FROM
WHERE I SIT
by Bob Aitken
Managing Editor
Rotary Down Under |
|
ROTARY DOWN UNDER . . . recording 40 years
of Rotary service
April is the officially dedicated Rotary International Magazine Month each year and this month, April 2005, we celebrate Rotary Down Under’s 40th birthday!
From humble origins in a newspaper office in Newtown, N.S.W., in April, 1965, your now officially approved and prescribed Rotary regional magazine set off on what has been an enthralling journey.
Founding editor Paul Henningham and a small group of dedicated supporters and staff were pioneers. They forged a path that many have followed. There have been many valuable contributions from a great number of people.
Please take time to read the series of articles specially commissioned for Magazine Month 2005 and Rotary Down Under’s 40th anniversary . . .
• On page10, Communication – the key to growing Rotary members; Rotary’s World Magazine Press – the key to growing communication.
• Page 12 has a potted history of Rotary’s World Magazine Press by Candy Isaac.
• Page 16, memories of the formative years from Paul Henningham.
It has been an honour for me to share the first 40 years of Rotary Down Under’s editorial lifetime with such an esteemed Rotarian, friend and mentor as Paul Henningham.
However, I must point out that our work has been made possible by the untiring efforts of two exceptional associate editors in Geoff Noakes and Jerry Carroll, and many other outstanding staff members. Joy Gillett, now chief executive of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, enjoyed many years as office manager of Rotary Down Under.
There are many challenges ahead in these times of rising costs, sometimes dwindling membership and subscriptions. We live in times of change, and there is little doubt that Rotary Down Under must also change in the age of technology.
Most Rotarians recognise Rotary Down Under as an essential communication, education and resource tool but how many people appreciate the fact that it is also the primary source of recorded Rotary history in this part of the world?
On behalf of our Management Committee and staff, I extend warm thanks to the many people who have supported and contributed to the success of this magazine in its first 40 years.
This magazine organisation is well equipped to serve Rotary International efficiently in its next 100 years of Service Above Self. |
|
RAM success in Papua New Guinea: From District 9600 comes the news that Assistant Governor Ron Seddon recently attended an international conference on malaria in South Africa, to present an overview of the Papua New Guinea Government’s approach to the malaria problem. The conference recognised the encouraging results being achieved with the fight against malaria in Papua New Guinea and acknowledged the work of the Rotarians Against Malaria program and Rotary’s Adopt a Village project. This recognition is a tribute to the ongoing hard work of Ron Seddon and his Rotarians Against Malaria team.
Australia Day recognition for Rotary: Recognition for Rotary in this centenary Year has taken many impressive forms. One of the best yet is the news that the Victorian Board of the Australia Day Council recognised Rotary’s Centenary at official Australia Day celebrations in Melbourne. To highlight Rotary’s Centenary on Australia Day 2005, R.I. Past President Royce Abbey, a former Victorian of the Year, was invited to be special guest speaker at the council’s official function before 500 community leaders in the Melbourne Hilton Hotel.
Rotary Foundation money box:
| .Past District Governor Ron Geary, The Rotary Foundation Chairman in District 9470 in Western Australia, has developed an excellent fund raiser with a cost-effective cardboard money box. PDG Ron has canvassed Rotarians and friends throughout his District to utilise the attractive, illustrated money boxes to save their loose change every day and donate same to The Rotary Foundation. |
|
The District 9470 Rotary Foundation money box. |
He has taken the initiative to have the money boxes mass produced at a cost of only 45 cents each. Rotary clubs, Districts, businesses and individual members may obtain supplies of the money boxes by contacting Ron Geary directly on 08 9279 6209 (phone) or rongeary@bigpond.com.au (email).
Moreton Bay chartered in eight weeks: District 9630 Governor Des Lawson loves a challenge and is delighted with the work of his Extension and Membership team in recent months.
Two new Queensland clubs, Moreton Bay and Oakey, were awarded their charters on Rotary’s birthday (February 23), following completely different planning periods.
Oakey, a Darling Downs town that is the home of the $13 million Australian Army Aviation Centre and near where the brilliant race horse Bernborough was born in 1939 at Rosalie Plains, had been under way for more than a year. Moreton Bay, south of Brisbane, was chartered in just eight weeks! |
Rotary at a glance
Rotarians, 1,205,614; clubs, 31,996; Districts: 529; countries: 200. Rotaractors, 177,238; clubs, 7,706; countries,159. Interactors, 224,802; clubs, 9,774; countries: 117. Rotary Fellowships: 84. Rotary Community Corps,129,375; number of corps, 5,625; countries, 71. Down Under: 1,203 clubs and 35,462 Rotarians in Australia and Papua New Guinea and 258 clubs and 10,111 Rotarians in New Zealand and the Pacific Nations. |
|
|
