrated with a combined meeting with

the Rotary Club of Horsham East. The

meeting was a proud moment for PP Don

Garth, who was given Paul Harris Fellow

Recognition to mark his many years dedication

to Rotary, the Community, and his work

researching and publishing this clubs „50 Year

History‟.

This was the first year Rotary

Foundation was a major beneficiary. We

forwarded US$1,175 taking us to a total of

US$6,324.40 since its inception in 1946. From

this date on, our Club was a regular supporter

of Foundation.

After much discussion, it was decided to

put an amount of $1,970 aside, from catering

profits, into a „Rotary Shed‟ account. From the

success of the first Fishing Competition

Catering, it was evident that a main base for

operations was needed, instead of several small

scattered areas. It would be the first time all

Club property was under one roof.

River working bees were a feature of our

summer activities, along with a door knock for

the Heart Campaign. The Club acted as

stewards for the Horsham Cycling Classic.

Our Christmas trees were augmented with a cut

from Billywing plantation, and a tidy profit

made.

A major request came from the State

Emergency Service. As our Club had been

successful in raising their Building Appeal

finance, we were asked to help sponsor an

55 55

appeal for a set of „Jaws of Life‟ for the

Horsham Group. Fund-raising was so

successful that, with the help of the G.E.B.,

three sets were purchased, one each for Nhill

and Warracknabeal as well as the Horsham

group. Over $28,000 was raised.

In conjunction with Camberwell Club,

we again co-hosted a mother and her son for a

10 day holiday.

A Road Courtesy Driving Award was

sponsored in co-operation with the police, and

42 lucky drivers received a first-aid kit for their

good driving skills.

A combined service club Children's Day

was so successful it was considered it should

be repeated. Community Service‟s year closed

with a book sale to aid Kampuchea refugees.

Camberwell Club enjoyed their trip here

with a wine and cheese night and a trip on

Saturday to Mt Arapiles to learn of Major

Mitchell's meanderings. The night saw an

evening of food, music and items at Hamilton

Lamb Hall, with a chicken lunch on the

Wimmera River before leaving for home.

In March, Jack Russell led our group on

the return visit, taking in League football or the

Dandenong's. A gourmet barbecue followed,

and a progressive breakfast enjoyed before the

trip home.

Fellowship ran the Senior Citizens

Dinner with 120 seniors transported on the day.

Despite frequent total fire ban days, a number

of barbecues were enjoyed during the year.

International Night this year had a Thai

theme, the Royal Thai Consul General

addressed us, and six beautiful Thai exchange

students danced and sang for us as we enjoyed

our sticky rice, etc. The austerity meal was a

rather sobering experience, realising that over

half the world went to bed hungry every night.

A GSE team from Canada-United States

visited the Wimmera and were guests of

Rotarians.

Money was made by painting John Van

Dyk‟s fences at Brimpaen, I‟ll bet Sir Anthony

Van Dyck would have used less paint!

Two films, relevant to fire dangers were

shown, „Bleve‟ on L.P Gas explosions and

„Hospitals Don‟t Burn Down‟, both were

certainly thought provoking.

The exchange student speakers were

well received.

Probably not so enjoyable was being

locked and „forgotten‟ in the cells at the

Horsham Police Station, which happened to

some members.

Catering at the Fishing Competition,

involved three days of sweat and toil and made

$2,650 profit. Special Projects costed our

„shed‟, and made an application to Council.

Vocational again participated in the

work experience exchange with Camberwell,

and eight Wimmera students and six city

students exchanged jobs for a week

Talks were given on banks and travel

and there were many and varied club member

talks.

Rotaract was a major concern, with

members of Rotaract being at the age of

moving in jobs, and it being a very transitory

association.

Career guidance was again developed,

and taken to the schools. The Club sent a

student to the RYLA Seminar in Bendigo.

We joined with Melbourne Rotary Club

in a scheme where country students could be

mentored by their members. Only two

Horsham students availed themselves of this

offer.

This Club was once again chosen as host

for the Exchange Student interviews. I‟m sure

its the meals provided.

The Club welcomed Suneethi Kamath

from Bangalore, India, and Kathy Maclean,

daughter of Rtn. Don returned from Penang,

Sue John flew off to Orange Free State in

South Africa.

1980-1981

Board of Directors

President: Barry Thomson

Vice President: F Treacey

Secretary: L Potter

56 56

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: I McLachlan

Directors: D Greenall, L Schumann, D Hatherall, D

Maclean, K Sellars, G Leak, V Jobe, I Garth, &

J Glover.

Community Service began with working

bees, and finished on the same note. Seats

were fitted inside the Rotary barbecue shelter,

together with new roof and decking. A

concrete slab and plaque was laid for the

opening of this section of river.

We again acted as stewards in the

Horsham Cycle Classic.

An „Operation Small Change‟ barrel was

made by Rtn. Laurie Deale and installed in the

foyer of the hospital.

Christmas trees were again a winner,

with extra trees coming from Rtn. Brian

Somers‟ Roses Gap property, raising our profit

this year to $900.

Kannamaroo catering was undertaken on

request from the organisers. The Fishing

Competition was again a total club effort, with

whole families being involved.

Camberwell's visit saw the „Desert trip‟,

described as „the Life Be In It‟ programme

gone mad.

A Jack Russell Yabby Day was voted

best ever - but not for the yabbies.

Christmas saw our Elderly Citizens

Dinner cater for 120, and our own Dinner this

year at the Cycling Clubrooms.

The New Year barbecue was now firmly

entrenched as a club institution, as was chasing

exchange students and members children away

from the „iced coffee‟.

The year tapered off with a bowls night,

and finally a film night with Peter Sellars in

„The Chief Detective‟.

Two street seats were strategically

placed for „oldie's to rest on in Darlot Street.

International farewelled Suneethi

Kamath who was a great ambassador for her

country, and Wendy Jackman had settled into

her South African exchange in the Transvaal.

Our annual Dinner menu represented

Scotland, South Sea Islands, India and

Germany. About 60% of us became Life

Members of F.A.I.M. During the year, monies

were sent to a Vietnamese resettlement

scheme, a Bangladesh Hospital to support a

student nurse and purchase 2 bicycles, and to

the District Project to set up a mobile medical

centre.

Members were shocked to hear of the

death of Sue Berndt, our ex-exchange student

of 1978-79 in a motorcycle accident in her

home-town of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Programmes this year concentrated on a

Rotary theme, covering all committees work.

We visited the Victorian Crops Research

Institute, Vulcan Foundry, and the Stick Shed

at Murtoa. We had 10 Ladies Nights with

programmes directed towards their interests.

Vocational visits to local businesses

were always a feature. Work exchanges were

continued with seven students going to

Melbourne, and five visiting in exchange. This

Club supported the High Schools Careers

Display and Information Centre. An award

was made to Mrs Nancye Hovey for her work

covering literacy in the community.

The Youth Challenge Hike was

disappointing with the few numbers, but made

up for by enthusiasm.

The Rotaract is in poor shape with only

8 members, and both Rotary Clubs were

attending their meetings and offering help.

This year, our Club was host to the

RYLA seminar, at Longerenong College. The

„parents‟ of the seminar were Rtn Max

Galagher, and wife Kit looking after 50 „kids‟.

The major project this Club attempted

was with the Wool Factory, with over $12,000

being either donated or in work in kind. Our

other major project this year, saw this Club

become a Banner Club of the 3H Programme -

„Health, Hunger and Humanity‟.

1981-1982

Board of Directors

President: Frank Treacey

Vice President: G Leak

57 57

Secretary: J Glover

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: D Maclean

Directors: B Thomson, N Butler, M Semmler, J Kuhne, F

Rossbotham, A Wyatt, W Reynolds, & L

Potter.

Programmes were certainly varied, from

the Ron Barassi night, to the ANZ Bank

economist, 7 Ladies‟ Nights in addition to the

usual Christmas and Changeovers.

Meals on Wheels was carried out at least

twice each year by members and wives, and

will forever be this club‟s project.

Enough pine trees were planted at

Toolondo hopefully for five years sales, but

rabbits were disputing this claim.

A Theatre night was held after a chicken

and champagne dinner, and two blood-glucose

meters handed to the Diabetic Group.

Repairs to our section of the river

included the jetty, the installation of new

fireplaces, and to our barbecue shelter.

We catered for the Kannamaroo

Festival, as well as the Fishing Competition,

and sold puddings along with the trees at

Christmas. All our efforts were both

financially and socially successful. Money

was donated towards a bus for the Wool

Factory.

Fellowship and the Camberwell visit go

hand in hand, and 17 couples joined us for

dinner, going onto Rocklands for the weekend,

enjoying such pastimes as boating, fishing,

cow-pad tossing, etc. After a great weekend,

the Camberwellian‟s were glad to go home for

a rest. Our Christmas Dinner included a disco

style dance and was a great success.

The traditional events were held, the

Elderly Citizens Dinner, river barbecue, bowls

night and yabby day, almost finished the year,

but the return trip to Camberwell saw visits to

the Naughty Nineties Club and a ferry trip

down the Yarra and around the Bay.

Taking advantage of the Russell‟s

hospitality, a car trial was organised, finishing

at Jack and Mavis‟s with a „Beef and Pork‟

Dinner plus all the trimmings (roast vegies,

plum pudding, Irish coffee, etc)

Our exchange student Claire Sharry flew

off to Bulsar in India, and we welcomed „Bill

from Brazil‟ - Abilio Cesar Almeio Aneto,

who unfortunately arrived unannounced, and

was eventually rescued from Tullamarine

Airport. Steven Devlin was selected as our

representative on a Group Study Exchange

Team to Nuremberg and Frankfurt, Germany -

this Clubs first representative. In return, we

hosted a GSE Team from Iowa, USA, as part

of their four week tour.

International Night boasted foods from

Vietnam, Italy, South America and Australia.

Slumber kits were organised through

I.P.A.C. for needy children around the world.

Special Projects had a reasonably quiet

year. Its main project was the completion of

the Rotary Shed in Selkirk Drive - the club

now had a headquarters to work from, and to

store its equipment. The District Assembly

and District Governors Changeover were the

only other projects undertaken.

Five awards were given to local

employees in Vocational Week. Job/Life talks

were as usual well received as well as talks by

members. „Motivation‟ was the reason which

saw the Club bring Ron Barassi to speak to 260

people at a dinner at La Fontana. Mock

interviews were again being proposed with

local schools.

