Tillsonburg Rotary Club celebrates 75th anniversary

The Tillsonburg Rotary Club’s 75th anniversary celebrations drew 16 past presidents to the celebration. Left to right are: (front row) Jay Weiler, Tom Heeney, Ann Kamenar, Gloria Aykroyd, Harold Moore, Don Watkins, Jack Parker, (back row) Cam McKnight, Bob Aykroyd, Frank Moore, Scott Campbell, Brian Clark, Dave Rushton, John Gilvesy, John Lohuis, and Keith Hodgkinson. Past-president Jim Donaldson was absent from the photo. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Members and past members of the Tillsonburg Rotary Club came from near and far to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary since its establishment in Tillsonburg.

On June 9, 1950, 19 charter members gathered to start a local chapter of the growing organization of Rotary International, which was started by Paul Harris in 1905.

“The vision was to unite for good and improve life and community,” said John Gilvesy, past-president, past district governor, and emcee for the evening.

Fast-forward 75 years, and Rotary has made a difference in Tillsonburg. Several structures bear the Rotary name through club members' efforts to fundraise for their construction – the clock tower and a part of the community centre are two prominent examples – but Rotary has also made a difference in people's lives. On an international scale, Rotary has pushed for the eradication of polio, providing funding for polio vaccines worldwide. Locally, Rotary has helped seniors stay in their homes alone with its phone check program.

“You have changed lives simply because you believe every human being deserves health and dignity,” said Rotary District Governor Susanne Zbinden.

She paid tribute to the milestone of 75 years.

“That’s three-quarters of a century of fellowship, leadership and serving people,” Zbinden said.

The Rotary Exchange Program has made a difference in the lives of local students who participate in a year-long exchange to another country, as well as those who come from abroad, and to the Rotary members who serve as host families for visiting students. Several of them spoke, both in person and via pre-recorded videos.

Hannah Northgraves, who went on an exchange to Venezuela in 2012, said she learned lessons about family and home through the exchange. She also paid tribute to the late Bob Marsden, who was in charge of the exchange program for many years.

“It changed my life,” said David Vallee, a current Rotary member who went on an exchange to Sweden in 1983-1984.

Rebecca Fink was an exchange student in Peru seven years ago. Two years ago, she joined the club and now oversees the exchange program.

“I have family there now I can go back and visit,” she said.

Current exchange student Evan Yallop, who is in Germany, sent a video message discussing the opportunities the exchange has already provided to explore the country.

There was also some reminiscing about the past with the 16 past presidents who were in attendance for the event.

Former Tillsonburg Rotarian Don Watkins was the district governor when he was in town. While he was a member, the book sale and phone check on seniors living alone started. Watkins has since relocated to the Peterborough area and remains a Rotary member there.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres paid tribute to the local Rotary members, saying there are “true leaders in the community”. He mentioned the benches, clock tower and contributions made.

With peace being one of the tenets of the Rotary program, three students in the master’s program at the Conrad Grebel School at the University of Waterloo spoke about their experiences. Rotary supports this program.

As for the next 75 years, Gilvesy hopes Rotary will continue to work towards peace, improve literacy, health and provide clean water around the world.

“125 years ago, a man had a dream,” said current President Gloria Aykroyd. “Little did Paul Harris know 125 years later there would still be people carrying on his dream.”