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In
1961 when action was being taken to form the North Launceston club,
the expansion of the Rotary movement did not seem to have the high priority
of more recent years. Launceston club was part of District 282 which
included the whole of Tasmania and South Eastern Victoria. The District
Governor was Albert A. Freak of Devonport and it is not known whether
the idea was his or some individual in the Launceston club. Launceston,
with a membership of 114, was formed in 1924 and had previously been
active in forming Devonport (1928) and Deloraine and George Town (1956).
In
July 1961 Bert Freak appointed P. P. Eric Padman as his special representative
to investigate the formation of a club in the North Launceston area.
Concurrently he appointed P RJohn Grove to investigate the South Launceston
area. During the period from July to September 1961 an extensive survey
was carried out by Eric Padman and his committee and approval to proceed
was granted. On 8th November 1961 a meeting was held with a nucleus
of prospective North Launceston members. This took place in Dick Newby's
office in the Toppa Products buildings in Lindsay Street. Much of this
complex still remains and the actual building where his office was located
is now occupied by Spartan Paints and other businesses and is about
opposite the junction with Holbrook Street. On 11th December 1961 a
meeting was attended by 15 of the then 17 prospective members. On 24th
January 1962, 18 of the 24 prospective members met with experienced
members of the Launceston club for Rotary information discussions. These
two meetings were at Brooks High School.
On 30th January 1962 an organisational meeting took place in the presence
of District Governor Bert Freak, President Max Cleaver of Launceston
and other senior Rotarians. Twenty prospective Rotarians of the new
club attended and it was at this meeting that the provisional club was
formed and elections were held. The application for membership in Rotary
International was submitted by the club on 2nd February 1962 and indicated
office bearers and directors as follows:
President:
Orm Deacon
Secretary: Des Miles
Vice President: Harold Panitzki
Treasurer: Geoff Smith
Directors: Dick Newby and Reg Sidnell
Sergeant-at-Arms: Ray Johnston
The
names of those later to become Charter Members
are listed below:
Atkins
John Religion - Anglican
Baird A. Ross - Timber Distributing
Clark Harry - Meat Retailing
Deacon Ormond - Dentistry
Dalton Vincent - Postal Services
Gregory Oliver - Groceries Retailing
Homer Ronald - Education Church Schools
Heathcote Athol - Upholstering
Johnston (Ray) - Savings Banking
Lacy Ernest - Hardware Retailing
Miles Desmond - Automobile Retailing
Patterson (Eddie) - Port and Dock Operation
New R. Geoffrey - Bearing Manufacturing
Newby Richard (Dick) - Butter Manufacturing
Panitzki Harold - Drapery Retailing
Parkinson Jack - Hotels
Poxon Howard - Structural Shape Manufacturing
Sidnell Reginald - Joinery Manufacturing
Skinner William - Pilot Service
Smith Geoffrey - Education Secondary
Wing Laurie - Pharmacy
Warren Bryan - Concrete Products Manufacturing
John Gunson (Medicine, General Practice) was included but he did not
subsequently join.
A
Board meeting of the new club was held on Ist February 1962 at 89 Invermay
Road which was the site of Mark Cook Cars managed by Des Miles. It is
now Modern Cars Mazda. At this meeting Eddie Patterson was added as
a Director. Making a total of 7. |
