On 14th September 1970 the Charter for the Rotary Club of Blackwood was issued by Rotary International.
About 2 years ago a small committee of Rotarians, led by Alan Eldridge, Graham Lough and Tom Davenport met to determine how the Club should celebrate our 50 years of service to the community of Blackwood. As well as birthday celebrations with past & present members, 2 projects were the building by Mitcham Council of a shelter and table at Hannaford Park Belair, (the Club contributed half of its cost), and a new shelter and barbeque has been erected at Karinya Rotary Reserve. Our Club contributed $8,000 to its cost.
On 14th September 1970 the Charter for the Rotary Club of Blackwood was issued by Rotary International.
About 2 years ago a small committee of Rotarians, led by Alan Eldridge, Graham Lough and Tom Davenport met to determine how the Club should celebrate our 50 years of service to the community of Blackwood. As well as birthday celebrations with past & present members, 2 projects were the building by Mitcham Council of a shelter and table at Hannaford Park Belair, (the Club contributed half of its cost), and a new shelter and barbeque has been erected at Karinya Rotary Reserve. Our Club contributed $8,000 to its cost.
A brief outline of the Club‘s activities in the community over the last 50 years follows.
The initial objectives document for the Club included the purchase of an ambulance and to organise garaging of it in our district, and also to negotiate with the Mitcham Council re the development of Karinya Reserve as a Rotary Park and playground.
Involvement with the Karinya Reserve commenced in 1972 with grassing the area and removing the many cottonbush plants which infested it. Over the years the Club has installed seats, encouraged the Council to water the grass, erected and re-erected swings, installed barbeques and the original gazebo.
The Blackwood Rotary Fair started in 1975. The fair is organised by Rotarians but allows the opportunity for other small not for profits to have a stall to raise funds for their charity.
A St John Ambulance Centre was built at Blythewood Street, Blackwood in May 1980. Funds raised from the Rotary Fair raffle went to St John’s Ambulance until the ambulance was transferred to Marion.
The club, together with Lions and Apex Clubs agreed plans in 1982 to develop Waite Reserve with work starting by clearing the site and spreading loam.
In 1989 the State Chairman of Meals on Wheels wrote to Rotary Clubs in the district seeking support. The Masonic Lodge offered their kitchen at a peppercorn rent and with a significant contribution from the Art Show of $10,000 Meals on Wheels in Blackwood was established.
Blackwood High School performing Arts Centre was built in 2001 with approximately $70,000 contributed by our Club for furniture and fitout.
Similarly, the Blackwood Community Recreation Centre built in 2004 received funding from the Club.
Regular contributions have been made for upgrades at the Blackwood Memorial Hall, to the Eden Hills CFS and to Bellevue Heights Primary School for their inclusion fund for disadvantaged students.