Rotarians from across KwaZulu-Natal will converge to celebrate a century of community service by the Rotary Club of Durban. The milestone event will take place in the Great Ilanga Room, Elangeni Hotel, Durban, on Saturday, 25 January.
According to John Johnson Webber, Public Relations Officer for the Durban Rotary Club, the celebration will commemorate a luncheon held in 1924, where Durban’s mayor, Walter Gilbert, brought together 43 prominent citizens active in local charity work. Among them were the founders of the Durban University of Technology, the Durban YMCA, and other notable landmarks.
“Out of that occasion arose a club that was officially chartered on 25 January 1925,” Webber added. “The club was singularly influential in city affairs, with most major developments in the rapidly growing city first piloted during the Rotary Club of Durban’s regular Tuesday lunches.”
Webber shared the club’s history, highlighting its achievements, including chartering 12 Rotary clubs and responding to Durban’s social needs. Notable initiatives include the creation of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, the Community Chest, TAFTA, Lifeline, and SANCA’s Lulama Treatment Centre.
The club’s unique conception enabled it to identify social needs and introduce innovations such as black schools eisteddfods, rural clinic radio communications, and prisoner rehabilitation.
During World War II, Rotary Anns (wives and partners of Rotarians) knitted 50,000 pairs of socks for troops. Post-war, club member Phillip Hind created ProNutro, a breakfast food addressing malnutrition, while Dr Fred Cluver developed fortified Bremer Bread.
Richard Cluver, a past Club President, reflected on the club’s camaraderie, saying, “It was amazing to see leaders from diverse backgrounds working together on projects beyond their individual skills levels.”
The Rotary Club of Durban is paving the way for a new generation through its Interact clubs at local schools.
The centenary celebration’s guest speaker will be Dr Raymond Perrier, Director of the Denis Hurley Centre.
For more information, contact John Johnson Webber on 083 457 9842.
