Sunbury Rotary Club celebrated its 50th anniversary this April, with Hume council extending a heartfelt congratulations to the club.
The club’s official anniversary for the 50 year milestone was on April 10, with the occasion set to be celebrated later in the month.
Secretary Kerry Kirk said she became involved with the club seven years ago because she wanted to be a positive force in the community.
“I was an empty nester [when] my children left home… I searched all the clubs [for one to join],” Ms Kirk said.
“[I joined because] rotary is an organisation that provides a guide for doing good.”
Ms Kirk said they recently won two grants from the council, to provide mental health first aid training to local community groups and to build a bottle art installation project at rotary park.
“[The art project is to] raise community awareness around environmental sustainability and the impact plastics have, particularly in our local waterways,” she said.
“We are currently asking Sunbury [residents] to collect their bottle tops that are not recyclable and give them to us for this project.”
At the council meeting on April 11, Councillor Jarrod Bell congratulated the club for its anniversary and achievements throughout the years.
“Over the past five decades, rotarians and the Sunbury Rotary Club have been a pillar of our community,” Cr Bell said.
“[They] embody the rotary motto of service above self, through countless acts of charity and goodwill… [and they have] been an unwavering force for good in our town.”
“It is a testament to the commitment of its members that the Sunbury Rotary Club has thrived for… half a century.”
Throughout the decades the club has donated and helped to fundraise for local schools and sporting clubs, overseas rotary clubs and for school children in Cambodia.
With the club’s positive effect felt internationally, Ms Kirk said they meet every Tuesday night at the Ballcourt hotel and are always open for new members.
“We have about 21 [members] but… would love more,” she said.
Zoe Moffatt
