Serenade kicks off Rotary Club’s 100th anniversary year

The Rotary Club of Belleville is celebrating 100 years of service and began their Rotary year on the right note today (Wednesday).

The club celebrated the opening of their eight instrument Rotary Music Garden in Riverside Park with a ribbon cutting.

The music garden has been a year in the works according to Bill MacKay, Chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee, who was called the ‘conductor behind this project’ by club President Doug Peterson.

Rotary Club of Belleville 100 Anniversary Committee Chair Bill MacKay speaks during the official opening of the Rotary Music Garden in Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

MacKay says they have a rich history of music and music involvement. They’ve held the Rotary Club Music Festival for 52 years and one of their very first fundraisers in the 1920’s was musically themed and was a fundraiser for physically challenged kids.

This garden is fully accessible and allows for inclusive play.

He says this musical garden was a project the club believed in and it was a unique way to kick off the Rotary Year.

The instruments are stainless steel and the club is told if maintained, they will stay in good shape for 100 years.

The garden will be available for use year round as well.

MacKay says the club has a goal of $100,000 in community projects for their 100 year.

The idea for this musical garden came together almost a year ago in Toronto at a Rotary Convention.

This project came together because of Rotary Club contributions, a contribution from the City of Belleville and a donation from the Parrott Foundation.

Vince Lynch, the project manager, says this was a great project and one of the most satisfying projects he’s ever worked on.

He says these kinds of musical gardens are starting to pop up in more and more communities, especially by trails, and he expects they will be very commonplace in most communities in the future.

The project manager of the Rotary Music Garden in Riverside Park Vince Lynch speaks during the official opening of the garden. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Lynch told the crowd in attendance for the opening ceremony the club had to unpack and pre-assemble the instruments which included over 500 pieces once all the nuts and screws were accounted for.

Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk was also in attendance and says the fingerprints of the Rotary Club can be see all over this community and their principles and reflect the City’s values and principles.

Rotary Club of Belleville President Doug Peterson accepts a certificate from Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk to mark the official opening of the Rotary Music Garden in Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

As for the rest of this celebratory year, MacKay says they are currently updating the Rotary Club of Belleville history, they have a dinner planned for April 1, 2020 to celebrate 100 years as the club was officially founded on April 1, 1920, and potentially one other event planned but MacKay remained mum on what that final event could be.

The cavatina and music book at the Rotary Music Garden at Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The bell lyre at Rotary Music Park at Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The rainbow sambas outdoor drums at the Rotary Music Garden at Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The harmony is a t-rung outdoor xylophone at Rotary Music Garden at Riverside Park. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The duo cupla is an instrument meant for those with physical limitations and those on the autism spectrum. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

The small and large babel drums at Rotary Music Garden in Riverside Park require only your hands to play them. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)