As a celebration of Rotary Queensland's Centenary, Rotary Queensland has committed to raising sufficient funding to establish a perpetual chair and research funding in Neuroscience at the University of Queensland Brain Institute.
Prof Graeme Nimmo RFD is patron of the Break Through Project.
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 GeneralSir 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.
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:
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
The Keith Watts Testimonial Dinner is officially confirmed! Join us on Thursday, 12 June 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Queensland Cricketers’ Club, a venue personally selected by Keith for its elegance and views over the iconic Gabba.
This special evening celebrates Dr Keith Watts' remarkable 67 years of dedicated service to Rotary. Guests will enjoy a drink on arrival, a delicious three-course meal, and live jazz as we honour Keith’s immense contributions to Rotary and communities across Australia and the world.
The Club is proposing an amended meeting cycle, aimed at providing a bit more structure for members and supporting the two-month trial of evening meetings at The Normanby Hotel.
Taking one for the team at President Elect Training Day up at Caboolture. My friend Craig Carson, fellow Rotarian, and fun fact is a client of my creative agency called Next Thursday is the Area Govenor for his cluster of Rotary Clubs. We all have a big job to do in the new financial year to ‘Unite for Good’.
Susita Das (Club President) and Jane Hillyard (Events Director) of Rotaract Club of Brisbane Rivercity have sent us the following invitation. Please show our sponsored Rotaract Club support by purchasing a ticket and going long.
Dear Angela, Bruce, Dan & Members of the Rotary Club of Brisbane,
We hope this message finds you in high spirits enjoying your weekend!
On behalf of the Rotaract Club of Brisbane Rivercity, we are delighted to extend a warm invitation to an unforgettable evening of elegance and purpose at our Cocktail Fundraising Gala, “An Evening of Brushing Kindness”, in proud support of Habitat for Humanity Australia.
This year, we’re proud to continue our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Australia hosting Rivercity’s Annual Cocktail Party in support of the “Brush with Kindness” program operating here in the Brisbane region.
In 1988 this Time Capsule was buried here in The Botanical Gardens by The Rotary Club of Brisbane and former Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson, containing many and varied valuable items that will no doubt be a surprise to whoever is alive and digs it up in 2088… how times have changed!
What will life be like in 63 years time? Let’s hope it is better for those in need of Rotary International’s services today.
As always, everyone is welcome and we warmly invite past members to join us for this special milestone too. Your service and fellowship have shaped our story—and we’d love to celebrate with you.
As it happens, the fourth Monday of the month is New Member Induction Day—a time to welcome our newest Rotarians and recognise their commitment to service. Family, friends, and colleagues are all welcome to come along and share this occasion - and what better way to do that than on our birthday.
Come and celebrate as Sue Mulraney and her team hand over care of our district to our very own Mark Williams and his team! We will be celebrating with a classic High tea event - elegant, fun, and just a touch traditional.
Our friends at the Rotary Club of Nundah are holding a Walk for Mental Health, with all money raised going to support research into children's mental health through Australian Rotary Health.
They’re looking for a few volunteers to help with marshalling (guiding walkers and keeping things safe) on the day. It’s a great way to support a good cause—and there’s a free BBQ at the end as a thank you!
This is a great chance to help out a fellow Kinross Cluster club and make a difference in our community.
If you or anyone you know can help, contact Terry Ryan from Nundah Rotary at 0488 698 983 or by email.
District 9620 is pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the 2025 Interact Conference—a vibrant, youth-focused event designed to inspire and connect the next generation of Rotary leaders.
G'day Rotarians, Australia's most famous poet, Banjo Paterson, presented lectures in Brisbane Centennial Hall on the Boer War on 12 and 13 February 1901. As a professional performance poet, I plan to re-enact Banjo's lecture tour including Brisbane on the 125th anniversary of his presentations. Rather than discussion of the Boer War, my presentation will be an entertainment show: the Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson. I have been doing similar shows for the last 8 years in Winton, Queensland, where Banjo wrote "Waltzing Matilda". The show appeals most to older Australians and for that reason, I would suggest an afternoon show in the area. If your club can organise to host a show, I'd be happy to split the ticket price as a fundraiser for your organisation. An evening show is also a possibility if that suits better. The show goes for around 90 minutes and incorporates visuals as well as recitations of several of his popular poems along with history of his fascinating life.
A message from Rotary Club of Gympie - do we have a Rotary Club of Brisbane member who'd like to take up this opportunity and lead a team? (tap the link bottom right to access the info ...)
Hear For You is a non-profit organisation that supports deaf and hard of hearing teenagers through mentoring workshops led by adults with lived experience. This year, they’re running a Teen Film Festival in collaboration with the Australian Acting Academy, where participants will write, produce, and screen their own short films.
They are currently seeking donated prizes or cash contributions to recognise standout achievements—such as Best Film, Best Script, and awards to support further creative study.
If you or your business are able to support this initiative, please get in touch. It’s a great opportunity to encourage young creatives and support an inclusive, empowering project.
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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Honolulu, Hawaii, no longer host city for 2027 Rotary International ConventionRegrettably, the 2027 Rotary International Convention will no longer be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, as planned. This is due to a recent decision by the Hawaii
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In the spirit of reconciliation, the Rotary Club of Brisbane acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
This acknowledgment sits alongside our respect for all who have helped shape this country—including those who’ve lived, worked, and served across generations.
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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 
clubs.
Susita Das (Club President) and Jane Hillyard (Events Director) of Rotaract Club of Brisbane Rivercity have sent us the following invitation. Please show our sponsored Rotaract Club support by purchasing a ticket and going long.
We received the following letter:
