Inauguration.
The Rotary Club of Woy Woy Inc, was inaugurated in 1950 and the founding bearers of office were, President, Bruce Hanks; Secretary, Wal McAsh and Treasurer, Allan Murdoch. Our Charter was granted on the 7th June, 1950 with the club taking receipt of the document on the 27th July, 1950.
Staples Lookout.
In 1954, President Jack Roberts was driving back from the District Conference at Katoomba when he and his passengers Mark Harris and Bruce Phillips decided to stop on the Bulls Hill Road and admire the view of the Brisbane Water. Then and there they decided it was an ideal site for a lookout and that Rotary would build it. By 2nd July 1955, the Staples Lookout was officially opened by Shire President, J. A. Brown.
Staples Lookout as it was when built by WWRC in 1955 and as it was when refurbished in 1999.
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Ocean Beach Surf Club.
In the 1950's the area we now call Umina was still being referred to as Ocean Beach, a Contraction of the earlier name of Ocean Beach/Umina.
The Club chose a novel method of financing the Surf Club. The Rotary Club invited members of the public, organisations and Rotarians to loan free of interest, in lots of £25, money which the Club guaranteed to repay at the end of 3 years. The final cost of the Surf Club would be £8000
In 2008-2009, Gosford City Council completely rebuilt the Surf Club into the modern edifice of today.
This photo shows the Ocean Beach Surf Club upon comlpetion of the clubs 1950's project.
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Other early initiatives and projects.
By contributing substantially to the building of the Olympic Pool, which took half a decade of effort from Rotary and the building of the Mt. Ettalong Lookout the magnitude and number of tasks reflected a wealthier and more self - confident Community.
By the mid Sixties, the Club was running out of park opportunities and started to look further afield. The newly completed Brisbane Water Drive gave the Club an opening for another park. The Koolewong Foreshore Reserve. This project took up the remaining years of the Sixties. The Club extended it by 30 metres and added tables and other amenities.
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The 1970's saw the Club involved more in administration of community projects rather than "hands on" work. P.P. PHF. Don Leggett used funds from the Regional Employment and Development (RED) scheme using unemployed people paid by the Government to construct the last major park that the Rotary Club was involved with "Anderson Memorial Park" near the Bay View Hotel. The Fountain Built at that time no longer exists, as Gosford City Council, in its wisdom, decided that the new fountain was more appropriate for the times.
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Comedian, Spike Milligan was made an Honorary Member of the Woy Woy Rotary Club in 1983
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In the 1980's, high unemployment and increased welfare dependence for many on the Central Coast created pressure at grass roots level - the place where Rotary Clubs do some of their best work. Together with the usual Surf Clubs and Fun Runs, which were popular in the 70's and 80's, the Rotary Club of Woy Woy was called on to channel its fundraising dollars into child abuse programs and safety houses along with continuing assistance to non-government organisations such as the Salvation Army and Red Cross door knocks.
Reflecting the need for innovation in fundraising given the increasing demand, the Club embarked on a risky, but highly successful venture - the "Woy Woy Rotary Romp". The inaugural event raised over $28,000 for Central Coast Lifeline. The event was so successful that the Club received an award at the 15th Anniversary Herald Awards in 1990. A "Romp" was undertaken every year thereafter; the last one was in 2003. The event raised in excess $185,000 during its lifetime.
The "Romps" provided an opportunity for fellowship beyond the confines of a weekly meeting at the Everglades Country Club. They also gave Woy Woy Club Members the chance to meet other Rotarians and to experience the vast network that is Rotary International.
Milestones
The early 1990's was a period of great upheaval within the Club as a debate raged over whether or not to accept females as full Members. It took a three year battle encompassing the joint stewardships of Presidents, Bill Hancock, Don Tee and Bill Cook before, in 1993, Chris Nelson inducted the first female member. She was Susan Baldock who over the course of the debate had shown great strength and tenacity and went on to become President in 1997-98. She has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. The club now has many female members.
In the 1990's the clubs service to the community never waned. Then President, Neville Heather (1993-94) said "The two main areas that indicate the health of a Rotary Club is its service to the community and the fellowship enjoyed by its members."
