Compiled by Ayr Rotary Club Historian, Arthur Durrant
First Rotary Club 1945 to 1948
By Rotarian Charles Green (Deceased)
In July, 1945, the Rotary Club of Townsville delegated three of its members to visit Ayr to survey the possibility of establishing a Rotary Club in Ayr. These Townsville Rotarians were: John Webb, Charles Leach and Charles Butler. Contact was made with Ayr Businessmen, E. b. Montgomery, Manager of the National Bank; J. W. Iverarity, Manager Kalamia Mill and R.F. Mellick, Draper.
In another visit by Townsville Rotarians a few weeks later, other possible members of a Club in Ayr were contacted and an informal meeting was held and a list of possible Charter members drawn up.
On the 2nd August, 1945, a meeting was held in the Ayr Shire Chambers, of those whose names had been admitted. Present were Townsville Rotarians John Webb, C. T. Leach, J. C. Butler and Gordan Chalk. Prospective Ayr Rotarians were J. W. Inverarity, E. B. Montgomert, J. T. C. White, B. S. Donovan, R. F. Clark, H. F. Duggan, J. F. Behan, H. C. Murphy, A. Swinton, N. Haine, W. M. Saxby, C. L. Coutts, l. M. French, H. Ray, H. B. Burstall, R. Byers, C. K. Carmody, J. C. Wilshere, F. J. Foote, J. A. Emmett, C. C. Southern.
A provisional Rotary Club was formed with the following Officers: President J W. Inverarity, Vice President E. B. Montgomery, Secretary R. F. Clark, Treasurer C. L. Coutts, Sergeant at Arms H. F. Duggan, Directors: B. S. Donovan, F. Behan, J. T. C. White. Membership Fee was 2 pound, 2 shillings and yearly subscription was 4 pounds, 4 shillings.
The first weekly meeting was held on the 9th September, 1945 in the Hotel Delta.
Charter No. 6099 was presented to the Ayr Club by District Governor Bob Hancock on Saturday, 4th May, 1946, at a Charter Dinner held in the Masonic Hall, Ayr. Visiting Clubs were Cairns, Tully, Ingham, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton. On Sunday, 5th May, 1946, a District Conference of Northern Clubs was held in the Masonic Hall.
CONCERT: also on that Sunday night, the first Community Service Committee effort was held in the form of a Concert in the Theatre Delta to raise money for food parcels for Britain, and 133 pounds was raised. This is the only recorded service activity of this Club.
The last recorded meeting of the first Rotary Club of Ayr is dated 2nd December, 1947, under the presidency of Bert Duggan. However, your Historian understands the last meeting was held in 1948 under the presidency of Len Honeycombe, when, through lack of interest of members and trouble with catering, the Club was forced to close down. From 1948 to June 1st, 1955, Ayr was without a service club of any name.
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The food parcels sent to Britain as mentioned above, ended up in Ayr in Scotland which resulted in the start of a friendship between the two Rotary Clubs which still exist today, as mentioned in the following page.
The History of our Reading Desk
From the Files of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Scotland
The following article comes from the files of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Scotland, and tells the history of our Reading Desk. It was sent to the Rotary Club of Ayr Queensland, by P.P. Jimmy Begg, Rotary Club of Ayr, Scotland.
Presentation to the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland
At the Club Assembly in 1946, Past President John W. Robertson suggested that as a token of appreciation of the generosity of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, Australia in sending food parcels, the Club should present the Australian Club with some tangible gift. After due consideration it was decided to have made and sent to Australia a Reading Desk which could become a permanent feature of the Queensland Clubs meetings.
Col. R. W. Paton undertook to have a desk made, the base which would be of wood taken from oak cradles of the Auld Brig of Ayr (1440). The desk would also bear the Rotary Emblem, the Seal of the Royal Burgh of Ayr and a silver plate bearing the appropriate legend.
AT the Christmas Luncheon Meeting on 22nd December, 1947, President Nicol Watson called upon his Immediate Past President, Alfred T. Scott to present the Desk to Past President John W. Robertson who received it on behalf of the Australian Club and undertook to have it forwarded to them.
Presentation of the Desk in Scotland
From left to right: Robert Brown, (Town Clerk of Ayr); Thomas Murray (Privort of Ayr); John W. Robertson (who received the Desk in the name of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, Australia); Nicol Watson (President of Ayr Rotary Club, Scotland); Alfred T. Scott (who presented the Desk); David Reid (who made the Desk) and Bernard Reid (Vice-President and Treasurer of our Club.
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A record of the proceedings and speeches made on the occasion are in the Club files. The presentation of the desk was mentioned in a programme "The Two AYRS carried on the Pacific Network B.B.C. to Australia on the 8th January, 1948 following when Rotarian J. Letham Connell and P.P. Alfred T. Scott were the speakers.
A copy of Rotarian Connells talk and the correspondence regarding the desk is in the Club Files.
