Facts about Southern Mitchell Rotary:

  • The Club was formed as Kilmore-Broadford RC in October 1972

  • The name was changed Southern Mitchell Rotary Club in 1998 to be more inclusive to all residents in the Southern Mitchell region

  • Some of the more significant projects completed since 1972 are:

    • We chair and run the organising group consisting of Mitchell Shire, Lions, Bendigo Bank and Historical Society for the annual Australia Day Festival.

    • Established Meals on Wheels in the region during the Rotary year July 1974 to June 1975.

    • Initiated the annual Broadford Christmas luncheon for seniors

    • Partnered with nearby Rotary Clubs to build school facilities in Cambodia

  • Membership totals 26 with some 30% being women.

  • We regularly hold social outings to local restaurants and other locations, providing numerous fellowship opportunities.

Facts about Rotary International:

  • Rotary was founded in 1905 by Paul Harris in Chicago, USA

  • There are around 1.2 million Rotarians world-wide in some 200 countries and geographical regions with new clubs formed every 12 hours.

  • Rotary has a seat in the General Assembly of the United Nations in recognition of the efforts of its membership to foster goodwill and peace across national boundaries

  • Rotary has the world's largest non-government Foundation providing educational and humanitarian aid

  • Rotary is non-political and non-religious, recognising the needs of all humankind to live and work together to achieve peace and prosperity world-wide

  • Rotary seeks a balanced membership by encouraging the interests of both female and male business and professional and retired people.

  • Rotary has contributed more than $2.6 billion to fight polio, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and countless volunteer hours since launching its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985. Polio is now 99.9% eradicated.

Who may join?

Membership is by invitation.

You may only apply for membership after having been invited by a current member of this club. You may, however, contact the club to discuss your interest in joining or visiting us at a get-together.

The standard Constitution covering all Rotary clubs sets down the qualifications for membership as adult persons who demonstrate good character, integrity, and leadership; possess good reputation within their business, profession and/or community; and are willing to serve in their community and/or around the world.

Time Required?

Members make their time available to Rotary according to their lifestyle and the changing demands of family and work commitments. Rotary as an organisation recognises the need for members to place family/employment ahead of volunteer activities and expects that each Rotarian will prioritise their time appropriately.

Teamwork is essential to achieve the club's goals and therefore members need to spend time together regularly to get to know each other well. To that end, the club meets weekly throughout the year to provide a forum for team-building and information exchange. Guest speakers are a feature of Rotary meetings as they provide members with access to a wide variety of people addressing interesting and relevant topics. Members are encouraged to attend meetings as often as possible and may be actively engaged in a variety of ways such as working on one of the club's project committees or taking a Board position, which usually involves directing a project and attending Board meetings once a month.

Sometimes a Rotarian is caught in a business problem or has a family crisis and can't attend meetings. This is not a problem. The Board is concerned to know of this type of issue in order to understand the situation and consider whether any support could be offered. We all get too busy at times, but when the demands on our time diminish, then we can enjoy club meetings again and make our time available for teamwork.

Opportunities through membership

Each member contributes their time and skills working on projects as part of a team. Your skills may include leadership, project management, organisation and people management, creativity and innovation, communication, technology skills - and most useful of all, a desire to lend a hand.

Projects vary from small to very large depending on the club's resources and availability of members. Even small projects can have significant benefits to our community. For example:

  • Providing mentoring for young people in problem solving techniques, leadership skills and stress management to help them cope with a world of great expectations coupled with high unemployment

  • Being a mentor for a senior leader of an emergency services organisation to pass on your professional or business skills and leadership experiences and styles

  • Involving ourselves in projects that beautify or conserve our community's environment, demonstrating our commitment to future generations

  • Volunteering for a local or overseas project that would utilise your organising or professional/trade skills for the benefit of others

  • Assisting those less able to cope in our society due to temporary or permanent disadvantages, showing compassion and working to prevent a "them and us" attitude which can divide our society

Often projects require small amounts of time and money and yet they enrich the lives of many in our communities. Rotarians believe it is important to use our talents to bridge the gap between those with less than ourselves; to bind our community together and create common goals and aspirations for a better society.

Larger projects may be initiated to fund the work of skilled professionals assisting those in need both locally and internationally. Rotarians are facilitators; we provide the will to make things happen and then we use our energy and skills to ensure the success of the project. Sometimes this requires the raising of funds through a variety of means such as:

  • Organisation of major events eg. a charity auction, an exhibition etc

  • Recruitment of sponsors and benefactors

  • Application for available grants from the Rotary Foundation and government funds

Each club determines its own focus and the members agree on the projects to be undertaken. You will be able to contribute your specific skills and talents to these projects and thereby achieve success as a member of the team.

Financial Obligations

Each Rotary Club requires its members to pay an annual membership fee and, for new members, a joining fee. These fees are used to cover administration costs. Attendance at club meetings incurs a fixed fee and there are usually opportunities to contribute to minor fundraising  activities.  

Financial details: (incl GST) as at 01-07-2022

  • Annual membership fee $ 200.00 pro-rata + $ 20 p/month

  • Club meeting cost (evening meal) $0 - $35 approx. (paid to venue if you choose to have a meal during the meeting)

  • Minor fundraising approx $2 - $5 per week

The annual membership is payable as at 1st July each year but new members would pay a pro-rata fee based on number of months expired. The above fee includes a levy to our District administration as well as affiliation with Rotary International. Also includes a member's subscription to the monthly magazine - "Rotary Down Under". Fellowship events are designed to involve your family and to meet other fellow Rotarians in a relaxed and social environment. The infrequent BBQ, winery tour, theatre or restaurant night etc usually involve only the entrance and meal cost.