An acclaimed film festival and the makeover of a bowls club now used for local community charitable events are the hallmarks of half a decade of service above self.

Launching a film festival for local disadvantaged families to take their children, including children with disabilities, to the movies and the transformation of a bowls club into a venue for charitable and community events are just two of the ventures Rockhampton South Rotary will celebrate this month.

To commemorate 50 years of community service, the club is hosting a celebratory luncheon at the Frenchville Sports Club on Saturday August 20. All past members and their families are invited to join with current members and their families to celebrate this milestone.

The club also has a proud record of supporting young people in the region sponsoring and hosting many students through YEP, funding the cream of the region’s science and technology students to the prestigious National Youth Science Forum, and through regular sponsoring of students to attend RYLA, RYPEN, and TASTE programs.

Other notable projects undertaken by the club over the years are:

• construction of shed for Parkhurst horse-riding arena in 1992 
• annual cooking breakfast for Shalom Village Breakfast with the Birds 
• annual participation in Relay for Life and cooking breakfast for participants
• fundraising breakfast which raised $43,000 for victims of the 2019 north-western Queensland floods.

In addition to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy local and international causes, the club has also had many of its members accept district roles over the years.

In 2003, the club initiated what would become its signature project – the annual Film Festival – removing the stigma of disadvantage and allowing families who otherwise might never see a movie on the big screen, a night out watching the latest releases. 

The fundraising campaign from the film festival raises valuable funds which are targeted to disadvantaged children. Beneficiaries have included local schools’ special needs units, providing much needed specialist teaching and play equipment, and for the past several years, support for Mt Morgan State High School for senior students to attend a personal development camp on North Keppel Island. 

Several years ago, the festival was extended to cinemas in Gladstone and Emerald, and provide benefit to those communities, through the Rotary Clubs of South Gladstone and Emerald Sunrise. 

2004 was a defining year for the club when it acquired the lease of the then-vacant and  dilapidated Athelstane Bowls Club. After a significant restorative effort, Athelstane became not only a clubhouse but an avenue for fundraising. For the past 17 years, Rockhampton South has offered Athelstane as a venue for private and charitable and community events to fundraise for local and international projects. The venue is also provided at no cost for Rotary club and district functions and events, and to other not-for-profit organisations to conduct meetings or fundraising events.

Details of anniversary luncheon are on the Club’s Facebook page for those interested in attending.