History of Rotary
Rotary members have been addressing challenges around the world for nearly 120 years.
Rotary started with the vision of one man: Paul Harris. On 23 February 1905, Paul Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in downtown Chicago for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting. The idea behind these meetings was to enable professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.
Paul Harris and the expansion beyond Chicago
In February 1907, Paul Harris (far right) was elected the third president of the Rotary Club of Chicago. Toward the end of his club presidency, Harris worked to expand Rotary beyond Chicago. By 1910, Rotary had expanded to several other major U.S. cities.
Paul Harris died after a prolonged illness on 27 January 1947, at age 78. Before his death, he made it known that he preferred contributions to The Rotary Foundation in lieu of flowers. These days, contributions to the Foundation are encouraged by Paul Harris Fellow recognition and the Paul Harris Society.
The world's first Service Club
Early on, Paul Harris realized that Rotary needed a greater purpose than just business networking and “fellowship”. In 1907, he persuaded the Chicago Rotary Club to initiate the establishment of public “comfort stations” (toilets) in the city of Chicago, to improve sanitation.
The club invited the city administration and every civic organization in Chicago to join them in this undertaking. Providing community service in this way saw the Rotary Club of Chicago become the world's first “service club”.
Rotary Spreads to Australia
In 1921, the International Association of Rotary Clubs decided to expand Rotary into Australia and New Zealand. Two Canadian Commissioners, Jim Davidson and James Layton Ralston, were sent to establish clubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington.
Davidson and Ralston arrived in Sydney on 22nd March, 1921 on board the Ventura. Finding Sydney on holidays for the Easter Show, they proceeded on to Melbourne. There they met with Sir John Monash and other business leaders to establish the Rotary Club of Melbourne on 21st April 1921. On returning to Sydney, the Rotary Club of Sydney was formed shortly thereafter.
Rotary Arrives in New Zealand
JL Ralston then sailed for Wellington, and one week later, Jim Davidson sailed for Auckland, arriving on 30 May 2021. The Rotary Club of Wellington became the first club in New Zealand, chartered on 7 June 2021.
Davidson held two small meetings the day after his arrival and invitations were sent to a selected few businessmen to a luncheon at the Pacific club on 2 June. The inaugural meeting of the Rotary Club of Auckland took place the following week on 13 June 2021 when Davidson presented the club with Charter #915.
A small selection of the life-changing impact Rotary has made in the South Pacific region and beyond…
- 1957 | University of Western Australia Medical School
To celebrate Rotary's 50th Anniversary, the Rotary Club of Perth sought a substantial community project. At that time, students in Western Australia wanting to pursue a medical career had to move to Adelaide or beyond to undertake studies, and many never returned - leaving WA with a shortage of doctors. It was decided to establish a medical school in Perth. The Medical School Appeal Fund was launched in September 1955 and raised more than £570,000 (the modern equivalent of more $17 million) at a time when the State's population was less than 640,000. A team of UWA staff, Perth Rotarians and doctors toured the State to garner support for the project. Country Rotary Clubs joined in and the fundraising target was exceeded in little more than 12 months.
See: UWA join Rotary 50th Birthday Celebrations
- 1959 | Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
In 1959, the State Government of Queensland invited local Rotary Clubs to help plan an event to help celebrate the upcoming centennial of the state. Princess Alexandra, who was in her early 20s was due to attend the celebrations, so activities were planned specifically for the princess’s age group. The Gundoo (an aboriginal word meaning “festival” or “fun together”) was deemed successful, with more than 300 men and women between the ages of 17 and 23 attending. Encouraged by the event’s popularity, Rotary saw potential to create an annual youth program based on Gundoo. The program spread, and was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971.