Tim Brooker, of Hamilton East Rotary Club has recently produced a coffee table book, Hamiltons of the World.
The inspiration for a book about Hamiltons came when Tim felt there had to be a way of utilising the other Hamilton Rotary clubs throughout the world as fundraisers, especially as Hamilton, New Zealand is about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its formation and name in 2014.
When he first emailed 17 clubs in 10 global Hamiltons, how little he knew where the journey would take him. Ultimately, he located 129 Hamiltons on five continents and, while some are simply listed at the end of each section, he has managed, with the help largely of Rotary clubs to include about 80 Hamiltons in the main text.
Incredibly the total population of the Hamilton is around 4 million. There is a Hamilton in every Australian state - each named after a different Hamilton. To the surprise of many there are two Hamiltons in New Zealand, the other being a deserted gold mining town in the Maniototo which briefly had a population of about 4000 in the 1860s.
From the big cities such as Hamilton, Ontario to the small communities such as Hamilton, Virginia and from Hamilton, the capital city of Bermuda, to the holiday idyll of Hamilton Island, Queensland a total of 380 marvellous images have been included.
What a story Hamiltons of the World turned out to be!
The story has links with, in no particular order, the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a Dutch canal in Sri Lanka, the origins of the game of cricket, western forts and ghost towns in the US, a mountain in Antarctica, a group of Korean islands, the 1860 New Zealand Wars, a bishop in the Czech Republic and many other interesting tales.
There are also brief biographies of most of the men named Hamilton that the places are named after. All are named after men - Nelson's Lady Hamilton doesn't get remembered anywhere!
The book is a quality hard-backed A4 production - 236 pages, glossy, full colour and costs $45.
The book would make a great Christmas gift for individuals or corporate gift for Hamilton companies.
All proceeds from this project will go to Rotary charities. See more at www.hamiltonsoftheworld.com or jeanandtim@hotmail.com or contact Tim Brooker on 854 1304.
Rotary awards:
Fairfield: Paul Harris sapphire pin Margaret Peapell, Doug Haigh; Paul Harris Fellow Graeme Stubbs. Frankton: Paul Harris Fellow Graeme Giles. Hamilton: Paul Harris sapphire pin Yvonne Phillips, Fred Phillips (double sapphire), Arthur Pitcher; Paul Harris Fellow Rodney Lewis. Hamilton East: Paul Harris sapphire pin Graeme Henry. Te Rapa: Paul Harris Fellow Elizabeth Dunn; President's award for Rotarian of the year Charlie Dunbar. Waikato Sunrise: Paul Harris sapphire pin Raewyn Kirkman, Bryce Weal; Paul Harris Fellows Gary Robertson, Rosalie Sanderson.