Jack Gray (90) recounts fond local Rotary club memories
The club has a history book which records all its activities from 1938 to this date.
The Rotary Club of Boksburg celebrated its 80th charter anniversary in August last year and it’s one of the oldest clubs in D9400.
One of their oldest members is Jack Gray (90), who recently spent some pleasurable time paging through the club’s history book and sharing some of his fondest memories.
According to Gray, in 1962, the club started the Horizon Clinic for persons suffering with alcoholic problems. This still exists and was twice extended, once to provide for women inmates.
The club also had a visitors’ book, which was signed by famous visitors such as Harry Oppenheimer and actor George Fornby, who was famous for his rendition of the song When I’m Cleaning Windows.
“Funds were raised by talks and music evenings. Harry Oppenheimer financed an international service project called Harry’s Angels,” said Gray.
“Hospitals and doctors in remote areas who needed operations to be performed on patients would let the project know of their needs and Harry Oppenheimer flew these medics to where they were needed.
“The Angels’ services were free, but Rotary was allowed to raise funds from those who could afford the treatments.”
Gray said the club donated a truck during the period of war to the South African Army used for a mobile canteen for coffee and cold drinks at the various camps.
The truck travelled from South Africa through Egypt and ended up in Italy, where it remained.
“Bioscope evenings also raised funds and there was an East Rand Theatre Club. Golf days were unknown.
“The club would send boxes of biscuits and sweets for the children who had been evacuated out of London to farms to keep them out of the range of the bombings. A London letter of thanks, dated 1947, is in the book, pointing out that war rations did not allow for biscuits and sweets and these items were hugely welcome.”
According to Gray, at one point the club met at the Boksburg Lake Kiosk. The price of meals was doubled and members were fined, all to raise funds.
“We made our own carton badges to wear on members’ lapels, such as Rotary International, Courtesy Counts.”
The club has also run its own Badplaas holiday for senior citizens for more than 30 years, but the book records the club having already sent some 36 guests there in 1962 (some 56 years ago) with another club.
“A library for the blind also brought much joy when the Rotary Anns read books onto dictation machines and played these at the club for the blind. In 1941, a project needed 1 400 pounds for a canteen for the Navy and, almost unbelievably, 9 000 pounds were raised with a Queens competition.
“Boksburg children were sent to the game reserve and bursaries were made available for children.
The Cason Club and the Sports Library were opened for boys,” Gray said.
Gray highlighted that the club was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1964 by (then) District 230 for establishing The Good Companions Club for the elderly. At the time, a house was purchased, a library was supplied with books and a carpet bowls was also donated.
Anyone who wishes to see this historical book may contact Elsa on 082 858 1271 or email elsaventer15@gmail.com
FOLLOW US:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