The Youth Hike, this year from Roses

Gap to Mt Difficult and return, saw the group

tackle some of the worst terrain yet, but all had

a great feeling of achievement.

Two candidates were sent to the RYLA

Seminar in Hamilton, one being a Rotaractor.

The Youth Club was provided with new

exercise equipment from funds.

1982-1983

Board of Directors

President: Geoff Leak

Vice President: G Le Plastrier

Secretary: J Amos

Treasurer: B Robinson

SAA: M Semmler

Directors: J Kuhne, J English, R Crawford, K Murdoch,

W Reynolds, N Butler, & A Wyatt.

58 58

This Club was asked to spearhead an

appeal for $12,000 to purchase a portable

Cardiac Care System for The Horsham

Ambulance Station. The target was launched

and was successful.

Catering this year involved both

Kannamaroo and the Fishing Competition, and

both were successful in every way.

Christmas tree profits were again down

due to having to purchase trees, but the

puddings sold well. From proceeds of

Community projects, an initial contribution of

$1,000 was sent to the Australian Rotary

Health Research Fund.

Camberwell's visit this year involved

home hosting. Saturday saw a Club member

bus both groups through the Grampians to

Boroka Winery. The night entertainment was

held at The Olde Horsham Restaurant with the

Pipe band escorting in the haggis. Sunday

finished with chicken and champagne poolside

at the Rentsch‟s. The return trip in the new

year saw a tour of the new Civic Theatre, Art

Museum and the Regent Hotel. Entertainment

that night was at the Swagman Restaurant.

Besides the annual Christmas dinners,

river barbecues, bowls night, March saw the

Grand Official Opening of our Rotary Shed,

with a spectacular four course Chinese meal

cooked and served by Leon Toy from a

makeshift kitchen inside the shed. The year

finished „On Golden Pond‟ after a chicken &

champagne dinner.

„Bill from Brazil‟, a very cheery

ambassador for his country departed, along

with our new exchange student Penny Wills to

Lakewood Club in Washington State.

The International Dinner theme was the

recently completed Commonwealth Games,

with the pork cooked by Rotarian members for

a South Sea feeling.

A German GSE team sped through town

leaving most of the Club unaware of the visit.

A big year for our travellers, Steve

Devlin: GSE; Claire Sharry, Penny Wills and

„Bill‟. These combined with our usual speakers

certainly made Fridays entertaining. A special

night honoured PDG Stewart Brown‟s 50 years

as a Rotarian.

Special Projects was in charge of the

Shed, which was finally completed, as well as

arranging the District Governors Changeover.

A Fly-In Dinner which catered for over

400 in the Maydale Pavilion raised over

$1,200.

Flood level river markers were erected

on the river bank near the paddle boat landing.

The levels as recorded were most interesting.

Two vocational visits, to the Wimmera

Mail Times and the Base Hospital were greatly

appreciated by members. Job/ Life and

„What's New in my Job‟ talks were popular as

always. A speaker from Essendon Rotary Club

impressed all present - Mr Royce Abbey later

became Rotary Internationals President in 1988

-1989.

Youth saw the continuation of our

involvement with Rotaract Club, RYLA and

the Youth Challenge Hike. A new project is

the Rotary Master Classes with Mr Ronald

Farren Price, a renowned concert pianist.

1983-1984

Board of Directors

President: Gil le Plastrier

Vice President: J Amos

Secretary: K Murdoch

Treasurer: B Robinson

SAA: M Semmler

Directors: G Leak, R Amor, N Butler, W Rentsch, R

Crawford, J English, D Peck, & L Schumann

Community Service committee had its

usual quiet year, There were working bees at

the plantations - unfortunately the fact that we

had to buy many trees this year cut down our

profit, so again the puddings helped.

Kannamaroo Festival catering and the Fishing

Competition raised over $4,000

A Games Night at La Fontana was a

success, the „paper roll‟ fights got a bit willing

though.

Forty-one Camberwell people arrived,

and on the Saturday were taken by bus to

Harrow. That night a bush dance was held in

Eagle‟s woolshed. A quiet Sunday was spent

visiting the Wool Factory and the Art Gallery.

Lunch was at the English‟s. Again the return

trip was well organised, with a tour of the City,

Ambulance Station, D24; and a newspaper

59 59

office.

On Saturday night a dinner was held at

the home of Don and Amy McRae, while on

Sunday a tour of the Trade Centre was taken

with luncheon in the Botanical Gardens.

A record 200 plus came to the Elderly

Citizens Christmas Dinner. We got them all

there, fed them and returned them home. A

family picnic and church meeting was held at

Golton Gorge, and Mike Semmler gave his

time to conduct the thanksgiving service.

Being a member of the Fellowship

Committee is never dull, and what about the

„Can Can‟ Girls? A film „The day After‟

followed a chicken & champagne dinner and

rounded out a good year.

This years International Dinner was held

in the Lutheran Peace Hall with F.A.I.M the

beneficiary. Lisbeth Christensen, our student

from Denmark, supervised the Danish dishes.

She also sang, and some visiting New

Guineans performed native dances and songs.

Iain Williams left our shores to Taubate

in Brazil.

Visits to 3WM, the Art Gallery and the

Wool Factory were made, and speakers topics

included intensive care units, Wimmera Mallee

pipeline, genetic engineering, and social

welfare plus the usual Fellowship night,

vocational speakers, etc, making up the year.

The final stage of the flooring and pens

at the Wool Factory was completed. Some 250

posts were cut and welded, cemented into the

ground and bearers affixed. Our members did

most of this work, resulting in a saving of over

$3,000.

During this year a Probus Club for

retired men was formed. The first meeting was

on 10th April, and over 50 prospective

members, plus 12 Rotarians attended.

Malcolm Sanders was the Foundation

President.

The Youth Committee organised a

Motor Cycle Education programme and

members were asked to bring a young person.

The Rotaract Club was well represented.

We were fortunate to have a girl selected

to represent our club at the National Science

Summer School. Only 200 students are

selected from Australia wide.

This year, again with Horsham East,

three young people were selected for the

RYLA Seminar.

The Master Classes were again held with

Mr Farren Price commenting.

1984-1985

Board of Directors

President: Jim Amos

Vice President: F Rossbotham

Secretary: C Ballard

Treasurer: F Lockwood

SAA: M Galagher/Max

Taylor

Directors: D Matheson, J Rissmann, K Murdoch, R

Amor, J English, R Crawford, R Sutherland, &

J Glover

The Community Service Committee was

involved in the annual Kannamaroo Festival,

the Apex Fishing Competition, our Christmas

trees and puddings, and working bees at our

plantation and river area.

On Australia Day we combined with

other service clubs to provide breakfast for the

citizens of Horsham, while in May under the

guidance of the Horsham Parks and Gardens

staff, members planted 65 native trees in

Sawyer Park.

Special Projects worked on the toilet

extensions to our shed - plans, permits were yet

to be finalised. Service club signs were being

reworked.

Fifty Horsham Rotarians and family

attended a barbecue lunch and inspection of

Seppelts Winery at Great Western organised by

Stawell Club.

47 Camberwell folk visited this year,

and were entertained by Pastor Mike Semmler.

Saturday saw the visitors taken to Glenisla

Homestead. The night entertainment concluded

with the High School Concert Band. Sunday

was at John Brumley‟s home for a barbecue

lunch with 130 in attendance. The return visit

included a dinner at the Baron of Beef at

Sherbrooke in the Dandenong's. Lunch was at

the Zoological Gardens.

60 60

Over 200 guests were entertained at the

Elderly Citizens Dinner.

It was noted that three of our members

have visited our Matched Club - Iserlohn Club

in Germany: Malcolm Taylor, Bob Crawford

and Jack Gillespie. The Club now has 60% of

members Life Members of F.AI.M. An

incoming GSE team from New York State was

shown Horsham industries.

The International Dinner had a Thai

theme which The Royal Thai Consul attended.

Paul Harris Fellow Recognition's were

awarded to PP Hugh Jenkin, Bill Murphy and

PP Jack Russell.

Rotary International initiated the Polio

Plus Programme to immunise the children of

the world by its Centenary..

A major event sponsored by Vocational

was the visit by Bob Ansett. A profit of $800

was achieved. Bob, son of Reg, was at that

time chairman of Budget Rent a Car. School

liaison in regard to careers and work

experience was being maintained with school

staff.

Again Horsham had a participant in the

National Science Summer School, and the

Rotaract President, Mark Schumann was our

RYLA student. 36 hikers took part in the

Youth Challenge Hike through the mountains.

The Master Classes with Mr Farren

Price were well received, and a teachers

workshop was now also held the next day.

Student Exchange was well to the fore:

Iain Williams, returned from Brazil and gave

two talks, Sharon Barr was in Canada, and

Misa Shimomura, from Gifu, Japan settled in

well, giggles and all.

1985-1986

Board of Directors

President: Frank Rossbotham

Vice President: R Crawford

Secretary: J Glover

Treasurer: F Lockwood

SAA: B Lynch

Directors: J Amos, K Murdoch, G Sudholz, J Wallace, G

Bethell, W Rentsch, L Wright, & D Matheson.

As well as catering for Kannamaroo and

the Fishing Competition, the Community

Committee took on the Hospital Gala Day,

with a reasonable result for the hospital.

Our Christmas sales, trees and puddings,

gave us a profit of $1,500. We planted another

600 trees for future sale.

Fellowship had another quiet year with

twelve events, including Senior Citizens

Dinner (230 catered for), our own Christmas

Dinner, Changeover, river barbecue, bowls

night and the Camberwell visit to us which was

made by 15 couples. Who could forget Colonel

Bogies „Whistling Bellies‟. A Victoria Valley

trip finished with a beef and pork dinner at

Russell's. The return trip had 11 couples.

Extra events were a garage sale at the

shed, a „Flower Power‟ night with Greg Block,

Inter Club visit to Great Western with Stawell

Club, a fishing competition with no fish caught

and a jazz night by Max Taylor and friends -

attended by 240 people. Who remembers the

Gilbert & Sullivan night at Ararat, the mulled

wine and the return trip, or forgets Chief

Sitting Bernard Lynch and the Village Idiots.

Programmes included five exchange

student speakers, Mr Peter Fisher M.L.A, two

great music nights with the „Seaside Stamper's,

and „Shades of Troopers Creek‟ at the

Australiana Night, Margaret Naylo, Camp

Quality, and many others.

Six District Rotary Clubs combined,

each contributing $400 towards essential

equipment for the Helen Addie Hospital in the

Solomon Islands.

