The Rotary Club of Rotorua West - Chartered August 19, 1965

Pictured receiving the congratulations of the Rotary District Governor, Mr T.R.C. Overton (right), is the President of the new club, Mr T. G. Teirney (second left). Looking on are Mr P. Verrall (left), President of the Rotorua Rotary Club, and T.P. Humphrey, Vice-President of the new club.

The Beginning The decision made by the Rotorua Club to form a second club saw the Provisional Rotary Club of Rotorua West meet for the first time on Thursday 20 May 1965 in the Soundshell Restaurant at the Rotorua Lakefront with 26 Rotarians prepared to join the new club. In those early days of Rotary it was necessary for clubs to have a defined territorial area to draw its membership from. An area of the city roughly to the north and West of the Utuhina Stream and Old Taupo Road was carved off for the new club and hence the new club became the Rotary Club of Rotorua West. Charter President Tom Tierney, a Past President of the Rotorua Club, and 28 other Charter Members, many from the Rotorua Club, then celebrated with Rotary officials, the formal charter of club of Thursday 19 August 1965 in the Soundshell Auditorium. About 250 people attended the prestigious dinner and charter presentation ceremony, including five Past District Governors and many Rotarians from throughout the country. Mayor of Rotorua, A.M. (Murray) Linton, gave the keynote address with an international flavour.

1965 - Inaugural Meeting, Thursday 20 May 1965. First meeting of the Provisional Club at the Soundshell. 26 Rotarians put their signature on the line to form the Rotary Club of Rotorua West.

Charter Members.
President
Tom Tierney Fibrous Plaster Manufacturing
Vice President
Peter Humphrey Concrete Products Manufacturing
Treasurer:
Jim Colebrook Diesel Repair
Sergeant:
Jack Todd Tyre Manufacturing

John Bjarnesen Furniture Manufacturing
Dick Burgess Refined Oil Products Retailing
Hadyn Litchwark Footwear Retailing Secretary
Wilbur White Additional Active (Concrete Products Manufacturing)
Des Blandford Industrial Engineering
Des Craig Grocery Retailing
David Dawson Electrical Contracting
Richard Gurnsey Building Construction
Frank Hart Engine Reconditioning
Merv Keyworth Joinery Manufacturing
Doug List Civil Engineering
Bill Moloney Additional Active (Grocery Wholesale)
Jack Quinlan Stationery Retailing
Ron Stone Glazing and Tiling
Kahu Te Hau Christianity - Protestantism
Brian Callinan Tyre Retailing
Trevor Culley Earth Moving
Ian Fowler Dentistry
Ivan Hancock Refined Oil Products Wholesaling
Stan Jamieson Motor Camps
Jack Lisk Grocery Wholesaling
Doug McLeay Sheep Farming
Wally Murray Bulk Milk Transport
Fred Sisson Road Sealing
Don Stubbing Painting and Decorating

1966 The first of many consignments of Surplus Medicines were collected from doctors and sent overseas.

1967 Financial support for the Lee Chung Yong family in Korea was begun and continued for many years. Regular contact was maintained until the offspring reached adulthood.

1968 First Rotary Exchange Student hosted by the club. The incoming student was Amy Thomason from U.S.A. and the outgoing student was Naomi Stubbing who went to U.S.A. 1968 The Log of Wood - This very fine trophy, known affectionately as the Log of Wood because of its excellent use as a weighty door stop, was donated by P.P. John Bjarnesen for an annual golf haggle among members of the club and over the years has been inscribed with the names of both the notable and the notorious. The trophy continues to be contested and while the nature of the competition may change, it has the one important rule that it cannot be won by the same golfer more than once. This has meant the introduction of many novices to the game. One notable introduction was P.P. Don Stubbing who won it in 1970 and went on to become totally addicted to the game achieving much success and pleasure in the sport.

1969 Cyril Peacocke, (Education Secondary) urged the club to promote establishment of a technical college in Rotorua which later became the Waiariki Institute of Technology. 1969 Club began presenting souvenirs of Rotorua such as carved wooden tikis and canoes, and mounted paua shells to overseas visitors to the club instead of club banners. President Don Stubbing was known to tell the visitors that the gifts had special fertility powers which saw many visitors leave enthralled with expectation.

Later Years - Further Content still to be added