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Rotary
Club of Singapore West, the second oldest and currently the second
largest amongst the Rotary Clubs in Singapore was formed in November
1959 with 26 Charter members, of which four were transferred from the
mother club – Rotary Club of Singapore.
The
first meeting of the Provisional Club of Singapore West took place
on November 6 1959 at 5.30 pm in the Blue Room of the Prince’s
Restaurant – with PDG Dr A.W.S Thevathasan of RC Singapore
presiding and with the then District Governor Luang Sit from Bangkok, Thailand
in attendance. The first Board of Directors was formed comprising
Denis Bindon as President-Elect and the following other Directors
Mike–Boyle, Vice President, Charles Morris, Secretary and
Ng Cheong Ling, Treasurer. The Club was formally admitted to Rotary International
on 1st March 1960.
Full of enthusiasm, members of the Provisional Club
participated jointly in the Four Avenues of service and carried
out successfully a variety of projects which benefited many under-privileged
communities..
By 1967, the membership of the
Club rose to 60. Owing to its size, the Club was compelled to seek
alternative Venue to hold its weekly meetings. After some effort,
Dutch Club was selected as meeting place. The club had a few more
changes in meeting venue but is now happily settled in the Grand Copthorne
Waterfront Hotel where it meets every Thursday for lunch.
The year 1967 was a significant one for the Club
when one of the members, Rtn Dr Tay Teck Eng was elected as the District Govenor for District 330. The following year the Club organized
the District Conference in Singapore.
Due to the Industrial growth in 1970s which was
centred in Jurong Town, the Club decided to share Rotary with new
members by incorporating a new Club in Jurong, now known as Rotary
Club of Jurong Town. This Club was formed with the assistance of
6 members from the West and was admitted to Rotary International
on 11th June 1971.
Two other clubs were started by Rotary Club of
Singapore West – Rotary Club of Queenstown on 6th February
1975 and Rotary Club of Tanglin on 19th April 1984.
In August 1983 the Rotary Club of Jurong formed
a new Club The Rotary Club of Pandan Valley – making Rotary
Club of Singapore West a “grand-father club”.
The Rotary Club of Queenstown established two new Clubs –
Rotary Club of Singapore South and Rotary Club of Bugis Junction.
The Singapore West “family” has now grown to 7 Clubs.
The Club rose to the occasion again in 1976 when
another member Rtn Tan Geok Tian was elected the District Govenor.
The following year the Club hosted another District Conference in
Singapore attended by 986 Rotarians from various countries, a record
which still stands today.
Our Club was honoured yet again in 1994 when
Rtn
Ben Chng Kee Cheong was elected the District Governor and we once
again hosted yet another District Conference in Singapore.
Throughout its 40 years of history,
the Club had consistently carried out a Major Project each year
to benefit a worthy cause. Some of the Major Projects undertaken
are establishment of the Singapore National Eye Bank, building of
new wards for St Andrew Mission Hospital, Salvation Army Children’s
Home, Rose Villa, Yew Tee Old Folks Home and St Francis Home for
the Aged, establishment of various scholarship and busary funds,
donations of ambulance and buses to Salvation Army and Jurong Garden
School and to this day,the Club carries out meaningful community
service projects every year. (Refer to
Community Projects).
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