Membership of 72 gives townsville a great start

The chartering of the Interact Club of Townsville Grammar School in Townsville, Qld., saw 72 members inducted. The school and the Rotary Club of Townsville South West believe they have set an Australian record for the most members of a chartered club. The chartering came one year after discussions commenced about reviving an Interact club. The Rotary Club of Townsville South West’s Sean Johnson said: “Our club’s commitment to our youth is on show for all. We now have the complete Rotary family with an active club, the Rotaract club and the Interact club.”

Then President Donna Brown, of the Rotary Club of Townsville South West, Qld., with Interact President Lauren-Phoebe Nielsen. The Interact club was chartered with 72 members.

Rotary Club of Townsville South West and Townsville Grammar School have had an association since the 1960s.
The club has sponsored many current and former students on Youth Exchanges and the school hosts the club’s inbound students.

The leading office-bearers of the Interact club are from Year 11 with students from all years of the school being members.
After less than two months in existence the club took part in a Salvation Army Food Appeal that resulted in 50 boxes of food being collected and donated by the students.

Interact President Lauren Phoebe-Nielsen, Vice President Daria Romanik, Townsville Grammar School Principal Richard Fairley and Assistance Director, Gerry Gebert (a Rotarian and past president of the Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise, Qld.) attended a Rotary Club of Townsville South West meeting for the presentation of the charter certificate.

District 9790 gets another club The charter of the Interact Club of St Helena College, Diamond Creek, Vic., involved the then District 9790 Governor Mani Seneviratne, charter President Akshay Naidoo and the then Rotary Club of Diamond Creek President Geoff Swan.  The Rotary Club of Diamond Creek, Vic., has helped to charter an Interact club at St Helena Secondary College, a local school. It is the second Interact Club in District 9790, and the first such club to be chartered in the District in many years. Past District Governor Brian Bowen spent many hours on the club’s formation and the fruits of his labours came into being at a ceremony at Ashton Manor in Diamond Creek. The club had 15 charter members and already has added a member. Charter President Akshay Naidoo accepted the charter from District 9790 Governor Mani Seneviratne.

Other officebearers are Nicholas Belfiore, Brittany Crabbe, Stephen Bates, Kelsie Fletcher, James Carnock, Lester Burford and Daniel Demellis. Charter President Akshay thanked the Rotary Club of Diamond Creek, particularly Brian Bowen, for establishing the new Interact Club. The Rotary Club of Diamond Creek is proud to have the opportunity to charter a wonderful group of young people as they enter the rewarding world of community and international service, and has pledged ongoing commitment to the Interactors – Bev Baker.