To mark Rotary Queensland's Centenary, we're raising funds for a perpetual chair and research in Neuroscience at the University of Queensland Brain Institute.
A volunteer-based recycling facility collecting and redistributing medical and educational goods.
Strengthens PNG communities via community lead restoration of coastal ecosystems, supporting coral reef and village chicken rearing; for environmental, food and nutrician resilience.
Eddie's Van
Weekday Big Brekkie & connection for homeless and hungry people in inner-city Brisbane.
President Handover
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Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organisation.
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May 15, 2025 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kedron Wavell RSL
May 26, 2025 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM E. Australia Standard Time (UTC+10:00)
1 Musgrave Road
Jun 12, 2025 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM E. Australia Standard Time (UTC+10:00)
Gabba Towers
Stories

It’s been a vibrant and inspiring season at the Rotary Club of Brisbane, thanks in no small part to the enthusiasm and initiative of our newest members. We’re proud to share that several of our newest Rotarians have hit the ground running—demonstrating service, learning, and leadership in action.

Here’s a round of applause for those who have already achieved the following milestones in their Rotary journey:

  • ✅ Completed the New Member Basics course via the Rotary Learning Centre

  • ✅ Applied for a New Member Grant to attend conferences and events

  • ✅ Attended their first, second, and third club meetings as full members

  • ✅ Participated in the District Conference, embracing the wider Rotary family

  • ✅ Proudly took part in their official induction on the fourth Sunday of the month

  • ✅ Stepped up to chair a club meeting — a true test of confidence and leadership

  • ✅ Served as a greeter at club meetings, warmly welcoming members and guests

  • ✅ Volunteered at both a District event (such as tree planting) and a Special Club event (like our Club Birthday)

👏 These contributions exemplify the Rotary spirit and set a powerful example for others. If you're a new member still working through your checklist, we encourage you to take inspiration from your peers and tick off the next goal!

📣 A gentle reminder: Inductions take place every fourth Sunday—a perfect time to invite family and friends to witness the Rotary spirit in action.

Let’s continue to support and uplift our new members as they embrace service above self. 💙💛

May 12, 2025
 

Overview
Monday’s evening meeting marked a defining moment in the Rotary Club of Brisbane’s journey toward its next chapter. Members came together to reflect, reimagine, and begin to redesign the future direction of the club. With thoughtful facilitation and shared insight, the session set the tone for a strategic and purpose-driven year ahead. CLICK HERE for the slides.

Vision & Strategy
Incoming President Dan Adler led the session with a clear call to action: it’s time to redefine how we present ourselves, what we stand for, and how we deliver value. Using the “D4” strategic framework—Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver—Dan outlined a pathway from exploration to execution. The strategy focuses not just on what we do, but why we do it.

Key elements included:

  • Brand Clarity: “A logo is not a brand; the brand is the why.” The club will focus on articulating a meaningful proposition that resonates with new and current members alike.

  • Differentiation: Rotary Brisbane’s history and legacy are unique strengths. The challenge ahead is positioning the club as a modern, innovative leader while retaining its historical depth.

  • Member Value: A standout initiative is a Mini MBA-style project management course for all members, designed to boost confidence, skills, and project leadership capacity.

  • Audience Mapping: The strategy work is actively identifying primarysecondary, and tertiary audiences—from engaged members and alumni, to lapsed Rotarians and prospective partners.

Highlights of Discussion

  • Meeting Format: Members discussed the transition from lunch to evening meetings. While generally welcomed, it reinforced the need for clear communication—one member turned up at lunch by mistake.

  • Humanitarian Focus: Dan touched on the club’s role in global and local humanitarian networks and the need to integrate community resilience into our service work.

  • Casual Conversations: The relaxed setting encouraged lively exchanges—from travel tales to tech glitches—as the meeting room settled in.

  • Next Phase Planning: The group reviewed key pillars that will guide the next 12 months: relevance, flexibility, visibility, and member engagement.

Next Steps

  • Dan to prepare a detailed strategic presentation for the 1 July Changeover

  • Angela to include a workshop summary in the next club bulletin (you're reading it and she got AI to do it)

  • Matt to coordinate rollout of the Mini MBA

  • Marketing team to initiate branding refresh: agile, modern, and heritage-based

  • Membership committee to re-engage past members and define outreach plans

  • Club to explore forming satellite groups to pursue niche projects or interests

  • Volunteers encouraged to contribute to the club website and bulletin—training available

Closing Note
Rotary Brisbane is entering a season of purposeful renewal. Through reflection and action, we are building a club that honours its legacy while leading with vision. Every member, every skill, and every idea is part of that story.

