Club History
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Our Club in Action
The First Fifteen Years
This overview of the first fifteen years of service has been formulated under each of Rotary's Four Avenues of Service. Rather than attempt to cover every year with specific detail, an approach of highlighting activities extracted from the club's changeover documents has been taken. Even so it should be noted that many activities have in fact become a bit of a tradition within the club and generally feature annually as part of the club's action plans. This is particularly the case with the club's donations to worthy community and international causes.
Club Service
Club Service, Rotary's First Avenue of Service, is regarded as the most important part of the club mechanism, because without a vitally functioning club, little else can be performed vis the other three avenues of service.
A significant distinction between club service and the other avenues is that club service is directed toward the internal functioning of the club to maintain its health and vigour - while the other avenues are directed outward toward the local community and the larger world in which we live.
The Club Service Committee is multifaceted and includes the Club Secretary, Treasurer, Bulletin Editor, Program Co-ordinator, Attendance Officer and Sergeant at Arms who have specific responsibilities in the effective functioning of the club. It also keeps a watching brief on public relations, fellowship, pastoral care, Rotary information and the preservation of the club's history.
A feature of our club is the rotating duty roster by which every member has a turn at participating in our weekly meetings. We all take turns at being the 'meet and greet' person, the chair and proposing the International toast.
'Fun, Fellowship and Family'
The club, from its very beginnings fostered a more relaxed approach in its procedures but with due regard to the formalities as and when they were required. The personality and leadership style of successive club presidents reinforced a focus on 'fun, fellowship and family' and this was supported by successive Club Service Committees. It must be said, however, that as the Northern Territory's first 'mixed gender' club there was that certain difference to the atmosphere that only a 'female touch' can bring and which remains so positive today.
A Variety of Imaginative Breakfasts and Activities.
Over the years club service activities have been many and varied. Our records demonstrate that quite a few have become regulars whilst the number of 'one offs' are indicative of the degree of flexibility demonstrated by members.
A Fred Hollows Foundation breakfast, Australia Day breakfasts, Friday 13th breakfasts, breakfast at Speaker's Corner in Parliament House, Wharf Precinct, and Crocodylus Park, progressive dinners, golf days, Sunday brunches (family & friends affairs), cinema nights, Melbourne Cup calcutta nights, quiz nights, car rallies and magic mystery tours, involvement in the Parap Markets, Territory Wildlife Park visit, ten-pin bowling, crowd control at the NTFL, sale of Kamarian passports (Club Services raised $3,723 just from this little activity), a function at Holtze Cottage in the Gardens, a poetry reading and beer tasting night, a bower bird picnic at Government House, a Valentines get together and 'open house' hosting by various members for drinks and nibbles on various occasions.
Succeeding program co-ordinators on the Committee were also instrumental in organising an interesting variety of guest speakers to enliven our meetings and enlighten members. The list is far too numerous to include here - approximately 30 per year but add to this a range of local politicians, exchange students (both sponsored and hosted), visiting Group Study Exchange teams coupled with both 'me' and 'job' talks from members.
The weekly Club Bulletin has been faithfully produced over the years by many committed and dedicated members. The variety of its content has been as wide as the variety of its editors and has included a number of special features that have appeared at different times. More recently of note has been 'The Mystery Member Quiz', various versions of the 'Sergeant's Trivia Quiz' and the 'Did You Know' trivia page. The editors have faithfully carried out their charter in providing an informative, interesting and entertaining club publication. Refer to 'Our Evolving Bulletin' page 51.
Click here to view 'The Paul Harris Fellow Scheme'
Vocational Service
As the Second Avenue of Service, the Vocational Service Committee promotes the highest ethical standards in all occupations, recognises the worth to society of all useful occupations and encourages each Rotarian to contribute their vocational skills and talents to the needs of society.
The Committee also oversights the club's participation in career development programs, vocation at work programs, vocation awareness programs, Rotary volunteer programs and recognising vocational excellence through Vocational Awards.
Vocational Diversity
There is no doubt that the 33 charter members represented a broad cross section of the Darwin community in 1989 (refer page 4). Businesses, trades, government professions, communications, transport, information technology, entertainment, finance and property management broad groupings were all representative in the skills and talents available to the club from its members.
The most significant change to the membership mix over the years has been the increasing number of female members inducted into the club to the extent that in Rotary's Centennial Year they have gained a slight majority (11 to 10). It is interesting to note, however, that a comparison of classification broad groupings between 1989 and 2005 shows very little representative change.
A Continuity of Programs
A feature of vocational service in Darwin Sunrise has been consistency of effort over the years as it carried out its charter. In the club's first year the Committee concentrated on recognising vocational excellence, promoting vocational awareness and providing avenues of experiencing vocations at work. These were considered to be both worthwhile and productive and as such became ongoing programs from year to year.
