10d An Overview from 1971
HISTORIAN ARTICLES IN DISTRICT 69
NEWSLETTER (CORROBOREE)
Corroboree APRIL 2007 and in June 2008
DISTRICT 69 HISTORY (in brief)
The beginning People who had not previously been members of Toastmasters International formed the first two Toastmasters
Clubs, in the geographic area later to become District 69, separately.
First clubs Toowoomba Toastmasters Club #1688 was the first club to charter - the second in Australia. It began after Doug
Power, a resident of Toowoomba, visited a Toastmasters Club whilst on holidays in Canada. He was so impressed
with what the organisation had to offer that he contacted World Headquarters in Santa Ana, California, and returned
to Toowoomba with brochures - inspired to start a club. Toowoomba Club officially chartered on 14 January 1958.
In 1961 a group of people from a Dale Carnegie Course in Mackay, which fell through (for reasons unknown) began
a Club after reading about Toastmasters International in the Readers Digest. They wrote to World Headquarters for
information, and Coolabah Toastmasters Club #3358 chartered in September that year.
The growth A Toowoomba Club sponsored Brisbane Central #3433 in 1962, and in 1963 our organisation really began to grow in
this part of Australia. Toowoomba sponsored Darling Downs #3574, Brisbane Central sponsored Townsville #3632
and within 10 months of its own charter, Townsville sponsored Cairns #3779.
In August 1963 the Toastmasters
Territorial Council of Australia (TCA) was officially recognised by the Board of Directors of Toastmasters, although
the Council had been operating informally since 1959.
District 69 On 1 July 1971, the Toastmasters Council of Australia was re-aligned to become District 69, with 26 clubs covering
the top half of Australia above the 30th parallel (Grafton), and District 70 with 45 clubs, the rest of Australia. Russ
Walkington, the sponsor/mentor of many clubs became the Founding District 69 Governor.
Distinguished District By late 1983 club numbers had doubled. Tablelands #5284 became the 50th active club. District 69 was in its 12th
year, and Toastmasters had been in Queensland 25 years. District 69 became a Distinguished District for the
first time (1983-84) - 3rd in the world (First Presidents Distinguished District outside the US and Canada).
Dramatic growth The District had again doubled, when Maleny #7709 became the 100th active club in May 1990. By 30 December
1993, District 69 boasted 134 active clubs and 3052 members. (Of the 276 clubs chartered since 1958, 95 have
been lost)*. For 13 consecutive years between July 1983 and June 1996, District 69 was "Distinguished District,
including President's Distinguished 1983/84, 1985/86 & 90/91, and Select Distinguished 1984/85, 1989/90 and
1994/95. After some years of quite contemplation, we again achieved Distinguished District in 2001-2002.
Summary -
District 69, one of the strongest Toastmasters Districts in the world, continues to provide for the needs of its
members, giving them opportunities for self development through better listening, better thinking and better
speaking.
John Scouller DTM, PDG
District Historian
Corroboree JULY 2007
DISTRICT 69 MEMBERS
IN AUSTRALIAN FIRSTS.
RUSS WALKINGTON - TWICE TERRITORIAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT (1965 + 1966)
MIKE MELLICK - FIRST AUSTRALIAN TO WIN
INTERNATIONAL TAPED SPEECH CONTEST - 1965
MIKE MELLICK - FIRST AUSTRALIAN ATM (#888) - 1971
BOB KENWORTHY - FIRST AUSTRALIAN DTM (#153) - 1973
COLIN MCFARLANE - FIRST AUSTRALIAN TO COMPETE IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF PUBLIC
SPEAKING - 1976
DEIRDRE LAVARACK - FIRST AUSTRALIAN FEMALE ATM - 1978
DIANNE STOODLEY - FIRST AUSTRALIAN FEMALE DISTRICT GOVERNOR - 1980/81
RUTH COWERN - FIRST AUSTRALIAN FEMALE DTM – 1981
JOHN SCOULLER – FIRST AUSTRALIAN DISTRICT GOVERNOR TO LEAD DISTRICT TO ACHIEVE
PRESIDENTS DISTINGUISHED DISTRICT – 1984 (No. 3 in World)
(FIRST OVERSEAS DISTRICT TO ACHIEVE PDD)
WALTER FISCHER - FIRST AUSTRALIAN ATM (SILVER) #19 - MARCH 1985
CLARE MURPHY - FIRST AUSTRALIAN FEMALE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR 1988/90
CLARE MURPHY - FIRST AUSTRALIAN CANDIDATE FOR THIRD VICE PRESIDENT (1997/98)
Unsuccessful
GAVIN BLAKEY DTM FIRST AUSTRALIAN ELECTED AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER
OF TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL (THIRD VICE PRESIDENT 1999-2000)
GAVIN BLAKEY DTM ELECTED SECOND VICE PRESIDENT 2000-2001
GAVIN BLAKEY DTM ELECTED SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT 2001-2002
GAVIN BLAKEY DTM ELECTED INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT 2002-2003
John Scouller DTM, PDG
District Historian
Corroboree SEPTEMBER 2007
DISTRICT 69 STRUCTURE
On 1 July 1971, the Toastmaster Council of Australia was re-aligned to become District 69, with 24 clubs, covering
the top half of Australia above the 30 parallel (Grafton), and District 70 with 45 clubs, covering the rest of Australia.
