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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-22 Daily Xml
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Rotary

Adjourned debate on motion of the Hon. N. J. Centofanti:

That this council—

1. Recognises the Centenary Year of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand, launched at Government House in Canberra by the Governor-General His Excellency David Hurley and Her Excellency Linda Hurley, on 10 July 2020;

2. Recognises 21 April as the date on which the first Rotary Club in Australia was established in Melbourne in 1921, and the subsequent establishment of a club in Sydney in May of that year; and

3. Acknowledges the volunteer efforts, and successes, of Rotary members over the last 100 years, in providing aid of all sorts for those in need and expresses the deepest thanks and appreciation for their service.

(Continued from 12 May 2021.)

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (21:05): Noting that this matter first came for the recognition of the council on 10 July, and it is for forwarding today, I want to make a few brief comments on behalf of this side of the chamber in regard to the content of the motion.

For over 100 years, Rotary has been the centre of the world's togetherness, bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds so they can be closer to exchange ideas and form meaningful lifelong friendships. It was in the fifth year of last century that the Rotary Club of Chicago was formed, founded by Chicago attorney Paul Harris.

Harris was born in 1868 in Wisconsin, before relocating at the age of three to Vermont, where he was raised in the care of his parental grandparents. He attended the University of Vermont and Princeton University before receiving a law degree. He settled and practised law in Chicago. However, it was four years on when Harris met a fellow attorney in Bob Frank on the north side of Chicago.

It was while walking the streets of the north side of Chicago, admiring the surrounding small business owners, that Frank demonstrated acts of kindness to the many shopkeepers and businessmen, who impressed Harris as he had not seen such friendliness since moving to Chicago. This reminded him a bit of growing up in Vermont and triggered the thought of forming an organisation for local professionals.

Harris eventually persuaded several business associates to gather in a small office in downtown Chicago to discuss the foundations of what is now known as the first Rotary club meeting. Only a few years later, Harris was elected as the third president of the Rotary Club of Chicago. Harris was driven by the resistance of other club members to expand Rotary beyond the city. Harris persisted until he achieved his ambitions shortly thereafter, where Rotary expanded to several other major US cities, totalling 16 clubs across the nation.

But he did not stop there. He was determined to expand the organisation even further, acknowledging the need to form a national association, with an executive board of directors. The first national convention was held in Chicago, where Harris was elected as president of the National Association of Rotary Clubs, which is now known as Rotary International. Harris endeavoured to achieve his goal, resulting in the operation of Rotary clubs in six continents only 16 years after it was first founded.

The Rotary commitment still endures today, through an organisation that remains international. Since its establishment in 1905, Rotary has made remarkable history and has strived to bring our world closer together. Rotary is the largest non-religious global network consisting of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe in our communities and in ourselves. For over 100 years, Rotary has faced some of the world's toughest challenges and helped a wide range of international and local service organisations.

In 1911, the second Rotary convention in Portland, Oregon, approved the 'He profits most who serves best' as the Rotary motto. The wording was adapted from a speech that Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon delivered at the first convention, held in Chicago the previous year. The Portland gathering inspired the motto 'Service above self', conveying the philosophy of an unselfish volunteer service, which was officially established in 1989 by the Council on Legislation.

In 2004, 'He profits most who serves best' was modified to 'They profit most who serve best', and to its current wording 'One profits most who serves best' in 2010. Rotary members, as we can tell from their fast development and very keen method to get it right, are passionate, intelligent and determined individuals who have formed a great history of achievements. The fight to work towards a world of peace and health began with the fight against polio in 1979, where the project to immunise six million children in the Philippines was one of Rotary's many accomplishments—certainly something we could all aspire to today. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries, down from 125 in only 1988.

Australia ranks 10th in the total number of members for Rotarians across the world. There are over 25,000 Australian Rotarians and more than 1,000 clubs. In South Australia, the Rotary Club of Gawler, which was formed in 1954, has created many legacies, from establishing local parks and gardens to running a weekly market at the Gawler railway station and ensuring events such as the Gawler Show remain successful. From literacy and peace to water and health, Rotary is continuously working to better our world and to remain committed for many more centuries to come. Thanks very much for listening.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (21:10): I rise to thank the Hon. Justin Hanson for his contribution to this motion. I concur with the Hon. Justin Hanson's comments on the tremendous work that Rotary has done over many years. I am extremely proud to be moving this motion which congratulates Rotary Australia on celebrating 100 years of uniting people from around the globe, who take action to deliver long-term solutions to some of our world's most persistent issues.

It has been brought to my attention that we are extremely close to establishing the first parliamentary friends of Rotary group. I look forward to attending that inaugural meeting sometime towards the end of this year. As I have said previously, making a positive difference to the life of one person is a very good thing. Making a difference to a whole community, a whole country, is another thing altogether, and that is what Rotarians do. They develop leaders who have the spirit of their community at their heart and are committed to supporting those in need. Rotary deliver more and add great value to our society. With that in mind, I commend the motion to the house.

Motion carried.

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