OAMARU ROTARY CLUB CENTENNIAL BOOK
March 5, 2025
Formed in 1925, the Rotary Club of Oamaru, Charter no. 2046, will celebrate 100 years in April 2025. Among functions planned for the centennial will be the official launch of their celebratory centennial publication: Rotary Club of Oamaru, 100 Years of Service, 1925-2025.
Researched and written by Oamaru journalist/author, Jacquie Webby with co-researcher/co-editor Jill Grenfell, cover photography by Bruce Dow and printed by Brackens Print in Oamaru, the 68-page book traces the early history of the Club, the founding fathers, where initial meetings were held and the many milestones that club has celebrated since it was formed.
The book will be officially released and launched at the Rotary Club of Oamaru's Centennial celebration function on Saturday, April 12, 2025. It is under embargo until that date.
Rotary International was formed in 1905 and claimed to be the first of the service clubs. “Service Above Self” has been one of the mottos of the club, and in 2025, the over-arching promise is “Together We Connect” - Rotary International – People of Action.
In 1920, George Fowlds, KBE, visited the USA where he attended a Rotary meeting. Returning to New Zealand he wrote to the then Rotary International General Secretary Chesley R Perry requesting further information.
The name “Rotary” stems from the USA where Fowlds, having attended Rotary meetings, noted that meetings were held at the offices of members in rotation, hence the name “Rotary”.
Work by Fowlds saw the establishment of the first Rotary Club in New Zealand (in Wellington), on June 7, 1921). Subsequently, Fowlds held a meeting in Auckland in an effort to establish an Auckland branch. Fowlds was elected President of the Auckland Club (Charter #915).
The formation of Wellington and Auckland clubs saw the launch of Rotary Clubs in other New Zealand towns and cities: Christchurch 1922; Dunedin and Hamilton 1923; Invercargill, Whanganui, Napier, Hastings and Palmerston North, 1924. Other clubs followed: Oamaru, Hawera, New Plymouth, Whangarei and Masterton, all in 1925.
The Rotary Club of Oamaru, like many other Rotary Clubs in New Zealand, owes it formation to the man dubbed “The Father of Rotary in New Zealand” - George Fowlds. So keen was Fowlds to see the formation of the club in Oamaru that he arranged a meeting venue and the catering!
One evening in March 1925, a number of prominent citizens gathered at the home of Colin Littlejohn's home in Oamaru (Littlejohn was, at the time, one of Oamaru's leading businessmen), to meet the Hon. George Fowlds and to hear from him something about Rotary, what it was and what it stood for.
From that meeting, and with sponsorship by the Rotary Club of Dunedin, came the formation of the Rotary Club of Oamaru with first President John Meggett Forrester.
The first meeting of the new club was held at Bartrum's Tea Rooms (now the Oamaru Mail/Otago Daily Times offices) in Thames Street, Oamaru on April 1, 1925.
Officers of the Rotary Club of Oamaru were JM Forrester (President), BB Walton (Vice-President), CW Kerr (Secretary), WK Tomlinson (Treasurer); Directors RK Ireland, I Dalmer, RA McDonald and Dr A Douglas. Two of the other members were J McDiarmid (of McDiarmids Shoes), and F Milner (later Rector of Waitaki Boys' High School).
The Rotary Club of Oamaru was the 13th Rotary Club to be formed in New Zealand and the charter document dated May 12, 1925, which followed the formation of the Club on April 1, 1925.
Paul Harris (who is credited as the man with the vision of Rotary), (1868-1947), is honoured each year by Rotary Clubs with the awarding of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow award to both Rotarians and others in the charter area communities who have, sometimes over decades, given and continue to give generously of their time, resources and efforts towards Rotary causes. The award is often boosted by recipients being given a Sapphire Pin, noting further services to Rotary. Among the Sapphire Pin holders are Ross Mitchell, (Oamaru); Blair Middlemass (formerly of Oamaru); Ken Tierney (Oamaru); Peter Robinson (Oamaru); and, Gordon Martin (Oamaru).
Harris and his wife Jean, visited Oamaru in October 1935, as part of a whistle stop tour of New Zealand and was met at the Oamaru Railway Station by the Mayor Mr MFE Cooney. He had earlier planted a tree in Christchurch which still stands today, highlighted by a commemorative plaque.
