Dear Rotarians and Friends,
What a week it has been!
I had the pleasure of attending the QBI Research Impact Breakfast and came away inspired by the incredible work being done to improve lives through medical research. Please save the date for Tuesday, 17 November, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, when our club will have the opportunity to enjoy a private tour of the Queensland Brain Institute. I'll send further details closer to the date.
After our Thursday morning meeting, Leslie, Kim, Mish, Eric and I attended the Rotary Peace Fellows Graduation at The University of Queensland. It was wonderful to celebrate this important milestone with the graduates. We congratulate all of our Peace Fellows on their achievement and wish them every success as they continue their important work in building peace around the world.
Our joint meeting with our Art Show partners, the Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise, was another highlight of the week. Our guest speaker from India, Sivaprasad S. Pillai, introduced us to one of Rotary's lesser-known opportunities: the International Travel and Hosting Fellowship (ITHF). If you enjoy travelling or would like to welcome visiting Rotarians to Brisbane, I encourage you to learn more at www.ithf.org. It's a wonderful way to experience Rotary's international friendships in a very personal way. Well done Dani for signing-up already.
This week also marks the beginning of our Brisbane Rotary Art Show, our club's biggest fundraiser of the year. Please come along, visit the exhibition, volunteer, buy paintings, and join us for the Gala Evening:
https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/2026-brisbane-rotary-art-show-gala-evening
Don't forget to purchase your raffle tickets too. A big thank you to every Rotarian who has already given their time and energy over the weekend. Events like these are only possible because of your dedication and teamwork.
I'd like to finish this week's message by sharing a song that has meant a great deal to me for many years: "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry.
I listen to a lot of African music, and as someone who grew up in Belgium, Youssou N'Dour has always been a familiar and admired artist. Originally from Senegal, he sings in French as well as other languages, and this song is performed in three languages, making its message even more powerful.
At its heart, 7 Seconds reminds us that every child enters the world the same, with innocence, hope and unlimited potential. It is only later that society teaches prejudice, division and inequality. The song challenges us to think about the kind of world we are creating for future generations and reminds us that hope always begins with people who choose compassion over fear.
Youssou N'Dour is much more than an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter. He is also a humanitarian, former UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and former Minister of Tourism for Senegal. Throughout his life he has championed children's rights, fought malaria, campaigned against child marriage, and established his own foundation to support sustainable development.
Its message resonates deeply with Rotary. Through our work in promoting peace, supporting education, improving health and serving our communities, we are helping to build a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they are born.
It's one of those rare songs that isn't just meant to be heard, it asks each of us what kind of world we're helping to build for the next child born into it and that is why it talks to me deeply.
Have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Art Show.
Warm regards,
Mademoiselle President Valerie
President 2026-27.
