Family focus for new service club

By Lilly O’Gormon and Lia Bichel
ROTARY Clubs in Casey have welcomed the idea of a new club aimed at attracting younger families across the municipality.
The Rotary Club of Casey will cater to people with children, meeting for shorter periods, from about 6pm until 7.30pm, and running at a reduced weekly cost of $15.
Chairman of the working party and past district governor, Dennis Heslin, said the perception that all Rotarians were “old, conservative people who aren’t relevant to the community” was wrong.
“In 2003 there were 1.2 million Rotarians (in the world) and in 2010 that number was still the same. In order to do the work we do, we need the manpower to do it,” Mr Heslin said.
“The attraction of new members is very important to us, but we’re all getting older and we need to be relevant to the community.”
The working part has the support of the Rotary Club of Berwick, the Rotary Club of Cranbourne and the Rotary Club of Narre Warren.
Berwick club president Garry Cooper was thrilled with the initiative, which would allow members with young families to spend more time at home.
“The more people in Rotary the better, for both the community as well as the people that are members,” Mr Cooper said.
Rotary Club of Cranbourne president Paul Rice said: “The more Rotary Clubs in Casey, the better.”
“If it encourages young people to join and help, it’s a positive thing,” Mr Rice said.
“The perception of Rotary has got to change. We are not all old men and we need younger members and women in the club.”
Past president of the Rotary Club of Narre Warren Roger Hall also welcomed the idea.
“I think it is a good thing because it is a different approach to the club and attracts a different group of people,” Mr Hall said.
“I think it’s a step in th right direction. There is more flexibility in the cost and time. If we don’t attract new members, the club won’t exist in 15 years time.”
Member of the working party, Harry Hutchinson, said the club will be only the second trial in Australia, with the first in West Australia experiencing great success.
“The interest we have had has been fantastic,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“Even at this early stage we know we are going to have more than 30 members to start with.
“One of our aims is to create a family focus; as a person becomes a member his or her family becomes a member too.”
A general interest meeting will be held on 5 September. Contact Harry Hutchinson on 9796 2777 or 0428 897 404 for more information.