History of Penrith
Penrith is a city on the western fringe of the Sydney metropolitan area, in east central New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is approximately 54 kilometres by road west of Sydney and 30 metres above sea level.
The average temperature for Penrith is a mild 11 degrees Celsius minimum to a 24 degrees Celsius maximum with extremes between -6 degrees Celsius and 44 degrees Celsius.
In June 1789, Captain Watkin Tench discovered a river which Governor Phillip subsequently named the Nepean River, not realising that it belonged to the same river system as the previously discovered Hawkesbury River. William Cox built a road over the Blue Mountains in 1814 and a new road was then required to link Parramatta with Emu Ford. From that time on the development of the town of Penrith was assured, positioned as it was on the main highway from the City of Sydney, over the Blue Mountains to the new lands of the west.
Although never formally planned, the new town tended to centre on the early courthouse site located near the present police station complex in eastern High Street. This slightly elevated site afforded these early buildings protection from the devastating floods of the Nepean River and the small creeks which centred on lower High Street.
Naming of the Penrith Area
Penrith is said to be named after Penrith in Cumbria, England. Both towns being on important ford crossings on rivers near county boundaries. The word Penrith itself means chief ford.
Penrith Today
The population of Penrith is approximately 150,000 and located primarily in residential estates.
Penrith is both an agricultural centre (including dairying, poultry farming, fruits, vegetables, beef and turf farming) as well as a focal point for manufacturing industries.
With its role as host city to the rowing and canoe venues for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Penrith's continued growth as a regional centre and emergence to national prominence is assured.
The Rotary Club of Nepean - History
The idea of a new club in the Penrith area was suggested by the then District 9690 Governor, Dennis Green (1992-93), who was a member of the Rotary Club of South Penrith (now Penrith Valley). Initial discussions were held by members of the Rotary Club of Penrith in early 1993.
The first meeting was held in July 1993 at the Log Cabin Motor Inn, Memorial Avenue, Penrith and the newly inducted District Governor, Alan Grady (1993-94) approved of the proposed club.
The new club known as The Rotary Club of Penrith Daybreak signifying that it met at 7.00am on Monday mornings celebrated its charter on the evening of Friday, 19 November 1993 with 31 members.
In 1995 the members applied for permission to change the name of the club from The Rotary Club of Penrith Daybreak to The Rotary Club of Nepean to avoid confusion with the other local clubs.
In 2013 the three Sydney Districts (9680, 9690 & 9750) were involved in the re-districting by Rotary International into 2 larger districts, 9675 & 9685.
The three Rotary Clubs in Penrith as well as the clubs in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury region are now part of the larger District 9685.
Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrith,_New_South_Wales