When the Rotary Club of Mortlake, Vic., purchased a set of books about Rotary from Rotary Down Under they were passed on to the local P-12 College so students could take part in an essay competition. The college has more than 260 students from prep classes to Year 12. Year 11 student Blair McCormick was judged the winner of the essay competition. A selection of essays on the books presented is published here.

Essay by Blair McCormick on FRANK TALK by Frank Devlyn
When I was handed the book FRANK TALK by Frank Devlyn I looked at it and groaned. I couldn’t believe that I was being made to write an essay about Rotary International.

I mean, why would I care? But when I finally got around to opening its pages, I realised that this book was an eyeopener and should be read by all who intend to make a difference in this world.

Frank Devlyn was R.I. president for 2000-2001 and shares with us in this book the experiences that have made him who he is today.

He explores the cliches that surround Rotary, such as Rotary costing too much and that it is an old boys club. He uses his journey on a train with three people that he met accidentally and a rather long discussion about Rotary to reinforce his beliefs.

At first his spectators, by the names of Sue, Bob and Duncan, are hesitant about the idea of Rotary because they all have their problems.

Duncan has a girlfriend and works most of the time. He feels he will not have the time for Rotary. Frank tells him how club presidents are rather lenient about how you attend meetings as long as you have a legitimate reason.

Throughout the book Frank discusses with his three companions why Rotary can be such a beneficial program and when you join a club, not only are you doing that, but you are also making friends for life.

I used to think that Rotary was for rich old people who had nothing better to do but to sit around and laugh at other people’s misfortunes. That goes to show how clearly misinformed I was. In most cases Rotary is the complete opposite.

My own experiences with Rotary, along with the help of Frank Talk has enabled me to extinguish completely misconceptions I had.

I attended a breakfast meeting of the Rotary Club of Highton-Kardinia and was a little apprehensive as I did not know what would be in store.

I was shocked after being in the clubroom for five minutes. Non-stop laughter and an endless line of jokes came from all directions.

When the opportunity arose to ask me some questions about my work experience they asked ‘‘how is the food at King’s?’’
My time in that room will be one that I will never forget.

Once I never worried about people who were not my friends or family. I figured that they could probably handle things themselves. Now I realise that everyone can do something and the smallest thing can make a difference.

I like the idea of being involved in a community that embodies characteristics of compassion, respect and admiration for the lives of others. Rotary reflects the better side of society, the one where people care about others and look out for them, not where hate is the dominant emotion and where the moral code is each for their own.

We always hear people say that they wish for world peace. Rotary is the team of people attempting to make that wish come true. Without Rotarians we would be in a deeper grave that we already are. For that we all should be grateful.
I only pray that more people can appreciate the work done by Rotarians so that Rotary can become an even greater phenomenon to help more people who are in need.

Essay by Stephonie Hargreaves on In Search of Health
by Paul Henningham
They say never judge a book by its cover, but in this case the cover tells the story of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF).

The ARHRF does everything it can do to help fellow Australians.

This books tell a story (in the eyes of the author, a Rotarian for more than 49 years) of the enormous contribution Rotary has made to the ailing throughout our wonderful country.

It shows what you can really do if you put your mind to it, if you have the passion, the inspiration, the enthusiasm and the commitment to succeed.

The ARHRF was established in 1983 by Ian Scott and aims to provide constant funds for medical research and help the general health of Australians. Ian Scott came up with the idea after being desperate to help scientists find the cause of cot death, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome which was snatching away the lives of babies.

He decided that if anything was to happen, he would have to act. He certainly did through Rotary.

This book does not just cover issues affecting babies in Australia. It also covers the contribution Rotary makes to assist the blind, people with disabilities, the chronically ill, those with mental illnesses, musculo-skeletal disorders, adolescent health, family health issues, emergency health care and basic research into cancer.

My favourite part of the book was getting an insight into the ARHRF and seeing how much work actually goes on behind the scenes. I had not heard the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund until I read this book and it opened my eyes to how much voluntary work goes into such projects. It is another fine example of great Aussie teamwork.

This book is the result of a lot of hard work and generosity by all involved and is a credit to everybody who has contributed.
I congratulate Ian Scott, who had the desire to build such a wonderful establishment as the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, and to Paul Henningham on a story so well told.

