CHARTER

The Rotary Clubs of Tamworth and Tamworth West sponsored the formation of the Tamworth North Club. The club's charter was presented on May 30, 1970 at a glittering ceremony attended by about 350 people in the Tamworth Town Hall.

Many Tamworth identities were present at the charter dinner including the Chairman, P.P. Geoff Steel, Master of Ceremonies, V. P. of Tamworth West, Ross Hopper, the Mayor of Tamworth, Norm McKellar, Songmaster, P.P. Gordon Bruderlin of Tamworth, the President of the Rotary Club of Tamworth, Bruce McLachlan and the President of the Rotary Club of West Tamworth, George Hombsch.

Charter members numbered 28 and the first President was David Keefe. In the charter year Bob Burke and John Bosler were the Vice-Presidents. The treasurer was Reg Smith. Three charter members are still in the club. They are John Bosler, Bob Burke, and Tony Osborne.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Since then the Rotary Club of Tamworth North has distinguished itself as a friendly, energetic club and has supported many local charities and community projects including the Base Hospital, Heritage Trails of New England, and the Botanical Gardens. It has initiated vocational service awards and Trees for Survival Shadehouses at three Tamworth Schools.

AWARDS

Tamworth North has also sponsored several World Community Service projects, and has won various trophies in the district competitions for Club Bulletin, International Service (four times), Vocational Service and World Community Service (three times). This club was the first to win the district trophy for Club Bulletin and has won it six times since then. Our club has won a Presidential Citation for Balanced Club Development on two occasions, a Preserve Planet Earth Award, and a Heritage Award. We won the ARHRF Shield in 1994-95. A former GSE member, John Boag, was District Governor in 1991-92

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

Tamworth North has been prominent in Group Study Exchange. Its first team leader was appointed one year after charter, and eight GSE awardees travelled overseas in the first ten years of the club's existence - probably a record. The club now has 28 Paul Harris Fellows and regularly gives financial support to the Rotary Foundation. In 1995 our first Cultural Ambassador, Danielle Grassy, undertook her study in Spain.

Out GSE team members have been:-

1. Bell - Hokkaido, Japan

G. Smith - Indiana, U.S.A.

B. Thompson - Iceland

D. Clifton - Texas, U.S.A.

J. McFarland - California, U.S.A.

J. Boag - British Columbia, Canada, Washington and Idaho, U.S.A.

P. Doyle - New York, U.S.A.

M. Halliday - Israel

D. Cork - Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A.

K Gillies - Pennsylvania, U.S.A.