The District Governor in 1944-45, J Burgess Watt, of Hobart, charged the Rotary Club of Traralgon with the task of Sponsoring a club in Morwell and appointed as his Special Representatives Rotarians Jack Harrison and Geoff Littleton. They held an interest meeting and found that Morwell had the numbers, the people and quality of leadership to ensure the success of a Rotary Club.
The provisional Rotary Club of Morwell was formed on July 31, 1945. Its Charter, bearing the signatures of TA Warren, President of Rotary International, Phil Lovejoy, Secretary Rotary International, and District Governor HJ Holmes, was presented by the immeadiate Past District Governor, J Burgess Watt on 12 March 1946. Rotarian Len Trigg was Charter President and the new club began with twenty members: LB Trigg, J Goyen, H Mitchell, D Scammell, F Jenkins, R Payne, W Firmin, J Bush, JS Lawless, R Phillips, JH Catterick, RR Davey, WE Ferguson, JG Haugh, PP Kelly, AW Ronald, WN Shaw, B Vary, W Macdermid, and SG Winchester. These members are shown in the following image along with their signatures.
The Rotary Club of Morwell was formed during a period of great uncertainty - the very existence of the town of Morwell on its current site was in question. The members of the newly formed club, all prominent citizens, were actively involved through their business and professional capacities, in negotiations which led to Morwell becoming the veritable "Hub of the Valley"
Our club's development has run in parallel with that of the Valley. In the early years members were forced to concentrate on basic local issues in the prevailing climate of uncertainty and unpredictable growth. Existing infrastrucrure was inadequate and the club bod much community work providing needed facilitiesat places such as schools, YMCA, the hospital and sporting grounds. But, members did not confine themselves to local work. In 1948 Morwell sponsored the Creation of the Rotary Club of Moe.
A Brief History of the Rotary Club of Morwell as told in, "A Long Time and a Good Time" Fifty Years of Service by the Rotary Club of Morwell Inc 1946-1996.