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The club established academic awards at the then NT University for the top performing second-year student in Environmental Studies and the top performing second-year student in Malay Studies (now at the Charles Darwin University and named Darwin Sunrise Rotary Awards).
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The committee identified and organised a variety of vocational guest speakers from a range of occupations in the Darwin community. The following are a sample taken from early club records. Superintended Noel Caswell from the Federal Police, Jim Taylor, Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Peter Gardener, NT Statistician, Ron Schmidt, NT Regional Manager for Taxation, Martin Jarvis, Conductor Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Charlie King, Welfare and Foster Care Services. Members were also given the opportunity to present a 'job talk' as part and parcel of promoting vocational awareness within the club at its weekly meetings. Both these strategies have continued down over the years.
- Workplace visits have been a feature of Darwin Sunrise since its inception and the succeeding committees generally organised two or three a year as part of providing members with a vocations at work experience. The very first was at the Darwin Joinery, followed in roughly chronologically by the new Darwin Post Office, the Magistrates Courts, the new Supreme Court, the Office of the Supervising Scientist at Jabiru, Telstra Telephone Exchange, the Weather Bureau, Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory, Quick Glass toughening and fabrication factory, the Met Bureau, the Port Darwin Authority, Crocodylus Park, NT Police Headquarters, Darwin Wharf Precinct, the Supreme Court, the Trade Development Zone, the Bark Endeavour Sailing Ship, the Darwin Naval Base, St John Ambulance Headquarters, Finlay's Stone Masonry, Comeco Australia, the Mango Winery and the Melaluca Centre.
Unique to Darwin Sunrise
The Great Balloon Debate
This annual event is generally regarded as a fun activity by members yet contains a grain of seriousness. Three members are selected to participate in a formal debate with an adjudicator, prior to which the following proposition is given. 'Imagine the three of you are in a hot air balloon floating peacefully above the desert in Central Australia when an emergency arises. The pilot advises that an air leak has developed and that only one of you can survive, the others will have to jump out. It is decided that the person whose occupation is the most valuable to society will remain. You have to convince the members present that because of your vocation, you are that person.'
The St John Ambulance NT Paramedic of the Year Award
The 1999-2000 Committee introduced the then St John Ambulance Officer of the Year Award. In 2003, at the request of St John Ambulance the name was changed to include 'NT Paramedic' in the award title in order to more accurately reflect the range of officers involved the service.
The initiative continues to have the full support of the NT St John Ambulance Service and the NT Government (through the Office of the Minister responsible for Police, Fire and Emergency Services). Sponsorship has been sought and gained from a variety of sources over the years and currently the award prizes are provided by Air North (return air fares to Broome for the winner), The Crown Plaza (twin share accommodation for the runner up) and Angus & Robertson (book prizes for the winner of the Year 7 essay competition run in conjunction with the award).
This prestigious award has become an important part of the club year. The competition is conducted Territory wide with nominations being considered by an expert panel from St John Ambulance. The process culminates in the presentation being made at an official function at Parliament House hosted and officiated at by the minister responsible.
The following are recipients of the award.
Year |
Winner(s) |
| 200 | Jim Leigh (Darwin) |
| 2001 | Anne-Marie Muscat (Darwin) |
| 2002 | Peter Poole (Darwin) |
| 2003 | Karen Joyner and Sue Murphy (Darwin) Communication Officers |
| 2004 | Trevor Keatch (Katherine) |
| 2005 | Tony Wood (Darwin) |
| 2006 | Annette Ingham (Darwin) |
| 2007 | Chris Wilson (Tennant Creek) |
 Karen Joyner and Sue Murphy |
 Peter Poole |
 Trevor Keatch |
 Tony Wood |
Community Service
Often described as the 'heartbeat of Rotary,' community service, the Third Avenue of Service, is a many-pronged effort to improve the quality of life within our local and wider Australian community. This is achieved through participation in community service projects, human development projects, community development projects and environmental protection projects. Our club's additional focus on youth recognizes the importance of our young people as the future citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
Our club can be justifiably proud of its contribution to our community and its youth over the years. Our assistance has ranged from help to individuals in need, financial support to deserving community organisations as well as a range of local, national and international appeals. Our members have also given of their time to provide many hours of voluntary 'hands on' assistance to a number of worthy causes.
Listed below are projects and activities undertaken by succeeding Community and Youth Service Committees taken from data on record - the list is not complete and you will note that no dollar figure is given against any item. This is mainly due to the fact that our records are very much incomplete in specifying amounts donated or the cost to the Committee for various projects. The listing has also been grouped into five year periods in order to reduce much of the duplication of many annual projects - activities.
