history of district 3310 final · the history of rotary international district 3310 (continued) ri...

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THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 Rotary awareness in our part of the world (Malay Peninsula, Siam and Singapore) appears to have its first stirrings into life around 1928-29. This is evidenced by the appearance of 8 clubs between 1929 and 1930. Below are the list of clubs in order of dates of Charter and actual date of formation. Interestingly, it appears that although RC Penang was the first to be organized (12 August 1929) yet it was chartered later than RC Negri Sembilan, KL, Ipoh, Singapore and Malacca. Despite search, the charter number of RC Klang / Port Swettenham could not be traced and the Club appears to have been disbanded before 1954 as it does not appear in the District 46 directory of 1954-1955. When these 8 clubs were formed in The Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Siam, the clubs were UNDISTRICTED! It was on the 1 st of July 1931 that this group became PROVISIONAL DISTRICT “B”. On 1 st July 1935 French Indo-China joined this Provisional District and the group became a regular RI District namely DISTRICT 80. Prince Purachatra of Thailand was our first District Governor. RC Kuching was formed in 1936 and its Charter number was 3996. At its inception it met at the Pengkalan Batu Building, Kuching waterfront on Wednesdays at 12.30pm. On 13 th April 1936, the Colony of Sarawak, Colony of North Borneo, and State of Brunei were included in District 80. During the Second World War, membership of all the Rotary Clubs in District 80 was terminated in January 1944 and the District 80 was disbanded! On 18 th December 1946, all the Rotary Clubs in District 80 were readmitted and the District re-established. A major re-numbering of all Districts was done in RI in 1948-1949 and District 80 now became DISTRICT 46. CLUB NAME CHARTER NO. DATE OF FORMATION 1. RC Negeri Sembilan 3244 20 September, 1929 2. RC Kuala Lumpur 3268 27 September , 1929 3. RC Ipoh 3270 11 October, 1929 4. RC Singapore 3360 6 June, 1930 5. RC Malacca 3367 8 September, 1930 6. RC Penang 3375 12 August, 1929 7. RC Bangkok 3392 1930 8. RC Klang / Port Swettenham N/A 7 May, 1930

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THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310

Rotary awareness in our part of the world (Malay Peninsula, Siam and Singapore) appears to have its first stirrings into life around 1928-29. This is evidenced by the appearance of 8 clubs between 1929 and 1930. Below are the list of clubs in order of dates of Charter and actual date of formation.

Interestingly, it appears that although RC Penang was the first to be organized (12 August 1929) yet it was chartered later than RC Negri Sembilan, KL, Ipoh, Singapore and Malacca. Despite search, the charter number of RC Klang / Port Swettenham could not be traced and the Club appears to have been disbanded before 1954 as it does not appear in the District 46 directory of 1954-1955. When these 8 clubs were formed in The Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Siam, the clubs were UNDISTRICTED! It was on the 1st of July 1931 that this group became PROVISIONAL DISTRICT “B”. On 1st July 1935 French Indo-China joined this Provisional District and the group became a regular RI District namely DISTRICT 80. Prince Purachatra of Thailand was our first District Governor. RC Kuching was formed in 1936 and its Charter number was 3996. At its inception it met at the Pengkalan Batu Building, Kuching waterfront on Wednesdays at 12.30pm. On 13th April 1936, the Colony of Sarawak, Colony of North Borneo, and State of Brunei were included in District 80. During the Second World War, membership of all the Rotary Clubs in District 80 was terminated in January 1944 and the District 80 was disbanded! On 18th December 1946, all the Rotary Clubs in District 80 were readmitted and the District re-established. A major re-numbering of all Districts was done in RI in 1948-1949 and District 80 now became DISTRICT 46.

CLUB NAME

CHARTER NO. DATE OF FORMATION

1. RC Negeri Sembilan 3244 20 September, 1929 2. RC Kuala Lumpur 3268 27 September , 1929 3. RC Ipoh 3270 11 October, 1929 4. RC Singapore 3360 6 June, 1930 5. RC Malacca 3367 8 September, 1930 6. RC Penang 3375 12 August, 1929 7. RC Bangkok 3392 1930 8. RC Klang / Port Swettenham N/A 7 May, 1930

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) A sudden burst of new Clubs appeared in the early fifties, namely:

• RC Johore Bahru: 27th June 1952 (Mother Club RC Singapore) Met at Johore Civil Service Club, Tuesdays 5.15pm.

• RC Teluk Anson: 1952 Met at Rest House, Tuesdays 5pm.

