Stories


New Board assume control Following our Changeover Dinner in early July the new Board of Directors has assumed control of the Rotary Club of Morwell. The nominated President is Colin Matthies who will be supported by past presidents David McInnes and Dianne Goulding who will chair meetings each for 4 month of the year. President Colin, (DG Bill at his left sholder) along with his trusty Board. Gloria Auchterlonie, Kathleen Elkington, Harry Ballis, Ann Vokes, David McInnes, Mike Answerth (Executive Secretary) and Dan Dowling. The CEO of Maryvale Provate Hospital addressed the Club at the Changeover Dinner regarding recent issues at the Hospital and their current program of expansion. Gloria Auchterlonie was awarded Rotarian of the Year. Richard Elkington OAM was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow. Past President David McInnes and Keith Brownbill made a disbursement to the FLO Campus. David O'Halloran accepted the cheque for $17,000. The night was enjoyed by around 50 guests for across the Morwell community.	New Board assume control		2022-07-30 14:00:00Z	0
Rose Garden Plaque - Morwell Rotary Club Thank You to Health Personnel With support from the Latrobe City Council and the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden Committee, the Rotary Club of Morwell have installed a commemorative plaque in the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden to acknowledge our local medical, hospital and other health personnel for their dedication during the past two years, bringing the Latrobe Valley community safely through the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning for this plaque has been happening in Morwell Rotary Club for several months, as an initiative from their vocational service portfolio. The project was led by Gloria Auchterlonie, as vocational services director for 2020/21. Originally, an unveiling event with afternoon tea was intended for the public and representatives from all medical, hospital, ambulance, pharmacy, and other related organisations. However, this plan was stalled and continually postponed by intermittent lockdowns. It became clear that public attendance would not be possible. Read more...	Rose Garden Plaque - Morwell Rotary Club Thank You to Health Personnel	Charity Sims-Jenkins	2021-09-25 14:00:00Z	0
The Morwell Story 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. 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. Read more...	The Morwell Story	David Swainsbury	2021-08-13 14:00:00Z	0
2021 Changeover An excellent evening to celebrate the achievements for President Mike Answerth and his board and to hear of incoming President David McInnes outline his plans for the coming year. Firstly President Mike Awarded Past President Gloria Auchterlonie a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire Pin for her significant service during the year. Mike also recognised Minol "Bluey" Stewart with a Certificate of Meritorious Service for his 37 years of significant service to the Rotary Club of Morwell. Incoming President David McInnes was awarded the Rotarian of the Year Award for outstanding service and commitment. Read more...	2021 Changeover	David Swainsbury	2021-07-22 14:00:00Z	0
Rotary at the Start of the United Nations Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world. During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” Read more...	Rotary at the Start of the United Nations		2020-11-05 06:00:00Z	0
History of Women in Rotary Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. “My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01. The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings. Read more...	History of Women in Rotary		2020-11-05 06:00:00Z	0
Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.” Read more...	Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle		2020-11-05 06:00:00Z	0
First Club in Philippines Opens Door to Rotary in Asia In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia. The club would be the only one in the country for more than 12 years. Eventually, Manila club members organized Rotary clubs in the Philippine cities of Cebu (1932) and Iloilo (1933). Iloilo club members then started a club in Bacolod (1937), and Rotary continued to expand across the country. Read more...	First Club in Philippines Opens Door to Rotary in Asia		2020-11-05 06:00:00Z	0