Notable Events 1924-2011

Rotary Club of Hastings

Notable Events in Club History

7th April 1924   First meeting of the Rotary Club of Hastings at the Hastings Chamber of Commerce rooms. Officers and board appointed.

13th June 1924   Rotary Club of Hastings Chartered – Club No. 1796 and the ninth club in New Zealand

3rd February 1931   Club member Tom Gill was killed in the earthquake whilst attempting to rescue his staff. Most other members affected in some way, especially with damaged business premises. However the club was able to offer considerable assistance to the district.

1934   Following an address to the club on the subject “Forests and Birds” a public meeting was arranged by the club and attended by 300 people. As a result The Forest and Bird Society was formed with chairman Dr Bathgate, a club member.

1934   Establishment by the club of the Hawke’s Bay Crippled Children’s Society.

1935   Guest speaker Jean Batten addresses the club following her record- breaking flight from England to Australia.

1949   Establishment of the YMCA in Hastings.

1949   Silver Anniversary celebrated.

1953   Hastings Rotary Ballet Company formed. Men in tutus.

1958   Rotary Emblems erected at the northern and southern approaches to Hastings

1961   Meals on Wheels established in Hastings

1963   The Wishing Well was completed at Civic Square and presented to the City.

1963   Rotary Club of Havelock North chartered, having been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hastings.

1966   Rotary Club of Stortford Lodge chartered, having been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hastings

1970   A purpose-built trailer was presented to the Waimarama Surf Life-saving Club.

1974   Trees planted at The Redwoods on Te Mata Peak.

1974   Golden Anniversary celebrated

1974   Hastings Rotary Jubilee Trust (now the Hastings Rotary Charitable Trust) set up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the club. Original funding from building a house and using the proceeds from the sale.

1977   Past-president George Pacey the first Rotarian in the Hastings District to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship

1979   Camper trailer purchased for Hastings Intermediate school.

1983   Sundeck built for Cranford Hospice.

1983   Maze built at Fantasyland

1984   Gala at Fantasyland raised $8000 for a paddlesteamer.

1984   New railway station built at Fantasyland.

1995   Van purchased for the police to use in their “Dare“ education programmes.

2000-2008   A series of International dinners held to raise funds for various projects, especially the Rotary Pathways

2011   Fund raising dinner held, with guest speaker Olympic Gold medalist Rob Waddell, to provide 8 bench seats for the Rotary Pathway.