It was some considerable time before the receipt of the Desk was acknowledged.
At a later date (1963) when the Club was informed that the silver plate attached to the desk had gone missing, the Club sent a replacement.
In June 1970, President Hugh McLachlan had a call from a member of the Queensland Club who confirmed that the desk was still in use.
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The following is the presentation Address on 22nd December, 1947:
"When during my year of office as President of this Rotary Club, I first received intimidation of the intention of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, to send gifts of food parcels for distribution among deserving poor and sick persons in our town, and when, later in the year, I learned how greatly these parcels had been appreciated by the recipients, it was my earnest hope that an opportunity would be given of making some public acknowledge-ment. To-day that opportunity is being granted, and in a manner which I had never anticipated. Through the courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation, this ceremony at our Christmas luncheon meeting will be heard by our Rotary friends in Ayr, Queensland, and through the length and breadth of Australia."
These most generous and acceptable gifts, inspired by the very highest motives and in the true Rotary spirit, were so deeply appreciated by the Council of the Ayr Rotary Club, Scotland, that they felt something more tangible and lasting than mere expressions of
thanks should be sent to the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, could cherish which would be a lasting tribute to their founders who had, at the very commencement of their existence as a Rotary Club, so signally interpreted the Rotary ideal of Service. The suggestion of the presentation of a Reading Desk appeared to the Council to be a happy one here was something which would be in use by the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, at all its functions, and would serve not only to perpetuate our tribute to them, but would help to strengthen and maintain, through the link thus formed between Ayr, Queensland and Ayr, Scotland that greater tie between the Dominion and the Old Country.
Ayr, Scotland has a particular interest in Ayr, Queensland, beyond the mere similarity of names. The Queensland town was so named by the then Prime Minister of Queensland, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, in honour of the town of his birth, Ayr, Scotland. There are numerous descendants of the McIlwraith family still with us. One of our own members, Rotarian Tom OBeirne, is a descendant.
Sir Thomas McIlwraith was an Ayr lad, the son of Bailie McIlwraith. He emigrated to Australia in 1854, almost 100 years ago and engaged on the construction of railways under the Government of Victoria. In 1868 he left Victoria, took up farming in Queensland and was elected a member of Legislative Assembly. In 1879 he was appointed Prime Minister of Queensland, which post he held until 1883. A younger brother, the Hon. John McIlwraith, also emigrated to Australia in 1852, at an early age and became a merchant in the city (or then town) of Melbourne, Victoria. He became Mayor of the capital of Victoria in 1874. Ten years later both brothers re-visited the land of their birth and received together the freedom of this ancient Royal Burgh. The minutes of the meeting of the town council held on 10th March, 1884, at which the decision was made to confer the freedom of the Burgh upon the two brothers, refers to the exceptional success which by ability and perserverance had, to the honour of Ayr, elevated the elder brother, John, to the Mayorship of the city of Melbourne and the younger, Thomas, to the Premiership of Queensland.
And now a word about Ayr, Queensland, itself through the courtesy of Rotarian Campbell, who has been in correspondence with our sister Club, I have been able to form some idea of what kind of country Ayr, Queensland is situated in, just what sort of a place it is and something of its comparatively short history.
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The township is situated in the delta of the Burdekin River, on the north-east coast of Queensland, just within the tropics and in the midst of fertile alluvial land built up through the centuries by the flood waters of the great river. It is the center of a prosperous sugar-growing industry and the surrounding country is prolific in the production of all manner of tropical fruits and vegetables. Even in times of severe drought this amazingly fertile district is almost unaffected, due to the presence of a sub-artesian water supply of which millions of gallons are pumped daily for irrigation purposes.
Sir Thomas McIlwraith gave the town its name in 1882, and in 1888, six years later, the district with its township was constituted a shire. In February 1938, the shire of Ayr, Queensland, celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Its growth in these 50 years has been amazing although slow at first there were only 700 inhabitants in 1909 by 1945 however, the population had exceeded 14,000 and it is hoped that it will ultimately carry a population of 40,000. A tribute to the land and its people is contained in the Jubilee issue of "The Delta Advocate" of September 6th, 1938 and commences with this dedication:-
"This brief history of the rise and development of the town and district of Ayr is dedicated to the pioneers who, fifty years and more ago, faced evils, hardship and loneliness, to open the land and prepare the way for others to follow. To the memory of those who have fulfilled their course and passed on, the citizens of today pay grateful tribute and to those who have survived the years to join in the jubilee of the Shire of Ayr, every honor, due to their life and work, is extended their record is written where none may erase".
Fellow Rotarians and guests, and you Mr. Provost, as representing the citizens of this town, will join with me in solemnly subscribing to these sentiments expressed so ably in honor of these early pioneers from our native land. The District of the Burdekin Delta and the Shire of Ayr, Queensland was not always the fertile land that it is today. It was once a sandy waste, intersected by salt-water creeks. Its progress and fertility can be truly ascribed to the men and women, not only from Scotland, but from all over the world, who, with steadfastness of purpose, maintained in the land of their adoption the very highest tradition of their birth. To these pioneers and to their descendants now living in the prosperous town of Ayr we offer our tribute.