District 69 with less than 35 clubs was given “Provisional” status. Changes to the Districts’ boundaries have been
made since.
Over the last 36 years District 69 has increased club numbers seven-fold!
It is interesting to look at the location of the clubs re-aligned as at 1/7/71 and ponder the logistical problems the
District Executive must have had in managing the District (Remember there were no telex machines, fax machines,
Mobile phones computers or e-mail then!)
DISTRICT 69 STRUCTURE 1/7/71
6 AREAS – (NO DEFINED DIVISIONS)
CLUBS
Dalby
Darling Downs
Toowoomba
LOCATION
Dalby
Toowoomba
Toowoomba
Area 2
Cairns
Gaveliers
Ingham
Innisfail
Townsville
Mount Isa
Cairns
Townsville
Ingham
Innisfail
Townsville
Mount Isa
Area 3
Advance
Air TV
Alpha
Boomerang
Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane
Area 4
Coolabah
Gladstone
Rockhampton
Mackay
Gladstone
Rockhampton
Area 1
Area 5
Brisbane Central
Brisbane
D.C.
Brisbane
Ipswich
Ipswich
Legal & General
Brisbane
Media Mix
Brisbane
Area 6
Gold Coast
Gold Coast
Jacaranda
Grafton
Summerland
Lismore
John Scouller DTM PDG
District Historian
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corroboree NOVEMBER 2007
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES IN DISTRICT 69
Many Clubs in District 69 have a high proportion of female members. This was not always the case. Initially,
Toastmasters International was a “men only’ organization.
In 1973 this changed with an alteration to the Toastmasters International Constitution. Clubs were given the
opportunity to have mixed membership if they wished.
It did not take long for World Headquarters to find out that women had already infiltrated their ranks, when changes
of name began to flood in. This is not surprising when you consider that DC Club #3761 in District 69, had chartered
back in July 1968 with 47 members which included 9 women. Similarly in 1972, Adventurers Club #2572 chartered
with an unofficial 50% female membership.
Dianne Stoodley, who later became District 69’s first female District Governor and the first female District Governor
outside the North American continent, had been registered in World Headquarters, as Alpha Club #1764 member
under the name “Daniel Stoodley”. Donald Arthur Lavarack suddenly became Deirdre Anne Lavarack of Endeavour
Club #1776. Deirdre later became Australia’s first female ATM.
Since the formation of District 69 on 1 July 1971, the position of District Governor has been fairly evenly distributed
between male and female members (male 20 - female17).
John Scouller
District Historian
Corroboree March 2008 Issue 133
FEATURING BRISBANE CENTRAL CLUB
No 3433
THIRD CLUB CHARTERED IN WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT 69
(Sponsored by Toowoomba Club)
OLDEST CLUB IN DISTRICT 69 STILL ACTIVE
FIRST CLUB IN BRISBANE
CHARTERED 25 JUNE 1962
CHARTER PRESENTED AT THE SUNNYBANK HOTEL BY THE
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, FRANK BISCHOF
CLUBS SPONSORED
Townsville - 3532
Advance – 3050
DC – 3761
Alpha – 1764
Gold Coast – 1794
SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS
International – 1977 - Chas Martin
Evaluation – 1978 – Jim Gentles
1983 – Phil Bate
1995 – Phil Bate
Table Topics ? - Jim Gentles
Endeavour – 1776
MDI – 2764
Ten Pin – 2129
(From the Club’s archives)
DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Lionel Fifield 1976/1977
NOTABLE TOASTMASTERS FROM
CLUB’S LIST OF PRESIDENTS
Jim Gentles
Morrie Hee
Eric (Chemist) Roush
Don Hume (Twice)
Ted Burton
Philip Bate (6 Times)
Lionel Fifield
Terry Arthur (5 Times)
ARTHUR GORRIE
1920(?)- 1992
Where do you start when writing a story about Arthur Gorrie?
Arthur was described often as a ‘mercurial’ character, meaning ‘of lively temperament’.
Mercurial, refers of course to Mercury, the Roman God who rather appropriately, was the
patron of orators, craftsmen and traders.
Arthur ran a small hobby shop in South Brisbane but from his list of achievements, it is a
wonder that he found the time to do so.
