Rotary International is one of the world's largest service organisations. The goal for a club's membership is an up-to-date and progressive representation of the community's business, vocational, and professional interests. In over 165 countries throughout the world, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

In 100 years, Rotary has grown from a small club of four members formed in Chicago, USA by the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, to a worldwide network of men and women who share a common vision for a better world. The world’s first service organisation, Rotary has a long history of helping those in need and uniting people of different cultures and beliefs.

Rotary in Western Australia is made of up of approximately 120 clubs as far North as Kununurra and as far South as Esperance. Some 3300 members are currently involved in Rotary in Western Australia. Established in Western Australia in 1927, Rotary today is divided into three districts (9450, 9460 and 9470). There are Rotary clubs in most metropolitan suburbs and country towns. Through the work of individual Rotary clubs, and through the programmes of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, Rotary is making the world a better place.

So it stands to reason that when the three Rotary Districts in WA decided to celebrate Rotary International’s 100th birthday in unison, a Centennial Committee was set up to source a project that would be seen in the community to be beneficial to all West Australians and continue to bring benefits in the long term. This would be Rotary WA’s Centennial gift to the people of Western Australia.

The fundraising for the UWA Medical School was the ‘gift’ to WA on the occasion of Rotary International’s 50th Anniversary, and was cited as a great precedent.

The committee consisted of the 3 District Governors for Rotary’s Centennial Year and an experienced Past Governor from each district. It was decided that all Rotary, Inner Wheel, Probus and Rotaract clubs should be invited to submit ideas for suitable projects.

The establishment of a Selection Panel consisting of 5 eminent citizens, all of whom understood Rotary and its objectives, but were not members of a Rotary club, was considered an appropriate and transparent process for the determination of which project should be selected. The non-voting chairman was a carefully selected outstanding Rotarian.

Over 50 proposals were received from across the state, from all of the above sources. They represented a wide diversity of ideas, a significant number of which were medically oriented. Some 20 proposers were invited to prepare fully documented and detailed submissions, to be placed before the Panel. Fourteen complied and from this group the Panel made a shortlist of six who were asked for further information. The panel then recommended the proposal of a Cord Blood Bank to be set up by Rotary at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who would ultimately run the Bank. It would be part of a national (and therefore international) Cord Blood Bank Network. It would be available to all of the community without cost, and would be managed to the same exemplary standards as the Australian Red Cross Blood Service currently manages the general Blood Service.

The Centennial Committee endorsed the Panel ’s recommendation and announced, in conjunction with the District Governors, that the Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank would be the Centenary Gift to the Western Australian community from the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians of WA.

For information about other Rotary projects in Western Australia, please click on the following:
Rotary District 9450 – Northern District – www.rotarnet.com.au/users/9/9450D
Rotary District 9460 – Southern District – www.rotary9460.org.au
Rotary District 9470 – Central District – www.rotary9470.org.au