The Reading Desk which I am about to hand over to the Rotary Club of Ayr, Queensland, is more than just a piece of oak, suitably inscribed. The dark oak from which part of it was made, came from one of the cradles of the piers supporting the Auld Brig O Ayr, immortalized by Robert Burns in these famous lines " And tho wi crazy eild Im sair forfairn, Ill be a brig when yere a shapeless cairn". This oak would undoubtedly be Ayrshire grown and may well be close on 100 years old. There is some doubt as to the exact age of the bridge. Some experts contend that it was built in the 15th century, but on the other hand there is evidence to indicate that a bridge existed some two hundred years earlier. There is a reference in a charter granted to the Burgh of Ayr by Alexander III in 1236. The Auld Brig was extensively repaired and restored between 1906 and 1910, when the timber from which the Desk was made was salvaged. The Desk was designed by one of our own members, Rotarian James A. Carrick. The timber was presented by another of our members, Rotarian William T. Paton, whose firm, William Paton & Sons Ltd., employed the craftsman, Mr. David Reid, who made the Desk and whom we are very pleased to have with us here today. The decoration of the Desk and the finishing was executed by yet another of our members, Rotarian George D. Fraser, and the silver inscription plate was provided by Rotarian William Allan a truly Rotary product.
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But the Desk has also a further tale to tell it was used by the Right Hon. Winston Churchill when he received the freedom of our Royal Burgh in the Ayr Town Hall in the month of January this year.
Past President Robertson on behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Ayr, Scotland, I have the greatest pleasure in asking you to accept this Oak Reading Desk, which I charge you to transmit to our sister Club in Ayr, Queensland and to convey to them our deep appreciation of their generosity and tangible expressions of good fellowship.
This Desk is still used at every Rotary Meeting in the Town of Ayr, Queensland.
Winston Churchill using our Desk when being made Freeman of the
Town of Ayr, Scotland.
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50 Years of Activities of the
Ayr Rotary Club
(by Ayr Rotary Club Historian, Arthur Durrant)
The following is a brief history of the second Club and its achievements
which started in 1955.
More detailed History is available in printed records with all Club Officials recorded for every year and some Directors reports.
In April 1955, at the request of the then District Governor Staff, Betteridge, the Rotary Club of Townsville again sent representatives to Ayr to endeavour to re-establish a Rotary Club in Ayr and assisted by members of the original Rotary Club of Ayr: Bert Duggan, Les French and Dough Haigh, arranged an inaugural meeting for the 5th May, 1955, in the Council Chambers.
The first meeting of the second provisional Rotary Club of Ayr, then formed, met in the Queens Hotel on the 1st June, 1955. Charter No. 955 was granted to the Club on 30th June, 1955 and presented by the then District Governor, Joe Griffen, on the 8th October, 1955 in the Methodist Hall, at a capacity meeting of Rotarians and guests.Our records of Activities and monies raised from 1955 to 1970 is very limited.
1955: Our Charter Members to start the Ayr Rotary Club were:
Pres. Nick Nichols, (Sugar Manufacture); Geoff Arnold (Finance, Saving Bank);
Jack Batstone (Sugar Manufacturing Engineering); Ron Brandon (Life Insurance); Secretary Jim Buik (Motion Pictures); John Connor (Variety Store); Eric Culla (Dry Cleaning); Joe Cullinane (Automobile Retailing); Chas Dempsey (Pharmacy); Bert Duggan (Dry Goods Retailing); Adie Evans (Ambulance); Les French (Optometry); Treasurer Chas Green (Iron and Steel Industry);
Doug Haigh (Local Government); Bob McConnachie (Building Industry); Ken McKenzie (Secondary Schools); Basil Powell (Food Industry); Stan Rennie (Painting and Decorating); Garney Robbins (Finance Banking);
Wilfred Tapiolas (Building Material); and Bill Vickers (Electrical Industry).
Year Ending
1955 1956: Pres. Nick Nichols. Raising Funds for Pensioners Cottage; Members 21.
1956 1957: Pres. Jack Batstone. Construction of the Pensioners Cottage. Members 21.
1957 1958: Pres. Chas Dempsey. Construct the Scout Hut with the Ayr Scouts; Pensioners Cottage finished and opened on 8th November (3 years to complete).
Membership 26.
1958 1959: Pres. Chas. Green. Two-Way Radio for Ambulance $3,000; Organised First Ayr Water Festival Ball and Garden Competition; Sponsored Migrants;
Home Hill Rotary Club Chartered. Membership 31. Donations $3,000
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1959 1960: Pres. John Francis. Transportation and erection of East Ayr Scout Hut from Pioneer Mill; Water Festival Ball organised by Ayr and Home Hill Rotary Clubs; Organised clean-up after Cyclone and started Cyclone Appeal.
