Page 7 - Rotary Matters - March 2022
P. 7
Rotary Club of Kapunda to hand in its Charter
After sixty-three years of serving the Kapunda Community, the RC Kapunda will be handing in its
charter with the 16th of May 2022 being the last meeting of the club. The club’s inability to attract new
and younger members was a factor in arriving at the decision and with only seven current members and
five of those being over seventy years of age, it became apparent that the club was unable to do the things
that Rotary should be doing.
The Rotary Club of Kapunda was formed in 1958/59 the sponsor club being the Rotary Club of Gawler and
Past president Harvey Kelly was appointed as the Governor’s representative for the formation of the new
Kapunda Club.
The Presentation of Charter was held on Friday, 23rd January 1959 and was presented by past District
Governor Arthur Sampson. Eli Hambour was then inducted as the first president of the club. District
Governor David Clarkson inducted the members of the Kapunda Club. The club had twenty-seven
members and was admitted to Rotary international on the 29th August 1959 forming part of District 250.
The club has had a strong presence in the local community and has enjoyed strong support in return.
It has raised funds for local projects with the most significant being the commissioning and erection of
‘Map Kernow’ the seven-metre statue at the southern entrance to Kapunda and an everlasting symbol
of the town. The organising and building of the Kapunda Hospital Helipad with approximately 100
community volunteers assisting was another. It has contributed to both the Rotary Foundation and the
Australian Rotary Health Foundation as well as the “End Polio Now” vaccination initiative. In 2022 a
conservative estimate is that the club has generated the equivalent of in excess of $1.2m in benefit
for the local and broader community.
The Rotary Club of Kapunda’s members, partners and supporters over the years can be rightly proud of
their contribution to the betterment of the community.
Page 7