International Night saw guest speakers

Carolyn Johns - our first exchange student, and

PP Bob Bethell speak between courses of

English, Irish, Australian and Scots (not

scotch) meals which of course included piping

in the haggis by Tom Dawson accompanied by

Malcolm Taylor.

Several Foundation talks were given

during the year.

A retirement and investment seminar

involving a team of speakers from Victorian

Savings and Loan was conducted for members

and the public.

61 61

A Community Service award was

presented to Howard Wohlers for his work in

the community and more specifically, work

with the Hamilton Lamb Hall Committee and

North Park.

Special Projects were involved with the

organising of Kannamaroo and the Fishing

Competition catering, and the Australia Day

Celebrations in May Park.

The extensions to our shed were started,

but were now on hold as the Council was

considering relocating all the community sheds

from Selkirk Drive.

Youth Activities supported Camp

Quality which had its first camp in September

at Lancefield - fortunately there was no child in

the Wimmera at the time to attend the Camp,

so the proceeds of the garage sale were donated

directly to Camp Quality.

Thirty young people took part in the

Youth Hike. The Master Classes were again

conducted, this time under the constructive

criticism of Mack Jost, a person well known to

Horsham.

The Rotaract Club was still causing

problems with a lack of numbers.

Our exchange students were on the

move: Misa went home to Japan after a most

enjoyable stay, and Martin Ford was still in

Roseville, California, Sharon Barr returned

from Salt Springs, Canada, and we were

expecting Paige Isbutt from Folsom, California

in August.

The greatest challenge ever given to the

Rotary Clubs of Horsham and Horsham East

was accepted: to host the District 978

Conference in March 1987. The anticipated

attendance was around 900. Plans were well

under way to make this the best Conference

our District had ever had.

The Heads and Tails Competition was

instigated this year, and over $1,200 raised for

community work.

1986-1987

Board of Directors

President: Bob Crawford

Vice President: W Reynolds

Secretary: J Airey

Treasurer: G Leak

SAA: N Carter

Directors: F Rossbotham, D Barber, R Queale, M

Hutchinson, C Puls, G Bethell, 7 J Wallace.

The two Rotary Clubs jointly ran what

had to be regarded as a successful Conference.

About 930 Rotarians and family attended the

various functions. What a programme! From

an in-depth political talk by Malcolm

MacKerras to the side-splitting and

entertaining discourse from Len Beadell,

explorer, the Friday evening speaker, Paul

Sheahan, School Principal and former Test

Cricketer, and forceful Sunday morning

speaker Stephen Smith - Australian President

of Apex Clubs.

The ladies were entertained royally with

a fashion parade by Audene‟s Boutique. On

Saturday there was a choice of three activities:

a bush band concert/dance at the skating rink;

the jazz concert at Jakades and the Mack Jost

Recital at the Art Gallery.

A Dinner Auction started the

Community Service programme, and $1,450

was given to the Sudden Infant Death

Syndrome Research, with the balance of $630

to the latest Rotary Appeal - Polio Plus, a

scheme to eradicate Polio from the World by

2005, considered to be an ambitious but

achievable aim.

The usual projects were run:

Kannamaroo Festival catering, we had to buy

some Christmas trees from Edenhope, but

again a success with the puddings with PP

Malcolm Taylor allowing us the use of his

premises to store and sell the trees.

Australia Day celebrations this year saw

a midday barbecue. A working bee was

formed to cook for the clean-up after the

Brimpaen fire.

Camberwell's visit: on the Friday we

saw the „Man from Patche‟, the Rossbotham

„mammies, and Bill May and „Gerry and the

Attrics‟. Saturday was washed out, but

Rentsch‟s home was the venue for a games

afternoon. That night we graced The Olde

Horsham with our presence, while Sunday we

farewelled our guests at Seppelts Great

Western cellars in style.

All the traditional Club Fellowship

events occurred, including the fishing contest

62 62

at Rocklands where some fish suspiciously

weighed in heavy, until it was discovered one

Rotarian breaking every one of the Four Way

Tests, i.e. stuffing the fingerlings with lead

sinkers.

A highlight for the „oldies‟ at our

Elderly Citizens Dinner was their beloved

Bernard Lynch singing with his guitar as

accompaniment. Even better than Santa!

The club honoured two Rotarians with

Paul Harris Fellow Recognition: PP Tom

Dawson and PP Malcolm Taylor.

International Night had a Halloween

theme, to honour the current exchange student

Paige Isbett. By coincidence, Halloween was

on the same night, 31st October. Apple

bobbing, treasure hunts, snowball eating and

wrapping a table in toilet paper were some of

the fun.

We hosted a GSE team from South

Africa, who visited the Crops Research,

Longerenong College and ABC studios for an

interview with Bernard Lynch.

Australian Rotary initiated the

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund,

which our Club supports.

Special Projects finally completed their

major work, and celebrated with an inspection

of the sewerage works. It was then back to the

shed for dinner and the official opening of the

Club loo‟s and office areas

Career Advise was again scheduled, and

the schools and students appreciated the

experience. The idea of mid-year committee

meetings away from our usual meeting place

was very successful, some being held in

homes, others in hotels or restaurants.

The Rotaract Club was active, and the

Committee hoped to have combined meetings

with Rotary Clubs.

A RYLA student was again sent to

Glenormiston College.

Ms. Nehama Patkin was the critique for

the Master Classes over the two days.

The National Science Summer School

was enjoyed by a jointly sponsored secondary

student.

The committee again sponsored Camp

Quality.

Our Exchange Student programme ran

smoothly thanks as always to the Club

Counsellors, interviewers and host families.

This year we had no outgoing student. Paige

Isbett went home to the USA, and we hosted

Hans Hoivik from Norway.

Our Club contributed $3,000 to the RI

project of Polio Plus, something the Club could

be proud of, as none of our other projects were

neglected.

It was this year that members

recommenced singing the National anthem

before each meeting, a custom that had

disappeared years ago. Talking about singing,

the „Jerry and the Attrics, reformed for a

„Melba-like' last appearance.

1987-1988

Board of Directors

President: Wallace Reynolds

Vice President: M Hutchinson

Secretary: N Carter

Treasurer: K Murdoch

SAA: J Amos

Directors:

M Collins, G Gerlach, C Puls, A Wood, J

Rissmann, B Thomson, & D Peck

The Club became involved with the Tidy

Towns and had a clean up around our shed

area. Two new projects tackled this year were a

major fleece drive with over $500 raised for

the Cottage by the Sea, and assisting the

Rotaract Club to run the successful District

Rotaract Conference.

Christmas trees and puddings sales are

always Club efforts, and although some work

is involved, it is great for club fellowship.

Kannamaroo was wet, but the Fishing

Competition more than made up the shortfall.

Australia Day celebrations saw over 800

sausages and 700 hamburgers cooked and

distributed to an appreciative crowd.

Dr Checchio from Moysten entertained

the Camberwell 43 visitors, then a trip was

made to Wimpey‟s Little Desert Lodge for a

tour of the Little Desert, Sunday saw more

bush and a return to the Soundshell for a

63 63

smorgasbord lunch. The return trip of 22

Rotarians and wives saw a dinner with the

British Consul General, Saturday lunch at

Hyatt on Collins, and „Cats‟ or the MCG.

Sunday included a tour of the new Tennis

Centre and luncheon.

Over 220 elderly citizens enjoyed

themselves as our guests at Christmas. Our

own Christmas Dinner had Mark Schumann

and the „Clayton Clearwater Revival‟

entertaining.

The International Night honoured

Mexico and Norway. National costumes were

worn by some, with the proceeds going to

Polio Plus Appeal. Hans Hoivik, our

Norwegian student and Bob Crawford

entertained, and finally a Norwegian Bull Fight

ensued.

The committee arranged visits of the

Indian GSE team to local businesses.

Programmes excelled itself with several

special guests: Professor Shildback from

Germany, Bishop Hazelwood, Marshall

Baillieu and former Prime Minister Malcolm

Fraser. However, the best speakers are

obviously drawn from our own members.

Special Projects put all its effort into our

Clubs commitment of raising $6,000 for Polio

Plus, and got the ball rolling with a Dinner

Entertainment Night with Horsham East in the

Town Hall.

A fashion Parade followed after

Christmas, and by then our Club had achieved

the total sum of $9,227, almost two thirds of

our target.

Classes were again organised, with

Alexander Semetsky, an acclaimed Russian

born pianist, as leader.

The Youth Challenge was taken up by

20 young people who traversed the Grampians.

Our exchange student, Hans Hoivik, was

from Strommen, Norway, and made his mark

on Horsham with his infectious character.

Helen Goodwin, was selected as our next

outgoing student to the Transvaal in South

Africa.

Laurie Rudolph BEM, and Harold

Schwarz were honoured with Paul Harris

Fellow Recognition.

1988-1989

Board of Directors

President: Morris Hutchinson

Vice President: J Heard

Secretary: R Queale

Treasurer: K Murdoch

SAA: I McLachlan

Directors: W Reynolds, J Airey, A Hutchinson, D Wade,

T Harmsworth, G Gerlach, D Peck, & J

Rissmann.

Community Service‟s year usually starts

with plantations, and this year was no

exception - 600 seedlings at Russell‟s and

Reynolds plantations.

A chicken and champagne dinner prior

to a film night sent a few into limbo, but coffee

later cleared the mind.

A garage sale at our shed was very

successful, as Ned pressured many puddings

onto unsuspecting people. These complimented

the Christmas trees.

Kannamaroo once again was a wash out,

but the Australia Day barbecue was a success.

Christina Hindhaugh was our guest speaker

helping to raise money for Karkana.

Our final event was the Apex Fishing

Competition, also wet but successful.

Thirteen couples (+2 kids) joined us

from Camberwell, Saturday was a „fine-wool‟

tour, and an afternoon was spent with the

Horsham Aero Club. Dinner was at Toy‟s and

on Sunday an inspection of the Grampians and

olive farm took place, with lunch at Roses Gap.

Our 60th Anniversary was celebrated at

the Horsham Art Gallery, highlighted by PP

Andy Wood on the Grande, amidst a great art

exhibition.

230 Old Folks enjoyed an „Old Time

64 64

Music Hall‟ production at their Dinner.

After our own Christmas Dinner, a

Christmas cocktail party was partaken with lots

of goodies. Yes, the New Year barbecue and

bowls nights followed, while the return trip to

Camberwell saw a day at the Moonee Valley

races, while the ladies spent what was left of

the budget at the Victoria Market on Sunday.

