Finally, our club has become 70 years old on 1st September 2024. We had to change the venue to Tower Hotel as the Kensi could not offer us a suitable room with so many attendants joining on this day.
In addition to many club members, we had members coming from RC Moriata, St Peters, Magil Sunrise and Burnside to join this special day and celebrate with us. Other valuable guests include Cressida O’Hanlon, the Member for Dunstan, Christel Mex, the member of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council as well as former RCN member, Marie-louise Lees, District 9510 Governor for 2024-25, and other friends and former members of our club. There were approximately 30 people joining.
The party started as Di provided acknowledgement to the country, and briefly introduced Euan and Rob’s experience as Rotarians, including how Euan changed the pattern of club meetings. Followed was Rob who gave introduction of all guests, and Euan’s loyal toast and invocation.
Euan reviewed the 70 years of club history since 1954, including all the club efforts such as engagement with Norwood Aged Club, the close connection with RC St Peters and Burnside, the support towards youth development, the efforts in international and local community projects, and participating in promoting End Polio, one of the highlights in public health during history of Rotary International. Euan also described how Rotary Club of Norwood started to involve female members in 1980s, an important step to reach gender equity as the club of People of Action.
Then, Glenda Hedley expressed her thoughts as a past president. She recalled her valuable memory on how she served as Rotarian with Rodger Hedley, and her experience together with some of the guests attended on this day. Glenda also talked about her recent efforts to introduce Rotary to students who have passion to join and serve above self
Christel gave speech as representative of both NPSP Council and RCN, followed by Cressida, who also emphasized the great efforts of RCN to engage with community. This was responded by Di who is now the community leader of Community Group 3 of Zone 8 Regionalisation Pilot.
In accordance with all the history recalling, Rob presented the current status of club, including all the challenges we are facing with, and the changes we endeavour to make in recent years. For smaller clubs like us, working with other clubs and associations in project is critical in making difference. Rob also described our current effort in Rotary Say No to Domestic Violence, sponsoring Water and Sanitation infrastructure construction in Zimbabwe schools. This was also responded by Sigrid, who gave toast to Rotary International, and notified the coming Movie Night scheduled on 24th October.
DG’s response included what difference Rotary have made, how Rotary are changing into modern organisation, how Rotary are defined by human as heart of service.
We also had delicious dinner and drink shared birthday cake, and enjoyed fun through quiz. We were happy to have all those attendants to join this special day of our club, and look forward to further commitment in the future!