100 Years of Rotary in AustraliaPrint Page 
From a beginning in Chicago USA in February 1905, through a vision of Paul Harris (1868-1947), Rotary began to grow in the USA ,Canada ,UK and Ireland. Even during World War I, Rotary in Britain increased from 9 to 22 clubs, with other early clubs in Cuba in 1916, Philippines in 1919 and India in 1920.
In 1921, Rotary International ( then called the International Association of Rotary Clubs) decided to expand Rotary into Australia and New Zealand by sending two Canadian Commissioners Jim Davidson and James Layton Ralston, to establish clubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington.
Davidson and Ralston arrived in Sydney on 22nd March, 1921 and found Sydney was closed for Show Week. The Commissioners then proceeded to Melbourne. There they met with noted Australian Sir John Monash and other business leaders to establish the Rotary Club of Melbourne on 21st April 1921. Thus The Rotary Club of Melbourne can rightly claim to be the first formed in Australia.
In 2021, the Club will be planting 100 trees along Dandenong Creek near Ricdanic Drive, Bayswater, to commemorate 100 Years of Rotary in Australia. The event will occur on 17 July 2021. This is part of a much larger project approved by Melbourne Water and Knox City Council, which aims to plant 4000 trees along the creek. The Club is working with First Friends of Dandenong Creek and other community groups to revegetate the area along Dandenong Creek with indigenous trees such as manna gums.
Rotary Club of Bayswater.
Location
| Address: | Ricdanic Drive, Dandenong Creek Trail, Bayswater, 3153 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.838382 Long: 145.247673 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Trees |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Community |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 21-April-1921 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 21-April-2021 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 2021 |
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