ROTARIANS, guests and partners convened at Elangeni Hotel recently to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Durban. Coincidentally the venue was where the club held its meeting in 1971 after the demolition of the original meeting place, the Marine Hotel.

President of the Rotary Club of Durban, Rydal Spavins, shared messages of support from organisations and individuals who have rendered support to the club over the century of its existence. He honoured founding members as well as those who are still carrying the torch.
“A function like this does not just happen. There is a huge amount of work and time that is put in,” he said. He also thanked all the sponsors for their generous, substantial donations.

Past president and honorary member, Richard Cluver, narrated an in-depth history of the Rotary Club of Durban, highlighting the milestones of the club’s footprint in its communities.
In his address, he honoured the club’s oldest member, Len Baumann, who died last year at the age of 101.
“Nobody I have ever known exemplifies ‘The Object of Rotary’ like Len. A man generous to a fault, who gave away huge portions of his wealth to good causes in Durban,” Cluver shared.

Also read: Rotary club celebrates 90 years

Fifty years ago Cluver and fellow Rotarians, Bruce Carter and Lyster van der Brugge were the youngest ever club members.
“Behind everything that was happening in Durban at the time, the Rotary Club of Durban was the guiding light. The club was so influential that the members virtually controlled the city. Little happened in Durban that was not first discussed in this room (Elangeni Hotel banquette lounge),” Cluver recalled.

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