HISTORY OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTHERN MITCHELL
With thanks to The Kilmore Historical Society
Admitted to Rotary International on 08-12-1972
Chartered as “The Rotary Club of Kilmore - Broadford” on 23-02-1973 - #18280
Charter President Cr. Ian Johnson
1973-05 Heleene Breakell was the Club’s first attendee to RYLA which was held at Dookie. The seminar costs of $50 were paid by the club.
1973-08 Paul Flemming, a local farmer shared his time on a Rotary Group Study Exchange to London, Rome and the US states of Iowa and Missouri
1973-11 A fund raising Gymkhana was held at Kilmore Recreation Reserve with the co-operation and assistance of the Kilmore Trotting Club
1974-07 The Club’s first incoming exchange student arrives - Mariel Sabanpan from the Philippines
1975-07 The Club hosts a Group Study Exchange team from South Carolina, USA
1976-11 Club members erect playground equipment at Hudson Park
1980-05 Club members conduct a Careers Day for local secondary school students
1980-11 Incoming Exchange Student arrives - Ida Kartone from Bandung, Indonesia
1981-05 The Club entertained a Group Study Exchange Team from Canada and the USA while they were in our region
1981-05 The Club donates new playground equipment to the Kilmore Kindergarten
1981-08 The Club provides a flagpole for the Kilmore Civic Centre with a plaque commemorating 60 years of Rotary International operations
1981-11 Club members decisively defeat a Kilmore Cricket Club Social Club combination
1981-12 The Club conducts a Children’s Art Competition in conjunction with the Kilmore Show
1981-12 The Club presents it’s Pride of Workmanship Award to 4th year apprentice moulder/coremaker, Timothy Lynch
1982-07 The Club presents it’s Pride of Workmanship Award to cheerful Kilmore Real Estate employee, Ursuline Boran
1983-07 The Club introduces Small Business Seminars to the region
1984-08 The Club launches a Safety Awareness Campaign to try and minimise the number of serious head injuries, particularly amongst children
1984-08 The Club presents it’s Pride of Workmanship Award to Maree Harrington from Eagle’s Newsagency
1984-09 The Club organises a Financial Planning evening for senior citizens
1984-10 The Club arranges "phantom job applications” for young adults to educate them in the finer skills of applying for a job
1984-12 The Club introduces a "Fun Run” up Monument Hill which will be an added attraction to the Kilmore Show
1985-02 The Club holds a 6 course Indian Banquet Fund Raiser with the Indian Consul General as the guest speaker. Rtn Suresh Jain was the organiser
1985-06 The Club introduces a series of rural speakers to inform locals in the changes being experienced in many agricultural fields
1986-11 "Polio Plus” is selected as the Club’s major international project for 1986-87
1988-11 The Club throws it’s weight behind a 30 bed Nursing Home project at Kilmore Hospital
1989-05 The 11th Annual Kilmore Art Show is presented by the Club
1990-03 The Club hosts a 6 person Group Study Team from Korea while they are in our area
1991-07 A focus on fund raising is implemented by the Club for a Mobile Life Education Unit that that will rotate around local schools
1992-07 The Club commences activity to introduce a Probus Club to the region
1993-11 The Club presents it’s Pride of Workmanship Awards to local employees Irena McAliece, Scott Patul and Joel Watson
1994-02 Assumption Collage science student Catherine Clancy is sponsored by the Club to attend the National Science School in Canberra
1994-07 The Club elects it’s first female President being Diana Sargeant of Silkie Gardens Rose Nursery
1994-08 Broadford student Ben McMahon is sponsored to the National Summer Science School
1994-08 Brook Parry, a Broadford Secondary student is sponsored for 12 months exchange in Canada
1994-08 James Taylor, an Assumption College student is sponsored for 12 months exchange in the USA
1994-08 The Club plants a rose garden at the Kilmore Leisure Centre
1997-10 The final payment of the Club’s commitment to donate $30,000 to the 30 bed Aged Care Hostel in Kilmore occurs
1998-02 The Club funds a Literacy program to the value of $1100 titled "Keys to Life” for the students at Kilmore Primary School
1998-06 The Club initiates a very successful Talent Night at the Memorial Hall. A jam packed house enjoyed the diversity and the volume of acts
1999-02 Argentinian exchange student, Andres Wessellhoefft is hosted by Club members and friends for 12 months in our region
1999-06 The Club’s second Talent Night is again a huge success with a vast cross section of acts watched by an enormous audience
1999-07 The Moira Kelly Open Door Rotary Farm (for orphan and foster children) is established on 40 acres provided by local Rotarian Noel Baker & Janis
1999-07 The Club launches a restoration project on the Hume and Hovell Monument after securing a $10,000 grant to do so
1999-12 Rotary members action a beautification planting project on the east side of the southern approach to Kilmore.
