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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 was about 700mm but recent climatic changes seem to
have reduced this noticably.
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.
Benalla 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 Regional Art Gallery in the Botanical Gardens. A monument
to Sir Edward 'Weary' 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 80 plus, including, a number of
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 Benalla Racecourse for fundraising.
- catering at the Winton Racetrack for fundraising.
- active involvement in Group Study Exchange and Student Exchange.
- involvement in Rotary Friendship exchange.
- installation of runway lighting at the Benalla aerodrome.
- annual support financially and through working bees, for the Portsea Seaside Camp for Disadvantaged Children. Each year, sponsorship from local businesses is arranged to enable the attendance of 30 to 40 children at the camp.
- the construction of pergolas as part of the Benalla main street streetscape.
- ongoing support for the Benalla and District Hospital.
- major assistance in 1993 for the victims of the disastrous, and largest ever flood which inundated large areas of Benalla.
- formation of both a Mens, a Ladies and a mixed Probus Club, all of which were enthusiastically received by the community.
- other projects too numerous to mention.
- 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 3671
Victoria Australia.
or email: benalla@rotary9790.org.au
