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.
Impact starts with our members — people like you who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
At club meetings in communities across the globe, our people of action come together to strengthen their connections to friends and neighbors and their commitment to improving lives.
Who can join?
We’re looking for people who want to give back to their communities.
Rotary clubs also welcome Rotaractors, Rotary Peace Fellows, and other members of the family of Rotary who qualify for membership.
On Monday 19 August 2024, Club President Angela Murphy opened the meeting with 18 in attendance and our newest member Maria Efthymiopoulos chaired the meeting.
We welcomed:
VISITING ROTARIANS: Melanie Liu and Catherine Mogambi from Rotary Club of Milimani Nairobi, Kenya.
SPEAKER & GUESTS: Denver Grasser, Dr. John Gilmore and Patricia McGail from HELP Enterprises.
GUEST: Andrew Doak.
INTERNATIONAL TOAST: Raised by VP Bruce McNaught in acknowledgement of Vietnam Veterans.
MEETING RESPONSIBILITIES: Please check your meeting responsiblities at the bottom of the newsletter and find a replacement if you are unable to fullfill them on your rostered day.
APOLOGIES: Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AX PSM, Governor of Queeland, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, James Delahunty, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Brian Kenny, Peter Saxby, IPP Phil Saxby, Paul Choy, Peterson Wei, Dan Adler, Celia Grenning, Dymphna Muir, Andrea Markey, Michael Stephens, Brian Kenny, Miles Murphy.
Also apologies from our regular visitor Miles Speter.
Denver Fresser, CEO of HELP Enterprises, recently presented a report to the Rotary Club of Brisbane, highlighting the significant role the club played in HELP’s early success. In the 1960s, the Rotary Club of Brisbane was instrumental in initiating support for inclusive workshops for people with disabilities. Through the efforts of John Russell and Wallace Bishop, the club raised AU$500,000—equivalent to $7,353,260.87 in today’s terms. This substantial funding was crucial in establishing HELP’s permanent base at Eagle Farm, where the organisation continues to operate.
Join us for a fun evening on Monday, 2th September, at the luxurious Gold Room of Red Hill Cinemas, in support of World Polio Day. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Brisbane and Rotary Club of Paddington this special fundraiser features a screening of the critically acclaimed film Thelma.
Experience the magic of cinema in Red Hill's premium Gold Room, where you can enjoy full food and beverage service delivered right to your ultra-comfortable, reclining armchair. Indulge in a delightful range of food, drinks, and desserts while supporting a great cause. Don’t miss out on this chance to relax in style and make a difference!
In recent years, the Polio Movie Event has been incredibly successful in attracting audiences to screenings to raise funds for Rotary’s number one priority, Ending Polio.
TLDR? check out the photos and a brief visual report by clicking HERE
RCoB member Celia Grenning shared this update:
Progress Update from Kavieng, Papua New Guinea: Local Leadership in Action
The recent training session in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea, held in July 2024, marks a significant step forward in Kyeema's locally-led program. Under the guidance of Kyeema’s PNG Program Manager, Ali Ume, the initiative is now being fully implemented by local leaders, showcasing the community's commitment to sustainable development.
One of the highlights of the visit was the construction of a second Master Farmer chicken house, built entirely with local resources in anticipation of the training. This achievement reflects the community's proactive approach and readiness to embrace new agricultural practices.
This program, entirely funded by Rotary to date, owes its progress to the support of the Rotary Club of Brisbane and the Rotary Club of Moorestown. Their contributions have been vital in empowering local communities to build sustainable livelihoods.
Maria's Greek parents immigrated to Albury, Australia and we are very fortunate that Maria moved from Melbourne to Brisbane and decided to join us at Rotary Club of Brisbane. Maria has also lived in Mexico and loved Mexico's vibrancy and the happy culture of the people she met there.
Maria is a highly experienced Brisbane based Casting Director with over 20 years of experience under her belt. She was co-founder of 2 leading Melbourne casting agencies: 2 Divas and Chameleon Casting.
In addition to her casting work, Maria is the director and founder of Brave Studios, a highly respected acting school known for its exceptional training programs. Her passion for nurturing talent and bringing out the best in actors has earned her a solid reputation in the entertainment community.
Maria’s network extends from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and beyond, giving access to top-notch studios, cutting-edge casting tools, and a pool of incredibly talented actors along the east coast of Australia.
She is a strong advocate for equal representation and diversity in the Australian film and creative industries and is passionate about creating a safe and nurturing environment where she can get the best out of actors in every audition.
We loved this recent update from our friend and valued club member Dickson Ken.
A few years ago, I sent a cold email to someone I didn’t know, and to my surprise, a Rotarian responded with a warm invitation to their Rotary Club. They even sponsored a meal! I gratefully accepted and was given just under two minutes to briefly discuss my project.
Fast forward three years, and I am now proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Brisbane. It’s been an incredible journey. Over the past four years in collaboration with One In Four Children, our club has shipped hundreds of thousands of library textbooks, hundreds of computers, and other essential donated goods in ten(10) 20ft containers.
Today, I walked into the club meeting room and reported to the Rotary Club of Brisbane members on the recent shipment en route port of Lae.
Reflecting on this journey, I am incredibly grateful for that initial chance and the support we’ve received along the way. It’s been a remarkable experience contributing to such impactful work together.