International supported an eye-clinic in

India, and money was given to the Salvation

Army for typewriters and tool kits for the

Boroka Vocational Centre in New Guinea. It

was hoped to encourage tours from Horsham

Rotary Clubs in England and the U.S.A, but to

no avail. Our International Dinner was

Irish.......

A GSE Team from Missouri toured the

Wimmera as guests of the two Clubs.

The Lobethal Men's Choir was brought

to Horsham, and later in the year many

members attended the „Seaside Stomper's

Dixieland Cabaret.

With Polio Plus the beneficiary, we

enjoyed a meal at the shed, helped with the

magnum of champagne.

Vocational Service‟s largest project for

the year saw the formation of a Ladies Probus

Club. membership stood at 159.

A Case study „Should Capital

Punishment be re-introduced‟ led to some

healthy debate.

We farewelled Hans Hoivik home to

Norway, and welcomed Bob Reid from

Winnipeg, Canada. Helen Goodwin was in

Boxbury, South Africa.

The club sponsored two RYPEN

students and one to RYLA., while 17 young

people joined the Bush Walkers on the annual

Youth Challenge Hike.

This year‟s Master Class was conducted

with Marie Driscoll as critic.

Rotaract numbers remained a problem.

At the Changeover Dinner, a special

message was read from Royce Abbey, the

Australian President of Rotary International,

acknowledging the 50 years since Stewart

Brown was inducted as President of our Rotary

Club.

Paul Harris Fellow recognition was

given to PP Dave Walter, Frank Lockwood and

Max Taylor.

1989-1990

Board of Directors

President: Jim Heard

Vice President: J Dare

Secretary: N Curran

Treasurer: W Grossenbacher

SAA: R Sutherland

Directors:

M Hutchinson, A Wood, A Hutchinson, D

Wade, L Rudolph, T Harmsworth, O Williams,

& C Heard.

A highway clean up for Tidy Towns and

pine tree planting's: a normal Community start

to the year.

As usual, Kannamaroo was a wash-out,

but a small profit returned.

Combined with the VACC and the

police, a Road Safety Awareness Week was

conducted. Motorists and cyclists were

rewarded for safe driving, with free

roadworthies on cars and bikes for winners.

Puddings and trees sales saw a

Christmas bonus for the Club of nearly $3,000.

The Fishing Competition was again a

resounding success with a profit of $3,370.

A combined project with Camberwell

Rotary Club anticipated a watering system near

the Horsham Gardens.

Together with the Camberwell visitors,

an enjoyable tour of the Wool Factory was

made, followed by a journey to Jim Heard‟s for

an exhibition of show jumping, and later dinner

at Olde Horsham complete with Pipe Band.

We saw what was left of them off from Halls

Gap after a picnic lunch.

Golf was enjoyed at Horsham, Ballarat,

Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne by

certain members.

65 65

240 Elderly citizens attended their

Christmas dinner, more than attended our own

dinner and cocktail hour.

The river barbecue and bowls night led

to the return visit to Camberwell - the end of

another year of outstanding fellowship.

International achieved almost 100%

membership in FAIM [no longer Life]. The

annual dinner this year featured France and

Thailand - this year exchange students were

invited from all around the District and

certainly added colour to the night. Profit

helped to provide 15 desks for a school in

Indonesia, and two Literacy projects in

Thailand. A slide presentation for our

outgoing students was prepared.

A GSE team arrived from Sweden and

toured the District, hosted by Rotarians from

both clubs. The Polio Plus programme was

wound up with this Club donating $14517.16.

Once again work was required on our

barbecue shelter at the river, and to pay for it a

family evening was held at the Williams‟ farm

at Nurrabiel.

A large contingent of members attended

the Geelong District Conference.

A second Ladies Probus Club was being

formed.

Vocational‟s year was started with talks

from our three real estate members. Trade

publications were collected and handed to the

High School Librarian. It was expected that

they would prove invaluable.

An „Apprentice of the Year‟ sponsorship

turned to 4 Apprentices, with plaques and

cheques being presented.

Again the Club was heavily involved in

Student Exchange - we saw off Bob Reid, and

welcomed Napak Vannamanee (Bomb) from

Thailand. Kylie Riddell left for Finland and

Helen Goodwin returned from South Africa.

Most members do not realise how many

members are involved in an exchange -

counsellors, host families, holiday hosts, etc.

The club sponsored two awardees to the

RYLA Seminar at Glenormiston, missing on

the RYPEN seminar because of illness of our

candidate.

32 young hikers braved the Mt Rosea-

Calectasia Falls Youth Challenge Hike.

We again catered for the District Student

Exchange interviews, and supported Rotaract

through their problems.

Three members were honoured at the

Changeover: Paul Harris Fellow recognition to

Frank Treacey, Frank Rossbotham, and

Nancye Hovey for her community work.

1990-1991

Board of Directors

President: Jack Dare

Vice President: L Rudolph/ O Williams

Secretary: G Savage

Treasurer: D Hermans/A Fischer

SAA: D Kitchen

Directors:

J Heard. L Rudolph, C Ekin Smyth, D Peck, R

Smith, N Strauss, R Pilgrim, & K Murdoch.

Over 1000 radiata pines were planted at

Wash Tomorrow and Reynolds plantations.

The Camberwell/Horsham watering

system was switched on with much ceremony,

and the Green Lake plantations got the much

needed work to bring them back to scratch.

This year, 240 elderly attended our

Christmas Dinner, run by Community this year

after many years under the Fellowship

committee regime.

The club successfully catered at

Kannamaroo and the Apex Fishing

Competition, as well as the Australia Day

ceremony.

Christmas trees again sold well, as did

the puddings under the new committee.

„Dancing with Wolves‟ after chicken

and champagne? We achieved this as

Fellowship got into gear. The Camberwell

visitors - 19 this year, again enjoyed Horsham's

hospitality, visiting Mt Arapiles, followed by

an Australian evening at Maydale Pavilion.

There were the end of year functions,

Christmas Dinner and the cocktail party

followed closely with the river barbecue. All

were successful, and Horsham City again

hosted our bowls night.

66 66

An International Fun Night with a truly

Australian flavour was held with pies, pavlovas

and lamingtons, benefiting the Boroka

Vocational Centre again, with tool kits and

typewriters. Also provided for New Guinea

were 6 beds and mattresses to a school of

nursing.

Our big night, the Dinner, was again an Aussie

theme, with the Rusty Springs band playing.

A GSE team from Japan passed through

our town. The return GSE Team, with women

members, had as their Rotarian chaperone our

own member, PP Geoff Leak.

Special Projects, in conjunction with the

Gas and Fuel company, ran a successful

cooking demonstration, and Rotary Medical

Health Research Fund benefited.

The Rotary shed was cleaned up, and the

office and toilets painted by 1st Year

apprentices. An air vent was also fitted for

better ventilation during cooking.

A bicycle marathon passed through

Horsham, and we were asked to cater with a

barbecue at the Soundshell, with some success.

A tour was arranged to the Drung South

mineral sands site, and later the National

Director of Small Business Association invited

to speak. Mock Interviews continued with

local students, and Camberwell Rotary asked

to restart the apprentice exchanges - however

there were no applicants.

Many Life/Job talks brought the

programme up to date.

The Club as always was deeply involved

with exchange - „Bomb‟ returned to Thailand,

and we welcomed Job Simons from the

Netherlands. Emma Koch left for Denmark

after speaking to all local schools explaining

the Exchange programme.

RYLA and RYPEN were both supported

with two participants, but on a lower note

Rotaract now has only 5 members.

Rotary now supports two science

seminars, for different age groups, and we

were fortunate to have participants in both. To

raise funds, a raffle was organised, the prize

being a weekend for two at Swan Hill, and a

result over $1,000 was raised for Camp

Quality.

This year four members were recognised

as Paul Harris Fellows: Jim Amos, Keith

Murdoch, Bert Robinson and Wally Rentsch.

During the year we lost two current

members: our Secretary Dick Hermans, and PP

Jack Russell.

The President‟s Representative at

Horsham‟s 1987 District Conference was

Paolo Viriato Correa Da Costa. This year he

was President - Rotary International.

1991-1992

Board of Directors

President: Oliver Williams

Vice President: G Savage

Secretary: G Savage

Treasurer: D Freckleton

SAA: D Wade

Directors:

J Dare, L Rudolph, F Lockwood, R Johns, J

Rissmann, N Bell, T Jenkinson, R Munro, & N

Strauss.

The Club has standing Committees in

Club Service, all being vital cogs in the Club‟s

running. Some function weekly, and others as

and when required. This does not diminish

their importance.

Meals on Wheels and the Accident and

Illness sub-committees are only activated on

request. General Committees such as

Fellowship, Community service, International

and Special Projects have their regular annual

activities, with new or oncers occurring as

required. Programmes is one Directorship that

must be praised, a good weekly agenda with

accessories [projectors/screens,etc] is expected

throughout the year.

This year, Gil le Plastrier was recognised

as a Paul Harris Fellow, and „mine hosts‟

Richard and Jan Nicholls elected Honorary

Members, partly for their service weekly, but

especially for the running of the Elderly

Citizens Dinner every year.

The Joint club‟s organised the DG‟s

Golf Day, with catering, and a profit was

made.

67 67

Camberwell Club‟s visit this year saw

14 visitors inspect the Black Range, dine at

Horsham City Bowling clubrooms, play the

Royal Remlaw Golf Course and later

gormandise themselves at its exclusive bistro.

Five Horsham couples returned the visit with a

trip to Waverley VFL ground somewhere in

between the socialising.

Community Service fed 240 senior

citizens with Christmas Dinner, rested awhile

and then cut trees, cooked hamburgers, and

was able to give an amount for the building of

a retaining wall on the river bank near our

frontage which was a danger.

A GSE team from Kentucky stayed in

Horsham for several days, and were shown the

Wimmera. The outgoing GSE all-female team

including our representative Jacki Sudholz,

toured Canada.

The International Dinner had a Mexican/

Danish theme, with exchange students Mariela

and Emma assisting.

Rtn. Brian Murray presented every

member with a colour photograph of the entire

Club, the first photograph taken since our

inaugural Club group photo taken in 1928.

Programmes provided the expected

normal incredible range of speakers, but two

which stood out were Amanda Wik and her

aerobics display, and Trevor Byard - the retired

minister/poet from Camberwell Club.

A caravan was finally purchased by

Special Projects, to be fitted out as a mobile

kitchen. A barbecue at the Sound Shell to feed

90 real estate people raised the necessary

funds.

