Our Beginnings and History

In July 1956, a meeting was held at the Camberwell Town Hall . At this meeting, presided over by District Governor's Special Representative Alan Patterson of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, it was agreed that a Rotary Club should be formed in the City Of Camberwel

A preliminary meeting of prospective members was held on Tuesday, September 11th, 1956 when territorial boundaries were decided, application forms signed and the entrance fee of eight guineas ($16.80) paid.

The initial meeting of the PROVISIONAL ROTARY CLUB OF CAMBERWELL was held on September 28th 1956, at the Whitehorse Inn, Whitehorse Road , Balwyn and office bearers were elected . The Foundation President was Ian Hammond Barnes.

The Rotary Club of Camberwell Inc. was chartered in November 1956 and since then, it has played a prominent role in promoting the welfare of the local community and the world around us.

We are proud of our club which has sponsored the Rotary Clubs of Lilydale and Balwyn, and the Probus Club of Camberwell.
The Office Bearers of the Club are elected annually and include a President, President Elect, a Secretary, Treasurer and ‘avenues of service’ Chairs. The Rotary Club of Camberwell’s Avenues of Service are:

Vocational
Community
International
New Generations

These avenues concentrate on areas such as fundraising, membership drives, fellowship activities and establishing local and international community projects in which the Club is to be involved. The Club has contributed in various ways to many local, overseas and club projects which include:

Camberwell Rotary Art Show and Competition: One of Australia’s largest indoor art exhibitions.
Significant donations to local community centres
Homes for the aged and needy,
The annual Business of Winning Luncheon plus,
Support for Rotary youth leadership projects.
Donation of soup kitchen van to St Vincent de Paul.
Large donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Sponsoring exchange students from overseas.
Members providing overseas voluntary service.