Historical information

Rotary began in 1905 in Chicago as an organisation to build connections between professional people through service to the community community. The name Rotary was chosen to reflect that positions of power within the organisation would be rotated to avoid any one person or group having too much influence on the organisation's decisions. The organisation was renamed the International Association of Rotary Clubs in 1912 after groups were formed in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Groups in non-English speaking countries such as Cuba and the Phillipines were formed later that decade. Only men could become members until 1989.

The first Rotary group in Australia was formed in Melbourne in 1921. The name Rotary International was adopted at the first Australian convention in 1922. Rotary Melbourne is associated with the formation of some key Victorian and national services, such as the crisis counselling service LifeLine, heart disease services at Baker Medical Research Institute at the Alfred Hospital and Very Special Kids.

The Rotary Club of Emerald and District was formed in March 1980.

Museum records indicate that one of the two men pictured in the photograph is named Ron Bevan.

Significance

The item is significant as it captures a moment in the early history of a community association that has contributed to the development and social infrastructure in the Emerald area.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper. The item is a black and white portrait-orientation photograph depicting two men aged approximately sixty years old wearing suits and ties at a podium in a wood-panelled room. The podium has been draped with a cloth bearing the Rotary International symbol and three other logos. The man on the right of the image appears to be reading from a paper held in his hands. The man on the left of the image seems to be listening to the remarks; he is wearing what may be a Rotary International medallion on a ceremonial ribbon around his neck and therefore may be receiving an award or other form of recognition on the occasion the photograph was taken. Museum records indicate that one of the men pictured is named Ron Bevan.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
ROTARY /
INTERNATIONAL /