THE ROTARY Club of Hervey Bay is marking 70 years of community service, both locally and internationally, with a special anniversary dinner planned for September 24, 2025, at the Hervey Bay Golf Club.
Chartered on May 24, 1955, with sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Maryborough, the club began its journey with 23 charter members.
The inaugural president was Mr Arthur Proctor, a coal retailer, and the first secretary was chemist Mr Richard Winterflood.
The first meeting took place at the Hervey Bay Hotel during the 50th anniversary year of Rotary International.
Since then, the club has built a proud legacy of service, initiating a wide variety of impactful projects.
Over the years, members entertained visiting ship officers at the Urangan Pier, transported blood donors to Maryborough Hospital, erected fences around historical graves on Woody Island, and even built a house in a weekend to raise funds for the Pialba PCYC.
These activities reflect the club’s strong commitment to addressing both immediate and long-term community needs.
In 1991, the club funded and helped build the Fraser Island Ambulance Station at Happy Valley, which remains operational today.
A major fundraising highlight was the Rotary Living Expo, previously known as the Garden Expo, which ran until 2019.
Funds from this event supported the construction of Rotary House at Hervey Bay Hospital – a facility providing emergency accommodation for families of admitted patients.
This facility continues to offer crucial support during difficult times.The club’s work has evolved with the times, adapting to the needs of the local community while maintaining a strong connection to Rotary’s global mission.
In recent years, they’ve extended their outreach to support families affected by domestic violence, contributed to emergency relief during natural disasters, and fostered youth development through scholarships and mentoring programs.
The Rotary Z Bus in Hervey Bay offers safe sleeping spaces for those in need, operating at Apex Park on Friday and Saturday nights. The bus features eight private pods, each with a bed and camp toilet, Boarding from 8pm - 10pm.
The Hervey Bay City Club is involved in many projects: their overseas efforts include Nepal, India, New Guinea and Vanuatu (Santos). Locally, ongoing youth and community projects include the Hard Yakka Boot Camp for Youth, Community Flights, ZBus emergency sleeps, The Science and Engineering Challenge and Yoorana Domestic Violence Support and Care.
The club is deeply engaged in Rotary youth exchange programs (YEP), The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA), volunteers annually at the Local Ambulance Wheel, and provides flood relief and emergency assistance as community needs arise.
Today, the Rotary Club of Hervey Bay (following a 2016 merger with the original Hervey Bay Club) continues to serve through a mix of local and international projects.
Alongside sister clubs, they now manage the Maryborough Markets under Rotary Fraser Coast Events, raising vital funds for the region.
The club is calling on past members who would like to be part of the 70th anniversary celebrations to reach out by emailing secretary@rotaryherveycity.org.
This milestone is a testament to decades of service, driven by a dedicated group of Rotarians
