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SPRINGWOOD, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia – Rotary International has paid tribute in the February edition of the Rotary Down Under magazine to local Rotarian Paul Henningham, a Lower Blue Mountains Club Rotarian for the past half-century, who is considered a legend in the international organisation, and founder of a number of arms of RI including the very magazine paying tribute to him this month – Rotary Down Under.

The Rotary world lost one of its true pioneers when Herbert Paul Henningham – the man responsible for the evolution of the Rotary World Magazine Press – died at his home in Springwood, in the Blue Mountains on 2 December, just two months short of his 98th birthday, the Rotary Down Under feature says.

From the rice fields of Leeton, NSW, radio journalism, office work and retail selling to war service, social work and journalism, it is difficult to understand how Paul Henningham crammed so much into his amazing life.

Paul was the eldest son of Herbert W Henningham and English girl Mercy Trent. His father served at Gallipoli in 1915 and won the Military Cross for Valour in the Somme, France, in 1918.

He brought his young wife back to Australia and Leeton after the war and they had four children, of whom Paul was the eldest. His brother Jack, one year younger, was killed in WWII at the age of 21.

His family and Rotary were his passions. He never forgot his roots or lost his love of the Australian bush – and he never stopped unselfishly giving to Rotary and the community.

Paul saw distinguished war service in Papua New Guinea and was so conscious of the plight of many

A meticulous journalist and publisher, Paul joined the Rotary Club of Marrickville, NSW, in 1955, but later transferred to the Rotary Club of Newtown, NSW, as charter vice-president.

In the mid 60s, in the face of much high-powered opposition, he joined the Rotary Clubs of Newtown and Bayswater, Vic, to campaign for the establishment of a national Rotary magazine.

A master tactician, he gained approval from the then 11 Australian districts to publish three “pilot” issues– April, May and June of 1965.

Paul was editor and several senior Rotarians volunteered to carry out the vital tasks of sales and administration.

A referendum was conducted after the third issue and Australian clubs and members left no doubt about the success of the venture – 12,198 in favour and 2150 against, with 2544 abstaining. Some 404 clubs were in favour, with only 20 against.

Paul and his team of strong supporters clinched ultimate victory in 1976, when the RI Board finally moved to allow regional magazines as an “approved and prescribed” alternative to The Rotarian. Rotary Down Under circulation immediately jumped to 35,000.

While all this was happening, Paul  and his wife Peggy were raising their young family in the Lower Blue Mountains village of Glenbrook, NSW, and Paul assisted with the charter of the Rotary Club of Blaxland/Springwood, later to become the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains.

He joined the club in 1970, after completing his term as president of Newtown.

Paul led the Rotary Down Under organisation for 19 years before passing the baton to Bob Aiten at the end of June, 1984.

During these years, his Rotary service had no boundaries.

Apart from senior roles as district governor (1973-74), chairman and member of various RI committees, moderator of a Rotary World Press Seminar, and RI national representative for Australia in the International Year of Peace, he was the driving force behind several major programs.

I, like many of you in our family of Rotary, was saddened to learn of the passing of a devoted friend and Rotarian who was a legend in our Rotary world.

Paul Henningham was a true ambassador for Rotary Down Under. He made friends worldwide and always showed an interest in helping solve the problems that come up in every organisation – including Rotary.

He had 30 years of leadership in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program – nationally and internationally – and wrote the first official RYLA handbook.

He was heavily involved in the early years of Probus – chairman of the Probus Publications Committee and edited the Probus News for 11 years.

He and his great friend Jim Stanford established The Probus Centre South Pacific.

Paul and Peggy’s warm friendship with Lord and Lady Ranfurly in England led the way to the extension of the Ranfurly Library Service to the South West Pacific.

He was involved in the establishment of Rotary’s Regional Institutes, with another old friend in Brian Maguire of Leeton, and played a major role in the promotion and presentation of the first RI Convention in Sydney, NSW, in 1971.

Paul and the RDU Board of the time purchased the first Rotary Down Under House in Station Street West, Harris Park – which ultimately opened the door for the purchase of the major premises in Parramatta.

Paul was a strong supporter of FAIM (forerunner to Rotary Australia World Community Service) and pushed strongly for Rotary to lead in the recognition of Indigenous culture within its programs.

The Rotary Down Under staff adored him.

This message from one of his first staff members, Joy Gillett OAM, who now heads Australian Rotary Health,says it all: “I would like to let people know that Paul has always been the most considerate and kindest person I have ever known. Back 50 years ago, when I was first employed at RDU, he joked that I was his ‘adopted daughter’. He was such an extraordinary person, who genuinely cared about people and wanted the best for everyone.

“Nothing was too much trouble for him, and I knew if I did ask for something, he would do everything in his power to make it happen.”

Paul continued regular visits to RDU since his retirement and all subsequent staff – including me – shared this deep affection. At my request, the RDU Board conferred the title “Editor Emeritus” on him.

He was always available to assist me at any time with any challenge. His depth of knowledge was invaluable and his dry sense of humour a great comfort in demanding situations.

Of course, Paul’s service to the community at large was just as impressive as his service to Rotary, especially his service to Legacy as a Legatee and editor of the Legacy Torchlight.

Glen Kinross, who headed the global organisations as President of Rotary International in 1997/98 said: “Paul Henningham became a legend in his lifetime. It was a long haul that began when Paul published the first Australian Rotary magazine – on newsprint! Paul could never have dreamed its future that has become the high-gloss RDU magazine we have today.”

“From the earliest time, Paul’s editorials were a ‘must read’.”

“His view did not always conform to Rotary policy, but they did create another point of view – a point of view with which I agreed most times,” Kinross said.

“Paul was a Rotary historian – and many times I requested his help. No one knew Rotary better than Paul. He was a great writer – a genuine essayist and did me proud when I assumed the RI presidency in 1997.”

He really enjoyed his work with the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Western Sydney.

Paul was devoted to the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains and its members. Nothing could quench his desire to serve, and right up until the month before his passing he was on deck at the monthly Market Day, helping with his favourite Rotary Book Stall sales.

Every Australia Day, he and his charter member mate Bill Peard could be found at the public relations/administration tent at the entry to Glenbrook Park, welcoming anyone and everyone who took time to stop and chat.

(The tribute published by Rotary Down Under in February 2019 was written by Bob Aitken AM, Managing Editor/Executive Director of Rotary Down Under from 1984, when he took over from Paul Henningham, until 2014).