Our History
OK, so what has the ROTARY Club of Pakenham achieved since it's inception in 1961 you may well ask.
Well listed below is a summary of the club's achievements by Rotary membership year.
ROTARY CLUB OF PAKENHAM Inc. PROJECTS:
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Drouin.
Chartered 30th June 1961. Updated 11th January 2017
YEARS 1 -10
1) 1961-1962 – Charter President: Charles Hicks
Ambulance Service & Station
Historical Society
Red Cross Blood Bank
2) 1962-1963 – President: Keith Bishop
International Exhibition
2 children to Lord Mayor’s Camp Portsea
Funds for “Those Who have Less”
3) 1963-1964 – President: George Shelton
Toomuc Festival of Nations
Miss Victoria Quest – Elizabeth Greig
Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital Fence
Fund raising for new Guide Hall
4) 1964-1965 – President: Les Futcher
Sun Youth Art Show
Club development
Feasibility study for White Elephant Sale
5) 1965-1966 – President: Len Rushton
Festival of Nations
Carols By Candlelight
Hay to India
Visit by group of Indian Students
6) 1966-1967 – President: Eugene Drosseart
Vocational Service Awards
Sun Youth Art Show
Feasibility study for Pakenham High School
7) 1967-1968 – President: Bruce Plummer
Senior Citizens Club established
First White Elephant Sale
8) 1968-1969 – President: Jan Veenstra
Youth Careers Night
Hay, Semen & Equipment to India
Decorated float in Berwick Centennial
Hosted Group Study Exchange Team from USA
9) 1969-1970 – President: Charles Huyskens
Festival of Nations
Hay & Semen to India
10) 1970-1971 – President: Doug Darby
Hay to India
Sponsored school girl in India
Support establishment of Little Athletics
Rotarians Doug Darby and Don Weber “Those Who Have Less” visit to India
YEARS 11 - 20
11) 1971-1972 – President: Frank Kenworthy
Senior Citizens Clubrooms
Extensions to Pakenham Hospital
Youth Careers Night
High School Student Citizenship Awards
World Convention Sydney
12) 1972-1973 – President: Bill Fletcher
Hobbies and Craft Show
School Citizenship Awards
Sponsored school student in India – Kokila
Car Trial
13) 1973-1974 – President: Reg McLeod
Meals on Wheels
Care For the Aged
Hobbies and Craft Show
Hosted Group Study Exchange Team from Japan at regular meeting
14) 1974-1975 – President: Bill White
Arts, Hobbies and Craft Show expanded
15) 1975-1976 – President: Kevin Clarke
Fund raising for local community
16) 1976-1977 – President: Russell Kaye
Pakenham Nursing Home
Member involved in FAIM project in New Guinea – Hans Van Der Velde
Bark Painting Exhibition
17) 1977-1978 – President: Barry Wallis
Rota Potato Project
Workshop Unit at Minibah (Outlook)
18) 1978-1979 – President: Con Boon
First Novice Gymkhana
Clearing Sale added to White Elephant Sale
Hosted Group Study Exchange team from England
19) 1979-1980 – President: Austin Bastow
Herb Thomas Memorial Trust Established
Pakenham Race Club meeting
International Youth Exchange – Daryl McLaughlin from Canada
20) 1980-1981 – President: Graeme Perrin
Pakenham Hospital Small Change Barrel
Pakenham Rotaract Club formed
Repairs to Pakenham Scout Hall
International Youth Exchange – Soji Sukuma from Japan
YEARS 21 - 30
21) 1981-1982 – President: Peter Durkin
Feasibility study for Retirement Village
Festival of Nations
Mobile Catering Caravan
Bus of Knowledge
Tourist information Board
Hosted Group Study Exchange Team Member from USA
22) 1982-1983 – President: Roly Hewson
Ash Wednesday Bush Fires
Sponsored Rotary Club of Bunyip/Garfield
Eddie Charlton Snooker Demonstration
Hosted GSE from India
Bikes for fire victims
International Youth Exchange – Leonell Rocha from Brazil
International Youth Exchange – Jennilyn Noack to USA
23) 1983-1984 – President: Lindsay Adams
Community Igloo at Upper Beaconsfield
Charter of Bunyip/Garfield
President Elect Seminar
Electric Bar-b-q in Burke Park
Colonial Ball
24) 1984-1985 - President: Neil Preston
Hosted the Shire President’s Ball
Ro Tree Planting
First Yakkerboo Parade Float
First Herb Thomas Trust Dinner