Membership 28 31
1960 1961: Pres. Doug Haigh. Completion of East Ayr Scout Hut; Formation of Rotary Park in Graham Street; Water Festival Ball organised by Ayr and H. Hill Rotary. Ayr Rotary ran Garden Competition; Bill Buchan organised our first Float in the Water Festival Procession. Membership 31.
1961 1962: Pres. Wilfred Tapiolas. Painting Furniture in Ayr Hospital Wards; Water Festival Float; Club Banner organised; Set up Bursary Fund; Wheel Chairs to 2 children; Organised Blind Association and a trip to Tully; Refitted broken playing ground equipment at Beach; Lions Club formed in Ayr;
Membership 35.
Pres. Wilfred
1962 1963: Pres. Willis Jarvis. Public Address System for Pensioners League.
Membership 30 35.
1963 1964: Pres. Bill Carless. Formed Alva Beach Rotary Park. Membership 38.
1964 1965: Pres. Bill Buchan. No projects on record for this year.
Membership 31 38.
1965 1966: Pres. Bob Saxby. Aid to Blue Nursing Service with their first car and finance to get started, Sister Gwen Cuthbert was first Sister in Charge;
Formation of Interact Club, 2nd June, 1966 with membership of 24, President Jim Stevens jnr.;
Awarded Paul Harris Fellows award: Bill Buchan. Membership 28 36.
1966 1967: Pres. George Gibbs to Dec, Chas Green to June.
Sheltered Workshop for Sub-Normal Association,
Won first prize for Float in Water Festival Procession.
Membership 32 39. Donation $1,800.
1967 68: Pres. Ron Brandon. Water Festival Queen Robin Bottcher who
raised $1600.
No Projects on record. Membership 32 38.
1968 1969: Pres. Okka Mooney. Uniforms for Burdekin Brass Band at a cost of $1,170.
Water Festival Queen, Val Goldsworthy. Membership 30 38.
1969 1970: Pres. Toby Courtney. Meals on Wheels building $2,500, opened 23 May, 1970, cheque for $1,849 handed over at opening; Formed Rotaract Club.
Water Festival Queen, Glenis Cormack.
Membership 28 36. Total Donations $4,349.
1970 1971: Pres. Jim Nuttall. Dismantling windmills and sending over to Thailand.
Supply Concrete for a cricket pitch at the Burke Park School.
Rotaract Chartered in June, 1970.
I have copies of Change-over Night Bulletins from here on. Anyone who
can supply Change-Over Bulletins for above years please do so.
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1971 1972: Pres. Pym Stanley. Projects: Cleaning up Alva Beach, tons of broken Glass collected. Cleaning up and restoration of Rotary Rest Area at Plantation Creek after the flood. Painting of Cottage occupied by David Bey, inside and out. Interclub sporting competition; visits to Charters Towers and Bowen Rotary Clubs. Eleven Members attended Rotary Conference in Mackay.
New Anaesthetic Machine and Pulse Monitor for the Hospital ($1,500);Finance for a Unit in the Home for the Aged ($1,500); $250 to Blind Dogs.
Donation of a Windmill to Mr. Crawford, We Wak, New Guinea.
Water Festival Queen, Judy Mooney raised $5,031, won first prize.
In 1971 Ayr Club was the 10 largest in District 255 out of 48 Clubs.
Membership 38 48. Total Donations $4,621.
1972 1973: Pres. Les Stanley. Ayr Club Join Rotary celebration of 50 years with torch relay from Brisbane to Cairns with proceeds to Flying Doctor in Atherton.
Working Bees to construct our own B-B-Q equipment and chip and Hot Dog cooker, numbers board and stand. Another clean-up drive at Alva Beach.
Donation of $1,500 to Home for the Aged. A Donation of $800 to Ayr Ambulance towards new vehicle. Painting inside Methodist Hall. $250 to Blind Dogs.
Rotary Queen, Jan Hollinsworth, raised $5,000, second year in succession Queen crowned. Membership 38 46. Total Donations $4,262.
1973 1974: Pres. Paddy Carlsen. Truck supplied for the Sub-Normal Farm.
Donations to Home for the Aged $1,000; Donation towards Sheltered Hostel for the Salvation Army; Flood relieve $350; Meals on Wheels $200; L. B. Audio Visual Aids Resource Centre $250; Show Ass. $200. $1,500 to other various organisations.
Rotary Queen, Kim Cremin, raised $4,700, third year in succession Rotary Queen crowned as Charity Queen. Membership 46 42. Total Donations: $5,371.
1974 1975: Pre. Frank Hansen. We ran a Wine Tree at the Opening of the Endeavour Farm; Installation of Cold Room for Meals on Wheels.