Vocational Service committee made a

Land Care award available, and vocational

visits were made to VIDA and Creeks Exhaust

Centre.

The Apprentice of the Year Award

programme was a continuing project in

conjunction with Horsham East.

Support was given to establish the third

Probus Club - Horsham East Ladies, providing

over 400 retired Horsham people with a club to

enjoy.

Mariela Valejo Paz from Minatitlan,

Mexico arrived as did Emma Koch back from

Denmark. Penny Stevens was in Belgium as a

great ambassador for Australia.

RYLA and RYPEN were again

supported, but unfortunately the Rotaract Club

in Horsham was ailing.

A Horsham student again represented us

at the Science Seminar, a great achievement as

only 200 are accepted in Australia.

As a finale, a junior disco was run at

Jakades and was a success.

1992-1993

Board of Directors

President: Glen Savage

Vice President: D Wade

Secretary: J Amos

Treasurer: C Ekin Smyth

SAA: G Leak

Directors: O Williams, B Thomson, R Munro, H

O‟Loughlin, A Hutchinson, D Peck, R Johns,

& B Bird.

This was a year to remember. Stewart

Brown celebrated 60 years of service in

Rotary, and Hugh Jenkin 40 years. At our

Changeover, PP Geoff Leak was honoured

with Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Vale Rtn. John Rissmann - Gentleman.

Five couples attended the Rotary

International Convention in Melbourne.

Eleven couples from Camberwell

inspected the Wartook Pottery, followed by a

pig-on-the-spit at the fishing clubrooms, with a

farewell at Best‟s Winery at Great Western.

For this year‟s Christmas Dinner it was

asked that instead of gifts, donations be given

to the Salvation Army.

Fireside meetings re-commenced for

new members‟ information and fellowship.

Youth welcomed Miia Maaranen from

Finland, while Kristina Mitchell was enjoying

the snow in Ontario, Canada.

The Secondary College Orchestra

entertained members as is usual at our annual

visit - proceeds purchase instruments for the

various school bands.

68 68

RYLA, RYPEN and the Summer

Science Seminars were all supported with

entrants, while the Rotaract Club was still in

dire straits despite both Rotary Club‟s help.

This year‟s International Night brought

together 12 exchange students from eight

countries. The themes for the night were

Finland and Belgium. A Mexican costume

donated by Mariela was auctioned.

Entertainment was provided by the beautiful

Hoong Boosaring Sirijidkasama, Stawell‟s

exchange student entertained, playing the Saw-

duange.

During the year, Barry Bardell helped

entertain 16 members of the Rotary Club of

Nakatsugawa, Japan with a barbecue at his

farm. Jacki Sudholz hosted the visiting return

Canadian GSE Team at a joint Rotary Club‟s

dinner meeting.

Eyeglasses were collected, and sent to

Ararat Rotary for reuse in Asian countries.

The Senior Citizens Dinner saw 200 of

Horsham‟s finest enjoy Christmas, while

catering for Kannamaroo, the fishing

competition and sales of the Christmas trees

raised $6,700.

The Club received a Presidential

Citation from RI President Clifford L

Dochterman for achieving a well balanced

programme in all four avenues of Rotary

Service.

This year Vocational awarded an annual

Junior Citizens Award to one student from

each of Horsham‟s Primary Schools, an

ongoing programme.

The Apprentice of the Year award was

continued, while a trip to the Wimmera Mail

Times and a games night at the Golden Grain

sated members minds.

PP Andy Wood was awarded Wimmera

Shires Citizen of the Year.

Our shiny new barbecue on wheels,

painted blue and yellow, made its entrance at

Kannamaroo, and was an instant hit.

All in one, our catering dream come true,

because Special Projects had a vision.

Seriously though, it is fantastic to have.

1993-1994

Board of Directors

President: Dennis Wade

Vice President: C Ekin Smyth

Secretary: R Pilgrim

Treasurer: D Kitchin

SAA: O Williams

Directors: G Savage, I Ryan, H O‟Loughlin, B Bird, B

Bardell, D Wilson, R Queale

The Rotary fraternity of District 9780

was saddened by the passing of PDG Stewart

Brown during the year. Our Club was

fortunate to have had the services of this

outstanding gentleman for more than 60 years.

This year, a re-arrangement of projects

was carried out, with Special Projects taking

over Kannamaroo, Christmas trees and

puddings, the fishing competition catering,

river beautification works, and a new idea, a

raffle with a prize of a Gold Coast Trip.

A German GSE team toured the

Wimmera, and our International dinner also

had a German flavour, with Christian Bohlke

from Westerstede helping. A team from

Traveland entertained us with a European

Tour.

Rotary Foundation was featured with a

video presentation and a sausage sizzle

provided funds.

An Irish Christmas in May was a first

for this Club. Are there enough Irish among us

to continue this cataclysm ?

Youth Activities again ran a Junior

Citizen Award for Primary Schools, and

RYLA and the two Science Seminars for Year

10 and Year 11 students were respectively

supported.

Our Exchange Student to Canada,

Kristina Mitchell, returned the worse for wear -

first she lost all her clothes except for what she

was wearing, then she had her tonsils removed

69 69

and then caught shingles. Rebecca Carter

departed for a colder clime, Germany - flavour

of the year. PP Glen & Sandra Savage

chaperoned her and the whole Australian

European contingent to London.

Father Brosnan spoke at the School

Assembly Hall on Pentridge Gaol, and the

city‟s

Elderly folk enjoyed their Christmas dinner.

A meeting on the subject of diabetes saw

a donation of $686 made to their group.

An inspection of the Wool Factory

followed a catered-for meal.

Vocational visits were made to the

Wimmera Base Hospital, the Aero Club and

the Art Gallery.

The schools were again invited to make

use of Rotarians for mock interviews.

Horsham East Rotary were challenged to

both a golf and a cricket match.

Fellowship organised a mini-theatre

night at the CWA Hall, and members enjoyed

„Busy Bodies‟.

A film night with dinner at St George

was run, but the highlight was a special night

organised for Rtn. Bill Murphy, PHF, as he

celebrated his 90th Birthday.

Camberwell Club this year toured

Wyperfield National Park and Jeparit Museum,

enjoyed Dinner at the Wool Factory and took

in the Spring Garden Festival at the Botanical

Gardens.

1994-1995

Board of Directors

President: Chris Ekin-Smyth

Vice President: R Queale

Secretary: B McClure

Treasurer: A Fischer

SAA: NCarter,HJenkin, T

Jenkinson

Directors:

D Wade, K Murdoch, J Knight, B Bardell, I

Ryan, B Thomson, &G Leak.

Recognition as Paul Harris Fellows was

bestowed on two of our most esteemed

members: Past Presidents Andy Wood and Ned

Carter.

The two Horsham Clubs, together with

Dimboola and Warracknabeal Rotary Clubs,

presented the 1995 District 978 Conference as

the „Fellowship - Be a Friend‟ Experience.

Under the Chairmanship of PP Geoff Leak, in

the largest marque ever erected in the

Wimmera, we felt we did produce the best

conference ever held in our District.

Vocational Service decided to make as

many business visits as possible this year, and

the Club toured the Wool Factory and Wades

gas filling station. But the pick was the first

“Cultural Trip‟ to the MCG, inspecting the

sacred Tribunal Room, etc, where we were

guests of the AFL, and then viewed the

Collingwood v North Melbourne game - hot

pies and sauce included. Other events

followed, the Junior Citizens Awards, the

RYLA and Science Seminar recipients.

Special Projects included a carp fishing

competition among its other successes, the

Fishing Comp, Kannamaroo, and Christmas

trees & puddings.

Student Exchange saw Rebecca Carter

return from Germany, Shelley Thomas depart

for Finland, and Tai Yoshii who represented

Gifu, Japan, arrived in April. During the

Conference, a GSE team from Sweden/ Poland

was present. International Committee hosted

the District Foundation Seminar, with 30 clubs

represented.

Youth had been re-incorporated with

International this year, and the Club enjoyed

the Secondary College Band at their annual

concert.

The International Night theme this year

was France, and tables and foods were very

delicately presented. Mrs Dra Munarsih-

„Moon‟, an Indonesian journalist, stayed with

us for several weeks working with the WMT.

She also worked with other newspapers in

Victoria and South Australia.

The Clubs involvement with Tidy

Towns continued with our highway clean up,

as well as the working bees at the river, our

pine plantations, the kindergarten, plus Meals

on Wheels, the Senior Citizens dinner and a

Kannamaroo Fun Run.

70 70

Subjects ranging from a prostate cancer

video, a Magistrate‟s views and an open air

campaigner, all features of a very varied range

of weekly speakers and subjects.

Several golf days were enjoyed by those

so inclined, as well as „Les Miserables‟

performed by the Arts Council.

We won the cricket match against the

Horsham East Club, and partook of a

„Claytons‟ port wine bottling at our shed.

Camberwell visitors enjoyed a trip to

Banksia Hill, inspected Jane Duff‟s memorial,

later enjoyed dinner at Glen Logan, and

returned home via the Grampians.

1995-1996

Board of Directors

President: Robert Queale

Vice President: B Bardell

Secretary: R Sutherland

Treasurer: D Gill

SAA: I McLachlan led

team.

Directors:

C Ekin-Smyth, G Heinrich, G Savage, J

Knight, W Stewart/N Bell, J Konings, & D

Kitchin.

During the year, PP Tom Dawson, PHF,

was presented with his 40 Year Certificate.

Vale Max Taylor: a „Max Taylor

Memorial Music Award‟ was initiated to

honour our former member whose life revolved

around music. This award allows a Wimmera

music student to study further. The first award

was in Year 1996-1997.

This years programmes seemed to

concentrate on health. Subjects included

Interplast, mental health, multiple sclerosis,

WBH visit, Meals on Wheels, „Grumpier Old

Men‟, Keep Kids off Drugs and men's

health......did we get the message ?

We entered the computer age with a new

computer and photocopier installed and

running in the recently completed office at the

Rotary shed.

International entertained a GSE team

from Pennsylvania, USA, and Shelley Thomas

left us for Finland. The International Dinner

theme was naturally Japan: Tai wore her

kimono and played her drums. Her brother and

wife, and later her parents visited the Club

during her year.

Another Irish Christmas was

experienced, with gifts to the Salvation Army,

and the lovely Raelene Mitchell singing Irish

songs.

