The Rotary Club of Warwick celebrated 90 years of service to the community with a lunch at the Warwick Racecourse Kids Zone Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.
The event attracted current club members and visiting Rotarians including event MC for Past Rotary District Governor Burleigh Heads member Ross Smith along with former Rotarians, guests and local dignitaries among them Mayor Vic Pennisi, to mark exactly 90 years since the original Charter was presented to the club.
“It was in 1933 that Warwick became the 35th Rotary Club formed in Australia, and was originally sponsored by the Toowoomba Club,” Stanthorpe Rotary Club past president Stephen Tancred said in proposing the toast at the lunch.
“Warwick has since sponsored the Stanthorpe Club in 1954, Goondiwindi in 1955 and Allora in 1967, Warwick Sunrise in 2000 and all these Clubs are all still going strongly”.
The Club originally met weekly at the Soldier’s Club at 1pm, but soon after moved to the Langham Hotel to meet at 6pm. They currently meet at the RSL Club at 5.30pm on Tuesdays.
The Club has been involved in many programs over the years assisting youth, women, the elderly and the promotion of international goodwill with many exchange students and overseas vocational and study exchanges.
Starting the beautification of the banks of the Condamine river was a notable project which in cooperation with Lions and Quota and the Council has grown to be a central feature of Warwick
Past District Governor Neil Maxwell, a past president (on three occasions) of the club. grandson of the Charter President Mr Sam Maxwell, and son of 1943 president Doug Maxwell, responded to the toast. As a member of Rotary for 50 years he was able to outline many of the activities of the club over the past particularly those that had benefited Warwick and the residents of Warwick. The early building projects, community support events and youth activities undertaken by the club were covered in the address of Mr Maxwell.
“Service clubs provide vital support and services to the community and the Rotary Club of Warwick is looking forward to a bright and fulfilling future,” Mr Maxwell told the gathering.
President Claudia Eather and President Elect Joshua Jones, with the support of the community, are hoping to strengthen the membership base of the club to ensure that there will continue to be the support available to people in the community who are less fortunate than others.
