The club is based in District 9820, which embraces the Mornington Peninsula and includes Frankston, Westernport and Gippsland. The Club was formed in 1961 and now has fifty-one members, both men and women.
The members of the Club, all volunteers, are local retirees, semi retirees, local business and professional people. Consistent with its Charter, and that of Rotary International, the Club provides financial and in-kind support for local, district and international projects.
By far the Clubs most significant fund raising venture is its annual Art Show, which is now conducted for a one week period each January. We also have a very successful annual Charity Golf Day at Sorrento Golf Club, while sausage sizzles, and sometimes the provision of parking services, at local functions such as the Portsea Swim Classic and New Year Sorrento beach celebrations are also important financially, as well as involving the Club in community activities. The Club has raised more that $50 000 in each of the past two years.
In terms of funds distribution, the Sorrento Rotary Club has provided significant financial support for international projects such as Polio Plus, aimed at eliminating polio; Interplast, which provides medical services overseas in conjunction with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons; the Shelter Box program which provides emergency shelter and provisions for those affected by natural disasters such as the recent Pacific Tsunami. The club also contributes to various District projects such as Donations in Kind which supply various goods and labour to needy countries overseas and supports other worthy causes such as the Alola Foundation in Timor Leste.
Locally, we have been involved in many projects over the years. For example, we provided substantial financial support for the building of the Sorrento Community Centre, and the balcony at the Sorrento Life Saving Club, and constructed the BBQ shelter at the end of Hughes Road. We have assisted with various heritage projects such as renovation of the Sorrento Rotunda, and relocation and renovation of Watts Cottage adjacent to the Nepean Historic Society Museum. We have just completed a project in conjunction with the Shire and Nepean Historic Society on the Policeman's Point walkway, BBQ, and historic rail station project, and have contributed financially to the Sorrento - Portsea Artists Trail . A new rotunda has been built in the Sorrento Park inconjunction with the Mornington Peninsula Shire.The Club provides financial support for various other local groups and projects such as Nepean Friends of Hospice, the two Sorrento Primary Schools, the Portsea Life Saving Club and Food for All. We have assisted local public health services through Rosebud Hospital and our work at the Rosebud Rehabilitation Centre.
Overall, Sorrento Rotary Club Inc. endeavours to meet its obligations as a Member of the Family of Rotary Clubs internationally, and does this through numerous fund raising and fund distribution activities. Importantly, many of these activities are carried out in the local community of which the Club forms a part.
