Club History

The Rotary Club of Tamworth First Light

The Rotary Club of Tamworth First Light is the youngest Rotary Club in Tamworth. It was chartered on May 29th 1990. The Club’s first President was solicitor, Brian Thompson. The club grew from the notion that many Tamworth business people would like the idea of meeting for breakfast once a week in a service club environment. The prime movers in forming the club were John Barwick and Bob Scherf from Tamworth West Rotary Club. The name First Light had its origins in the fact that Tamworth has been known as the City of Light (before Country Music Capital took over). Naturally the fact that it is a breakfast club, meeting at the Country Comfort Motel Wednesdays at 6:45am for 7am meeting, lent itself to the name as well.

Tamworth First Light has a current membership of approx 70 and it is a mixed gender club. The first female member was admitted in January 1995.
 

A summary of each year, compiled by Terry Burgess, is available in the following pdf files.
1990 to 1991	1994 to 1995	1998 to 1999	2002 to 2003	2006 to 2007
1991 to 1992	1995 to 1996	1999 to 2000	2003to 2004	2007 to 2008
1992 to 1993	1996 to 1997	2000 to 2001	2004 to 2005	2008 to 2009
1993 to 1994	1997 to 1998	2001 to 2002	2005 to 2006

The Club prides itself on being travel experts ... mainly golf and leisure tourism. Its members organise successful and enjoyable golf trips to Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast every year. This year the club organised the first Hunter Valley Golf Trip. Club Past President and Paul Harris Fellow Dick Davison and his wife Pauline run many leisure Tours under the name "Condiki Tours". The club gratefully acknowledges the wonderful assistance it receives from Hannafords Coaches in organising all these trips because they are the foundation of all the club’s fundraising activities. Funds are also raised through more traditional methods such as raffles, fundraising dinners, and occasionally simple bucket brigades through the main street or through the crowds at the Annual Children’s Medical Research Institutes Christmas Carol’s in the Park.

Tamworth First Light Rotary Club is a strong supporter of Local Vocational and Community Service. It also contributes strongly to international goodwill projects, as is expected of all Rotary Clubs.

The annual school Careers Expo is organised by the club. Assistance in financial terms or by "helping hands on" has been provided for :

• Community Barbeques in Anzac Park and Viaduct Park
• Picnic tables have been constructed at the Tourist Information Centre
• Camp Quality in 1992 and again for Camp Quality 2000
• Painting of Private homes for disadvantaged  citizens and Bullimbal Special School.
• Support for local indigenous students to attend Reconciliation Conferences
• Tamworth Base Hospital Dementia Care Unit, Diabetes Stabilisation Unit and Mammography Unit as well as providing a number of pieces of valuable medical equipment over the years.
• Challenge Foundation
• Annual Bowelscan Community Medical Programme
• Ronald McDonald Red Gum House Newcastle (Very important to many Tamworth families with sick children)
• Playground equipment at both City and Scully Park Pools
• Support for a Helicopter Rescue Service for Tamworth Involvement in Clean up Australia Day every year
• Privet Eradication Programme for Tamworth Lookout.

Tamworth First Light Rotary Club is looking forward to continuing its proud tradition of Community Service built up over a short time. They also look forward to many more golf and leisure trips away. It’s the most enjoyable way they know of,  to raise much needed funds for Rotary Projects.