St Ives Rotary - Club Service

Attendance: Rotarians are required to attend at least 50% of the club meetings each six months, but can 'make-up' half of these by attending other clubs' meetings.

Meetings: The Rotary Club of St Ives originally met at the Acupulco restaurant in the St Ives Shopping Centre, but the restaurant closed in 1973 and meetings moved to the current venue, Pymble Golf Club. Literally hundreds of guest speakers have addressed the club, including many top professional and business men and women, local politicians, charity workers, motivators, humorists, and so on. These people give their services free of charge and constitute an important element in the development of Rotary and Rotarians. Many of their talks are not only very informative, but highly inspirational too.

Social activities: The club has had an active social programme from the outset and there are references to barbecues, progressive dinners, wine tastings, outings and similar activities throughout the records. In recent years, there are also tennis days, cricket matches and 'cheap eats' restaurant visits.

Anniversaries:

In 1975, the tenth anniversary was celebrated at Pymble Golf Club, with Past District Governor Don Cormack, the governor's special representative in forming the club, present. The 1985 twentieth anniversary was a somewhat bigger affair, with 159 people attending. The opportunity was taken to review the first twenty years of the club and Past District Governor Les Whitcroft set it in a district context. The twenty-fifth anniversary was a grand affair at Curzon Hall, Marsfield. History was again to the fore and Past District Governors Ted Atkinson and Leon Becker spoke on district and Rotary International. The 40th Anniversary Celebration was held at the Pymble Golf Club on March 23, 2005 with over 120 members and guests attending.

Club bulletin: The weekly club bulletin keeps members advised of club activities, Rotary and other useful information. The first edition saw the light of day on 22 December 1964, during the provisional meetings. Eric Webb, president 1985-86, used his printing trade connections to produce a full colour cover, which, with a few design changes, was used until 1994. For 1994-95, significant changes were made - the name was changed to The Waratah and the cover redesigned. It is now prepared using desktop publishing computer software.

Thirty Year Anniversary

The thirtieth year celebrations was the fourth major anniversary celebration. In 1975, the tenth anniversary was a modest celebration at Pymble Golf Club, with Past District Governor Don Cormack, the governor's special representative in forming the club, present. The 1985 twentieth anniversary was a somewhat bigger affair, with 159 people attending. The opportunity was taken to review the first twenty years of the club and Past District Governor Les Whitcroft set it in a district context. The twenty-fifth anniversary was a grand affair at Curzon Hall, Marsfield. History was again to the fore and Past District Governors Ted Atkinson and Leon Becker spoke on district and Rotary International. A highlight of the evening was a musical interlude by Miss Vivienne Spy, a very talented Australian pianist, whom the club had sponsored to a music camp that year.

Fortieth Anniversary

On March 23rd 2005, the club celebrated its fortieth year. The evening opened with President Lindsay Smith, welcoming all Rotarians, guests and partners. The evening was divided into sections, so that all who attended could hear of the achievements of the club over the 40 years. The first ten years was given to us by charter member Wal Edwards. Wal told us of the highlights of that decade. The ambulance station in St Ives was built,the first Youth Exchange student from America, a Defibrillator was given to Hornsby Hospital, Rotary Park in Memorial Avenue St Ives, was put on the map. Past District Governor Peter Perry held us in awe as he recounted the second decade.

The Rotary Kiosk in the St Ives Showground.

The first Faim trip co-ordinated by Rob Stott, to build accommodation for nurses in Wassissi Papua New Guinea.

The chartering of Terry Hills Rotary Club. This was followed by a good Sergeants session, before Nev Chambers updated us on the third decade. Highlights of the third decade were a Faim trip to Kar Kar in Papua New Guinea, a contribution to Westmead Rotary Wing, Sydney Harbour Tunnel Walk, fresh water well in India, winning the Golden Quill Awards and by this time women were entering Rotary clubs. President Lindsay took up the reins and handed out some special awards.

The fourth decade was told to us by Past District Governor Brian Coleman. Highlights of the decade were the Willoughby concert, Toys for Timor, Rotaract exchange with Kyoto, Japan, establishing a club website, building a Relief map at the Showground, assisting with the U turn the wheel program, a program set up to help young potential drivers learn some of the dangers of driving, ie, don't drink and drive, costs involved in running a vehicle, insurance etc. The evening closed with everyone feeling good about the achievements reached over the forty years.

Club extension

St Ives was instrumental in forming two new Rotary clubs and a 28 club, the latter originally for Rotaractors forced to leave Rotaract under the age rule. Sponsored in conjunction with The Rotary Club of Birkenhead, New Zealand, The Rotary Club of Norfolk Island was chartered on 20 September 1973. Its charter president was Ned Lenthal, president of St Ives in 1969-70. Norfolk Island became the 150th country in which Rotary was established. Closer to home, our club worked with The Rotary Club of Frenchs Forest to establish The Rotary Club of Terrey Hills, chartered on 12 June 1981. The charter president was Clive Gannon. The Northern Suburbs 28 Club was primarily the work of Jim Mazlin, president 1978-79. Started in 1983, the foundation president was Barry Pecar.

Conferences & conventions, etc.

The club has competed in yacht races, triumphantly in 1981, and golf, winning in 1994. It organised conferences for District Governor's Peter Perry (at the National Sports Centre, Canberra in 1986) and Nev Chambers (at the Gosford Leagues Club in 1993). It hosted overseas visitors to the Rotary International convention held in Sydney in May 1971 and assisted in other aspects of the organisation. Members have attended conventions in Tokyo, Munich and Melbourne, and will be in Nice this year. Finally, the club was rewarded with the District Governor's Shield for the best all round club in the district in 1989-90 and in 1992-93. In the same years it also won the district Golden Quill award for the best public relations programme.

Conference 2007, Mudgee

District Conference was held in March 2007 in the lovely country town of Mudgee. The turnout from the District Rotary Clubs reached almost a 1000, which was great. Guest speakers included Tom Henderson from Shelterbox, Dr Simon Longstaff, Kirsty Gusmao chairwoman for the Alola Foundation in East Timor. Peter Fitzsimons entertained us as the presenter for the weekend's programs. At night in the Big Top we were enthralled by the composition of music performed by Pot Pourri. Our current exchange students entertained us, with our Johnny von Gutzeit doing a great rendition on the drums, and we danced the night away to the Gothic City Horns. The theme for this year's concert is International. We decided to go as Austrians to make our Austrian exchange student feel right at home.

Rotarians or Austrians