RDU magazine online

THIS ROTARY WORLD

Caloundra merges celebrations and remembers a club pioneer
by Mark Ward
Past President
Rotary Club of Caloundra, Qld.
The Rotary Club of Caloundra has marked its 50th anniversary and the Rotary Centennial with a lasting tribute to Past District Governor Ben Bennett (1912 - 1987), the club’s charter president. The club has completed a project at Ben Bennett Botanical Park in Caloundra, providing a barbecue shelter, Rotary pavers and a sign paying tribute to Ben Bennett at the entrance to Ben Bennett Park at Queen Street, Caloundra. Caloundra City Council was a project partner.

The club was keen to have a project with lasting Rotary recognition and a park project, with appropriate signage, lent itself to this. Researching the club history, it was found that one of Caloundra’s first projects was renovations to Lady Wilson Park at Dicky Beach. Other park projects included a large draughts board at Stillwater Beach (now Bulcock Beach), Maleny Rotary Park, Lighthouse Reserve Park, Duck Hole Creek Park, picnic areas at Bell’s Creek and Centaur Park and a steam railway engine restoration at Happy Valley. Many of these parks have been redeveloped with no visible Rotary signage.

The Rotary Club of Caloundra, Qld., merged its 50th anniversary with the Centennial of Rotary in a project at the Ben Bennett Botanical Park in Caloundra.

However there was a most over-whelming support to honour Ben Bennett, and where better than at the park named after him. Ben had a strong interest in flora and fauna and lobbied hard for the establishment of Ben Bennett Park.

The club moved its breakfast meeting to Ben Bennett Park for an official opening and unveiling of the sign. A barbecue breakfast was provided. Special T-shirts were printed with the words Rotary Caloundra - celebrating 50 years of community service.

Guests included Rotary International Past President Clem Renouf, of the Rotary Club of Nambour, Qld., which sponsored Caloundra club in 1954. Ben Bennett was a close friend of his. Rod Robinson, honorary member of Caloundra and another friend of Ben Bennett, was another guest. Daughter clubs in Maleny and Caloundra Pacific were represented.

A tree planting ceremony was also conducted with each special guest planting a tree as a tribute to the Rotary family. The ceremony included a moving speech by Ben’s son, Past President Ian Bennett, of the Rotary Club of Woombye, Qld. Ben Bennett became actively involved in the Caloundra community on his return from service in WWII.

He was charter president for the Rotary Club of Caloundra when it was formed in 1954 and served terms as District governor in 1974/75 and 1979/80. In 1986, he received a` The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. He served as a Landsborough Shire councillor from 1964 - 1970, actively promoting native tree planting and recommended the preservation of present-day Ben Bennett Botanical Park. After his time in Council he became the Chairman of Caloundra's first tourist committee. Ben Bennett and his wife Millie conducted the Strand Theatre in Caloundra for many years.

CLUBS IN ACTION

District 9800’s family support project working for young families
The Boroondara Family Network (BFN), an initiative of District 9800, has assisted more than 250 families and more than 490 children since being set up in March, 2000. Boroondara is an inner city municipality in Melbourne, Vic., with a large population of young couples and migrant families.

The network came after the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, Vic., undertook a study to assess the most effective way to address the needs of new families, especially those without nearby family support. The Boroondara Family Network helps mothers with post-natal depression and families in isolation. It was established with the help of a Special Grant from Rotary International and is funded by District 9800 clubs. The community and Local Government are both represented on a Committee of Management. Co-ordinator Dianne Sides organises and trains volunteers to assist families.The volunteers are mothers living in Boroondara and spend two hours a week with their allocated families. The success of the BFN has led to groups in other areas seeking advice on the formation of similar organisations.
Further information: Jo Buchanan, 7 Brook Street, Hawthorn, Vic., 3122, or District 9800 Past Governor Jeffrey Bird on email jcbird@ozemail.com.au

$4,300 to Community Health
The Rotary Club of Brighton, Vic., has donated $A4,300 to the Melbourne Inner South Community Health Service, which focuses on those who may not readily access mainstream services. A sum of $2,300 will support a community midwifery program which embraces mothers, most of whom have experienced family violence and are homeless as a consequence.

Supporting these new mothers significantly reduces the incidence of the involvement in child protection and has also given the mothers more confidence in their parenting so that they try breastfeeding, attending new mothers’ groups and are more open to attending maternal and child health services. Another $2,000 will support the social skills program which benefits primary school aged children experiencing behavioural and school problems traceable to either a high level of family conflict or family violence.