Club Origins Arising from a desire to extend and develop the activities of Rotary in Ballarat and District, the Rotary Club of Ballarat decided to explore the possibility of the formation of an additional Rotary Club in Ballarat. Consequently, an initial survey of Ballarat and its immediate environs was made by Rotarians H.R.Clogan, C. Pope, W. Titheridge and L.F. North. This survey disclosed there was definite scope for the formation of a new Club, and a recommendation to that effect was made to the District Governor, who thereupon instructed the Rotary Club of Ballarat to proceed to bring a new Club into being. Past District Governor Les. North was appointed the District Governor's Special Representative, with power to organise the formation of the new Club.
President Andrew Berry of the Ballarat Club then appointed a Rotary extension Committee comprised of F.F.O'Brien, W.L.H.Taylor, W.Titheridge and L.F.North. At the same time, the Rotary Club of Ballarat released territory to enable the new Club to operate.
Initial approaches were then made to nine men who were selected as the core for Charter Membership, and it is gratifying that this resulted in a 100% response. Further contacts were made, and a series of meetings was held, with all those contacted attending, which culminated in the holding of an Organisation Meeting on the 23rd. of September 1958. That meeting decided to form a new club, which would be comprised of twenty eight Charter Members, with Kenneth C. Webb as President. The name chosen for the Club was "Wendouree".
The necessary application forms were then forwarded to the Secretariat of Rotary International, and the Club was admitted into membership on the 24th. October 1958. The Charter Night was held on the 29th. November 1958, with the attractive setting of the new Civic Hall as the venue. It proved to be a most successful function, with an attendance approximating three hundred, with representation from Clubs in our own and neighbouring districts and overseas. The District Governor, David Clarkson, made the presentation of the Charter and many gifts were received by the Club from other Rotary Clubs as a token of goodwill and fellowship.
It is indeed very pleasing to note the following quotation which appears in the annual report of the Rotary Club of Ballarat for 1958/59 :
"We are proud of the fact that our Club has been responsible for the bringing into being of a new Club which has already developed an excellent fellowship amongst its members, and also is beginning to make a marked contribution to the community through the four avenues of Rotary Service. We look forward to its continued development, and to working in close association with it in furthering Rotary's influence in Ballarat and district."