Rotary Club of Runaway Bay Inc

Interclub visit to the Rotary Club of Avon Head, Christchurch, New Zealand

Acting on an idea from Barry Fletcher from Runway Bay, Qld, a plan evolved to have the Rotary Clubs of Runaway Bay and Avonhead, NZ, by which each club would attend a Rotary meeting in the others’ country, a club exchange. The inaugural club exchange took place on 9 May 2005 when the Rotary Club of Runaway Bay, Queensland, "made up" at the Avonhead, Christchurch, NZ regular club meeting. A total of 14 Runaway Bay Rotarians, partners, with the widows of two ex Runaway Bay Rotarians, attended the Rotary Club of Avonhead, Christchurch, meeting as the start of an exchange club project. Runaway Bay Rotarians’ Barry Fletcher, Graham Gordon, with Avonhead Rotarians, Ian Sayer and Graham Ellis from the Avonhead Club managed and planned the project.

The Avonhead Club was visited by a contingent of Runaway Bay Rotarians in May 2005, Following the Monday evening Rotary meeting at the Avonhead Club, a group of Avonhead Rotarians joined the Runaway Bay contingent on an organised a five-day tour of the South Island. The Runaway Bay members were treated to a superbly commentated trip by the Avonhead Rotarians who shared their many historical and personal experiences with the Visitors 

The Presidents of each club, Warwick Colette, Runaway Bay (on Left) and Peter Davidson, Avonhead exchanged club banners

Pictured is the Rotary Club of Runaway Bay contingent which visited Avonhead, Christchurch on 9 May 2005

In 2007 the Avonhead Rotarians reciprocated and were "treated" to our own special heritage trip out western Queensland to Longreach. The group visited Stockman's Hall of Fame. Qantas Museum, the Big Rig at Roma, and various historical places along the way

The tour Group pictured at Balcaldine Western Qld in 2007