Resuscitator to Ayr Hospital; Donation of $800 to Home for the Aged; Darwen Cyclone Appeal $500; Endeavour Farm $230.
Water Festival Queen, Desleigh Dobbin. Membership 40. Total Donations $2,929.
1975 1976: Pres. Ray Johnstone. Project: Cleaning up Show Ground for the Show; Erect Rotary Signs at entrances to the Town. Worked on the food and drink stall at Pioneer Bull Sales. Air Condition 3 Wards at Ayr Hospital, $1,1000. ]
Shelter Shed for bus stop at Park in Brandon; Two-way radio to Andersens Missionary Boat in New Guinea, cost $1,490.
Rotary Queen, Rhonda Smith. Membership 38. Total Donations $3,950.
1976 1977: Pres. George Cumes. Projects: Purchase and Install Save-a-life Buzzers for the older generation. Surf Reel for Junior Nippers; $2,500 towards new vehicle for Ayr Ambulance; $894 towards truck for Endeavour Farm; Donation to Burke Park School for Adventure Playground; $500 to Ayr Show Ass., towards refreshment booth; $540 to Ayr Hospital for Physiotherapy equipment; New Typewriter to Community Information Centre $224; Table Tennis Table for Youth Centre $200.
Water Festival Queen, Yvonne Maltby, raised $4,225.
Venue changed from Methodist Hall to Church of England Hall, 7th April, 1976.
Membership 42. Total Donations $5,954.
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1977 1978: Pres. Sibby Saitta. Project: Ash trays for the Hospital and Alva Beach Park. Building Concrete slab wall around Luncheon Booth at Ayr Showgrounds; Building Masonry Block Toilets at Ayr Plantation Park;
Donation to Endeavour Farm $400. Membership 38.
Total Donations $2,654.
President Sibby
1978 - 1979: Pres. Bevan List. New Hut for Girl Guides, Valued at $16,500, built at cost of materials - $5,500.
Water Festival Queen, Karie Favero. Membership 32 38. Total Donations $5,
No Changeover Bulletin available for this year, (1978-79).
President Bevan
1979 1980: Pres. Terry Williams. $4,000 towards Equipment for Ayr Hospital Intensive Care Unit; Jackets for Air, Sea Rescue $356.
Water Festival Queen, Doris Pugnale, first place for float.
Sibby Saitta organised the Charter of the Ayr-Burdekin Rotary Club.
Membership 35 37. Total Donations $5,166.
President Terry
1980 1981: Pres. Frank Nucifora. $3,500 towards new Ambulance.
Water Festival Queen, Robin Guimelli.
Membership 35.
Total Donations $4,615.
President Frank
1981 1982: Pres. Bill Hutchins. Projects: Tree planting between Ayr Cemetery and the rubbish tip to form a hedge. Support all clubs effort to line and paint the Drill Hall. Painting Meals on Wheels kitchen. Colour TV set for Maternity Ward; $5000 Donation for Caravan for the Ayr Surf Life Savers for a First Aid Unit.
Water Festival Queen: Andrea McDonnell.
Awarded Paul Harris Fellow: Charles Green.
Our first exchange student from Japan, Hiroshi Matsushita.
Membership 35. Total Donations $7,470. President Bill
1982 1983: Pres. Jim Guimelli. Projects: Cleaned at the tables at Rotary Park; Planting of trees in the town area. Donation of $3,500 to Home for the Aged;
$1,500 to Vehicle for Ambulance; $577.60 for fare for Qualifying Nursing Sister to go to New Guinea; Donation to Maternity Ward, Ayr Hospital.
Water Festival Queen, Cecily Clark.
Incoming Exchange Student: Laura Lee Curtin from U.S.A.
Membership 38 36. Total Donations $6,869.
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1983 1984: Pres. Norm Perry. Purchasing a working model for mouth resuscitation for the Royal Life Saving Society. Building Bicycle Track for Burke Park School at a cost of $3,500; Building at Showgrounds, $2,600.
Water Festival Queen, Maree Meade.
Membership 36 37. Total Donations $7,325.
President Norm
1984 1985: Pres. Jeff Bowmaker. Ayr Ambulance Jaws of Life Van; $6,000 towards the "Living Lagoon Fountain" at the Burdekin Cultural Complex.
Water Festival Queen, Margaret OShea.
Exchange Student from Denmark: Iben Olsen.
Membership 34 32. Total Donations $6,866.
1985 1986: Pres. Noel Condie. Voluntary labour and donating $7,500 for building the "Living Lagoon" at the Burdekin Culture Centre; $500 to repair Salvation Army Bus; $344 to All Saints Anglican Church; Work on Scouts Hut.
Rotary Donations: Health Reseach $500; Science Summer School $450.
Water Festival Queen, Catherine Lewty.
Membership 32. Total Donations $9,850.
