By Casey Neill
Jean Harrison is the Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills’ first female president.
“Five years ago when I joined there wasn’t any other women in the club,” she said.
“It’s moved along.”
She stepped into the presidential position at the club’s changeover dinner at the Dandenong Club on Saturday 8 July.
“I want to bring a bit of energy and vitality back into the club and, hopefully, encourage a bit of youth,” Ms Harrison said.
“We’ve got lots of experience but our members are getting older and we need to bring people in that can be mentored and take over.”
The group has about 30 members, including six women.
“I’m hoping that as a female president I’ll encourage some more women in,” Mr Harrison said.
“You need a mix.”
She said membership was dwindling in Rotary clubs across Australia.
“I’ve just been to the Rotary International Conference in Atlanta, in June,” she said.
“In a lot of the Indian and African countries they’re younger, they’re growing really strongly.
“In the US, UK and Australia they’re ageing and not attracting younger people.”
One of Endeavour Hills’ younger female members suggested privilege could be playing a part.
“Unless you’re involved with Rotary you don’t see the things people are trying to deal with,” Ms Harrison said.
“In other countries they see the need on a first-hand basis.”
She attended her first international conference last year in Seoul, South Korea.
More than 40,000 people from different countries, cultures and religions “all working for a common goal” turned out.
“That’s pretty amazing,” she said.
Endeavour Hills Rotary started a men’s shed in the suburb last year and is now helping the growing group to find a new home.
“We did a project with the Andrews Centre in Endeavour Hills. We put a whole new kitchen in for them.
“We did a big community garden which is at Gleneagles Secondary College.”
The club runs the Dandenong All Holden Car Show, started Disaster Aid Australia and has partnered with non-profit The SkyJuice Foundation to spread its SkyHydrant water filter around the world.
Ms Harrison said prospective members could check out the club at its weekly dinner, which is held at the Dandenong Club from 6.30pm on Thursdays.
Members can give the club as much time as they can spare, and children and grandchildren are welcomed.
