Paul Harris

"Rotary started as the inspiration of one man, Paul P. Harris. On 23 February 1905, the young lawyer met with three business associates in a small office in downtown Chicago. The group chatted about the weather, their relatives back home, and about starting a “booster club.”

This unassuming group of friends would eventually lay the groundwork for the world’s first service organization

Paul Harris is an example of how one person can change the course of history. His pioneering vision gave rise to the concept of volunteerism at a time when there was little concern for the “common man.”

The group of four eventually grew and expanded across borders to form an international organization dedicated to humanitarian service and peace. Rotary is historic in that it has transcended geographic, religious, racial, political, social and other barriers.”

Written by then RI President, Glenn Estess, February 2005 (“The Rotarian”)

From just four Chicago professionals, in 100 years Rotary grew into a burgeoning worldwide service organization of more than one million members.

Here in Australia, Clubs use the “Paul Harris Fellow” as a recognition of exemplary service to to the club and the community.

On the right is a list of the people that the Rotary Club of Woolgoolga has seen fit to honour in this way. The list also includes club members who received their awards through other Rotary clubs.

Recently in 2010, 3 Club members were awarded the further honour of a Paul Harris Sapphire pin: Dick Matthews, Sel Rogers and Rob White.