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Benalla is located 200 km north east of Melbourne (capital city of Victoria, Australia) adjacent to the Hume Freeway, the major road link between Sydney (capital city of New South Wales) and Melbourne.
It has a town population of about 9,000 people, and a district population of about 15,000 in a rural area of mixed farming together with some important local industries. It is within the Rural City of Benalla. Annual rainfall is about 700mm.
Benalla is situated on the Broken River, and the man-made Lake Benalla is a great enhancement in the central area of the town, as is the associated Botanical Gardens and the nearby Riverine bush area with its interesting walking trails.
It boasts a Botanical Gardens established in 1886 within which is a beautiful Rose Garden which has led to Benalla being known as the Rose City.
There is also a beautiful Regional Art Gallery in the Botanical Gardens. A monument to Sir Edward Dunlop, one of Australia's outstanding sons, has been erected in the Gardens, and is well worth inspection.
The headquarters of the Victorian Gliding Club in Benalla is testimony to the ideal climatic conditions which exist for gliding in this area. The Club Banner features a glider for this reason.
Ned Kelly, the notorious bushranger, lived in this area and his escapades are well known here. The local museum contains much about Ned.
Club Meetings
Meetings are held on Thursdays each week at Raffety's Restaurant at 6.00 for 6.30pm. Visitors, including spouses/partners, are very welcome.
The Club
The Club was Chartered on 25th November 1939 and had 23 Charter Members.
It now sustains a membership of about 85, including, currently, eight lady members. It is one of the largest, if not the largest Club in its District. It is renowned for its song singing at ordinary meetings, a practice which originated at the outset of the Club.
It has been very active in the local community throughout its existence. Some of its activities include:
- the establishment in Benalla, and the delivery of, Meals-on-Wheels every weekend of the year.
- catering at the Winton Racetrack for fundraising.
- catering at the Benalla monthly market for fundraising.
- active involvement in Group Study Exchange and Student Exchange.
- installation of runway lighting at the Benalla aerodrome.
- annual support financially and through working bees, for the Portsea Camp for Disadvantaged. Children. Each year, sponsorship from local businesses is arranged to enable attendance of 30 to 40 children at the camp.
- the construction of pergolas as part of the Benalla main street streetscape.
- the provision of Christmas decorations each year in the commercial area of Benalla.
- support for the Benalla and District Hospital.
- major assistance in 1993 for the victims of the disastrous flood which inundated large areas of Benalla.
- formation of both a Mens and a Ladies Probus Club, both of which were enthusiastically received by the community.
- numerous other projects.
- District Governors
The Club has enthusiastically supported from its membership, District Governors Stan Sullivan (1965/1966), Graeme Beck (1996/1997) and Syd Lewis (2001/2002).
Contact
The Rotary Club postal address is:-
PO Box 94,
Benalla 3672
Victoria Australia.
Contact may also be made through
Past President Brian Chandler;
phone (03) 5763 3395,
from overseas + 61 3 5763 3395
