On the 30th of April 2019, the Rotary Club of Crows Nest celebrated the 50th anniversary of our charter. There were in excess of 100 guests in attendance including the president of our club Sue Raveane, District Governor Susan Wakefield, the premier of NSW – The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian, The Federal Member for North Sydney – Trent Zimmerman. Multiple past district governors, past and present members of the club, partners and guests.
It was a celebration of the club’s historical achievements, fellowship and a declaration of intent for the future. The honour of making a Toast to Rotary fell to our very own Past President Philip Smith and responded to by Past District Governor Harold Sharp. They talked about the way our club, its place, and the world have changed since the clubs inception in 1969. They, along with Michael McQueen, our keynote speaker, spoke about Rotary’s future and how it must change and evolve and how membership must grow if we are to continue to exist and grow.
We were addressed and congratulated by the premier of NSW – The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian and The Federal Member for North Sydney – Trent Zimmerman. They both have had a lot of personal contact over the years with both the club and Rotary and had genuine messages of gratitude and respect for the past and current members.
Angelo Raveane addressed the room with a summary of our history and achievements (shown below along with a collection of photos).
To end the evening, delightfully MC’d by our very own Tom Sweeney, Sue Raveane, together with District Governor Susan Wakefield wished our current and founding member and friend Cyril Clark a Happy 91st Birthday.
The food, décor and event were masterfully curated, a special to thanks to all those involved. The evening was a huge success. We look forward to the next 50 years and beyond.
In the last fifty years of the club:
- We have had a District Governor, 2 District Treasurers with over fifteen years of combined service, A District Communications Director for seven years, A District insurance officer for over ten years, A chairman of ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) for 9 years,
- A first responder for shelter box
- We have chaired and organised three District Conferences and assisted in three others.
- We ran the District Assembly when it was a full three day event.
- We chaired one and helped organise three RYLA’s.
- We have a resident author, speaker and futurist who has spoken at many rotary conferences and conventions and will be speaking at two sessions at this year’s world convention
- We had a responder to the 2004 Aceh Tsunami who was able to procure some land on which Turramurra RC later built an orphanage.
- Two members - one as chair were organisers of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel which raised $750k for charity.
- We have three members who have received the highest individual recognition award in rotary the ‘Service Above Self Award. Only 150 are recognised worldwide each year.
- We have 48 people who have been recognised as Paul Harris fellows by our club, other clubs, district and Rotary International.
- We are one of fifteen clubs in the district that have donated over US$100,000 to the rotary foundation.
- We are also one of the Australian Rotary Health Foundation’s biggest supporters.