A NEW plaque was unveiled at Brumley Park playground last Wednesday night by Rotary Hamilton and the Southern Grampians Shire Council.

The commemorative plaque and upgrades to the playground were completed as a centenary project to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia.

Rotary club president, Brian Jenkins commenced the ceremony by thanking attendees for the official unveiling, including Rotary district governor, John Clue from Port Fairy, Les Brumley’s relatives.

The playground was built in 1993 by the Hamilton North Rotary Club and named after a former Rotarian and local farmer, Mr Brumley.

Hamilton Rotary Club former president, Lorraine Wilson was a strong motivator behind the project and was proud to see it officially open with signage.

“Thank you everyone, it is exciting to be here and finally see our project, it was a bit of serendipity actually,” she said.

“I was looking for a project for our 100 years and I contacted the council … I got a phone call from the shire, (they) said we’ve got some funding to do this area - the new toilets and playground.

“They asked if we’d be interested, and we jumped at it.”

Ms Wilson said while the Rotary club did the gardens, signage, seating and pathways, the playground redevelopment was completely covered by a grant from the shire.

She added that the milestone held a greater significance as it was Hamilton born architect, Walter Drummond, who first brought Rotary to Australia.

“Walter Drummond visited America and saw what Rotary was doing, it had been going for a few years and he decided that it would be a great thing for Australia,” Ms Wilson said.

“He sort of brought the idea back and Rotary was formed in Australia – his grandson Peter Schroder still lives in town.”

Mr Clue then spoke about the other benefits that were provided to many less fortunate people following the new upgrade and the donation of the old equipment.

“They recycle the old play equipment, which was sent down to Geelong (because) we have a depot down there … playground equipment is boxed up in a container and sent to countries overseas which is gold to these sort of places,” he said.

“One project leads to another project and that leads to a beneficial for people all around the world.”

There was a baton produced in recognition of 100 years which has been passed around to all different districts.

Rotary Hamilton thanked the Southern Grampians Shire Council for their support through funding the project.