2001-06 Pride of Workmanship Award were presented to Josephine Briffa, Danielle Fitzpatrick, Sara-Jane Flannery, Shona McBride and Jan Milner
2001-02 A new “Welcome” sign is installed outside Kilmore on the northern approach promoting Rotary and our Service Clubs
2001-05 Some 50 Rotarians chip in from all over to work on renovating the Moira Kelly home for needy children
2002-09 Club members along with Scouts and Guides turned out in force for “Adopt a Highway” project on The Northern Highway
2003-02 The Club is selected to host Victoria’s “Shine On” awards this year. Humanitarian, Moira Kelly makes the presentations
2003-05 The Club has a name change from Kilmore-Broadford to The Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell to better describe the region the club serves
2005-08 The Club provides funds to Pyalong CFA to allow them to purchase a high pressure sprayer to clean their vehicles
2006-03 The Club hosts a Group Study Exchange student from the Dominican Republic - Maria Thomen
2006-06 The 2006 Pride of Workmanship Awards were presented to Kristina Erikson, Lee Smith, Natasha Punch, Gail Morris and Richard Hobson
2006-08 The Club hosts Serena Hultgren to the Adventure in Citizenship program in Canberra. It is a 5 day insight into the Australian System of government
2006-11 Club members monitor salinity in district waterways for Landcare and Waterwatch over a 18 month period providing information for a database
2007-03 Club members host 70 riders during their overnight stop in the region. The group included s lot of Exchange Students. Funds raised go to ARH
2007-04 Club members walk from Craigeburn to Kilmore to raise funds for Cancer Care st the Royal Melbourne Hospital
2007-06 The Club hosts Alex Grimes TKIS to the Adventure in Citizenship program in Canberra. It is a 5 day insight into the Australian System of government
2007-10 The 2007 Pride of Workmanship Awards were presented to Antony Marinelli, Chris Erikson, Melissa Goudge, Murray Nicholls aul Halabi
2008-03 The Club hosts a Rotary Study Group from District 5300 (Southern California and Nevada) in the USA
2008-04 The inaugural Kilmore Art Show is put on by Souther Mitchell Rotary and the Kilmore Art Society with all proceeds going to future local projectsj
2009-08 The Club initiates teams of cooks to cater for the Blaze Aid Bushfire Fencing Replacement Teams
2009-08 The Club partners with Sunday & Dry Creek Landcare Groups to create several erosion/siltation demo sites after the Feb 2009 bushfires
2009-09 The Club presents Kevin Butler and his wife Rhonda with Pail Harris Fellowships in recognition of their work creating Blaze Aid
2009-12 The Club funds three Shelterboxes. These are destined to people suffering the effects of natural or otherwise disaster.
