Membership of Rotary International granted 18th. August, 1954. Charter ceremony held 2nd. October, 1954

26 members * much pomp and ceremony * approximately 200 guests.

Throughout the life of the club, the Rotarians of Nambucca Heads have maintained involvement in a wide range of activities, both locally and internationally, in the true spirit of Rotary International.

All local schools, hospital, nursing homes, charity and welfare organisations continue to receive support from the club, as they have done throughout its history.

In January 2000, the Club received the Nambucca Shire Council Award for Service to the Community.

Specific local community achievements over the years include Noel Mclung Library, Town Directory Board, Inner Harbour Boat Launching Ramp, concrete seats around town, safety rails outside primary school, Harvey Gordon Rotary Lookout, toilet block and other work at Coronation Park, sewerage connections to local Scouts and Girl Guides Halls, facilities (gas barbecues, shelter sheds, playground equipment, etc.) at Gordon and Beliwood Parks, Flagstaff Cemetery, Waterstop Programme, Riverside Gardens Walking Path (with Lions Club), Community Bus (with other organisations), and many others.

Some of the Club community projects/activities (some now, alas, defunct) include Easter Mardi Gras, Hibiscus Carnival, Street Rod Carnival, Picnic Races, Car Rally, Beard-growing competition, Christmas Lights Competition, Septemberfest, Octoberfest, annual visit of Senior Citizens to Azalea Festival at Bellingen, Clean Up Australia, R.S.L. Youth Club, Surf Lifesaving Club, Neighbourhood Centre, Spastic Centre, Life Education, Camp Creative, Red Shield Appeal, Red Cross Doorknock, Driver Reviver, annual Bowel Scan Program, and many more.

Community involvement has for many years extended into the Second Avenue of Service. The Club continues to honour deserving individuals by making awards of Citizen of the Month and Courtesy Certificates. Some dinner meetings are made the occasion of Vocational visits to such venues as the local Post Office, the Visitors Information Centre, the Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Surf Lifesaving Club, Austone Gravel producers, Riverside Gardens Retirement Village, Nambucca Heads High School, Goori Broadcasters of Radio Nambucca, the Historical Museum, and various local businesses.

The Club s considerable involvement in International projects began in 1957, well before the formation of F.A.I.M., when two members participated in a project in Indonesia. Since that time we have: Supported other projects in places such as Indonesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Celebes, Fiji, Solomon Islands, India, Ethiopia; been actively involved, through F.A.I.M., in projects in Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa and Vanuatu, winning the most recent District FA.I.M.

Involvement Award for the latter; participated in Youth Exchange Program since 1970,, for the past few years, the Matched Twins Exchange with New Zealand: Students hosted from Brazil, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, U.S.A., and West Germany; Students sponsored to Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Africa and West Germany; participated in Group Study Exchange since 1967: * sponsored Team Leaders to Canada/U.S.A., and Brazil; * sponsored Team Members to Argentina, Brazil, Southern California, and Switzerland; * hosted/entertained GS.E. teams from Argentina, Brazil, Central/Eastern Europe, England, Iceland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Scotland, Philippines, Southern California, U.S.A, Canada, West Virginia, Florida; sponsored Rotary Foundation Scholar in Journalism to U.S.A. participated in Rotary Friendship exchange, hosting of visiting teams from U.S.A. (New York State, Colorado), Canada, Sweden, India, New Zealand and South Africa, and visits by our members to U.S.A., Sweden, England and France, as part of District 9650 Teams; provided, since 1988, annual funding of a scholarship for deserving students of A.V. Ponnani High School in India; participated, and continue to participate, in the People to People Program.

In addition to this formal participation in programs, the club has had, particularly over the past fifteen years, considerable involvement with a wide range of other countries, thanks to its travelling members. These members have publicised the club, and Rotary in Australia, by speaking and distributing banners during personal visits to Rotary Clubs in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia (Bali, Java, Sumatra), Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, San Marino, Scotland, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, Wales, and even Norfolk Island and Tasmania, a truly international involvement.

Throughout its history, the club has taken an active part in programs and activities for youth, including specific Rotary programs such as RYLA, RYPEN, MUNA, RYAG Science Summer School and Public Speaking. We are particularly pleased to have had a student accepted at the most recent selections for the National Science Youth Forum.

During the past two or three years, thanks to the dedication and energy of some of our newer members, we have been supporting our own youth program which we call R.Y.C.O.N. (Rotary Youth Club Of Nambucca), and are hoping that the concept, based on the Duke Of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, may spread further.

For at least twenty years, the club has continuously supported the A.RH.R.F. and has received commendations from the district for that support. Similarly, the club has, over the past forty years, tangibly supported The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus, having donated well over $50,000 during that period, and having thirty- two persons, members and non-members, recognised as Paul Harris Fellows in that time.

Our Rotary Foundation activities have won several District trophies and commendations. Our small club has produced two District Governors and, for many years, has been well represented at District level, supplying both Chairmen and members of a wide range of District Committees. Currently we are represented at this level by six of our members, and P.D.G Garry Johnson has recently represented the District at the R.L Council on Legislation.

Ours became the first of the older, established clubs in District 9650 to admit lady members, when we inducted three ladies in 1992-93. We have never regretted taking what was, at the time, considered by some to be a radical and controversial step. That step has provided the club with several good Rotarians, very active members and four Presidents so far.

For fifty years, the Rotary Club of Nambucca Heads, like most other member clubs of Rotary International, particularly the small ones, has had its ups and downs. Problems of membership, attendance, suitable venues, catering, fund-raising, and so on, have been part of the club picture. The fact that we are tonight celebrating fifty years of existence is proof that, despite the difficulties, the Club has continued throughout those years to live up to the principles of Rotary, by providing Service Above Self in a wide range of Rotary endeavour. The members are proud that this diversity of service has been recognised by at least three RI Presidents, including last year s Johnathon Majiyagbe, each of whom has awarded us a Presidential Citation for Balanced Club Achievement. We are hoping for more such Citations. We may be small but, in the words of one of our lady Presidents on her departure from the chair, "this is a great club!"