“Arthur was the epitome of Toastmasters - he lived and breathed Toastmasters – it was his life. Arthur was very
passionate about the things he believed in.” said fellow Club Member, PDG Ivy Foster.
PDG Colin McFarlane added “ Arthur Gorrie was inspirational because of the things he did to help other people
improve. He derived a lot of enjoyment in helping and encouraging others to succeed.”
The District Historian’s records show the following but we are sure there would be more:Distinguished Toastmaster - 1979
Toastmaster of the year - District 69 – 1977, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
Humorous Speech Contest Winner – 1978, 1979
Presidential Citation – 1987
New Clubs
As Club Sponsor
API – 1978
Waterloo Bay – 1984
Binambi – 1989
Redlands – 1985
Numinbah Heights – 1989
Satellite – 1986
Tarcoola – 1989
Dialtoners – 1988
Wacolonials – 1989 (Prison)
Carina – 1989
Phoenix – 1990
Wacolonials – 1980
Daylong – 1990
Capricornia Heights – 1990 (Prison)
Mardec – 1991 (Prison)
Lotus Glen – 1991 (Prison)
As Club Mentor
Claytons – 1991 (Prison)
(Arthur’s work in Queensland’s prisons was acknowledged by the State Government by naming the then new prison
at Wacol, the “Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre “after him.)
Youth Leadership Courses
Speechcraft Courses
1980/81
1
1981/82
1
1982/83
1
4
1983/84
4
5
1984/85
n/a
n/a
1985/86
2
14
1986/87
1
17
1987/88
1
15
1988/89
9
9
1989/90
n/a
n/a
1990/91
9
Arthur was an outstanding Toastmaster and his achievements stand as a monument to his memory.
John Scouller DTM, PDG
District Historian
Corroboree September 2008
THE STORY OF TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL
October 22, 1924 – The first meeting of the Number One Toastmasters Club in Santa Ana, California.
January 9, 1926 – The second Toastmasters Club is chartered, in Anaheim, California.
August 11, 1927 – Representatives of five Santa Ana Toastmasters Clubs plan the formation of a
“Federation
of Toastmasters Clubs”.
October 25, 1928 – First Manual for Toastmasters, copyrighted by Ralph Smedley.
October 4, 1930 – The name Toastmasters International is adopted and officers are elected. Publication of the
‘Gavel’, the first Toastmaster magazine.
December 19, 1932 – Toastmasters International is Incorporated.
January 9, 1933 – First Toastmaster Club outside of California established in Seattle, Washington.
April 1933 – First issue of The Toastmaster.
July 6, 1935 – District Organisation is instituted, starting with District 1 of Southern California.
October 1935 – First Toastmaster Club outside USA is chartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
January 29, 1938 – Charter No 100 presented to the Century Toastmasters Club in Santa Ana, California.
August 1938 – Inter-Club Speech Contest started. First winner; Henry Wiens of Reedley, California.
July 1946 – District 18 of Scotland becomes the first District outside the USA.
1948 – First TI Articles of Incorporation and By-laws are published.
1950 – The first “Certificate of Achievement” is issued for the new Advanced Course. “Beyond Basic Training”.
June 1951 – First Regional Conference is held at Des Moines, Iowa.
October 27, 1962 – Dedication of new World Headquarters in Santa Ana, California.
1964 – The first ‘Able Toastmaster’ award (ATM)
1968 - The first ‘Competent Toastmaster’ award (CTM) is issued for completing the basic manual.
August 1969 – ‘Communications and Leadership Manual’ introduced at the International Convention, Cleveland,
Ohio.
1970 – The first ‘Distinguished Toastmaster’ award (DTM) is issued.
July 1, 1971 – District 69 is formed incorporating all of Australia above the 30th parallel and Papua New Guinea.
August 1973 – Membership opens to women.
1978 – The multi-manual “Advanced Communications and Leadership Program” is introduced.
1979 – The first two Success/Leadership Programs are introduced.
1981 – The Accredited Speaker Program begins.
October 1982 – Membership reaches 100,000.
1984 – The Communication and Leadership Program manual is revised, and two new educational awards are
introduced: the ATM Bronze and ATM Silver.
April 1989 – Membership reaches 150,000.
July 1989 – The Distinguished Club Program, Distinguished Area Program and Distinguished Division Program are
introduced.
June 1990 – World Headquarters moved to Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
January 1993 – TMI charters its 8,000th Club.
June 1993 – The High Performance Leadership Program is introduced.
July 1997 – New Educational Achievement Program, Dual track introduced: (the Speakers Track and the Leadership
Track).
August 2002 – The first Australian International President of Toastmasters International is elected. (Gavin Blakey
DTM – District 69)
(John Scouller DTM, PDG – District Historian)
HISTORY of DISTRICT 69’s SPEECH CONTESTS
Originally, as divisions did not then exist, the winners of Area Speech Contests competed at District Convention. This
created problems with large Speech Contests as the number of Areas increased.