Planning the Keith Watts Testimonial Dinner is well underway for Thursday, 12 June 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Queensland Cricketers’ Club.

All members, friends of Rotary, and especially our Past Presidents are warmly invited to attend this special evening honouring Dr Keith Watts and his remarkable 67 years of Rotary service.

The dinner will be held at the Queensland Cricketers’ Club, a venue selected by Keith for its elegant atmosphere and views over the Gabba.

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink, a three-course meal, and live jazz as we celebrate Keith’s extraordinary contribution to Rotary and to communities across Australia and beyond.

As part of the evening, Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Brisbane will be formally acknowledged and presented with their own ‘Past President’ badge, engraved with their name and year of service—a small token of appreciation for their leadership and commitment.

All net proceeds from the event will support the Rotary Queensland Breakthrough Project, helping to fund neuroscience research at the Queensland Brain Institute.

Tickets are limited. Please consider joining us to celebrate a legacy of service and support a cause with lasting impact.

Book your tickets here »

April 25th, 2025 marked a first in Rotarians Matt Christopher's and Dan Adler's lives. Thanks to The Rotary Club of Brisbane, and PP Bruce McNaught for organising the wreath to be laid by the RSL, this has become a memorable moment for Matt and Dan to be proud of.
 
 
May 12, 2025

Dear Members, Alumni, and Friends of Rotary,

As we move into what is undoubtedly the busiest stretch of the Rotary year—May, June, July—I want to pause and thank each of you for your curiosity, spirit and commitment.

Although I’m currently working away from Brisbane and can’t be there in person, I’m still busy behind the scenes on the club and Rotary initiatives. There's a fair bit that has been put in place over recent months, and it’s been such a joy to see President-elect Dan Adler bringing fresh energy and great momentum to all we’ve built. Thank you, Dan, for your proactive leadership!

By all accounts, Dan’s presentation today was both inspiring and insightful—I'll be sharing it in this week’s bulletin.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Next Monday, 19 May, we’ll be workshopping as a club—starting with a short debrief on recent board decisions, followed by committee time to work on and wrap up our current service projects. If you bring your laptop, you might pick up a new ClubRunner or Rotary trick or two!

  • Saturday, 24 May – VOLUNTEER for a hands-on fundraising event
    We really NEED people to get involved for this one—it’s not only essential for raising club funds, but a fantastic way to get to know each other better. Don’t be shy—come along and lend a hand! (Photo on right of Bruce McNaught having too much fun last time CLICK here for more photos).

  • Monday, 26 May – Club’s 102nd Birthday & Alumni Evening (ticketed & only nine indoor seats left)

  • Thursday, 12 June – Celebrate Keith Watts at a special testimonial dinner at the Gabba (ticketed & fast becoming quite the distinguished guest list)

  • Saturday, 6 July – President’s Changeover Lunch with Dan & me: Italian feast with bottomless drinks! (#WhatsNotToLike - get your ticket here)

May is Youth Service Month, and we’re lucky to be sharing our venue with the Rotaract Club of Paddington twice a month. Our EarlyAct initiative is gaining traction, and we’re planning two Peace Pole ceremonies this year—more on those soon

And another thing —please do visit www.myrotary.org and explore the Learning Centre. Every day I'm asked questions that are answered here in short, user-friendly courses—available to all Rotarians and even non-members. Check out all the topics!

Warm Welcome to MORE New Members

We’ve had a fantastic month of growth—please join me in welcoming:

Wendy Walklate (sponsor; Dan Adler)
Rhoda Kriek (sponsor: Angela Murphy)
Kerstin Booge-Linton (sponsor: Angela Murphy)
  

Whether your contribution is large or small, in-person or behind the scenes, every act of service counts—and every gesture of connection matters.

With gratitude and in service,
Angela Murphy
President, Rotary Club of Brisbane
2024–2025

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Upcoming Speakers
Jeanette Johnstone: Teacher in a Box
Jun 09, 2025 12:15 PM
Championing Global Education through TIB
Championing Global Education through TIB

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.

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Jun 30, 2025 6:00 PM
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