Since its formation, members of the Rotary Club of Oamaru have carried out a number of community projects, including their principal fundraiser, the annual Bookarama. First held in in 1974, it has grown from those early days and in 2024, over $56,000 was raised.
Toyarama, also run by the Oamaru Rotary Club, was first held in 2023 with toys of all shapes, sizes and styles, finding new homes. A second Toyarama was held in 2024 with great success.
In 1971, the Rotary Club of Oamaru celebrated 50 years with the establishment of the Rotary Club of Oamaru Trust. The Trust was designed to provide a fund whose annual revenue would help assist in cases of local need. Current President of the Trust is Peter Robinson.
The Trust has to date, funded a number of causes including the vehicle for the Oamaru Kindergarten to collect children attending their various kindergartens; $50,000 to the new Network Waitaki Event Centre; “Lighting Up” the Craig Fountain; Overain Cancer Research; a chemo chair for cancer patients at the Oamaru Hospital; a 3-D Printer for the Oamaru Library; repanting Ohau after the disastrous fire; the Oamaru Toy Library; funding Future Forward leaders including Emma Spittle, Finn McKinley and Jocelyn Fellows to attend a variety of educational projects; $15,000 for the restablishment of the childrens' playground at the Oamaru Gardens, and, Disc Golf, a popular new sport. For 2025, principal project for the Rotary Club of Oamaru Trust will be the Rotary Centennial Grove, a special planing located nearby the Observatory Village in Oamaru.
In 1975, a second Rotary Club was formed in Oamaru – the Rotary Club of Waitaki. Chartered on October 22, 1979, the Rotary Club of Waitaki existed as its own entity until it amalgamated with the Rotary Club of Oamaru in 2014. Under the title of the Rotary Club of Waitaki, the club carried out several projects including the restoration of the overhead footbridge at the Oamaru Harbour; lighting the Brydone Memorial at Totara Estate and the installation of a telecope at Lookout Point.Another project, driven by author, historian and farmer Lyndsay Malcolm, QSM, was the dedication of the World War II Memorial Plaques which are located at the entry of the Garden of Memoies.
In 2000, after a change of constitution in 1989, Rotary Club of Oamaru welcomed its first woman President Ms Adrienne M Lambeth, who was also Deputy Principal of Waitaki Girls' High School. Since then, she has been followed by Anne M Hore (2005-2006) and Helen M Webster (2009-2010).
The book also includes special memories of both Rotary Clubs from long-serving members – Stewart Anderson, Gilbert Ellery, Gordon Martin and Brian Perkins and congratulatory messages from various officer bearers and officials. These include Stephanie A Urchick, President, Rotary International 2024-2005; Dave McKissock, District Governor 2024-2025 Rotary District 9999; Gary Kircher, Mayor for Waitaki; and, Miles Anderson, MP for Waitaki, plus Rotary Club of Oamaru 2024-2025 Malcolm Walker and Past-President and Centennial Co-ordinator, Ian Wallace.
Leading the Rotary Club of Oamaru Centennial Committee is immediate Past President Ian Wallace. Contact 0272 803016, email i.j.wallace@xtra.co.nz; with Ele Ludemann - ele@ludemann.co.nz; or Helen Webster - Websterfamily@xtra.co.nz
Current President of the Rotary Club of Oamaru is Malcolm Walker – 022 378 9605, with incoming President Miles Koberstein.
About the author: Jacquie Webby is an Oamaru-based journalist and author who has researched and written a number of books about local history including “The Works: - the history of Alliance Pukeuri; 150 years of the North Otago A&P Show; and, the history of the Oamaru Kindergarten Association, together with several private commissions. Born in New Zealand, she lived and worked outside New Zealand for a number of years including the UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia and is the winner of 12 international awards for communication, marketing and public relations. In her corporate career, she was Public Relations Manager for Tasman Forestry, part of Fletcher Challenge; Creative Writer/Director at a number of radio stations, including Radio Hauraki; and, a former journalist at the Oamaru Mail. She is also the winner of 12 international awards for public relations/communications/marketing and design.