1986 1987: Pres. Trevor Larcombe. Gas Bar-b-que supplied and Installed at Rotary Park at a cost of $2,500; $2,000 final payment to "Living Lagoon" at Burdekin Culture Complex; $500 towards Stidston family appeal; $250 to Endeavour Foundation; $200 towards Safety House Appeal. Replanting trees in centre of streets around Ayr and looking after Park areas. Revising and printing for distribution, information charts on First Aid Hints.
Water Festival Queen, Leanne Strathdee.
Incoming Exchange Student: Charles Barr from U.S.A.
Outgoing Exchange Student: Kelly James to Finland and
Annette Muguria to Norway.
Membership 32 38. Total Donations $ 7,389.
1987 1988: Pres. Ken Rollason. Projects: Helping windows, elderly and others who had difficulty in cleaning up after Cyclone Charlie. $5,000 to complete major Projects; Tables and seats and painting in Rotary Park at a cost of $1,500; $500 to Neighbourhood Centre; $170 to Endeavour Farm;
Rotary Donations: Health Research $650; Foundation $506; R.Y.L.A. $244;
Polio Plus $4,100.
Water Festival Queen, Kim Stidston.
Membership 32-38. Total Donations $13,610.
1988 1989: Pres. Jim Beresford. Projects: Catered for the Air Pageant also the Pioneer Stud Stock Dispersal Sale. Repair fittings at Rotary Park. After Cyclone Aivu we donated $1000 to Salvation Army for clean-up work and also $2,200 for Photocopying machine; $2,400 to Ambulance; $1000 to Blue Nursing Centre; $1000 to Blue Nurses Respite Centre; $986 to Rotaract Tourist Guide Signs and $500 to Vincent De Paul for relief work.
Start of Dist. Rotary Phone Directory which proved popular.
Rotary Donations: Heart Foundation $250; Foundation $1,171; President Jim Health Research $1,508.
Water Fest. Queen: Kerrie OShea. Mem. 30 38. Total Donations $13,495.
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1989 1990: Pres. Adrian Ivory. Salvation Army $2,200; Endeavour Foundation $2,000; Meals on Wheels $1,626. $250 to Volunteer Home Tutor Assn.
Rotary Donation Polio Plus $1,747; Heart Foundation $100; Health Research $742.
Water Festival Queen: Lindy Calligaro.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange Student, Diane Lingard to Alaska.
Membership 30 38. Total Donations $10,124. President Adrian
1990 1991: Pres. Trevor Hayes. Projects: Erecting and Painting signs and equipment that were damaged in Floods; Repairing and painting our B-B-Q after the floods;
More tree planting around the town.
$8,500 for Theatre Machine for Ayr District Hospital, $2,000 to Life Education Centre; $500 Endeavour Farm; $250 Blue Nurses; $250 Home Help.
Donations to Rotary: $1000 to Rotary International House;$1000 President Trevor to Rotary Cancer Lodge; $250 to Rotary Health Research; $460 Group Study Exchange.
Water Festival Queen, Kylie Bowls. Won Best Queen Float and Personality Queen
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Kjersti Loken from Norway.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange Student: Meegan Williams to Japan.
Membership 30 33. Total Donations $16,045.
1991 1992: Pres. John Murray. Project; Concentrating on Rotary Park as our main project with many working bees with the erection of a huge tourist sign and shelter, gardens, trees, tables and chairs. Wheel Chair for Hogemelst Family $2,000;
All Saints Anglican Church $1,000; $7,000 foe equipment to Rotary Park;
Shelter for Rotary Park $1,435; Community Information Board at Ayr Post Office $466; Endeavour Foundation $250; Blue Nurses $250; Meals on Wheels $250; Home for the Aged $350; President John Ayr Kindergarten $200; Burdekin Community Assn. $400; Ayr Interact Club $300.
Rotary Donations: Heart Foundation $200.
Water Fest. Queen: Timmone Pilcher. Won Best Queen Float and Champion Float
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Horomi Shinohara from Japan.
Membership 28 34. Total Donations $15,016.
1992 1993: Pres. Norm Perry. Projects: Start of a Tourist Hut in Plantation (Rotary) Park. Old Caretakers Cottage was given to us by the council and it was moved so we could work on it and restore to take its place in the park. Publishing our 3rd Telephone Directory.We committed the Club to $20,000 for the new Home for the Aged in Home Hill to be paid over 3 years this year $7,000; $4,000 towards new Bus for Salvation Army. Full list of Donations not published.
Water Festival Queen, Marisa Nucifora. Won Champion Float.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Etien Desley from Belgium.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange Students: Michelle Buchan.
Membership 30 33. Total Donations $11,000.00 President Norm
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1993 1994: Pres. Michael Hoey. $7,000 to Home Hill Home for the Aged, 2nd payment; $4,500 to move and erect Heritage Tourist Hut at Plantation Park;
$2,300 for Community Wheelchair to Blue Nurses; Ayr Kindergarten $500;
Red Cross $250; Life Education Unit $500; Burd. Community Centre $250; Meals on Wheels $500.
