The Rotary Club of Wollongong is inviting members of the community to visit Mt Keira on Saturday, February 23, to share not only the beauty of this iconic tourist location for this city but also its Aboriginal cultural significance, learning about the flora and fauna walking trails and Rotary’s story.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In 1954-1955, each Rotary Club in the Rotary World was challenged to establish a project to celebrate the golden anniversary of 50 years of Rotary International.
In July 1954, the RC of Wollongong decided to undertake the MK (Mt Keira) project. Quoting from the club’s first 75 Years History Book, the following is shared: “Enthusiasm quickly spread throughout the whole community. A drive for funds, the free use of earth moving equipment, heavy road-building machine and voluntary labour was met with a mounting response. Gangs of Rotarians, side by side with employees of contracting firms, toiled mightily at weekend with pneumatic drills, bulldozers, tip trucks, pick and shovels to build the road up the steep approach to the mountain top.”
On the last day of the Rotary year, June 30, 1955, The Minister for Lands and a distinguished party drove up the road to the summit, where they inspected the work which by then had begun on the lookouts.
In conjunction with the acting Curator of the Botanic Garden, Karen Holmes and her staff, the CEO of the Illawarra Land Council, Paul Knight, members of the Rotary Club of Wollongong are committed to sharing from this year, on Rotary International’s birthday, the real heritage and all that Mt Keira has to share with the broader community.
The Lord Mayor, Cr Gordon Bradbery, officially announced the project on Wednesday last and the partnership between all three organisations who are making this community day possible.
Families and all in the community are invited to BYO drinks and picnic to make Saturday, February 23, an opportunity to visit. Book a tour; there will be Aboriginal Cultural tours led by Jade Kennedy and Carol Speechley; and Flora and Fauna tours led by the Botanic Garden staff, Carl Glaister and Debby Downes. Free tours will be held on the hour from 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm with bookings using https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/wollongong-botanic-garden-10630538494
Rotarians will be on site to provide information and support for visitors and also for the tours. The café will also be open. A call is made to all in the community to join us to learn more about this iconic tourist attraction for our city.
For further information about this event, Rotary clubs and their projects locally, contact Dot Hennessy on 0412 120 314.