• RC Jesselton: 1952 Met at Jesselton Hotel, Wednesdays 12.15 pm

• RC Saigon: 1952 Met at Hotel Majestic, Thursdays 12.45 pm (2nd and 4th Thursdays 6.30pm)

• RC Belait District (Brunei): 1954 Met at Kuala Belait Recreation Club, Tuesdays 8 pm.

• RC Taiping: 1954 Met at Kempe Club, Thursdays 1pm.

• RC Sandakan: 1954 Met at Sandakan Recreation Club, Tuesdays 12.30pm.

It appears Tuesday was a popular day and Lunch meetings outnumbered Evening meetings. Below are the names of the District Governors then.

RI DISTRICT 80 – PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS 1935 – 1936 HRH PRINCE PURACHATRA BANGKOK 1936 – 1937 HRH PRINCE PURACHATRA BANGKOK W. ALLAN ELEY SINGAPORE 1937 – 1938 W. ALLAN ELEY SINGAPORE 1938 – 1939 CHARLES ROBERT SAMUEL PENANG 1939 – 1940 CECIL RAE IPOH 1940 – 1941 HSH PRINCE VARNAVAIDYA VARAVARN BANGKOK BANGKOK 1941 – 1942 RICHARD ERIC HOLTTUM SINGAPORE

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) All Clubs terminated membership in R.I. by Board action at January 1944 meeting. The District was reinstated with effect from 18th December, 1946. RI DISTRICT 46 – PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS 1946 – 1947 THEODORE H. STONE SINGAPORE

1947 – 1948 THEODORE H. STONE SINGAPORE

1948 – 1949 RICHARD ERIC HOLTTUM SINGAPORE

1949 – 1950 SIDNEY STUART FRANKLIN SINGAPORE

1950 – 1951 HH PRINCE DHANI NIVAT BANGKOK

1951 – 1952 DATO HAJI M. EUSOFF KUALA LUMPUR

1952 – 1953 KHOO TEIK EE KUALA LUMPUR

1953 – 1954 ALFRED WILLIAM FRISBY SINGAPORE

1954 – 1955 PHYA SRIVASAR BANGKOK

1955 – 1956 ROBERT ALLAN CESSFORD KUALA LUMPUR

1956 – 1957 DR. ARTHUR THEVATHASAN SINGAPORE Phya Srivasar The late Dr. Arthur W.S. Thevathasan, (last PDG of District 46) was from the Rotary Club of Singapore and is the father of our Centennial Past District Governor, Dr. Ivor Thevathasan. He was an RI Director and had potential to be RI President. Dr. Arthur W.S. Thevathasan, District Governor, District 46, 1956-1957. Father of IPDG Dr. Ivor Thevathasan.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) On 1st July 1957 our District 46 was re-numbered as DISTRICT 330 and the Past District Governors are listed as follows: 1957 – 1958 Dato Gun Lay Teik

(Dato Gunn Lay Teik was unable to assume duty as Governor on 1st July, 1957 as he was appointed High Commissioner to Australia when Malaya achieved independence.)

Kuala Lumpur

Phya Srivisar (was re-appointed for the year)

Bangkok

1958 – 1959 Ny Tihon Saigon 1959 – 1960 Luang Sitsayamkan Dhonburi 1960 – 1961 Dato Hj Mustapha Albakri Kuala Lumpur 1961 – 1962 Truong Dinh Dzu Saigon 1962 – 1963 Leslie Rayner Singapore 1963 – 1964 Bhitchai Rattakul Dhonburi

A great Rotarian of our District who went on to become RI President in the year 2002-2003. (See picture on the left). The author of this article has written a few articles on the earlier days of Past District Governor Bhichai Rattakul as President of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi and his stint as District Governor. These articles are available for reproduction with permission (see the cover page of the article on the right). Bhichai Rattakul, District Governor District 330, 1963-1964. Went on to be RI President in 2002-2003