In the late 1990's the Rotary club of Woy Woy has continued to serve its immediate and International community. Each year events that have been successful in fundraising have been continued albeit with a new twists.
Other events such as the Flora Festival, the Melbourne Cup Trifecta, Rotary Christmas Puddings, Rotary Romps, Golf Days and Sausage Sizzles maintained their role as important money raising ventures.
Innovation.
This is one of Woy Woy Rotary Club's great strengths. Fund Raising efforts by 1998-99 President, Charles Brock and his wife Jenny made calico aprons and sent them to prominent Australian's for them to sign them or to do whatever they felt to the apron that might add value to it. Ninety-four aprons were sent out and eighty-six received back. The aprons bore the signatures and works of art of many famous Australian identities were put up for auction. Well known identities Pro Hart, Sir Donald Bradman, Ken Done, Smokey Dawson, and Rolf Harris are just a few of the many who contributed to the cause. Four community groups - Umina and Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Clubs', Child Abuse Prevention Service and Woy Woy Community Aged Care benefited from the $20,000 proceeds.
The Rotary Club of Woy Woy has undertaken many ambitious International Projects. These are generally confined to our nearest neighbours within the Pacific Rim and aim to establish friendship and mutual cooperation through people to people contact. Some of the successful projects that were undertaken by the Club are:
Phu My Orphanage in Vietnam - funds to keep the orphanage operational and included a visit to the orphanage and Vietnam for members of the club.
Water Project in Jakarta, Indonesia - funds and the organizing of a matching grant to install a water well facility in a poor community in Jakarta. The project was undertaken in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Jakarta Metropolitan.
School Facilities in Truk Island - organization good quality second hand school desks, chairs and other items to a school on Truk Island in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Truk Island.
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Writing Materials for Remote School in PNG - organization of three pallets of books and other writing materials for a school on Woodlark Island in PNG. Financial Support for a Student in the Philippines - educational material for a student in Barrio Bagong in Cebu,Philippines. Indonesia - in 2003 helped a small Christian community on the island of Sumba. Indonesia is the largest Moslem nation in the world. Funds raised were in excess of $10,000 for a Farming and education project on the island.
In 2004, with the demise of the "Woy Woy Rotary Romp", P.P. Chris Nelson PHF, and his wife and fellow Rotarian, Keren, initiated the "Central Coast Medieval Tournament". The event was twelve months in the planning and organising 1800 men, women and children. Many in medieval costume participated in the fun of the Joust and Dark age combat. The recipients of funds raised by this event, $4,600, were Cancer Research into Prostate Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Childhood Leukaemia.
At the beginning of the 2004/05 Rotary Year, Rotary's Centenary Year, the Club Board's objective was to undertake a balanced organized event program targeting not only the local community but also to have a major impact on a third world community by supplying goods that could offer sustainable support such as educational and medical items according to the ideals of Rotary International.
Since then, The Rotary Club of Woy Woy has forged ahead with careful planning and organization of many, many events and initiatives. Some of these are the NSW State SLSC Titles Parking, Woy Woy Rotary Club Golf Day, the Woy Woy Oyster festival, the ShelterBox project, Film Premiers and Trivia Nights to name but a few.
Social outings also provide an important part of a Rotary Club's agenda. They enable interaction between members and their partners outside of the formal club meeting arena. These are very popular with Club members, partners, relatives and friends.
The Opera in the Arboretum, at Pearl Beach, now an annual event, was the brainchild of PP John Greenway. What a huge success it has become, raising many thousands of dollars for individual charities and other local Rotary charities. A fantastic effort for a first run event. Congratulations to PP John Greenway and to all who ably assist him with the event. For more information about Opera in the Arboretum visit their website - www.opera.pearl-beach.com
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The Charter members of 1950 could not have envisaged the changes to the Woy Woy Peninsula nor the changes to the society in which they lived, worked and attended Rotary each week.
The Rotary Club of Woy Woy Inc. remains committed to ensure the goals of service to local and international communities continues into the future.