Rotary Club celebrates 100 years of ‘service above self’

TheEast London Rotary Clubwill soon celebrate 100 years of community service, youth development and humanitarian projects that make an impact. Established on April 2 1926, the club began as a gathering of professional men in the city who met regularly to build relationships and, more importantly, to find ways to give back. Incoming district governor Melonie Gobel said that over the decades the initiative had grown into a powerful force for good, shaping lives and communities across the city and the wider Border region.

“For a hundred years, Rotary has really been about one thing, service above self,” Gobel said. “It started as a professional networking group, but the heart of it has always been about asking how we can make our community a better place.” Throughout its long history, the club has been associated with many respected leaders in the city, with generations of members contributing their time, skills and resources touplift others. However, the organisation has also evolved with the times.

Women were allowed to join Rotary only in the late 1980s, following a landmark court ruling that opened the doors to greater inclusion. Gobel said one of the most significant moments in the club’s history was when Angela Church became its first woman president in 1998. Her leadership marked a turning point and paved the way for more women to take up leadership roles within the organisation.

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“Hers was the wonderful accolade of being the first woman to serve as president of the Rotary Club of East London. “Since then, we’ve seen more women stepping into leadership, which has strengthened the club even further.”

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