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchange – Michelle Knecht from Canada
International Youth Exchange – Sharon Millet to Denmark
25) 1985-1986 – President: Tom Slattery
Ascott Day fundraiser
Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship – Francine Houlihan
Golf at new Pakenham Golf Course
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchange – Mandy Squires to Sweden
26) 1986-1987 – President: Peter van Diemen
Charter of Inner Wheel Club of Pakenham
Indoor Swimming Pool
Catered for Car Rally in Deep Creek Road
25th Anniversary Dinner
Ascott Night Fundraiser
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchange – Kathy Mitchley from South Africa
27) 1987-1988 – President: Felix Russo
“Brushmen of the Bush” Art Show
Indoor Pool Fence
District RYLA Seminar
Bangladesh Well and Pump
Bar-b-q Trailer
Sportsmen’s Dinner with Bunyip/Garfield
Peer Support at High School
Ascott Night Fundraiser
Rotary Race day at Pakenham Race Course
International Youth Exchange – Paul Thomas to South Africa
28) 1988-1989 – President: Jeff Lempriere-Hogg
First Debutant Ball
Pakenham Probus Club Chartered
President Elect Collar
Paddy’s Market
Last Novice Gymkhana
International Youth Exchange – Jorgen Linquist from Sweden
29) 1989-1990- President: John Boon
P. B. Ronald Trust Fund Established
First Charles Hicks Awards
Hosted GSE from Columbia
Underprivileged children to Gang show
Dr. Wade Alzheimer appeal
Spinning Wheel at Pakenham Show
Pakenham Rotaract Club disbanded
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchange – Joanne Fulston to Japan
International Youth Exchange – Yukiko Fujima from Japan
30) 1990-1991 – President: Kevin Sheean
Rotary Shed
“Best of Australia Outback Artist” Art Show
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
YEARS 31 - 40
31) 1991-1992 – President: Ken Rook
Millhaven Gardens
Project Vests
Healesville Sanctuary sponsorship started
Talking Books to Neighbourhood House
ARHRF Art Book to Pakenham Library
First P. B. Ronald Trust Dinner
Hosted GSE team from USA for day
International Youth Exchange – Lachlan Simpson to Japan
Port Crock Fund Raiser for Barry Wallis Memorial Garden
Past Rotary International World President visits Bunyip/Garfield
32) 1992 -1993 – President: Graeme Begg
Rotary World Convention Melbourne
Neighbourhood House Toy Library Building
Millhaven Hostel front fence
Hosted GSE team from Bangladesh for a day
International Youth Exchange – Nicolai Krough from Denmark
33) 1993-1994
Business Breakfast – President: Peter Herrington
Business Development Group Established
Shrine of Remembrance Appeal
Paul Harris Fellow Dinner
First Convoy for Kids
34) 1994-1995 – President: Fred Bekker
Charity Dinner Auction
Initial planning for Toomuc Creek Park
Clean-Up Toomuc Creek Park
Spinning Wheel at Pakenham Show
35) 1995-1996 – President: Rowley Harman
Hosted GSE from France
Highway Community Service Signs
Extensive investigation into Toomuc Creek Park
Spinning Wheel at Pakenham Show
36) 1996-1997 – President: Malcolm Tivendale
First Lady Members
Supported 4C’s Food Bank
Paint Your Heart Out – 4C’s premises
Continued planning for Toomuc Creek Park
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchange – Eloise Linklater to Belgium
International Youth Exchange – Akko Iwata from Japan
37) 1997-1998 – President: Laurie Hudgson
Toomuc Creek Bridge #1
Customer Service Seminar
First Sportsperson of the Year Award
Operation Livewire
Apprentice/trainee Wards
Youth Suicide Forum
Last Convoy For Kids
Paint Your Heart Out Project – 4C’s Premises
Member Wal Macdonald and Margaret – Friendship Exchange to USA
38) 1998-1999 – President: David Roff
Toomuc Creek Park path
New Generations Committee formed
Youth needs survey
First Primary School Public Speaking Competition
Bike Registration Day
Hosted Friendship Exchange from USA
Citilink Domain Tunnel & Bolte Bridge openings
Melbourne Cup Badge sales
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
Club Fellowship Weekend at Rosebud
39) 1999-2000 – President: Graeme Squires