2010-02 A fund raising dinner for PolioPlus is run by Rotary at The Kilmore Memorial Hall. Some $5000 was raised
2011-07 French Exchange Student Vin Leonard completes 12 months in our region and heads back home after a successful stay
2012-01 Rotary targets the collection of 50 pre-loved bikes to be restored and sent to Africa
2012 06 Member Nicholls leads a Group Study team of young professionals to Florida USA on a Vocational Exchange
2013-07 Club member Phillip Clancy commences his year as District Governor D9790. An important, prestigious and lots of time and hard position
2013-12 The Rotary sponsored seniors Xmas lunch at Broadford was attended by 90 people and voted to be another outstanding success
2014-02 The inaugural Community Police Officer of the Year was awarded to Leading Senior Constable Tim Austin of Kilmore
2015-02 Four Broadford students ( Emma Rigoni/Ashleigh Russell/Blake Stephenson/Georgia Poupoulis are sponsored to the National Summer Science School
2015-02 Community Police Officer of the Year is awarded by the Club to joint winners Sergeant John Papas and Constable Sharon Wilson
2015-06 A fishing boat construction project for the Barrio Sua community in the Philippines was actioned to help after the tsunami
2016-02 Community Police Officer of the Year is awarded by the Club to Acting Sergeant Darren Huffer
2016-05 The Club sponsored the Charter of the regions first Interact Club with 13 students from The Kilmore International School
2016-07 Two Kilmore residents, Helen Clancy and Jeannette Jain, were presented with Paul Harris Fellowships in recognition of their community service
2016-09 The Club along with the Kilmore and Broadford RSL Sub Branches host a Fundraising Cocktail Party in support of the ARH "Lift The Lid” program
2017-02 Community Police Officer of the Year is awarded by the Club to Constable Rachael Binns Saxby
2017-05 The 2017 Rotary Vocational Excellence Award was presented to overall winner, Lauren Kathage
2017-06 The Club launches it’s inaugural Business Breakfast to foster the continued growth of local business in the region
2018-01 The Club sponsored Brianna Matthews-Gun to the 2017 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) at the DOXA Cam in Malmsbury
2018-07 Club hosts HALT (Hope Assistance for Local Tradies). HALT’s focus is suicide prevention and breaking down the stigma of mental health
2018-09 The 2018 Rotary Vocational Excellence Awards were presented to Leanne Paice, Tracy Hooke and Samantha White
2018-09 A 4.7m high heritage style clock is to be installed in Mill Street Mall by the Club
2018-10 This years Rotary International Dinner Fundraiser had 100 participants and was in aid of RAM (Rotarians Against Malaria)
2019-04 The inaugural Kilmore Busking Championships presented along with the Kilmore Art Expo are a great success and set to be repeated in future years
2019-09 Locally sourced and recycled playgrounds are being packed up and shipped to Sri Lanka by Club members to please numerous young ones there
2019-12 Community Police Officer of the Year is awarded by the Club to Senior Constable Ryan Coleman from the Wallan Police Station
2021-03 The Club is keen to provide ongoing management of the Beuhne Memorial which is located on the Kilmore end of the roundabout, just N of the town
2021-04 The incredibly successful Kilmore Busking Championships are again hosted by the Club, putting a charge of excitement and colour into our town.
2021-10 Due to Covid Lockdown the International Luncheon was held online via Zoom, and it raised more than usual for Prey Dong School in Cambodia
2022-06 The "My Covid Hero” awards were presented to a number of local individuals in recognition of their “"above and beyond”" service to the community
2022-06 Close to 3000 trees planted by 98 volunteers over two days on a patch of donated private land - all organised and managed by Rotary
2022-09 A new, much more informative website goes live to better inform the public about what the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell does
2022-10 The International Dinner was a great success again with most of the proceeds going to Project Lemur - helping 1500 children in Southern Madagascar
2022-11 The annual Seniors Christmas Luncheon at Broadford was attended by some 70 very appreciative locals.
2022-12 Rotarians volunteer to feed a number of bikers from Father Bob’s Annual Christmas Toy Run - at the State Motorcycle Sports Complex
2022-12 Two large storage sheds in Broadford are to be renovated so they can be used to better manage donated medical instruments for distribution overseas.
2023-06 Around 100 people planted 3,600 trees in one day, and Southern Mitchell Rotary provided lunch and morning tea for all.