Three Divisions were created from the commencement of the 1977/78 year. In the 1977 International and Speech
Evaluation contests, Area winners competed at District level. With the Humorous and Impromptu Speech Contests,
winners at Area level then competed in 'Division' contests, with the winner going forward from the 'Northern' division
(Areas 2,4, & 9) to District, and two finalists going forward from the 'Southern' division (Areas 1,3,5,6,7,8 & 10) to
even up representation within the District.
This resulted in 10 contestants in the International and Evaluation contests, and 3 in the Humorous and Impromptu
Speech contests at District in 1977.
DISTRICT LEVEL
Until 1976, the winner of the International Speech Contest at District level did not proceed any further, although that
person would automatically be able to compete in the International Taped Speech Contest. District 69’s, Mike
Mellick, won the Toastmasters International Taped Speech Contest in 1965.
INTER-DISTRICT - 'DOWNUNDER'
In 1976, with the advent of the Australian-New Zealand (Inter-District) Speech Contest, (later to become known as
the Downunder Contest) District 69 winners began competing with those from D70 - NSW,
D73 - the rest of
Australia, and D72 - New Zealand, for the right to attend the International Convention and compete in the
International Speech Contest - known as the World Championship of Public Speaking - as the ninth contestant.
Later (about 1980) when other districts were formed, eg. D74 (Southern Africa), D75 (Philippines) and D72 (England
and Ireland), the Inter-District Speech Contest was conducted at the International Convention, and known as the
“Speak-off”. The winner took the 9th speaking position in the World Championship of Public Speaking.
Our Australasian Inter-District then become known as 'Downunder' which continued so that the four 'Downunder'
Districts could select ONE Speech Contestant to represent all four Districts at the Inter-District Speak-off, the four
districts sharing the expenses.
The Speak-off was held in the DTM Luncheon at International Convention. Because the winner was then required
to compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking on the following Saturday morning, the contestant was
permitted to use the speech used in the Speak-off.
Following the 'Downunder' Contest in 1989, the Downunder Districts decided to send their Contestants direct to the
US to compete in the 'Speak-off' which then became known at the Inter-District Speech Contest.
Because the seven Districts-at-large were then competing, the contest could no longer be accommodated in the time
span allowed at the DTM Luncheon. The Inter-District Speech Contest was, therefore, from 1990 onward conducted
prior to the Overseas Districts Dinner on the Monday night prior to the commencement of International Convention.
The International Speech Contest rules were then to be strictly abided by, resulting in the need for the winner of the
Inter-District Speech Contest to have a completely new and different speech for the World Championship of Public
Speaking.
Contestants representing District 69 at International Convention will be highlighted in a future issue of the
Corroboree.
(John Scouller DTM. PDG – District Historian)
Corroboree March 2009
WE HONOUR DISTRICT 69
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION WINNERS
1975 - RUSS WALKINGTON ATM,PDG
1987 - ARTHUR GORRIE DTM
1991 - IVY FOSTER DTM, PDG
1993 - CLARE MURPHY DTM, PDG
1994 - DESLEY COOPER DTM, PDG
2002 – STELLA ETHERINGTON DTM
2003 – DIANNE RIDDELL DTM, PDG
2006 – GAVIN BLAKEY DTM, PIP
2007 – MICHELE KEIGHLEY DTM
(A Presidential Citation is a personal award made by the current International President of Toastmasters
International based on nominations received from the Districts throughout the world)
John Scouller DTM,PDG
(District Historian
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS
DISTRICT 69
In this issue of the Corroboree, we feature the first twelve District Governors of District 69 who set the foundations
for our District.
1971-72
Russ Walkington
1972-73
Bob Kenworthy
1973-74
Geoff Phillips
(Decd. 2005)
1975-76
Frank Bell
(Decd. Feb 2008)
1976-77
Lionel Fifield
1974-75
Peter McCarthy
(Decd.Feb2007)
1977-78
Walter Fischer
(Decd. 1990)
1978-79
BruceMaddison
1979-80
Michael Weidner
1980-81
Dianne Stoodley
1981-82
Colin McFarlane
1982-83
Gordon Shoebridge
(Decd. July 2007)
(John Scouller, DTM. PDG. District Historian)
THE HISTORY PAGE
In the previous issue of the Corroboree, we featured the first twelve District Governors who led District 69 from
formation in 1971. In this issue we feature those who served as District Governor for the balance of the 80’s.
Subsequent issues will feature those who served in the 90’s and into the 21st century.
1983-84
John Scouller
1984-85
Ivy Foster
1986-87
Clare Murphy
1985-86
Dianne Riddell
1987-88
John Simpson
1988-89
Jan Derby
John Scouller DTM PDG
District Historian
1989-90
Desley Cooper