A discussion forum was organised for

the District Youth Exchange Committee. Our

former Apprentice of the Year Scott Bond,

joined a FAIM-RAWCS team and journeyed to

the island of Upolu, Western Samoa where he

helped strengthen and cyclone-proof a school

roof at Levi, a coastal village.

Community started a new programme -

Preserve Our Cultural Heritage (POCH), and

old school sites are marked around the District.

This is an on-going project.

Our delegated area of highway, from

Burnt Creek to Green Lake was cleaned up,

Meals on Wheels were delivered, and the

Senior Citizens entertained and given some

Christmas cheer. Members helped at the new

„Awakenings‟ Festival.

The Laharum olive and thrip plantations

were inspected after a pleasant Sunday picnic.

There was a visit to the Compak factory in

Dimboola, as well as to the McKenzie Creek

Annexe of the Secondary College.

Community again supported RYLA,

with 2 students, and the Science Seminar.

Awards continued with the Primary

Schools Junior Citizens of the Year.

The Club was asked to tender for the

catering rights to sell hamburgers at the Apex

Fishing Competition. However, our tender

was unsuccessful, and members were able to

dangle a line this year, but with their other

annual projects, Special Projects were still a

winner, with the „lollie run‟ going well.

Each week in the Bulletin, a „Presidents

Corner‟ was presented for members interest.

The second Annual Cultural Trip saw

Club members bused to the Crown Casino,

where, after being gormandised in the Casino

Bistro, they were able to attend the MCG -AFL

game, or the Henri Matisse Exhibition at the

Art Gallery. Following on the cultural theme,

club members were offered the Arts Council‟s

„Mame‟, and the film „Grumpier Old Men‟.

71 71

The Camberwell visit: golf, cricket and

bowls again got some time. Yabby‟s were

hiding, so the Camberwell people were taken

to the Pimpinio Emu farm.

The return visit to Camberwell was

different: our members were invited to the

weekend shack of John Oppie on the

Mornington Peninsula. Brunch next morning

was by John Stevens pool.

This year‟s New Year‟s barbecue was

somewhat different, with members visiting the

Ninth Australian Caravan Rally at

Longerenong, and invited to help feed the

caravaners. This was by far the greatest

catering feat ever undertaken by this club -

feeding the visitors over ten days. Some

helpers have still not recovered, but a profit of

nearly $7,000 made up for any qualms. This

was probably the best club fellowship project

since the earlier years of the Fishing

Competition.

1996-1997

Board of Directors

President: Barry Bardell

Vice President: G Heinrich

Secretary: K Murdoch

Treasurer: H O‟Loughlin

SAA: I Ryan and team

Directors:

R Queale, B Valpied, T Harmsworth, G Scott,

R Munro, J Evans, & J Brown.

During the year Rtn. Keith Murdoch was

recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire

Pin to add to his Fellowship Medal, given for

services not only to our Club but also to other

sectors of the Community.

Thanks also to Rtn. Brian Murray for the

donation of a Club camera. Brian helps in

many ways, especially with exchange students‟

photographs and Club needs.

Father behind the Rotarian talks were

commenced, and were as well received as Job/

Life talks. The „Jobs A New Approach‟

programme was embraced by the Club, finding

a number of jobs for the young. Unfortunately,

due to many reasons, this programme later

closed.

Vocational visits were made to

Rosemount Restaurant (TAFE training) and the

Secondary School for the annual band recital.

Our Apprentice of the Year, Scott Bond,

was nominated through to State level, and later

represented our Club on a Rotary RWACS

team to Western Samoa.

U3A was supported, as well as mock

Interviews and career advice.

We entertained a GSE team from

Thailand, and dined on Pulses at the

International Dinner held at VIDA.

A Foundation Night presentation

honoured those of our members who have been

recognised with Paul Harris Fellow awards.

Our Third Cultural trip visited the MCG

for the Essendon V Carlton clash.

21 Camberwell people visited, and this

year‟s theme was wine, with a trip to

Naracoorte Caves, lunch at Coonawarra and

dinner at Chardonnay Lodge. The return trip

enjoyed hearing future State Governor John

Landy as guest speaker, trips to the Rialto

Building, Brunswick Street shopping, and

luncheon at Camberwell Grammar. Members

enjoyed „the Sound of Music‟ by the Arts

council and later the film „The Castle‟, while a

steak „florrie‟ barbecue at the Lawn Tennis

was partaken of.

Don and Raelene Mitchell entertained at

our Changeover - who didn‟t cry during

„Danny Boy‟ ?

Work was eventually started on our

shed‟s kitchen to bring it up to scratch for

catering - work had been held up pending a

Council rezoning decision, and the possible

resiting of our shed.

The club tendered for the Horsham

Agricultural Show gate manning - amazing

how the gate takings went up! We enjoyed a

tonsorial evening with the Melbourne Barber

Shop Choir.

The Lollie Runs continued, soon being

only supervised, while our Christmas trees and

cakes are always profitable. Thanks to the Club

working bees during the year, our trees kept on

returning monies to us.

Kannamaroo was again a success, a

72 72

prelude to the Fishing Competition, as we were

called on to cater at the event once again. Our

tender for the Field Days was also accepted,

and was profitable.

Community Service enjoyed a busy

year, with Maurice Wade winning a “Shine

On‟ award, and we served coffee to tired „Port

Adelaide‟ fans on the Highway.

POCH programme saw another 3 school

sites marked, while members cooked at the

Australia Day celebration. Our nomination for

„Citizen of the Year‟, Wendy Weight, was

selected.

What self-respecting Senior Citizens

Dinner does not have bagpipes pipe in the

food?

Wimmera Hospice was given $3,500 for

a much needed portable air ventilator - our

normal annual donation provides necessary

medications and dressings for the less

privileged really struggling over a terminal

period.

Exchange students Peta Rule left for

Sweden to represent our Club, and Mette

Bonderup farewelled us for her home in

Denmark.

Students represented us at RYLA and

the Science Seminar, while we hosted the

Secondary College Debating Final.

On another night we enjoyed the school

bands. The Max Taylor Memorial Music

Award was won by Jess Gardiner, and the

Primary School Junior Citizens Award again

much appreciated by all the schools involved.

Two other outstanding programmes

during the year were Rtn. Phil Stuchbery‟s

„Stained Glass Windows in Horsham‟, and the

St Johns First Aid Night.

1997-1998

Board of Directors

President: Garry Heinrich

Vice President: J Brown

Secretary: G Gerlach

Treasurer: P Stuchbery

SAA: R Edmonds (C)

Directors: B Bardell, R Edmonds, A Thompson, G Scott,

B McClure, N Thomas, & R Holland.

Community Service commenced the

Named Paver project which got off to a slow

start, but grew to become one worthy of the

effort.

The Adopt a Highway clean-up

continued, as well as another 2 POCH sites

marked.

The Crows/Port Adelaide coffee stops

continued on a smaller scale, while the Meals

on Wheels and Elderly Folks Dinner

organisations rolled on ever so efficiently.

We visited three Horsham businesses,:

the Australian Mower Company, the new fire

brigade station and Harvest Grain. Club Job/

Talks and short vocational talks continued.

Over $7,000 was gained for our efforts

including Christmas trees and puddings/cakes,

Kannamaroo Festival, Show gate manning, and

the Lolly Runs. Catering was also carried out

at the District Exchange Students seminar, and

the Horsham Motorcycle enthusiasts‟ meeting.

Repairs were again needed to our jetty,

and carried out efficiently. The shed kitchen

project moved along slowly but steadily.

PP Wallace Reynolds was honoured

with recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow at the

Changeover Dinner.

Our own Club‟s representative, Sue

Holmes, departed for Canada as a member of

the District GSE Team and spoke to us on her

return. We hosted two incoming GSE teams,

from USA/Canada and France.

Our International Dinner this year saw

two invited Danish ladies as speakers as we

were not hosting an exchange student at the

time.

PP Barry Bell, from Geelong Rotary

Club and a member of the District FAIM

Committee, spoke on the FAIM and DIK

programmes, and how our Club could

participate.

Delia Poon won this year‟s Max Taylor

Memorial Music Award, while we only had a

representative at RYPEN - we did not call for

RYLA or Science Seminar candidates this

year. Mette Bonderup had left for home, and

73 73

we did not have a student overseas for some

time.

The Junior Citizen of the Year awards

are always awaited by our Primary Schools.

For the sports minded, Fellowship

provided golf, bowls and cricket during the

year.

We enjoyed the Arts Council‟s

production „Jesus Christ, Superstar‟ after

dinner at the Legacy rooms, and the usual

Changeovers, Christmas and New Year events.

Instead of Christmas presents for each

other, a non-perishable item was requested for

the newly formed Combined Welfare Groups

Committee. Christmas Hampers were made

up and distributed to the less fortunate in our

community together with toys if they had

children.

This year we enjoyed the fellowship of

two visiting Rotary Clubs - Moorabbin and

Camberwell. Moorabbin visited us on the

„Max Taylor Memorial Music‟ award night,

and were later shown the Grampians. The

return trip took us to President Laurie

Cincotta's Sans Sousie Seafood Restaurant, and

the scallops are still spoken of in revered tones.

The Secondary School Band accompanied our

Rotarians.

Camberwell's trip to Horsham this year

heard „Barry from the Bush‟, toured Warrock

Station, enjoyed Harrows „Light and Sound‟

Show, and inspected J-Ward on their way

home. We did not make a return visit to

Camberwell in this Rotary year.

1998-1999

Board of Directors

President: John Brown

Vice President: G Heinrich

Secretary: J Glover

Treasurer: R Edmonds

SAA: D Wade (C)

Directors: B Valpied (President Elect), G Heinrich, D

Peck, A Fischer,J Knight, T Harmsworth, J

Evans, & M Starick;

Community again called on all members

for support with Meals on Wheels and the

Elderly Citizens Dinner with 220 invited

guests.

A number of our members attended a

seminar regarding the new Health Regulations

on the serving of food.

POCH saw another 2 old school sites

marked. Adopt a Highway and Australia Day

were two other days where Club support was

called for.

This year‟s Fishing Competition was

changed to a Community based committee ,

with only our caravan utilised from the

Soundshell, however, other members helped as

stewards.

Vocational visits were made to Horsham

Aviation Services at Horsham Aerodrome, and

Luv-a-Duck at Nhill, where we met local

Rotarians. Job/Life talks were again

successful.

We hosted a GSE team, this year from

France. Together with Horsham East, joint

interviews for outgoing GSE Team members

were held.