Essay by Kim Haworth on A Century of Service
A century of Service: the Story of Rotary International tells of the evolution of Rotary into what it is today. This is more than a chronicle of dates and events as it tells of men and women behind what is now the world’s premier service organisation.
From the first Rotary club in Chicago to Rotary International’s global program to eradicate polio, this book describes how ordinary people have created the extraordinary.

The rich tapestry of R.I. begins in Chicago in 1905 and as the number of clubs grew, and went international, the aim of Rotary took a new direction.

Though still believing in the practice of good business ethics, a vision of service to the community came.

Donald M. Carter who later would be known as the Father of Community Service, said in 1906: ‘‘An organisation that is wholly selfish cannot last long. If we, as a Rotary club, expect to survive and grow, we must do something to justify our position. We must perform a civic service.’’

Four objectives were formed in 1951 that became known as The Object of Rotary and they are still used today.
With clear visions intact, Rotary clubs worldwide began project after project to benefit their communities and communities around the world.

This book contains many stories of Rotary projects and among those of local significance is the Rotary Club of Mornington in Victoria initiating the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF).

As this project is significant to Australians, all projects have significance for someone.

Together, these projects add up to a huge force to guide the world in a positive direction.

During the past 100 years a worldwide allegiance has been formed. It is one with the vision of creating a brighter future for all. Rotary International strives for a world with ethics and integrity, a world free of violence, terrorism and war, where peace reigns and where communities are free of hunger, disease, crime, illiteracy and homelessness.

The author of this book, David C. Forward, talks of Rotary International as a mighty river and the people featured in this book as its tributaries. Every drop of water is vital for the big river to exist.

This book is for those people who may not gain fame for their efforts, but are indispensable nonetheless.

These are men and women who encompass things that are great about Rotary . . . compassion, goodwill and integrity . . . and who have a vision of the world that compels them to offer Service Above Self.

Essay by Simone Meade on Leaders In Service Down Under
with contributions by Owen Parnaby, Grattan O’Connell, Clem Renouf, Paul Henningham and Basil and Beth Shaw.

Leaders In Service Down Under is an informative and inspiring book that recognises the work of five exceptional men, four Australians and a New Zealander who were Rotary International presidents.

The men who devoted the later years of their lives to Rotary were Angus Mitchell, Harold Thomas, Clem Renouf, Royce Abbey and Glen Kinross.

These men were able to achieve reconciliation between former enemies, build bridges of friendship and how ordinary people given opportunities to perform the extraordinary did so.

Holding this office means visiting many lands, seeing the variety of the world broadening a person’s outlook.
Angus Mitchell recognised that if the older generation does not give opportunity to the young the world will not become a better place in the future.

How pleasing it must be to people such as Royce Abbey to see the success of PolioPlus, saving many lives and changing how things were many years ago.
The book Leaders in Service Down Under shows how much love and faith outstanding Rotarians have for their fellow human beings.

Leaders in Service Down Under also shows us how many opportunities and experiences Rotary gives people.
It is a credit to the people who have contributed to Leaders in Service Down Under. This book will inform generations to come what Rotary has succeeded in giving the world.

Essay by Georgina Murphy on Seventy-five Years of Service
by Paul Henningham
This book covers Rotary history from 1921 to 1996 in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomons.
It is a Bible of Rotary history with a positive introduction by two R.I. presidents and a strong foreword by Sir William Deane, a former governor-general of Australia.

This book was intended as a re-issue of The Story of Rotary in Australia 1921-1971 with the next 25 years added and is a good insight into the comings and goings of Rotary.

From a trip down Memory Lane to Rotary’s commitment to serve with youth the book moves on to serving the elderly through carer programs and the formation of Probus.

This caring became apparent to me and my classmates through the services of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) and a Mental Health Forum we attended.

Indigenous people, returned servicemen, the environment and world understanding all have benefited from Rotary service.
Rotary is apparent locally and globally and its service is of interest to me as one of my uncles has organised his life around the important weekly meeting. He has not missed a meeting for 50 years even when travelling the world. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Rotary is more than a room full of elderly people discussing the community clean-up day. It is a global organisation, one that has moulded our communities by bringing hope, life and enjoyment. Rotary is a part of our lives be it that of a Rotarian, school student, sporting hero or senior citizen.

Rotary has concocted a winning formula of people working together in community service that will hopefully continue into the future.