Stories

The Rotary Club of Ross River support The Townsville Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Unit (A.E.I.O.U). Our club support local annual events and have assisted the Townsville A.E.I.O.U with many small projects as outlined below.

Our club has supported the “Take A Hike” fun run each year with the aim of raising funds to enable them to provide a much-needed service to the community. The Rotary Club of Ross River support this event every year by helping set up, cooking a BBQ, serving hot coffee and packing up. This year the organisers had a record number of participants. As part of our community service the Rotary Club of Ross River provides sausage sandwiches and hot coffee to the runners and walkers at the completion of the course.

We have been associated with AEIOU and this event for a number of years and some of our members even participate in the run!

The Rotary Club of Ross River donated a donga to A.E.I.O.U for interview rooms that could be separate from teaching rooms. Our club completed the foundation design and preparation of construction design sketches. As well as the supervision of foundation construction and installation of the donga.

The Rotary Club of Ross River sponsored the application for funding from Gambling Community Benefit Fund which was successful.

The Rotary Club of Ross River supported the reconstruction by providing donations of construction machinery for handling materials.

The Rotary Club of Ross River supported the construction of the ground slab and erection of the shed.

The recently constructed Headspace building on the corner of Ross River Road and Riverway Drive in Townsville is a project that the Rotary Club of Ross River is very proud of. Our club supported this project by providing over 400 man hours over a three year period (2012-2014). The Rotary Club of Ross River were an integral part of the process in delivering the construction of the building by providing the Headspace parent body with assistance in:

• Seed funding to enable access to a Federal Government grant.
• Working with Headspace and Townsville City Council to secure a building site.
• Working with the town planners to change site zoning.
• Preparation of initial building layout sketches to facilitate architectural drawings.
• Working with Headspace to assess tenders to select successful Building Contractor.
• Provision of experienced business and construction supervision personnel for the building review panel as required by the conditions of the grant.

Headspace provides FREE confidential health services for young people aged 12 - 25 across Townsville and surrounding areas. Headspace is about making sure young people have the best support, information, and services for their health and wellbeing. This service has one that was needed in Townsville and The Rotary Club of Ross River were determined to see it succeed.

Acting on the initiative of the Rotary Club of Ross River with the support of District Governor Charles Bopf, a project was launched to promote the construction of residences at James Cook University in Townsville to house international students. Stage one would house approximately 40 students with their own self catering facilities and cost about AUD$ 1.2 million.

DG Bopf set up a district committee to promote the project. Support was not unanimous as some northern groups wanted to see the residence in their region. Nevertheless, the work proceeded.

Ross River Rotarian Ted Dews facilitated the project and obtained University approval and support.

Townsville Architects were commissioned and construction was commenced after the foundation stone was unveiled by World Rotary President Royce Abbey (an Australian) on 11th December 1988.

The first students occupied the new residence, Rotary International House (RIH), in 1990.

Rotarians have continued to support RIH, having representation on the management committee for many years and have occasional onsite meetings there.

The university has since extended the House to cater for 118 students.

n 1983 initial discussions were held with the Qld Cancer Fund and it was decided that there should be an accommodation unit constructed for out of town patients receiving cancer treatment at the Townsville General hospital.

In 1986 Ross River Rotary Club President Russ O’Malley committed our club to be the main driver in implementing the construction of the Lodge and made this our major project for the year.

After years of negotiations the club committed to raise $125000 and with other donations from the GLUYAS Estate and the Breakwater Casino Community Fund , land was purchased at 24 Warburton Street near the Hospital.

In 1989 with the help of other clubs well over $500000 was raised and our club member Barry Eames prepared the architectural drawings. In 1990 Club President Gary Lillycrap helped lay the foundation stone.

Club working bees prepared the site for construction and Barry subsequently supervised the work.

The Lodge was opened in 1991 and the club continued with working bees to help maintain the property for some years later.