The International Dinner gave us a

chance to invite the indigenous „Demar

Dancers' from Brambuk. The Koori dancers

and didgeridoo playing were a highlight.

Several of our members, Jack Knight

and Alan Fischer, together with their wives, as

a FAIM- RAWCS team, constructed a

Rototank in Western Samoa. As a result of this

visit, school supplies were later forwarded to

Falealupo School via the Donation In Kind

programme.

Youth Exchange caught up this year,

different school seminars overseas sometimes

upsetting planned exchanges. We welcomed

Kristina Rust from Germany, and saw Susie

Wyeth off for a year in Finland.

A thought provoking night is always

present at the Secondary Schools‟ Debating

final. Awards to students continues, with the

Primary Schools Junior Citizens of the Year,

RYPEN and Science Seminars.

Some Club members helped the Nexus

committee organise a FREEZA concert at the

Sound Shell. Ineke O‟Connor won this year‟s

Max Taylor Memorial Music award, and mock

interviews were conducted for interested

College students.

74 74

PP Glen Savage pursued the formation

of an Interact Club at the College. Some

members again helped at the Awakenings

Festival for persons with disabilities.

The named pavers had a potential of $5

profit per brick, and sales were encouraged.

Christmas trees are a big part of Special

Projects activities, involving replanting,

inspections, plus the cutting and selling, a

worthwhile project, together with the puddings

and cakes.

Club members again manned the

Agricultural Show gates, and we catered for a

special group of motorcyclists.

Kannamaroo continued to showcase our

catering skills.

Fellowship‟s Elderly Citizens dinner has

always been enjoyed by our seniors. Other

annual „hardies‟ were the golf day, everyone

enjoyed our Christmas Dinner, and the lemon

chicken at our New Year meeting at the Lawn

Tennis Club.

The newly established Christian

Emergency Food Bank was the recipient of our

members Christmas generosity.

The Camberwell weekend in Melbourne,

was a „shop till you drop‟ day, followed with

„Chicago‟, with dinner at a Greek Restaurant.

Following a meal at the Legacy Clubrooms, all

enjoyed the film „Message in the Bottle‟. The

Camberwell return visit meeting was held at

Glen Logan, with Liquorland presenting a wine

tasting.

On Saturday there was a tour of

Sylvania Mohair Farm, then on to the

„Balcony‟ at Halls Gap for dinner, while

Sunday saw our guests, mainly ladies, spend

what was left of their budget at Horsham‟s

Antique Fair.

New legislation caused a review of our

Constitution, and we celebrated our 70 years

with a 10 Years Book continuing our published

history.

Guests attending our Celebration Dinner

included DG Ray Welsford and his wife,

widows of past Rotarians, members of

Horsham East and Camberwell Rotary Clubs

and Ladies Probus. A special Port was labelled

for the celebration.

Members attended Warracknabeal's 65th

Anniversary, and also enjoyed Dimboola Clubs

International Dinner.

Duringthe year, members were saddened

by the loss of Bill Murphy PHF; PP Barry

Thomson and Bert Robinson PHF who gave a

combined total of over 101 years of service

with the Rotary Club of Horsham.

Noteworthy weekly speakers were

Neville Thomas‟ “Over the Himalaya's on a

Norton”, Judy Patching‟s “Olympics” and John

Robinson‟s address on the need for an

ambulance helicopter service.

Our nomination in the Rotary „Shine

On‟ awards, Robyn Marsh, supported by

Wimmera Jobmatch, was successful, taking out

one of the major awards.

The Changeover Dinner saw Paul Harris

Fellow recognition awarded to Secretary John

Glover for Community and Club Service.

1999-2000

Board of Directors

President: Bruce Valpied

Vice President: J Brown

Secretary: C Burke

Treasurer: R Johns

SAA: N Carter(C)

Directors:

N Curran (President Elect), J Brown, R Queale,

P Stuchbery, M Starick, J Evans, N Lucas, R

Sutherland, & B Bird.

Special Projects finalised the Named

Paver project and nearly $7,000 was the final

figure. Thank you everyone, now we can walk

all over you - forever!

Trees, cakes and puddings helped Santa

to the tune of $3,100. Other major efforts were

the manning of the Show gates ($1,681) and

the Field Days gates ($2,553).

The public were invited to welcome the

Pat Farmer Run around Australia, and several

members continued the Club‟s involvement

with the Awakenings Festival since inception.

The Max Taylor Memorial Music award

this year went to Jane Phelan. We supported

the Youth Parliament with 2 students. One,

75 75

Jane Whitford, was also our Representative at

the Summer Science Forum.

We again supported RYPEN, Junior

Citizens of the Year, the Secondary Schools

Debating Final, mock interviews, and helped

the ANZ Bank distribute three computers to

district schools.

Youth Exchange is firmly back with us

with Susie Wyeth returning from Finland, and

Erin Connor flying off to Germany. We hosted

Jodie Merrill from Canada for the past year

Together with Horsham East, we co-

hosted the Argentinian GSE team when in

Horsham, and helped with the outgoing team

interviews.

We entertained two groups of motor-

cycling Rotarians during the year.

With the Olympics being held later on

this year, our International night had this as its

theme, with Olympian John Lees from Goroke

as guest speaker. Our own “gold medallists”

were recognised.

We visited the Wool Factory where the

activities of the factory were explained.

We sent one representative to the RYLA

seminar.

We again supported the „Shine On‟

awards together with Wimmera Job Match and

our nominee received a „Certificate of

Commendation‟.

We continued to support DIK, and

several more cartons of books were sent.

In this, the Year of the Older Person, a

Certificate was presented to PP Ned Carter [for

his work in the community].

Community Service actively, with Club

help, supported Meals on Wheels, the Senior

Citizens Dinner which seated 208, the

Australia Day BBQ, Adopt a Highway, and

POCH (12 sites have so far been noted).

One meeting was held at the Art Gallery

for the „Were You There?‟ exhibition of old

Horsham Schools photo‟s from PP Hugh

Jenkin‟s collection.

A breakfast meeting was called of all

Service Club Presidents to again enjoy

fellowship between Clubs - bi-monthly

meetings are planned.

We are battling for members [age does

weary them] to return the trip to Camberwell.

As a Club they are very happy to both host and

visit Horsham, and this year‟s group toured

around Horsham, again enjoying the Antique

Fair.

This year instead of presents for

ourselves, a non perishable article of food was

asked for to be passed on to the Christian

Emergency Food Bank. These goods are either

used in the normal „family boxes‟, or placed in

Christmas hampers for needy families around

Horsham.

Fellowship was always in the air with

bowls, twice, and two nights courtesy of

Liquorland: the first a wine tasting at Glen

Logan, and a beer tasting at the Tabaret - it

pays to have friends in the right places.

Exceptional programme nights during

the year were our 71st Anniversary, with two

Past Presidents who banked on their „Fading

Memories‟.

Jack Knight, John Brown with their

good ladies, and Roy Geyer, Chris Ekin Smyth,

Gerald Jenson and apprentice Daniel Schilling

all headed to the town of Ba, in Fiji, as

members of a FAIM-RAWCS team. They

were able to construct a house from clay bricks

they hand-made.

Rotarian Roy Geyer was presented with

recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow at our

Changeover. Roy‟s attendance at working

bees must be near 100%, and his special efforts

have included the National Caravan Rally and

the Named Pavers.

2000-2001

Board of Directors

President: Noel Curran

Vice President: B Valpied

Secretary: P Stuchbery

Treasurer: Don Carter

SAA: G Gerlach (C)

Directors: J Knight (President Elect), C Puls, F Turzi, W

Williams, G Rethus, K Smith, & N Thomas.

Our stretch of the highway between

76 76

Burnt Creek and Green Lake certainly did the

trick: Horsham was awarded Tidiest Town in

Australia. All those working bees did have

results: first impressions do count!

Other matters which Community Service

handled so well were the Meals on Wheels

roster, the Senior Citizens Dinner, and the

Australia Day barbecue.

POCH still received entries, and another

two sites were marked.

The Combined Service Clubs

Committee was active, and the two Rotary

Clubs, two Lions Clubs, two Apex and the

Quota Clubs met quarterly for breakfast and

discussion of general matters and anticipated

projects.

A combined meeting at Dimboola

cemented the close ties between our two Clubs.

Workplace visitations are popular, and

trips organised were to Oscar Furniture, the

Mt Zero Water Purification Plant and the CFA

training ground.

Apprenticeship awards were again

awarded to the top apprentices at Longerenong

College, Ballarat University (TAFE) Wimmera

Campus and Workco.

Brydie McIntyre, also from Workco was

our RYLA awardee.

The „Shine On‟ challenge was again

taken up, and in conjunction with Horsham

East, three Horsham District people were

nominated. Dorothy Draaisma took a top

award, with Chantelle & Stephanie St. John

receiving „Certificates of Commendation‟.

With a lot of our members reaching „that age‟,

we invited U3A to give us advice on what is

available.

2000 Olympics: the torch relay, and we

had our catering van in action. We again held

the gates at the Agricultural Show and Field

Days with good results.

Christmas trees, cakes and puddings all

produced a good result despite a poor tree

growing season.

Our chefs fed the masses at

Kannamaroo, Australia Day and the Fishing

Competition.

Youth supported the two Science

Seminars, and one student from each of the

Primary Schools became that schools „Junior

Citizen of the Year‟.

Mock Job interviews were availed of by

84 students from the senior Secondary forms.

A new format for the Max Taylor

Memorial Music Award was instituted, with a

concert style performance of all the entrants.

This was well received by members and the

public, and the depth of talent in Horsham

could now be seen and heard.

We again willingly hosted the Secondary

College Debating Final .

Eye-opening programmes ranged from

Constable Linda McLennan on school policing,

Dr Robert Grenfell on rural medical services,

and CFA training at Longerenong.

Programmes must be the easiest job in

the Club: there is always someone,

somewhere, with something to say, wanting to

say it, and has an audience willing to listen to

what they want to say!

International hosted a GSE team from

Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia - one of the

most impressive teams received.

Our International Night‟s theme was the

Netherlands, and local Dutch born residents

were invited- special guests were our exchange

students family during their visit to Australia.

Marieke Schurink came from Middenbreemster

near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Our

outgoing student Erin Connor returned from

Neuruppen near Berlin, and Nadia la Macchia

was in Veracruz, Mexico.

Another in the series of “Cultural Trips”

saw select members attend Colonial Stadium to

witness Essendon crush Hawthorn. A local

cultural night enjoyed the Arts Council‟s „Les

Miserables‟.