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) 1964 – 1965

L.G. (Brig) Young Kuala Lumpur 1977 – 1978 Supavat Poovakul Chiang Mai

1965 – 1966

M.C. Boyle Singapore 1978 – 1979 Dr. Lert Srichandra Dhonburi

L. G (Brig) Young

Kuala Lumpur 1979 – 1980 Dato James Peter Chin Petaling Jaya

1966 – 1967 Dr. Bunilang (Bob) Tamthai Bangkok

1980 – 1981 Nelson Alexander Bangkok

1967 – 1968

Tan Sri Tay Teck Eng Singapore 1981 – 1982 Dr. Lek Nana Sawankkkaloke

1968 – 1969

Dr. C.H. Yeang Penang 1982 – 1983 Dr. Keshmahinder Singh Kuala Lumpur

1969 – 1970

Dr. L.S. Sodhy Kuala Lumpur 1983 – 1984 Dr. Philbert S.S. Chin Singapore

1970 – 1971

Dr. Rith Boozayaangool Dhonburi 1984 – 1985 Dato Balwant Singh Seremban

1971 – 1972

Dr. Walter Rintoul Singapore 1985 – 1986 Dato Hj Yang Rashidi bin Ma’asom

Ipoh

1972 – 1973

William Ng Jit Thye Singapore 1986 – 1987 Mustapha Ma Kuala Lumpur

1973 – 1974

Rahim Noor Ipoh 1987 – 1988 Dr. M.G. John Singapore

1974 – 1975

M.R. Patanachai Jayant Bangkok 1988 – 1989 Dr. N. Ganesan Petaling Jaya

1975 – 1976

Tan Sri Jamil Rais Kuala Lumpur 1989 – 1990 Lee Keng Bin

Pudu

1976 – 1977

Tan Geok Tian Singapore West 1990 – 1991 Ir John Cheah Kam Loong Johor Bahru

PDG Ir John Cheah Kam Loong was the first District Governor from Johor and from the Rotary Club of Johor Bahru, a club formed on 27th June 1952. PDG Ir John Cheah Kam Loong was the last of the District 330 District Governors. On July 1st, 1991, our District, having formed more than 80 clubs, was divided into District 3300 consisting of clubs in Peninsula Malaysia excluding clubs in Johor and Malacca. The clubs in Johor, Malacca, Singapore, Sabah, F.T Labuan, Sarawak and Brunei were then put in District 3310.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) RI DISTRICT 3310 – PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS

1991-1992

Dr. Robert CK Loh Singapore

1992-1993 Gerald Minjoot Jurong Town

1993-1994 Etican Ramasamy Muar

1994-1995 Ben CK Chng Singapore West

1995-1996 Datuk George Ginibun Kota Kinabalu 1996-1997 M. Jayasingam Muar

1997-1998 Fong Hoe Beng Singapore East

1998-1999 Datuk Stephen Timothy Wan Ulok Kuching

1999-2000 Lim Hock Teck Johor Bahru

2000-2001 Kenneth Chew Mei Kwang Pandan Valley

2001-2002 Abang Haji Nawawi Drahman Bintulu

2002-2003 Michael Graham Parry Johor Bahru

2003-2004 David Tong How Heng Singapore East

2004-2005 Dr. Ivor Thevathasan Singapore

2005-2006 Tay Kim Ann Pasir Gudang

2006-2007 Dr.Wu Dar Ching Garden City

2007-2008 Chris Chen Yee Ching Queenstown

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) The following paragraphs represent a gallery of rare photos.

(Picture on the left) Shows Tengku Abdul Rahman, then Chief Minister of Malaya addressing the 1955 Annual Conference of the 46th District of Rotary International. The Tengku gave a very inspiring speech!

(Picture on the right) shows the message from the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in the Souvenir programme of the District 330 Thirty First Annual Conference in 1966, held at the Conference Hall, Shenton Way, Singapore.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) (Picture on top) shows the Thirtieth Annual conference of District 330 in 1965, held at the Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka Kuala Lumpur. In the picture you see President Don A. Clayton of the Host Club of RC Kuala Lumpur, addressing the Conference.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued) Picture on the right: Cover of Directory of District 46 for year 1954-1955

Picture below: Annual conference 46th District in 1955 at Hotel Majestic, KL

Picture below: Cover of proceedings of 1955 at Hotel Majestic, KL. 22nd Annual Conference 46th Dist. in 1956 at Cathay Hotel, Singapore

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued)

Picture on top: Rotary Club of Kuching had its headquarters at Pengkalan Batu in the early days. This picture was taken in 1957 when the 23rd Annual conference of District 330 was held at Sarawak Union Club, Kuching, from 25th to 27th October 1957.

THE HISTORY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3310 (continued)

Picture above: Presentation of PHF award by PDG Ir. John Cheah Kam Loong to Singapore Prime Minister Mr.Goh Chok Tong in the year 1990.

In conclusion, our RI District has come some way from being undistricted to District 3310. It only goes to show that Rotary is growing in our area. Although it is a healthy growth for some clubs, there are clubs that did not grow healthily. Yet let “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” prevails. The above account is by no means exhaustive. Snippets of the past of District 3310 is an option as a continuum, maybe, in the District Governor’s Bulletin. Researched and written by PP Dr. S.Shanmugam RC Johor Bahru 11th March 2008