Our club commenced in 1989 and currently has a membership representing a wide cross section of the Darwin community. We are committed to the ideals of Rotary and in the relatively short history of the club many community projects have been undertaken and the club has been active in supporting Rotary International and Rotary Foundation programs.
Such projects and programs have included in part:
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The purchase of foetal heart monitor for the NT Family Planning Association
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The erection of a community shade shelter at Lake Alexander
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The installation of Aqua lifts for the disabled at Parap Pool & the Salvation Army Nursing Home
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A "backyard blitz" landscaping project at the Joan Ridley Mental Health Ward at Royal Darwin Hospital
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$3,500 to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program to help purchase a new "troop carrier" to support Territory youth
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Ongoing support for the work of the Melaleuca Refugee Center in Darwin.
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Construction of a visitor's broad-walk in the Stuart Park Rain Forrest Reserve.
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The purchase of an ophthalmoscope and retina scope for use at eye clinics in Aboriginal communities
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$2,100 for a computer, printer and software package for the NT Autism Association' s Office.
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Support for the establishment of the ODB Orphanage in East Timor
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Active involvement in Rotary's International Youth Exchange Program by sponsoring and hosting Students on Exchange.
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Annual sponsorship of three orphans in Indonesia
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Annual funding of students to attend Science Summer School Forums.
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Annual Tuition fees to assist disadvantaged students at CDU Center for Youth Music.
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Annual gate-keeping duties at Darwin's Tropical Garden Spectacular.
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Annual St John Ambulance NT Paramedic of the Year Award
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Annual Plain English Speaking Awards
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Annual Prizes for students in the Northern Territory University's Environmental Science and Indonesian Studies courses.
International Service, the Fourth Avenue of Service, is regarded as Rotary's foundation for building goodwill, understanding and peace amongst people of different nations and to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate in developing countries. The Committee oversights the club's participation in world community service programs, international youth projects, Rotary Foundation programs and generally the club's response to international disaster appeals.
Our Club can be justifiably proud of its record of support and assistance to Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation and its many educational and humanitarian programs. The club, for many years, used a small change collection box at our meetings as part of its fundraising for The Rotary Foundation. In 2003-2004 our President Graham Wright introduced 'The Foundation Draw'. Members purchased raffle tickets at $1.00 each and if the member's number came up in the draw towards the end of the meeting there was a chance to draw out the joker from a pack of cards for the kitty (each week 40% of the income went to the kitty which would build up over the year if not won - 60% was banked for The Foundation). In the first year of operations our fundraising more than doubled the 'coin collection' amount the previous year.
Listed below are projects and activities undertaken by succeeding International Committees taken from data on record - the list is not complete and you will note that no dollar figure is given against any item. This is mainly due to the fact that our records are very much incomplete in specifying amounts donated or the cost to the Committee for various projects. The listing has also been grouped into five year periods in order to reduce much of the duplication of many annual projects - activities.
- International Projects Advisory Committee (IPAC) Project - Harelip Operation Project in Indonesia.
- Scholarship for needy kids project in Thailand.
- 100% supporter of the Fourth Avenue in Motion Program ie every member of the Club contributes to the fund - annually.
- International Projects Advisory Committee Project - education sponsorship for 3 orphaned children in Indonesia - annually.
- 100% supporter of the Fourth Avenue in Motion Program ie every member of the Club contributes to the fund - annually.
- Contributed to the financing of a shipment of large consignments of books, hospital and dental equipment, computers and typewriters to various countries in the Pacific.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) replacing IPAC - education sponsorship for 3 orphaned children in Indonesia - annually
- Donation towards the Mt Sion Farm Project in Goroka, PNG - an education project training deaf-blind children, their parents and care givers.
- Donation to the Epilepsy Clinic in Indore in India.
- Donation to the PNG Tsunami Disaster relief.
- East Timor Breakfast program - volunteer work at the refugee crisis centre in Darwin.
- Fundraising - International Food Night at the Sailing club with Wicking.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - Leprosy Mission.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - PNG Reconstructive Surgery.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - Thailand Hill Tribes.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - education sponsorship for 3 orphaned children in Indonesia - annually.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - Fred Hollows Foundation.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - PNG water for rural villages.
- Rotary Australia World Community Service - literacy & numeracy (Indonesia & Bali).
- Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children - volunteer assistance to children and families in the Darwin programs - ongoing.
- Support of the Melaluca Centre (Migrant reception centre in Darwin).
- Fundraising - Deck Chair Cinema nights.
- Special one off donation to Rotary's Polio Plus Fund.
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