After meticulously packing and securing two 40ft containers at Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (RARE), I found myself overcome with emotion. These containers, filled to the brim with invaluable educational resources, were destined for Nondugul in Jiwaka Province and Nipa Kutubu in Southern Highlands Province. The significance of this mission brought me to tears—tears that were both sweet and bitter. Sweet, because of the tremendous potential these resources hold for the communities; bitter, because I had yet to secure the funds necessary to cover the costs associated with transporting the Nipa Kutubu container.
Determined to see this mission through, I decided to travel to Papua New Guinea at my own expense. I took two days’ leave from work, setting out on a journey that was guided by faith, with no accommodation or transportation secured upon arrival. As a Christian, I trusted that God would provide a way, and providence met me even before I left Australia.
At Brisbane Airport, I coincidentally encountered the Managing Director of Trans Wonderland (TWL), a local truck and logistics company in PNG. Seizing the opportunity, I shared with him the details of my trip and the purpose of my visit. I also sent him photos of the two containers. His immediate response was both surprising and heartening. He asked, “Dickson, is the container we delivered still on its way?” I explained that the containers were at the Brisbane wharf, en route to the Highlands of PNG.
Queensland Breakthrough Project- To mark Rotary Queensland's Centenary, we're teaming with Rotary Clubs across the state to raise funds for a perpetual chair and research in Neuroscience at the University of Queensland Brain Institute (PDG Tim Keeler)***Major announcement pending***
RARE aka Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment- A volunteer-based recycling facility collecting and redistributing medical and educational goods. We often need hands to help pack containers of medical equipment and school supplies to send to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands etc (IPP Phil Saxby, Dickson Ken).
Chocolate fish goes to both Phil and Dickson for the their next level dedication to this cause.
Kyeema Foundation - We provide chickens to established micro enterprise, this strengthens PNG communities via community lead restoration of coastal ecosystems, supporting coral reef and village chicken rearing; for environmental, food and nutrition resilience (Celia Grenning)
Alumni & Friends of Rotary Club of Brisbane - coming soon! Watch this space (Chris Muir)
ANZAC Day Observance - committee to lay a wreath on ANZAC Day in 2025 with the intention of making this an annual commitment (VP Bruce McNaught)
Rotary Action Group for Peace - we're applying to to become a peace builder club (Keith Watts)
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - time for some club fundraising the time honoured way ... we'll let you know when and where and expect to see you for a sanga ... (Denise Schellbach, Maria Efthymiopoulos)
Mentoring Programme - What even is Rotary and what is a PHF and do I have to wear at tie? We're partnering established club members with our new members to ensure they are supported and seamlessly folded into the club and Rotary life. (And no, you don't need to wear a tie).
Conference, Convention and District Assembly Grants - we recognise the value of attending these awesome Rotary events and want to invest in our newer members by supporting them to attend in a tangible way. We better sell a lot of sausages!
EarlyAct Petrie Terrace - oh yes we are! Coming soon - RARE, Tiger Conservation, Adopt A River - the possibilities are endless for these mighty kids (President Angela Murphy, IPP Phil Saxby, VP Bruce McNaught)
Eddie's Van- Denise Schellbach will be calling for volunteers to lead a hand providing hot meals over January in Brisbane's inner city.
Autism Global Project - Supporting Adolescents with Autism, Joint project with RC Madras, RC Colombo Reconnections, RC Brisbane and Smilestones - collaboration with UNICEF (Keith Watts)
Vanuatu Dental Program - Ongoing work to implement biomedical training of dental equipment servicing technicians in Vanuatu (IPP Phil Saxby)
Containers for Change
Containers for Change provides an easy and fun way for us to raise much-needed funds.
1 Collect eligible containers
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible.
2 Take them to a container refund point (scan the QR code) OR get them collected from your address
There are different types of container refund points across Queensland, so find the right one for you.
3 Earn a refund or donate
We receive 10 cents for every eligible container you return!
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
Paul Garcia
Fundraising Business Development Relationship Manager | Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology
Vice-Chair | Queensland Social Enterprise Council
Committee Member | Greater Caboolture Chamber of Commerce
Knight of Abbeystowe
With an affinity for Art, Archaeology and the Middle Ages, Paul joined the Abbey Museum in 2007 where he progressed to Chairman of the Board. After ten years as Chairman of the Abbey Museum in a volunteer capacity, in Nov 2023, Paul decided to work in the business to help raise funds to realise a dream come true.
Prior to joining the Abbey, Paul had left a career spanning 34 years with a global IT company, to join Business Chamber Queensland in 2019 as the Chamber Relationship Manager. Paul collaborated with over 110 Chambers of Commerce throughout Qld and has always had a passion to see small businesses not just survive but thrive through engagement with their local Chambers.
Paul hopes to push forward the creation of the next major tourist destination in SE Qld, a year-round Medieval Village. “Abbeystowe” will be an ‘edutainment’ centre of historical accuracy with a strong focus on social impact and experiential learning.
Following his passion for Social Enterprise, Paul is also the Vice-Chair of QSEC (Queensland Social Enterprise Council) where he helps raise awareness of social, cultural, and environmental needs.
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Club Information
Service Above Self
Mondays at 12:15 PM
Friday's Riverside
Riverside Centre
123 Eagle St.
Brisbane, QLD 4000 Australia
We meet on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Monday of the month at "Friday's Riverside" at 12:15pm for 12:45 sit down lunch. Meetings end just before 2pm.
The first Monday of each month is a social evening meeting, check the bulletin and our website.