Beenleigh Rotary is this year celebrating 70 years of helping its community.
“Reaching a 70-year milestone is quite the achievement for our club, and with such a long history also comes a long list of achievements our volunteers have contributed to over the years,” president-elect Rachelle Mulraney said.
“Personally, I’m so thrilled to be a part of this vibrant and dynamic club and working together with such a fabulous group of volunteers who give so selflessly to make a difference and do good in the world.
“Our mantra is ‘People of Action’ and every activity we complete absolutely puts this into action, no matter how small or big.”
On Friday night, the club has a 70th anniversary dinner at the Beenleigh Senior Citizens Centre.
There will be a three-course dinner and entertainment by six-piece band, Grumpy Old Men.
Just to touch on some items of significance over the last seven decades;
- held re-enactment of the landing of Captain Logan on the banks of the Logan River (1958): raised funds to donate a radio to the local Ambulance Branch
- power boat demonstrations on the Alberton Reach of the Albert River (1960): raised funds to start the Albert Rotary Park
- involved with the opening of the band rotunda in Centenary Park, Beenleigh (1964)
- participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (12-month exchange) multiple times
- assisted the homeless affected by the Brisbane and South Coast floods and cyclone Tracey (Darwin) (1974)
- ran first Beenleigh Rotary Arts Festival successfully held which ran for several years (1975)
- Crown land given to extend Albert Rotary Park – proceeds from last cane harvest on the site were used for park improvements (1975): boat ramp and brick toilet block
- a major force in the establishment of the Beenleigh Police Citizens Youth Club and donating $5,000 towards the project (1978-79)
- ran Mayfest, under the stewardship of President Geoff Kempe, a major fundraiser at the Beenleigh Rum Distillery: one year featured a young lady living in a caravan for a week on a high platform supported by four power poles
- ran the Beenleigh Rotary Arts, Crafts, and Quilt Festival successfully held 1997-2003
- donated $10,000 to have a rock climbing wall erected at the Beenleigh PCYC
- erected playground equipment at Mt Warren Park
- erected a footbridge at Trinity College
- stripped and painted the Red Cross house in the Show Ground
- brought children from the “outback” to the coast: some had never seen the ocean
- donated and distributed Christmas hampers
- supported the Health, Hunger, and Humanity programs of Rotary International
- constructed a covered deck on the old Beenleigh Railway Station at the Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum, sponsored by past Rotarian John Latham and Stratco
- donated a 4-Wheel drive vehicle to Hope Vale Mission North QLD
- contributed to the eradication of Polio from the globe – through the Polio Plus campaign
- contributed funds to Rotarians Against Malaria program
- erected combined community service club signs at the entry roads into Beenleigh (recently re-invigorated back to their original glory)
- donated ‘companion pets’ (lifelike stuffed toys) to local aged care homes to enrich resident lives.
- Published a children’s book on the local history of the Beenleigh area
- rehomed end of life hospitality towels to homeless, family and community organisations and animal care facilities keeping towels from landfill and giving them a second life
- renovated the gardens at the Palliative Care unit of Logan Hospital to give patients and families a place of peace to enjoy their last times together
- provided bursaries to local school students to assist in completing senior studies
- ran the annual Cane Queen Quest, Parade, and Festival: total funds raised and donated back to charities and like not-for-profit organisations is just short of $500,000, which after a hiatus has now been brought back and the Parade will next be running again on Saturday 13th May 2023.
