I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Noble Park-Dingley since 1985 and recently attended the Club’s 60th birthday celebrations in Dingley. What an amazing day it was with many current and former members of the Club celebrating the many highlights and achievements during our 60 years in existence.
The Club was Chartered on the 15th of June 1965 with a membership of 27, with the well-known local identity and hardware store owner Harry James as the Charter President. In 2017 the Club changed its name to the Rotary Club of Noble Park-Keysborough to recognize the developing suburb of Keysborough and in 2020 following the historic merger with the 41-year-old Rotary Club of Dingley Village we are now known as the Rotary Club of Noble Park-Dingley.
The suburbs of Noble Park, Keysborough and Dingley Village had changed in the 1970’s from farmland consisting of market gardens and dairy and beef cattle farms to areas of housing development and a growing population as southeastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Much has been achieved in the Rotary Club’s sixty-year history, and more than three million dollars has been raised and distributed to needy community and international projects as well as supporting youth and vocational needs. Working together on Rotary projects has brought enduring and lifelong friendships and knowing in a small way that you are contributing to make our world a better place is the most wonderful and amazing feeling you can imagine.
Joining a local Rotary Club will be the experience of a lifetime, a roller coaster ride and an amazing journey. Your only regret is that maybe you will think “I wish I had done this sooner”. Oh! What a wonderful world it is to be when you are a Rotarian.
PE PP Ron Damon
