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ROTARY RETURNS TO BARCALDINE

PDG Ron Degenhart, Assistant Rotary Coordinator —

Rotary has returned to the small central Queensland town of Barcaldine after an 11-year break.

Article by PDG Ron Degenhart, Assistant Rotary Coordinator

Rotary has returned to the small central Queensland town of Barcaldine after an 11-year break, with the chartering of the new Rotary Club of Barcaldine on 12th June 2021.

How was this achieved?

Here is an edited version of the story, as told by PDG Terry Daley (D9570):

The original Barcaldine Rotary Club closed in 2010.

For the past 10 years a whole generation has missed out in participating in Rotary’s great programs.

In recent years there were no service Clubs in Barcaldine; Apex closed soon after Rotary closed, and Lions also closed soon after that.

In January 2021, I commented to District Governor Adele Hughes that I felt there was an opportunity to start a new Rotary Club in Barcaldine. She encouraged me to take a harder look and see if there was enough interest to form a new Rotary Club.

I devised a plan to process and advance the new club, helped by DG Adele and Wade Hughes and Debbie Daley.

In mid-March I spent two days walking the streets in Barcaldine talking to people and following a few leads of prospective members. There certainly was interest and a date was set for an interest meeting on 7th April.

The Barcaldine Bowls Club offered their venue free of charge and the meeting was attended by nine prospective members. Prior to the meeting District Governor Adele Hughes, Wade Hughes, Debbie Daley, and I spent two days walking the streets talking to people, following up leads given to us and preparing for the Interest meeting. Comment was made that the venue was not going to be big enough, such was the interest, and the catering was increased to cater for the influx of prospective members to about thirty people. Nine turned up. I guess this is part of the normal process. At the second meeting we had an almost different group of prospective members and slowly over the next two meetings the membership evolved into enough to Charter a new club.

Early in the process I had discussions with the Barcaldine Council’s Community and Engagement Officer Angela Waugh, and she offered to supply our information through the Council's media outlets. This was a great help and generated much interest, leading to more prospective members. Past Barcaldine Council Mayor, Rob Chandler was also very supportive. I am very appreciative of the help from Angela and Rob.

There is one other special person whom without her help we would not have got to Charter night, Sharon Broughton, The Barcaldine Charter President. Her efforts in rounding up prospective members was above and beyond expectations.

Daniel Roussounis, Current President of the D9560 Passport Club, lives in Emerald and will be the Club Mentor. Daniel has also helped by attending some of the start-up meetings.

I wish to also acknowledge also the fantastic help received from our Rotary International Parramatta Office in particular Trudy Grice, Sally Furto and Barbara Mifsud. Needless to say, a big “thank you” to District Governor Adele Hughes. She moved mountains to get this new club chartered.

Eight Rotary Clubs from (former) District 9570 each donated $200.00; and District 9570 also put in $2,000.00 towards the costs of starting the new Club.

Sincere thanks to PDGs Mark Lean, Michael Buckeridge, Brian Jessett, and Foundation Chair Larry Slattery who provided training for the new club.

The Club will charter with 23 members, and they are a truly diverse group, the youngest being 19 years of age, and the average age is 43 years. The club meets each second Thursday, based at the Globe Gallery, with meetings to be held at other venues to spread the patronage around the town.

Congratulations and welcome to the Rotary Club of Barcaldine.