Being the master chefs in the club,

Fellowship catered for three away nights. The

Clubrooms (note not the SHED now) were

now fully functional, and ready to be utilised

with more self-catered meetings.

Handled with the delicacy of a new

mother, other fellowship events were

Christmas Dinner, the New Year barbecue at

77 77

the tennis club, and our Annual Changeover

Dinner with the „Dixiebeats‟.

The start of the year was disrupted by

the renovations at the Sports & Community

Club, but we were able to enjoy a variety of

different venues.

The Changeover itself was highlighted

with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition awarded

to Past President Glen Savage, who has worked

hard within this Club and District 9780 during

his long time in Rotary.

A Club photograph was produced, the

third only in our history.

2001-2002

Board of Directors

President: Jack Knight

Vice President: N Curran

Secretary: G Gulline

Treasurer: Don Carter

SAA: R Sutherland (C)

Directors: C Puls (President Elect), A Hutchinson, D

Peck, A Wood, J Brown, J Konings, G

Heinrich, & M Starick.

The Club unfortunately lost one of its

stalwarts during the year, PP Hugh Jenkin

PHF, just prior to his fifty years of membership

with our Club. Hugh was President in 1966-

67, and received a Paul Harris Fellow

recognition in 1984.

Rtn Brian Murray was presented with a

plaque recognising his services to the Club

over the years, especially with exchange

students films. This was climaxed at the

Changeover Dinner with a Paul Harris Fellow

recognition given to Brian for his service to the

community over many years.

The 500th member was inducted into

our Club this year, our first lady member.

Exchange Student Linda Schwab from

Kajaani, Finland informed us of her country

and family and certainly enjoyed her year in

OZ, especially the safari and the Sydney

Harbour Bridge.

Nadia la Macchia sent photographs from

Vera Cruz, Mexico, obviously enjoying her

year in the land of the Mayan‟s and Inca‟s.

We farewelled Daniel Fischer for a

much colder clime - Hoor in Sweden during

2002, while Erin Connor confirmed the worth

of the exchange programme with a great

presentation of her year in Germany.

The Club hosted the Junior Secondary

Debating Final, while Warracknabeal RC was

anxious to re-activate the Rotaract Club in

Horsham.

The Max Taylor Memorial Music award

was won by Rohan Ellis at a concert of all

entrants at the Wesley Performing Arts Centre.

Horsham this year had two GSE team

members, Bernadette Hetherington joined the

District GSE team to the Philippines,

„stamping‟ her way around, while Wendy

James represented Horsham East Club on the

team to Norway. We welcomed reciprocal

teams from both of these countries.

Special Projects planted over 1300 trees

to increase our pine plantations, and hopefully

our income in future years- do we get

greenhouse credits for our efforts?

Sales of Christmas trees and puddings

netted over $4,400.

Planning commenced early to co-

ordinate our 75th Anniversary in 2003, and

many ideas were brought forward to mark this

achievement.

A major project at the hospital was

proposed.

A commemorative book was at the proof

-reading stage. A feature will be Youth

Exchanges over the forty years since 1963.

This year saw vocational visits to Dick

Wilson Ford, The Lentil Company, the new

Wimmera Base Hospital „Arapiles‟ building,

and Southpac-CMI Foundry.

A Combined Horsham‟s Service Club‟s

meeting prior to the Awakenings Festival,

featured a New Zealand poet, Sandra

Montford, herself disabled, who increased our

awareness of the disabled.

The Club attended „en masse‟ the

Horsham East Art Show.

78 78

Fellowship enhanced its reputation of

organising/catering prowess with 17 nights this

year including the Christmas Dinner, Breakup,

New Year barbecue, Changeover, a film night,

Liquorland Beer Tasting Night, bowls, catering

for three vocational visit nights, 5 Clubroom

nights and the painting trip to the Rotary

Children's Camp at Portsea.

Programmes always arrange excellent

nights, and none better than Churchill Fellow

David Mathews from Rupanyup, who spoke on

the future of grains in the Wimmera. The good

work continued throughout the year with many

diverse subjects, the outstanding ones

involving our own members- especially a

disquisition on the eco-future by Rod

Sutherland.

A visit of the US Vice-Consul proved

the high esteem in which Rotary is held.

A revamped Senior Citizens Christmas

Dinner was enjoyed by all seniors who

attended, including our members. This year‟s

venue, the Town Hall Supper Room, was

much smaller, so numbers attending were

unfortunately limited.

A large bequest to Rotary Foundation

from the Estate of Lila Lockwood showed her

appreciation of Frank‟s dedication to Rotary‟s

ideals, and for the personal benefits they both

gained from Frank‟s membership.

2002/2003

Board of Directors

President: Colin Puls

Vice President: J Knight

Secretary: G.Gerlach

Treasurer: G. Scott

SAA: J Brown, N Gororo

Directors: John Evans (President Elect), D Peck (PEN), N

Curran, G Schmidt, T Jenkinson, S

Williams, & B Bird.

Dr Rob Grenfell gave cause for

consternation among the „elders‟ of the Club,

while Jean Hood spoke on the miracle of

cochlear implants and our cricketing fans were

again well catered for.

Our own members are still the most

popular speakers, and now, with ladies as

members, our horizons have expanded even

further.

Many members roamed the globe, to

Ireland, Peru, Finland, the Philippines, China,

etc.: all have a story to tell. What vast

knowledge and experience exists for this Club

to tap into.

From undertakers and police cells to

futures markets and a belly-dancer,

programmes were as varied as ever.

Suneethi, our Indian Exchange Student in 1980

-81, visited us, and showed sceptics first hand

the value of the program.

Youth again exhibited their debating

skills, proving that money is indeed the root of

all evil, while Horsham‟s Youth Parliament

team strengthened our faith in our citizens of

the future as we welcomed our Swiss

Exchange Student, Eva Bachmann, a great

ambassador for her country.

Our outgoing student, Eleanor Marshall

reciprocated with a year in her country. The

inaugural „Hugh Jenkin Memorial

Photographic Awards‟ bought a new

perspective on how our youth see the world. A

fortnight later, local music students performed

at the „Max Taylor Music Awards‟ concert in

Wesley Hall, this years winner being Tegan

Rudolph.

Horsham Primary School‟s Junior

Citizens were again recognised with

presentations.

Sarah Miller, our Science Forum

delegate gave us inspiration for the future of

Horsham youth.

The Club successfully ran the Exchange

Student weekend at Halls Gap. Danny Fischer

spoke glowingly, and eloquently, of his

Swedish year. A future PM?

International Night honoured our student and a

Club member, featuring the countries of

Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

Rotary International is aiming to

complete the Polio Plus program of eradicating

the disease by its Centennial year, 2005, and

our International fund raising was towards that

end. The Lockwood bequest was forwarded to

the Polio Eradication Fund, and with grants

turned that amount into $100,000.

79 79

Our 75th Anniversary was fast

approaching, November, 2003, and a special

committee of both Horsham Rotary Club‟s led

a public appeal for a Rotary House complex to

be built on site at Wimmera Base Hospital,

providing affordable accommodation for

patients and families from outside Horsham.

The launch saw an initial response of over

$78,000. A barbecue evening saw many local

trades people pledge their support. At the

Changeover the amount raised was approx

$200,000.

The Show gate was again financially

successful, as were the Christmas trees

pudding/cake sales and Field Days gate

keeping which saw a return of $3,218.

The ABC helped in collecting toys for

the under privileged, and Carols by Candlelight

and Australia Day celebrations received our

support.

This year, under Graeme Schmidt,

members supported more rosters than ever

before. This is community service at its best.

150 Senior Citizens enjoyed a Christmas

Dinner, while our own end-of-year celebrations

definitely had an exotic eastern influence, the

Food Bank again receiving our gifts.

The cost of not eating at a meeting has

risen to $2.00 after many years. A $1 levy

was originally split between exchange student

expenses, and Rotary Foundation, but later

channelled into all areas of Club

administration.

Renovations to the Sports & Community

Club premises saw meetings held at different

venues in January and February, including a

trip to Dimboola Club and an olive farm, and

several delightful Chinese nights. However,

this saw an increase of an attendance to $16.

Sixteen members are now qualified food

handlers, after many years of cooking for

others.

Fellowship was given a slight rest this

year, handling the basic social functions plus

barbecues. and the usual Club nights.

Members enjoyed a trip below ground to

the Stawell Gold Mines.

Changeover 2003 saw three members

achieve Paul Harris recognition: PP Bob

Crawford, PP JIm Heard and Dr Rod

Sutherland. They were joined by Mrs Jan Van

Veldhuisen, her recognition for her dedication

to Horsham City and country issues support

since her arrival in Australia.

2003- 2004

Board of Directors

President: John Evans:

Vice President: C Puls

Secretary: J Brown

Treasurer: G Scott

SAA: R Mackley

Directors:

Pres Elect D Peck, G Cox, Ms B Hetherington,

Ms S Williams, F Tursi, N Thomas, & G

Smith.

Several of our members attended the RI

Conference in Brisbane including Colin &

Loloma Puls and John & Janice Evans and

brought back the message for this year: “Lend

a Hand”.

Programmes were varied, from motor-

cycling around Turkey to the latest in mobile

phones, diabetes, Aboriginal heritage and

Tribal Youth.

Rotary House has caught the public‟s

imagination, with Trusts and many Wimmera

communities contributing. The slab was poured

in late September and the frame put up in

October.

Donations totalled over $250,000 at the

time of printing.

It was a sad beginning to our year with

the passing of Roy Geyer, PHF. We will miss

his genial demeanour and high work effort.

Again proving their metal, the senior

students battled in the debating final. Their

topic? „Old people have more fun‟. They don‟t

really know, do they?

RYLA awardee Matt Burns confirmed

our thoughts that our future will be in good

hands.

The photography and music awards

continue to showcase Wimmera talent.

80 80

Inter-Club relations are at a new high,

the first event a now annual night with East‟s

Art Show.

Fellowship always provides the goods at

our Clubrooms when called upon, and several

nights have been successful.

Our lady members are certainly proving

their value in the club. The „Gown of the

Year‟ night was a great success, raising over

$5000: a new vitality flows through..

Jesper Christiansen from Denmark is

making a great impression on all and is

certainly a great ambassador for his family and

country.

ARHRF came to the local attention with

a mental health forum held in September.

Our 75th Anniversary Dinner was

celebrated at the Club.

The story is still unfolding - a good

reason for another book!