Projects and Accomplishments
The First Forty Years. A History of the Rotary Club of Belconnen A.C.T. Incorporated, details the many achievements made by the Club. Without doubt, the establishment of the Trash and Treasure market at the Jamison carpark in September 1974 has provided the funding for disbursement to numerous worthy community organisations and individuals over the years. The commitment by Club members, and Rotarians from other Canberra Rotary Clubs, is mind boggling, bearing in mind that the market is manned by rostered Rotarians from the Club every Sunday of the year (unless Christmas Day should fall on a Sunday). Some $5 million has been raised over the years, much of it being disbursed in the Canberra area.
The first major project that the Club endorsed was to assist with development of Girrahween Lodge for aged people in Braddon. In 1977 an amount of $80,000 was committed, which went towards construction of fourteen units; this was soon followed by hands on work by Club members who formed a landscape team to beautify the outside of the Lodge (and their work was highlighted on local TV). Thereafter, significant funding was provided to the Red Cross to enable that organisation purchase a refrigerated van for the carriage of blood transportation within the ACT; significant funding was provided to the ACT Helicopter Rescue Service. In 1983/84 the Club was involved in another major project, provision of emergency accommodation (5 units and an associated communal TV lounge) at the Royal Canberra Hospital.
The Club was also instrumental in establishing the Rotary Collection of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia in 1986, which allows the NGA to purchase works to support emerging Australian artists from funds provided annually by the Club.
In 1995/96 funding was provided to establish Rotary Cottage at Calvary Hospital as emergency accommodation. The cottage was extended in 2005/06 to cater for a growing need by people having loved ones in the hospital that they could be close to.
The achievements go on and on. For those interested, reading the history of the Club is an eye-opener.
Go ahead and read our history (290 pages, 11Mb, pdf).