Rotary Donation: Heart Foundation $500. President Michael
Water Festival Ambassadore: Lauren Jensen. Won Champion Float, Champion
Queen Float and Lauren won Water Festival Queen Competition.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: John Offerman from South Africa.
Membership 30 33. Total Donations $16,550.
1994 1995: Pres. Ron Matthews. Last payment of $7,000 to Home Hill, Home for the Aged; Completion of Heritage Tourist Hut at Plantation Park and handed to Council in June, 1995; Hydrotherapy $1,500; Burdekin Community Assn. $1,100;
L. B. Home for the Aged $400; Blue Nurses $400; Meals on Wheels $500; Red Cross $300; Burdekin Respite Centre $500; Endeavour Foundation $500;
Queensland Ambulance $500.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Katina Augostis, crowned President Ron "Miss Personality Queen" and won Champion Queen Float.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange Students: Nicole Watson.
Membership 31. Total Donations $13,300
1995 1996: Pres. Bob Smith. Project: Paint our Building at Show Grounds. Home Hill Home for the Aged $6,000; New Stove for Meals On Wheels $5,400; Jarvisfield State School $500; Red Cross $250; Ambulance $500; Blue Nurses $500; Qld. Cancer Fund $250; St. Vincent De Paul $500; L. B. Home for the Aged $400; Home Help $500; N. Q. Oncology Unit $300; L. B. Ski Club $200.
Rotary Donations: Heart Foundations $250; Gluyas Lodge $1000.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Kylie Furlong.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Marcus Gennaro, Argentina. President Bob
Outgoing Exchange Student: Belinda Jones to Japan.
Membership 33. Total Donations $16,900.
1996 1997: Pres. Ross Lewis. Project: Building Pergola at the Home for the Aged; Safety Rail at the Ayr State High School; Repainting the Tourist Hut; Ramp at the Church of England Church; Arranged Santa at Hutchings Lagoon for the Ayr Bowen Foster Childrens Home. Erect Rotary 2 Signs "Rotary Cares for the Community" at Plantation Park. Bus Stop for High School $1,031; Burdekin Community Association $2,500; Red Cross $500; Ski Club $200; Marine Rescue $1,000. St Vincent De Paul $250; Home Help $150; President Ross Smoke Alarms (B.C.S.) $450; Salvation Army $250; Ayr Hospital, Palliative Care Unit $3,000; Rotary Park Seats and Tables $1,950; Channel 10 Christmas Party $250.
Rotary Donations: Polio Plus $500; Visit Gluyas Lodge $500; FAIM $250;
Rotary Foundation $1,000.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Kylie Populin. Won Festival Personality Queen;
Best Queen Float and Champion Float.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Aurelie Devos from France.
Membership 33. Total Donations $13,781
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1997 1998: Pres. Bram Darker. Burdekin Community Association $5,000; Cancer Fund $420; Burdekin Eisteddfod $60.
Rotary Don.: Gluyas Lodge $1000; Health Research $1,000;
Camp Quality $250; Rotary Foundation $1,000.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Kerry Haller. Won Best Queen Float and Champion Float.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange Student: Kelly Newton.
Membership 30. Total Donations $8,980. President Bram
1998 1999: Pres. Brett Schreiber. Projects; Finish off Ramp at Church of England Church; Erect and Paint Windmill in Plantation Park.
Ayr Hospital Palletive Care Bed $3,335 and Palliative Care Syringe Driver $2,250; Maidavale P&C $450; New Guinea Tidal Appeal $1,500; Soccer Club $300; Burdekin Eisteddfod $60; Make a Wish Foundation $200; Junior Hockey Assn. $200; Burdekin Community Assn. $3,500; Life Education Van $500; Community Shed at Showgrounds $4,000; Salvation Army $200; Guide Dogs $200; Nurse of the Year $200; Smoke Alarms $550; President Brett Donation towards Wheel Chair for Kevin Kernovski $500. Rotary Donations: Camp Quality $250; Research Foundation $1,000;
Heart Foundation $200.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Julie Contzonis. Awarded Personality Queen.
Incoming Exchange Student, Jenny Schefferman from South Africa.
Outgoing Exchange Student, Bronwyn Williams to Norway.
Membership 33. Total Donations $19,585.
1999 2000: Pres. Tony Goddard. Project: Purchasing and fitting smoke alarms to 40 Pensioners Houses; Once again Publish our Telephone Directory. $5,000 to Burdekin Community Assn.; Kalamia
State School $1,000; Meals on Wheels $2,428; Leukaemia Foundation $250; Smoke Detectors $550; Burdekin Singers $389; Ayr State High School Awards $200; Hockey Assn $250; Clare State School $290; Youth With a Mission $200. President Tony
Rotary Donations: Camp Quality $250; Health Research $1,000; Rotary International
$600.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Michelle Debona.
