A milestone achievement for the Rotary club of Port Macquarie Sunrise, celebrating 20 years of service on March 17.
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Members past and present along with friends and family gathered to celebrate the occasion reminiscing about all that has been achieved over the last two decades.
Current present Jenny Sinclair said the night was a blast, and fitting for a club that has achieved so much.
“We officially chartered on March 11, 1998 with 31 members and at the time I don’t anyone could foresee all the wonderful things we have been able to achieve,” Mrs Sinclair said.
“When the club started there were three other Rotary clubs in Port Macquarie but none were breakfast clubs so it was decided that we would hold our meetings on a Friday morning, and to this day that is what we do.
“I think the early morning starts are a good thing because our club is filled with people who want to get up and do things, not waiting until after the fact.”
The idea for the new club was instigated in 1997 by then 9650 district governor Nev Clarke, and sponsored by his home club, the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West.
The sponsoring club decided the new club should be a mixed club and comprise of new Rotarians only, said charter member Neville Ramm.
“We have had some characters in our club over the years, but I think we have all continued to work so well together because we are a group of go-getters who all have a healthy level of respect for each other,” Mr Ramm said.
“Over the years we have been able to deliver on some great projects, from the Towers of Strength where we raised money for lifeguard towers at the patrolled beaches in the Hastings, to the building of Rotary Lodge on the grounds of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital which was a huge commitment to the community and is still ongoing.”
Mr Ramm said while the big projects will be remembered by the community for generations to come, it is also the little projects that members in the club cherish.
“For me the big projects are one thing, but I also think the little things we keep digging away at are important as well.
“All the barbecues, raffles and fund raisers we do also help contribute to other, ongoing projects here in Australia but also overseas.”
Mrs Sinclair said that as part of a global service club, a number of the international project Rotary Sunrise has been involved in, are special to her.
“On an international front we donate to the Rotary Foundation as well as funding shelter boxes for distribution during natural disasters, as well as participating in a number of exchanges,” she said.
“Over the years we have hosted a number of students from countries all over the world and have been lucky enough to send local students to countries on exchange.
“As a club that project is always rewarding because we benefit from learning about other cultures but it would not be possible without the help of the wider community.
“So I definitely want to thank the community on behalf of the club for giving us their support over the years, and hope that the next 20 years can be just as excellent.”