It was District Governor Brian Bowen, in 1988-1989, who suggested to PP Bob Eycken that Diamond Creek was a community deserving of a Rotary Club.

Bob was elected to be Chairman of the Membership and Expansion Committee for the Rotary Club of Eltham and he proposed to the Club that Eltham should sponsor this new club. Bob retained that responsibility for three years.

District Governor Maurice Denson, in 1990-1991, during a visit to the Rotary Club of Eltham mentioned to President Bill Penna that he was keen to see the project succeed. Eltham accepted the challenge in October 1990 an expansion committee consisting of Bob Eycken, Chairman; John McCrohan; Bruce Holland; Paul Gardner; Neil Marshall; Eric Johnson; Dave Sharman; Steve Barnwall and Robin Chapple was formed.

The next few months were spent researching classifications and listing potential members. Eventually from a list of 230 names and classifications potential members were invited to attend interest meetings at the Royal Mail Hotel. The first, on 17th September 1991 was attended by PP Bill Penna as the District Governor’s Special representative, PDG Leo Gorman, as Chairman of the District Expansion Committee; and PP Ian Parsons as District Governor’s Representative for the area. Many of the meetings enjoyed the support of PDG Mike Reiner.

From that first meeting Martin Chapple, Frank Dick, Michael Hall, Rod Holland, Lester Harmer and Rick Morrison became members of the provisional club.

Interest Meetings.

Interest meetings continued into 1992 and with a list of more than thirty possible members. The first meeting of the Provisional Rotary Club of Diamond Creek was held on 5th February at the Abbey Restaurant. Wednesdays proved inconvenient to many potential members and a change to Tuesday and an earlier meeting time of 6pm for 6.30 proved successful.

Charter

The club was chartered with 27 members on 3rd June 1992 and the charter was presented on 22nd August 1992 by Past Rotary International President Royce Abbey, Rotary Club of Essendon. The evening was attended by 180 people, Charter Members, Officials Guests; our sponsoring club The Rotary Club of Eltham; Ladies and friends. Rotarian John McCrohan was inducted as our Charter president by District Governor Ron Pearce.

The highlight of our first year in Rotary was the International Convention in Melbourne. Many of our members acted as stewards for this unique event and Diamond Creek had one of the largest contingents from District 9790. Most of our members managed to spend some time to absorb the atmosphere. Membership numbers remained at 27 in spite of the arrival of John Perrott, Geoff Swan and Brian Taylor.

The first year saw the club involved in:

• the ‘Smile For Life’ campaign,
• the Diamond Creek Fair,
• The Blue Light Disco,
• Fire Brigade Torchlight Parade,
• a barbecue for the Diamond Creek Community Centre,
• the Eltham North Adventure Park
• and a major contribution to the Royal District Nursing Service by the provision of a Doppler machine.

The supply of a mobile telephone to Camp Quality to provide essential communications when away from Melbourne

International.

Our International was off to a good start when Alaske Moro visited the club from his island in Fiji. A subsequent clothes appeal was most successful, and well received. The Club also started the piped water project in this it’s first year.

Vocational.

The vocational involvement of the club was started with support for RC Greensborough and RC Bundoora with the “Hobact” exhibition at Parade College. We selected and awarded four students at Diamond Valley Secondary College with Achievement awards for their significant accomplishments. The club was successful in selecting a student for RYLA, the National Science Summer School and a team in the Ian Murphy Memorial Debating competition. The Peer support Scheme organised by the Rotary Club of Diamond Creek received enthusiastic support from teaching staff.

The changeover was held on 6th July at The Abbey Restaurant, Diamond Creek.