Glenferrie is a peaceful sounding name evoking images of wooded slopes and distant waters with a small punt enabling its crossing.
Back in 1840, that image was about to change when a solicitor named Peter Ferrie built a property on the banks of Gardiners Creek, which he unsurprisingly named, Glen Ferrie. Soon, the abutting north-south access road became Glenferrie Road and the village to the north, originally called Upper Hawthorn, developed into today’s vibrant shopping and university precinct called Glenferrie, but much in need of a Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Hawthorn chartered the Rotary Club of Glenferrie on 22 October 1975 with two of the charter members still active in the Club. About one-third of the current membership is female, many holding active positions in the Club.
Not only in International, but it is in Community Service where the Club proudly excels with such projects as: “Chances”, which establishes scholarships for disadvantaged, but talented kids; the Hawthorn Men’s Shed; The Boroondara Family Network, which provides support for young families; and, the “Bread Run”, which involves collecting and distributing unsold bread from Baker’s Delight for the Salvos.
On the initiative of current President Dr Mark Ellis AM, the “Sumba Eye Program” was established in 2007 to deliver eye care for a community in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. For more information about this amazing program go to: www.sumbaeyeprogram.org
Rotary Glenferrie has regularly been recognised with the coveted Rotary International Citation, receiving a Platinum Distinction in 2019-2020.
The monthly Farmers’ Market is not only Glenferrie’s major fundraiser, but also a great opportunity for regular fellowship, until COVID-19 spoilt everything.
The members have enthusiastically adopted Zoom meetings, particularly once participants mastered the “unmute” button. Accordingly, the Club held a successful Trivia Night and more recently, a Wine and Cheese tasting night, augmented by small chat groups to include more isolated members–this is what Rotary is all about.