Member District Governor – Graeme Begg
Hosted District Conference
Opening of Y Zone Youth Centre
Health Hedge
Used Spectacle Drive
Camelot Castle Night
Apprentice/Trainee Awards
Bike Registration Day
WES moved to Toomuc Reserve
Club Fellowship weekend at Rawson
40) 2000-2001 – President: Terry Williams
City Link Burnley Tunnel opening
Primary School Science Projects
Health Portfolio
Hosted GSE Farewell Dinner
Community Information Booth at Coles
Used Spectacle Drive
Opportunity Shop Collection Bins
Central Park Bar-b-q’s
New Zealand Twin Youth Exchange
Club Fellowship Weekend at Mt. Bulla
Meetings moved to Pakenham Golf Club
YEARS 41 - 50
41) 2001-2002 – President; Ian Wake
Toomuc Creek Bridge # 2
ROMAC Dinner Auction
Hosted 2 ROMAC children from Kiribati
First Annual Golf Day
First Ride to Conference
Blue Hair Day
ARHRF Mental Health Forum
Hosted GSE team from USA
Used Spectacle Drive
42) 2002-2003 – President: George Blenkhorn
Opening of Cardinia Cultural Centre
Tools For Timor
Used Spectacle Drive
First Safeway Sausage Sizzle
Visit to Loy Yang Power Station
Christmas Break-Up on the Yarra River
Club Fellowship Weekend at Marysville
43) 2003-2004 – President: Jim Armstrong
Pakenham Secondary College Interact Club established
Dinner Auction for ROMAC & Interplast
Naming of Rotary Park
Start Rotary Park picnic shelter
Member on Interplast to Indonesia as observer – Kevin Sheean
Tools for Timor
Patrol Bicycles for Pakenham Police
International Youth Exchange – Maiju Saari from Finland
Club Fellowship Weekend at Omeo
44) 2004-2005 – President: Darren Spargo
100 years of Rotary
Police Checks for all members
Rotary Park Picnic Shelter
Hosted District RYPEN Seminar
Pakenham/Berwick Rotaract Club established
Song “One Hundred Years of Rotary”
R & S Cameron Memorial Trust established
Cemetery Rose Garden
Naming of Rotary Centennial Walk
International Youth Exchange – Leara Keysers to USA
Hosted Group Study Exchange Team from Scotland
Club Fellowship Weekend to Yarram
45) 2005-2006 – President: Barry Morris
E. W. Tipping House landscaping/gardens
Rotary park tree planting
First ANZAC Day Dawn Service breakfast
Pakenham East Probus Club Chartered
Hosted District RYPEN Seminar
Interact Club disbanded
International Youth Exchange – Tetsuo Fujioka from Japan
Member Andrew Walsh – Donations In Kind trip to India
46) 2006-2007 – President: Lynette Squires
Hosted District RYPEN Seminar
Working With Children Legislation
First Annual Christmas Trailer Raffle
Wally Wombat Trail at Pakenham Show
First R & S Cameron Trust presentation
Garage Sales at Tip
International Youth Exchange – Robyn Speck to Sweden
47) 2007-2008 – President: Gary Board
Opening of Pakenham By-Pass
Small Farm Field Day (Assist KWR/LL)
Matching Grant, Chamabondo School, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
New Rotary Shed, Toomuc Reserve
Dinner Auction for “Children in Distress”
Monthly “Old Time” Dances commence
Wally Wombat Trail at Pakenham Show
Garage Sales at Tip
Cricket at Rotary Park
48) 2008-2009 – President: Julie Crawford
Go Country Expo with KWR/LL
Sponsored Shire Youth Bus
Club Management Review
Labertouche Bush Fire Recovery
Garage Sales at Tip
Cricket at Rotary Park
Fellowship Weekend to Yarram
49) 2009-1010 - President: Tim Ahern
Go Country Expo with KWR/LL
Implementation of New Leadership Plan
Monthly Farmer’s Market
Pakenham Central Probus Club Chartered
Labertouche Bush Fire Recovery
Labertouche School Garden
Hosted GSE from Germany with Berwick
Australian Welsh Male Choir
District Literacy Project, “Books for Babes” – Mem Fox Night
Member George Blenkhorn and Sue – Polio Plus Trip to India
50) 2010-2011 – President: Graham Tudge
Go Country with KWR/LL
Dinner Auction for Victorian Flood Victims
District Literacy Program, “Books for Babes” Launch
Sponsored Group Study Exchange Team Member to Finland – Denise Markovski
VLE Special Livestock Sale for Queensland Flood Victims
50th Anniversary Dinner
YEARS 51 - 60
51) 2011-2012 – President: Tim Mepstead
