Maitland – Celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Australia

Five Rotary clubs in the Maitland area have joined forces to celebrate 100 years of Rotary service in Australia and New Zealand. The Hon Jenny Aitchison, MP, and Mayor of Maitland Loretta Baker kicked off proceedings at a Baton Relay on 11 April, challenging each club to do 100 laps at the Maitland Athletics Track. A week later, 100 Rotarians planted 100 trees at Telarah Lagoon to celebrate their lasting legacy.

The first Rotary Club in Maitland was chartered in 1932, a mere eleven years after the first Australian Club was founded in Melbourne. Today, the Rotary Clubs of Maitland, East Maitland, Rutherford-Telarah, Greenhills Maitland and Maitland Sunrise have more than 200 members between them and an impressive 267 years of combined service to the local community.

They work independently of each other across a range of projects, both locally and internationally.
For more than seven decades local Rotarians have supported Maitland Council and served the community, removing graffiti, cleaning community spaces or by providing barbecues at community events. Most recently, they have provided disadvantaged students with back-to-school gear and brought much needed joy to residents in aged care homes. On a global scale, Rotary focuses on maternal and childhood health, disease prevention and treatment, supporting the environment, basic literacy, community and economic development and peace building.

For further information on the five local Rotary Clubs go to rotary9670.org.au or visit Rotary.org for info on Rotary International.

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