Local Rotary Clubs to merge after numbers plummet

The 50-year run of the Rotary Club of Gympie-Cooloola is coming to an end after a near-unanimous vote to combine with the Rotary Club of Gympie.

(Left to right) Outgoing president of Gympie-Cooloola Rotary Club Gary Davison, incoming president of combined clubs Karen Gresham, and outgoing president of Gympie Rotary Club Dennis Grenshaw at the combined changeover dinner on June 22.

It is the end of an era for the Rotary Club of Gympie-Cooloola as they prepare to merge with the Rotary Club of Gympie after a 50-year run.

The merge effectively means the end of the Cooloola-based club come July 1 with the clubs to unite under the Rotary Club of Gympie banner.

Current president of Gympie-Cooloola Rotary Club Garry Davison said the merger comes after the two clubs experienced dwindling numbers during the height of the pandemic.

“We held a couple of joint meetings to see how it would work if we joined the two clubs together, and we then told all of our members and it was almost unanimous to merge the two clubs,” he said.

Another factor that contributed to the drop in numbers was lifestyle changes leaving less free-time to participate in organisations such as the Rotary Club.

“People haven’t got that time to attend meetings,” he said.

Mr Davison said it will remain business as usual after the merger with the club continuing to work within the community.

“We’ll still work for the community, raise funds and distribute them for the community wherever we see that need.”

He said this financial year alone the two clubs have raised and distributed more than $12,000 in funds to local community organisations, as well as $5,000 to research for malaria.

From July 1 Mr Davison along with president of the Rotary Club of Gympie Dennis Granshaw will step down from their roles, as Karen Gresham takes over as the first president since the merge.