Rotary ClubsThe Rotary Club of Malvern is one of the leading Melbourne Rotary Clubs

At the beginning of 1957, eight members of the Rotary Club of Prahran, who lived in the City of Malvern, suggested to their Club Board that they should sponsor a new Rotary Club in Malvern. These two potential Rotary Clubs continued under the leadership of Dudley Lucas, it took til June 17, 1958 for the decision to be made and acted upon.

With 28 prospective members, a preliminary meeting was held in the Central park Kiosk on April 25, 1959.  The formal resolution to form the Club was made and accepted at the Organisational Meeting on May 13, 1959.

With Dudley Lucas, as President and Frank Vale, as Honorary Secretary, the first meeting of the Provisional Rotary Club of Malvern was held.

On May 27, 1959 in the Malvern Town Hall the Official Charter was presented.

During the First Year, the Club banner was designed by Keith Tweedale and the Club had to seek Rotary International approval as the official Rotary Wheel is displayed flat, whilst Keith’s wheel is oblique  -  indicating that Rotary is progressive, particularly the Rotary Club of Malvern.

Also in the first year, the Club proposed a young man, Alan Gregory, as a Rotary Foundation scholar.  In 1960, Alan went to study at the University of Bombay, India.  In the latter years, we have sponsored further Foundation Scholars – now called Ambassadorial Scholars.

The club has made an enormous contribution to the local Community through

  • MECWA (Malvern Elderly Citizen’s Welfare Association), Weeroona House (Salvation Army),

  • The Spastic Society (now known as SCOPE Vic),

  • Epworth Hospital, a mobile resource unit for the Diabetes Foundation with the donation of a caravan for test purposes,

  • The Malvern Playgroup for Handicapped children,

  • The Alfred Hospital Burns Unit (1994-95),

  • Very Special Kids,

  • Operation Alfro – funding for the Hyperbaric Unit
    and much, much more.

Under Vocational and Youth we have presented
Apprenticeship Awards,

  • had Exchange Students in and out,

  • had a very strong Rotaract Club for many years,

  • have assisted with post-graduate degrees for teachers,

  • sent young people on Rotary Youth Leadership Camps (RYLA),

  • Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment Camps (RYPEN),

  • attendance at the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA),

  • sent students to The National Youth Science Forum for 2 weeks in Canberra,

  • and the Siemens Science Experience, a 2-3 day program.

Over the years our Club has been instrumental in forming 4 Probus Clubs – in 1983 an all male Club, in 1990 an all ladies Club, in 1993 another ladies Club, and in 1996 a fourth Club for men and women.

Ladies entered the ranks in May 1991 and the first Lady President was inducted in 1997-98.

Fellowship and Fundraising compliment each other in the Club -  wine auctions, sporting nights, jazz evenings, concerts, movies, dinners at restaurants, home hosted dinners, the Malvern Mini Marathon, Christmas and other parties and of course, car parking for the Kooyong Tennis Tournaments.

In all  -  a Great Club, Great People and Great Projects with which to serve our community, both locally and internationally.