This month the Components Only and @ The Coalface $500 Community Gift goes to the Clermont Rotary Club. Each month we look for an organisation that is doing new and amazing things in the community and the Clermont Rotary Club came on our radar.
Although it’s barely a year old, the Clermont Rotary Club has a legacy stretching back to 1957 when the original Clermont Rotary Club was chartered.
In 1969, the Rotarians restored an Aveling and Porter steam traction that had been used to winch buildings to a new township site after Clermont was destroyed by a flood in 1916. The steam traction engine had sat idle at a local gold mine and the Rotarians restored it to working condition. In then sat in Centenary Park until 1995 when the former Belyando Shire Council relocated it the Clermont Historical Centre and got it working again. The Isaac Regional Council is now the custodian of this precious part of Clermont’s history.
The former Clermont Rotary Club left a lasting legacy to the Clermont community and in doing so, saved an importance piece of the town’s history being lost. Unfortunately, low membership forced the club to close in 1995.
In early 2022, Rotarian Terry Daley, who is a Past District Governor of Rotary, had a vision to revive Rotary in Clermont and the Clermont community made his vision a reality.
The new Rotary Club was quick to identify its first community project – refurbishing the parents’ room at the local shopping plaza.
Walls were repainted, a kettle was set up for parents to enjoy a complimentary cuppa and a playmat was found for young children to play on. The Clermont Rotary Club is keen to have the parents’ room airconditioned as well. This is where a $500 donation will make all the difference.
| Take a look at some Clermont Rotary Club’s projects. The Clermont Rotary Club’s first official function was catering for the Long Drive for Drought convoy as it passed through the region in August 2022. The convoy comprised of about 50 Land Rovers being driven across Queensland to raise money for Drought Angels, who assist farmers and their families affected by drought. The Clermont Rotary Club partnered with the Clermont Men’s Shed to provide breakfast. The Clermont Rotary Club responded to an emergency call from organisers of the annual ‘Carols in the Park’ celebration when they needed to find a replacement to run a burger stall. Clermont Rotary took up the offer, borrowing the Clermont Men’s Shed barbecue and organising to cater for 100 burgers. Residents of MonCler – Clermont’s Aged Care Home, received a pleasant surprise from Clermont Rotary when the Club donated a pair of Rotary Red Socks to each of the 22 residents. The Rotary Red Socks aim to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Clermont Rotary members can be seen at Clermont’s monthly market holding a $200 board to raise funds for a nominated local charity and promote Rotary to the community. The Clermont Rotary Club is aiming to help the Clermont Hospital Auxiliary fundraise for purchasing a $30,000 slit lamp for the Clermont Multipurpose Health Centre. The previous Clermont Rotary Club was a strong supporter of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, and the new Clermont Rotary Club is working to revive this program in Clermont in the near future. Membership is open to men and women aged 18 years and over and the Clermont Rotary Club meets weekly at the Grand Hotel. www.facebook.com/rotaryclermont/ |
