The Rotary Club of Glenferrie has celebrated its 45th anniversary on October 22nd, having been chartered on that date in 1975. There were other things going on at the time! The Whitlam Federal Government was struggling to get Supply through the Senate, an action that ended in the famous "Dismissal". The Premier of Victoria was the widely respected Sir Rupert Hamer, and the Governor of Victoria was Sir Henry Winneke. The Tasman Bridge in Hobart had collapsed earlier in the year. Medibank had just been introduced and Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia. North Melbourne had defeated Hawthorn by 9 goals 1 behind in the VFL Grand Final, in front of 110,551 spectators. The Balibo Five had tragically fallen victim to Indonesian troops invading East Timor, and it was the wettest month since at least 1900, when records began.
 
And while all that was going on a group of eight Hawthorn Rotarians and nineteen prospective new Rotarians gathered at the home of Bib Stillwell, Hawthorn Rotary Past President, to discuss the establishment of a new club, The Rotary Club of Glenferrie. And what happened next? Read on by clicking on "Read more..."

30 Years On
A History of The Rotary Club of Glenferrie 1975-2005

By Llewellyn Jones, David Sutherland, John Wischer and Geoffrey Wood

The Club was granted a Charter by Rotary International on October 22nd, 1975. The first President was Jack Balloch, previously a member of the Rotary Club of Kew. Roy Jackson was the first Secretary. The first Treasurer was a young man named Don Moore who, as we all know,  is still a very active member of the club today.
 
There were thirty members inducted as Charter Members of the club. In addition to Don, Ian Dobson was a Charter Member who is still Active today, and Llewelyn Jones maintains a connection with the club in 2020 as an Honorary Member.
 
The history of the  Rotary Club of Glenferrie was recorded ten years
ago in a special publication to mark the first thirty years since it's establishment. The story below is an extract from the club's history, authored by four outstanding Glenferrie Rotarians, recounting the events leading up to the Chartering of the Club, on October 22nd, 1975
 

The Rotary Club of Glenferrie - 1975

The Rotary Club of Glenferrie is the third Rotary club to have been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn in its locality. The first was the Rotary Club of Camberwell, chartered in 1956, followed by the Rotary Club of Kew in 1967. The idea of canvassing support for a third new club in Hawthorn territory was first discussed early in John Head's year as president of Hawthorn Rotary in 1974-75. He and some of the older members of Hawthorn saw the need for further extending Rotary activity in the area, and their opinion was backed up by a request from District Governor Ted Atkinson (1974-75) to examine this idea. The suggestion resulted in the chairman of Hawthorn's membership committee, Jim Earle, forming a sub-committee in October 1974, comprising himself, John Head and Jack Cathie to consider the proposal. After detailed investigation by this group, in which more than 200 unfilled member classifications were identified, the Hawthorn board made a favourable recommendation in March 1975 to the District Governor and so the process of starting another club began.
 
Jack Cathie was charged with managing the preliminary work as the Governor's Special Representative. His first step was to make a detailed survey of all the businesses in the Hawthorn municipality in May and early June 1975. At the same time, organizational details such as club name, territory and meeting time and place were discussed. In due course, the Hawthorn board resolved that a new club should be formed, that no Hawthorn territory should be ceded, meaning Hawthorn and Glenferrie clubs would seek members from the same area, that the club would be based on dinner time meetings so as not to clash with Hawthorn and that the word "Hawthorn" should not appear in the new club's title. The name "Rotary Club of Glenferrie" was agreed on 29 July 1975.
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Presidential Theme for 1975-76
By the end of August 1975 about 90 prospective members had been identified, either from Jack Cathie's survey and direct approach or by recommendation from other Hawthorn members. A team of club members carried out interviews with the prospects, leading to 22 people indicating their interest. An introductory meeting came next, held in the home of Bib Stillwell, Hawthorn past president, at which 19 prospective members and eight Hawthorn members were present.
 
A preliminary meeting of the proposed Rotary Club of Glenferrie was held at "Tay Creggan", in Yarra Street Hawthorn, on 7 October for those who accepted membership. A week later an organizational meeting was held at Angelucci's Restaurant in Walpole Street, Kew, at which board members and office bearers were chosen.
 
Jack Balloch, a member of the Rotary Club of Kew since 1968, was asked by Jack Cathie to become the inaugural president. Others selected were Rick Alson, vice-president; Roy Jackson, secretary; Don Moore, treasurer; and John Cochrane, Llewellyn Jones, Ron Langford, Garry McIntyre, Barry Preston and Barrie Young, directors. Sponsorship documentation was completed the next day and given to District Governor Frank Newman (1975-76) for forwarding to Rotary International and The Rotary Club of Glenferrie was granted a charter on 22 October.
 
Formal presentation of the charter and induction of 30 members was carried out at a dinner in the Hawthorn Town Hall on Monday 24 November 1975 before a gathering of 280 friends, partners and fellow Rotarians representing 34 clubs, most of them in the then District 280 (later 980 and now 9800) but also from Districts 279 and 282. District Governor Frank Newman first inducted the charter president, Jack Balloch, who in turn inducted the other 29 charter members.
 
In his speech that evening, titled: What makes Rotary so special? Frank Newman identified two key factors for the future life of the club. 'The very first thing', he said, 'is the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service'. The second factor he noted was the opportunity to show leadership in the community, particularly in the area of youth. Rotarians were well placed to accept this responsibility.
 
Glenferrie was fortunate to receive commemorative gifts from several other Rotary clubs in honour of its new beginning. Club vice-president, Rick Alson, announced receipt of a gong and striker from the parent club, the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, a lectern from the Rotary Club of Collingwood, the president's collar from the Rotary Club of Kew, the guest speaker's badge from the Rotary Club of Toorak and cheques from the Rotary clubs of Bentleigh, Brighton, Camberwell, Caulfield, Chadstone, Collingwood, Forest Hill, Ringwood and St.Kilda.
 
          Jack Balloch,
      Charter President
For the first few months of its life, the weekly meetings of Glenferrie continued at Angelucci's Restaurant. Then, in recognition of the need for a venue more suited to the regular dinner meeting format, a move as made to the Hawthorn Football Club Social Club, Linda Crescent, Hawthorn in May 1976 and this site represented home for Glenferrie for 16 years. In 1992 Club meetings moved to the Manresa Function Centre in Burwood Road, Hawthorn, and then, in November 2001 when this centre was closed for redevelopment, a move was made to Kew Heights Sports Club, in Barkers Road, Kew.
 
In its early days, the new Club chose not to undertake any major project, instead concentrating on fellowship and getting to know one another. Job talks given by members was one method used to achieve this.
 
 
With thanks to Glenferrie Rotarians Llewellyn Jones, David Sutherland, John Wischer and Geoffrey Wood, authors of "30 Years On", published in 2005 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie
 
Thank you for preserving our history.
 
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie was originally part of Auburn Cluster, comprising the Rotary clubs of Boroondara, Glenferrie, Hawthorn, Kew and Kew on Yarra (later Yarra Bend)
             
The Club's major fundraiser for 28 years from 1978 to 2004 was the annual River Run, which commenced at the now demolished Dorchester near Princes Bridge, following a route along the Yarra River to finish either at The Association of the Blind or the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Glenferrie Road, Kooyong