History of Rotary Club of Melbourne Inc.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Among the Club's sustained record of Community service projects are the establishment of the Claremont Home for the Elderly, the sponsorship (with the Wesley central Mission) of the 'Life Line' Telephone Counselling Service, the development of the Crossroads Youth Service for vulnerable young people, the establishment of a heart risk reduction clinic at the Baker Medical Research Institute at the Alfred Hospital, assistance in launching the organisations Australian Against Child Abuse and Very Special Kids, and initiatives to establish programs of early intervention to prevent the growth of youth homelessness.

In the area of International Service between 1991 and 1995, the Club carried out its Australian-Vietnam Health Care and Health Education Program.  The International Committee continues to sponsor programs in South Eats Asia, all related to health care and education.

The Group Study Exchange Program of the Rotary Foundation emerged from a goodwill study tour of young professional men to Papua New Guinea undertaken in 1962-62 by Frank Newman, a member of the Melbourne Club and now Past President and Past District Governor.

The Club is very proud that it successfully advocated for the apprenticeship scheme in Victoria, as early as 1935-36, and that it continues to recognise apprenticeships as providing worthwhile career paths.

In 1993 the Club hosted the Rotary International Convention.  Some twenty-two thousand Rotarians and partners attended the convention, fourteen thousand from overseas, strengthening ties of friendship and service across the world.