Dear Members, Alumni, and Friends of Rotary,
It’s a pleasure to write you as we reflect on a vibrant few weeks for our club.
From our recent tree planting event to our full calendar of upcoming gatherings, I’ve seen our values of service, friendship, and growth in action. The tree planting wasn’t just about the environment—it was about laughter, teamwork, and building community. It was also a fitting tribute to Rotary’s Environment Month. Thank you DG Sue Mulraney and the team.
Over the school holidays, I was fortunate to visit Sydney with my family to enjoy a show on the harbour—magnificent in every way and a reminder of what a special country we live in.
Anzac Day Reflections
This week we pause to honour ANZAC Day—adeeply significant day across Australia and New Zealand. It holds personal meaning for me: my father (left), Valdemar Antonio Correia da Silva fought in Angola for Portugal, and my great-grandfather Lieutenant General Sir Edward Puttick, was an officer who served with the NZ Military during the First and Second World Wars. The first New Zealand-born soldier to reach the rank of lieutenant general, he was Chief of the General Staff of the New Zealand Military Forces from 1941 to 1945.
We also honour our own members who have served, and thank them for their sacrifice and example. I reflect on the effects of war on families, nations and individuals and I trust that those around the world currently suffering because they cannot not live in peace are also in your thoughts.
We’re beginning what we hope will be an annual tradition—laying wreaths on behalf of the club. If you’d like to join VP Bruce McNaught or I at ANZAC day commemorations tomorrow, please check the calendar for details.
Looking Ahead
Saturday, 24 May – VOLUNTEER for a hands-on fundraising event.
Monday 26 May - Club’s 102nd Birthday & Alumni Evening – (ticketed and limited).
Thursday, 12 June – Celebrate Keith Watts at a special testimonial dinner at the Gabba—lit up just for us! (Ticketed and limited).
And don’t miss the Changeover High Tea for Mark Williams as he steps into his new role as District 9620 Governor—a momentous and well-deserved milestone.
Warm Welcome to New Members
We’ve had a fantastic month of growth—please join me in welcoming:
| Marijka Zwolenski-Frantzen (Kyeema) |  |
| Peter Palapa (sponsor: Dickson Ken) |  |
| Matthew Christopher (sponsor: Dan Adler) |  |
| Monika Christopher (sponsor: Dan Adler) |  |
| Libby Kilby (sponsor: Angela Murphy) |  |
Your enthusiastic embrace of our new members is what makes our club special—thank you. From experience I know they will be well welcomed. I'm looking forward to discovering what their special interests and talents are!
Club Changes & Thanks
This week is our final meeting at FRIDAY’S Riverside as we trial evening meetings at The Normanby Hotel (just up the road on the edge of Spring Hill / Roma Street Parklands) with free on-site parking! Change isn’t always easy—as PE Dan Adler recently said in his podcast with Matt Christopher—but it’s necessary for growth. I commend your flexibility and positivity as we test what works best for our club.
A special thanks to Monika Christopher for stepping forward to get familiar with the secretary ropes—and a heartfelt acknowledgement of VP Bruce McNaught, who handles that demanding role on top of his already significant Rotary commitments. Bruce, you’re a trooper, and we appreciate you.
Thank you all for your continued support, your energy, and the heart you bring to every meeting and project. We are growing, evolving, and doing it together.
With gratitude and in service,
Angela Murphy
President, Rotary Club of Brisbane
2024–2025
clubs.
Jeanette Johnstone, a retired Business Analyst and Project Manager from the Queensland Department of Education, has dedicated her post-retirement years to revolutionizing education in underserved regions. As a committed member of the Rotary Club of Paddington, Queensland, she founded the 'Teacher in a Box' (TIB) initiative, a testament to her unwavering commitment to global education.
The inception of TIB traces back to 2012 during a Rotary visit to Arusha, Tanzania. Jeanette observed firsthand the acute shortage of teaching resources in local schools and the challenges posed by unreliable and costly internet access.Determined to bridge this educational divide, she envisioned an offline solution to deliver quality educational content to these communities.
Collaborating with Patrick Hackett, an IT student and volunteer at Computers 4 Learning—a Rotary project—Jeanette transformed this vision into reality. Together, they repurposed donated laptops, equipping them with a vast array of educational materials, including videos, lessons, and books. These laptops, when connected to a small router, can share content with up to 100 devices, facilitating both classroom instruction and self-paced learning. This innovative approach ensures that students in remote areas, devoid of reliable internet connectivity, have access to invaluable educational resources.
Under Jeanette's leadership, TIB has expanded its reach, making a significant impact in countries such as Liberia, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Her dedication has not only provided essential tools for education but has also ignited a passion for learning among countless students. Jeanette's work exemplifies the profound impact of combining technological innovation with a heartfelt commitment to service.
The Rotary Club of Brisbane is proud to be supporting this initiative. With recent funding secured for nine new Teacher in a Box units, a team including Dickson, Ken, and others will soon travel to Papua New Guinea and other locations to install the systems and train local users. It’s a powerful example of Rotary collaboration, technology, and practical action coming together to open new doors for education.