Incoming Exchange Student, Lauren Buchanan from Canada.
Outgoing Exchange Students: Sophie Dalton to Belgium.
Members 36. Total Donations $12,795.
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2000 2001: Pres. John Oar. Projects: Completed our New storage shed in the Showgrounds; Roofing the Gazebo at Home for the Aged; Cementing Driveway and laying Turf at New Respite Centre.
Burdekin Community Association $5,000; Bed for H. Hill home for the Aged $2,700; 2 Special Chairs for the Ayr Hospital $2,200; Ben McConnachie Appeal $2,000; Special School Bus Appeal $1,043; Respite Centre $700; Honour Board
at High School $647; Ayr Scouts $500; Aust. Kidney Foundation $300; Channel 10 Christmas Party $275; Qld Fire and Rescue $250; President John Clare State School $250.
Rotary Donations: Thursday Island Rotary (Condoms) $150; Rotary Club New
Guinea $160; Camp Quality $500; Health Research $1,000;
Matching Grant (Vanuata) $1,900; Foundation $1,900.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Stacey Collinson, won best Queen Float.
Incoming Exchange Student: Heidi Essen from Finland.
Outgoing Exchange Student: Melissa Bowtell to Switzerland.
Membership 30. Total Donations $21,756.
2001 2002: Pres. Robert Antoniazzi. Projects: Publishing our Rotary Telephone Directory; Installed Adress Markers for Shire Council in Farming Areas. Burdekin Community $5,000; Flexible Support Services $2,915; Ben McConnachie Appeal $1,500; Purchase and fit air-conditioner to Tourist Hut $640; Rural Health and Safety $500 and $600; Catholic High School $200; Life Education Bus $500;St Vincent De Paul $250; Ayr St.High School $200; Chanell 10 Christmas Party $275; Terry Fox Cancer Appeal $250. President Robert
Rotary Donations: Foundation $1,900; Foundation $1,000;
Health Research $1,000.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Jacqui Bonato. Won Best Queen Float and
Champion Float.
Incoming Exchange Student, Anne Beier from Germany.
Outgoing Exchange Student, Alicia Bowtell to Switzerland.
Membership 25. Total Donations $17,820.
2002 2003: Pres. Rolf Wullink. Burd. Catholic High School $420; Junior Ten Pin Bowling $500; Variety Club Children Appeal $275; Burke Family Appeal $1,000; State High School Awards $252; Endeavour Foundation $467; Guide Dogs $500; Ben McConnachie Appeal $1,500; K. & S. Wright Family Appeal $1,000; Burdekin Community Assn. $1,500; Flying Doctors $1,000.
Rotary Donations: Foundation Polio Plus $4,978; Health Research $1,041 Camp Quality $500; Youth Exchange $2,009
Water Festival Ambassadore: Sarah Haigh, won Senior Ambassadore, Pres. Rolf Readers Choice Ambassadore and Best Ambassadore Float.
Incoming Exchange Student: Sabrina Buetler from Switzerland.
Membership 25. Total Donations $17,252.
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2003 2004: Pres. Jim Beresford. Project: Publishing our Rotary Phone Book; Painting and plumbing at the Girl Guide Hut; Help erect new playground equipment at the Kindergarten in MacMillan Street.
Brendan Dawson Appeal $1,486 and $2,500; Louise Kause (Vitnamese Orphans) $1,200; Rural Health Centre $750; Plum Tree Gallery Museum $1,000; Flying Doctor Service $1,000;Flexible Support Centre $1,000; Burdekin Community Assn. $1,500;Meals on Whels $200; Burdekin Youth Council $365; President Jim Variety Childrens Christmas Party $275; High School Students Prizes $220; Burd. Catholic High School Prizes $110; Entertainment Water Festival $200; Youth Exchange Student (Teang) $2,000; Burdekin Home for the Aged, Blind for bus $1,841; Ayr Girl Guides $511; Rossie Johnson Puppet Show $200.
Rotary Donations: Foundation $2,500; Health Research $1,000; Binex Project $95.
Water Festival Ambassadore: Candice Holznagel, won Best Ambassadore Float.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Student: Sureerut (Teang) Samsee from Thailand.
Outgoing exchange Student: Ron Williams to Texas.
Our first lady member Inducted: Evonne Doherty.
Membership 27. Total Donations $22,164.
2004 2005: Pres. Evonne Doherty (our first Lady Pres.): Digging up and laying of 600 m2 of turf at the Rural Health Centre; Donated a CD and record player to the Blue Care Burdekin Respite Service $300.00; Ayr Rotary Flood Information Centre at the Power House Museum $1,000.00; Water Festival Ambassadore: Melissa Scuderi. Won Champion Float and Best Ambassadore Float.
Incoming Rotary Exchange Students: Ole Kolb and Pascal Reske from Germany. President Evonne
.
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Total Donations distributed in this period to 2004, that we have record for -
$362,153.00.------------------------------------------------