At the Rotary Melburne meeting on 7 June 23 we witnessed the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow Award to Robert McGuirk in recognition of Robert’s dedicated efforts over several years to deliver the Peace Bells to be installed in the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park and the End Trachoma Project. Congratulations Robert.
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Rob McGuirk was inducted into Melbourne Rotary on 3 March 1993 with the classification Computer Software – Security. His Sponsor was his good friend John Mitchell. He has held many positions in the Club including terms as a Director – Community Services 2013/2015 and Vice President 2017/2018 to President Mary Barry.
Rob has been active in many committees including, Community Foundation, Rotary Foundation and Peace Programs, and in his group Toorak 2. He has also contributed to the Rotary Park committee and the DIK store. Early in his membership of the RCM, Rob was a member of the Community Welfare Committee. But it was when he joined the Donydji Project committee in 2009 that Rob became active in service for our indigenous communities. This includes being the chair of the Indigenous Programs Committee from July 2012 to February 2018, and a member of the Donydji Project Committee, an executive producer of the Homeland Story documentary, and the founder and Chair of the R100 End Trachoma project. Rob was awarded the Forth Bridge Award in recognition of his work in heading up the team for this project initiated by the Rotary Club of Melbourne, to eliminate trachoma by 2020. This involved working with remote indigenous communities and harnessing support from government and non-government organizations, corporates, our District 9800 and Rotary clubs from all around Australia.
Rob studied law at Monash University and has considerable experience as a commercial lawyer and Business Owner with expertise in Governance, Law, Information Technology, Tourism, Strategic Planning and Not for Profits. He ran his own software business for 10 years and is a former managing director at Northgate Information Solutions. He also has over thirty years’ experience in the management and development of social purpose and sustainable businesses. Rob is a former chair and director at YHA Australia, Past Director, Vice President and President at Hostelling International, and is the first and only Australian to have held that position.
Today we acknowledge Rob’s tireless work in making the Peace Bells happen. He conceptualised the project and connected artists, engineers, funders and all the important players. It was a long journey, but our city will forever have Peace Bells in the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park highlighting and reminding all of the focus of Peace as an area of Rotary focus.
The idea for this project began during discussions in 2019 between Rotary Melbourne and the City of Melbourne. Rob was looking for a way to recognize Rotary’s 100 years of work in Melbourne with a public interface or connection with the city. In 2020, due to COVID committees, including the District 9800 Peace Committee, continued to work via zoom meetings and discussed possible ways and projects to build peace. The designer of the bells – Dr Neil McLachlan - and Rob turned these ideas into this project of the four peace bells. This was adopted by Rotary Melbourne with the goal for them to be produced in time for the Rotary International Convention. The project caught the attention of Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and Rotary International then agreed to support the project. President Jennifer designated it as the first legacy project from an international convention. There are four peace bells. Each bell represents a step towards peace that we can all take.
The bells were ready in time and launched at the newly renamed Rotary Melbourne Peace Park. Following the launch, the Bells were taken to the Melbourne Convention Centre where they were on display for the around thirteen thousand Rotarians visiting Melbourne for the Rotary International Convention, and they will be returned and installed in the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park.
With unstinting determination Rob you have made the Rotary Peace Bells happen and our city will forever hold this legacy. Congratulations to our newest Paul Harris Fellow, you made a difference with your service above self.
