CLUB HISTORY
The Rotary Club of Engadine was chartered on the 25th May 1973. As seen below the club's charter was presented by then District Governor Steve Turtle to Foundation President John Rowlands at Charter Dinner, held at the Australian Atomic Energy Commision
The Rotary Club of Engadine was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sutherland who after a number of extension surveys decided in December 1972 that the time was right to establish a club in Engadine . The following is an extract of a report by RI District 275 District Special Representative Past President Ed Brownscombe titled "Report on the formation of the Rotary Club of Engadine" and spoken by Ed Brownscombe at the Charter Night on the 25th May 1973 as follows :
Over the past ten years, Rotary International has raised the question almost annually of the possibility of forming a Rotary Club in Engadine, and on each occasion Our Club replied after carrying out a survey that Engadine was not ready for Rotary, because we felt that it had little in the way of industry, and in any case it was well served other service Clubs. I must confess that I was one that held this view.
On the 29th December 1972, a further Extension Survey was carried out by District Extension Chairman, Past District Governor Frank Main, Past President John Adlard and Past President Paul O' Keeffe. Their findings were that whilst the area which includes Engadine, Heathcote, Menai, Waterfall and the Lucas Heights Establishment was mainly residential and commercial , it is an expanding area with over eighty possible classifications, and they were of the opinion that a strong balanced club could be formed. It was also suggested that as the bulk of the membership for a start should come from Engadine, that the Club should be called Engadine.
My own CIub, at its regular meeting on the 31st January 1973, agreed to the revision of its territorial limits to allow for the formation of a club at Engadine .District Governor Steve Turtle, on the basis of this report, and on the Sutherland's decision to cede the territory, then decided that organisation work should be undertaken immediately, and I was appointed as his special representative.
The Organisational meeting of the new Club was held on Monday, 12th March 1973, with 26 Charter applicants in attendance, twenty four of whom have their place of business situated with the club territory, and two are residentially qualified. Only one has previously been a member of a Rotary Club.
On the 19th April 1973, the Provisional Rotary Club of Engadine was admitted as a member club of Rotary International, and has meet regularly each week since that time.