Support Wombat Mange Eradication Project
Fellowship weekend car rally on Mornington Peninsular
Working Bee at E.W.Tipping House
Sponsored Student Leadership Group at Pakenham Secondary College
Rotary Adventure in Citizenship – Bridgitt Shea
New Pakenham Hall opening
Cardinia Railway Station opening
Tandem trailer to Labertouche bush fire relief
Support for Queensland and Victorian Flood Relief
Day out to Tesselaars Tulip Festival
Pakenham Secondary College Homeless Sleep out
Vocational visit to Steve Cole’s Turf farm
52) 2012-2013 – President: Geoff Janssen
Hosted Group study exchange team from Holland
Established Club Facebook site
Installed seats in Rotary Park
Working Bee on E.W.Tipping house gardens
Renovated Rotunda at Pakenham Cemetery
Catering for first Relay for Life
Visit to Mt. Burnett Observatory
Fellowship Cruise on Georgianna McHaffie – Westernport Bay
Introduced new Board of Management structure
53) 2013-2014 – President: Roger Thornton
Changed Club Management Structure as required by Rotary International
Breathometers installed in local licensed venues
Promoted Bowel Scan through local pharmacies
Working Bees at Millhaven Hostel
Police Uniforms for Donations In Kind
Finance fences at Bichuk School, Katmandu, Nepal
Supported L 2 Ps Driver Education Program
Equipment for Officer Special School
RYPEN Camp
Supported 39th Battalion
Relay for Life
Working Bees at Tipping House
Supported Tonga Project (Frankston North)
Donation to disabled children in Nepal
54) 2014-2015 – President: Vivienne Armstrong
Mark Bouris Business Dinner
50th and final White Elephant Sale
Relay For Life
Donation from Stafford Fox Medical Research to The Florey Institute of $3,000,000 for
Motor Neuron Disease research
Youth Mental Health Forum
Picnic Shelter @ Heritage Springs
RYPEN Camp
55) 2015-2016 – President: Wal Macdonald
Activity Rooms at Millhaven Lodge
Disposal of Surplus Council Office Equipment
Local Food Fest
Fitness Station in Rotary Park
Relay for Life
RYPEN Camp
Student Attend National Youth Science Forum
56) 2016-2017 – President: Lyn Bunce
International Exchange Student – Rosa Schnebli
Car Show
Support St John of God Hospital Berwick
ANNUAL AND ON-GOING PROJECTS – START YEAR:
1965-1966 – Carols By Candlelight (Taken over by Council about 2000)
1965-1966 – White Elephant Sale
1978-1979 – White Elephant & Clearing Sale (Discontinued 2015)
1979-1980 – Herb Thomas Memorial Trust
1981-1982 – Vocational Service Awards
1982-1983 – Mock Job Interviews
1987-1988 – Bar-B-Q Trailer
1988-1989 – Debutante Presentation Ball
1989-1990 – P. B. Ronald Memorial Trust
1989-1990 – Charles McKay Hicks Grade 6 Awards (Pakenham Consolidate School)
1989-1990 – Community Service Awards
1991-1992 – Project Vests
1991-1992 – Healesville Sanctuary Sponsorship
1993-1994 – Convoy For Kids (moved to Footscray 1998)
1994-1995 – Grade 6 Awards (Other Primary Schools)
1994-1995 – Toomuc Creek / Rotary Park
1997-1998 – Sports Person of the Year Award (Discontinued 2002-2003)
1998 -1999 – Primary School Public Speaking Competition
2001-2002 – Charity Golf Day
2001-2002 – Ride to Conference
2002-2003 – Safeway Bar-B-Q (Discontinued 2012)
2004-2005 – R & S Cameron Memorial Trust
2005-2006 – ANZAC Day Gunfire Breakfast
2006-2007 – Christmas Trailer Raffle
2007-2008 – Rotary Community Dance
2008-2009 – Go Country (suspended 2011)
2009-2010 – Farmer’s Markets (Suspended 2012)
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND DISTRICT PROJECTS SUPPORTED:
Australian Rotary Health research Fund (ARHRF)
Bowel Scan
Disaster Aid Australia
Donations In Kind (DIK)
Interplast
Lord Mayor’s Camp
Model United Nations (MUNA)
National Youth Science Forum
Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM Australia)
Rotary Adventure in Citizenship
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)
Rotary Fellowships
Rotary Friendship Exchange
Rotary Oceanic Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN)
Shine On Awards
Shelter Box
The Rotary Foundation
The Siemens Youth Science Forum