Who We Are
We are a group of about 30 men and women who span a wide age range, from different ethnic backgrounds and occupational pursuits who work together to serve our communities in the spirit of Rotary’s Service Above Self. We meet weekly at the Cashmere Club, 50 Colombo Street Christchurch.
A Brief History
One we
ek later the first regular meeting of the club was held at the Takahe. Eighteen meetings of the provisional club were held until on 26 June 1957 when, with 159 in attendance, the Charter was presented and the Rotary Club of Christchurch South was declared legitimate. The annual membership fee was $6.30 and the meal cost $0.60. This photograph (click on it to enlarge) is of the charter members of the club. J.K. (Jack) McKessar and B.W. (Bernie) Lawrence are still members of the Club and R.S. (Ray) Newton is an honorary member.
The weekly 6.00pm meetings continued at the Takahe until the end of 1964 when the club moved to the Sommerfield Community Centre in Studholme Street. Two years later the club returned to the Takahe and stayed there until the pressure of numbers made the building unsuitable for the club’s purposes. In 1972 the club moved to the Sandridge Hotel in Sydenham and in 1984 moved to our present location, the Cashmere Club, Hunter Terrace.
Our Rotary Club of Christchurch South has a proud tradition of serving and supporting our communities – local, national and international – and Rotary Foundation projects. Over the years our service committees (Community, International, Vocational and Youth) have been actively involved in small to large endeavours assisting individuals, families, groups and organisations. And, as well, raising money to allow this to happen. On a weekly basis we share fellowship, a meal with members with widely differing backgrounds and listen to speakers on a wide range of topics.
Because of increasing membership numbers it was decided to sponsor a new Rotary Club and in 1975 the Rotary Club of Christchurch West was established, now known as the Rotary Club of Cashmere.
In 1994 our first two women members were welcomed into our club and 2013 saw our first young adult members.
