By Abbey Cannan
Rotary Club of Noosa has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Club which allows ordinary people to achieve some extraordinary things.
Over 50 Rotarians, dignitaries and members of the public filled the Tewantin Noosa RSL’s function room for a celebration party held in conjunction with the changeover dinner on Monday 24 June.
Rotary 9600 District Governor Wendy Protheroe was in attendance and had the honour of cutting the birthday cake with Chris Reeve.
President Jim Harpley presented Paul Harris Fellows to Jean-Sherell Alexander and P.P Tess Alexandroff for their continued service to Rotary Noosa and the community.
Rotary Club of Noosa’s first female President Tess Alexandroff said the Club was chartered on 24 February 1969 with 28 members who were all male.
“Women were not introduced into the Club as members until 1994,” she said.
“This was not uncommon as Rotary originally started as a Club of like-minded business men.
“Brian Barrow is the only surviving charter member.”
Tess said there has been many changes over the past 105 years since Rotary began and will continue to evolve as necessary.
“This year we have distributed in excess of $30,000 to our local community and a further $5000 to international projects,” she said.
“Rotary throughout the world has played a major part in the eradication of Polio, providing shelter to the many countries who have suffered and lost all their possessions in the floods, tsunamis and disaster worldwide.
“Currently we are involved in a global grant to supply water filters for 12000 school children in Thailand.
“Our Rotary Club has provided many services to our local community, including; Camp Quality, Salvation Army, Noosa Coast Guard, motorised wheel chairs to enable the recipients to become more involved in the community and to engage with their families in a more meaningful way.”
After joining Rotary in 2011, Tess was invited to take up the role of President in 2014 and served in that position for two years, until being asked to be President again in 2017-18 and 2018-2019.
“Current President Jim Harpley has set about making a few changes to the way we conduct our meetings,” Tess said.
“We have decided to do a three-month trial where we will meet on the first and third Monday of the month and other Mondays will be for the board to meet and social events.
“Rotary is not just about fundraising, it encourages social activities so we can engage with the wider community.”
