1957-58
The information on this page is from the Club’s publication “A History of the Rotary Club of Brunswick” Golden Jubilee 2nd edition, 2003:
District Governor: Les Taylor (Rotary Club of Dandenong)
President: Alan Dyason
Secretary: Bob Ferguson
Treasurer: Norman Balfe
On 1 July 1957 our district number was changed from 28 to 280.
The main project for this Rotary year was the setting up of the Elderly Citizens’ Social Centre in Dawson Street, Brunswick to provide a meeting place for social activities, TV lounge and a well equipped kitchen for preparing a hot midday meal five days a week for the elderly citizens of Brunswick, and within a short period of time were preparing 160 meals per week at a cost of 2 shillings each for three courses.
The total cost of establishing the Centre was two thousand four hundred and eight pounds of which the Rotary Club of Brunswick donated the sum of eight hundred and three pounds and arranged for a Government Grant of one thousand six hundred and eight pounds.
The success of the project was assured by the generosity of the Brunswick City Council in providing the building.
Our Rotary Club this Rotary year set up the “Safe School Crossing Project” based on the successful project being carried out in Berkley, California and operated by the School children themselves. This was the result of a film received last Rotary year from the U.S.A. A pilot scheme was set up at the South Brunswick State School, the Club provided the uniforms for the school children. Our Club made a film of the pilot scheme in operation and presented the local film and the American film to the Victorian Traffic Commission.
We believe that this project was the beginning of the interest in supervised Safe School Crossings which has been adopted all over Australia.
A refrigerator was installed at the Elderly Citizens’ Project in Dawson Street, Brunswick.
An Apprenticeship Award was arranged by our Club with the assistance of the Apprenticeship Commission for an outstanding apprentice living, working or studying in the Brunswick district; all Technical Schools were invited to participate.
A Certificate and ten pounds ten shillings worth of tools of trade for a Carpentry & Joinery student at the Brunswick Technical School was provided. This year it was won by K. J. Hitchens.
A Craftsmanship film was commenced to be known as “The Hands of Time”, the main object of the film being to stimulate interests in all types of Crafts and Trades.
A “Public Speaking” competition was arranged in the Brunswick & Coburg District Schools; 26 children took part and this was to continue for the next two years.
The extending of hospitality to overseas Asian nurses studying and training in several Melbourne Hospitals was arranged with a successful Picnic Day at Geoff Sutcliffe’s home at Mornington and was followed up by various members of our Club entertaining the nurses in their homes. Father Christmas presented the children and nurses with Christmas presents.
DONATIONS
Donations to various charities One hundred and forty four pounds
INDUCTIONS
- Tom Whelan 16 January 1958
- Cliff Way 16 January 1958
- Warren Howell 6 February 1958
- Jack Davis 26 June 1958
- Les Brewster 26 June 1958
- Frank Fargher 26 June 1958
RESIGNATIONS
- John Barker 11 July 1957
Unfortunately John and his wife were killed going to Sydney in their car when a semi trailer skidded into them. John had only been a member of our Club for two weeks.
PRESIDENT’S CHANGEOVER NIGHT
This was held at “Ascot House”, 50 Fenton Avenue, Ascot Vale on 30 June 1958. 