This past weekend four members from our Club attended the Rotary Tri-District Conference on the Gold Coast, joining hundreds of Rotarians and Rotaractors from across Queensland and northern NSW. As always, these events are a good reminder that while our own club can sometimes feel consumed by immediate priorities and local challenges, we are part of something much bigger.
The conference featured a diverse range of speakers giving presentations on leadership, youth programs, Rotary Foundation initiatives, and several impressive community projects.
Two project presentations stood out for me.
The first was from the Rotary Club of Emerald, sharing the journey of their RFDS Patient Transfer Facility project. What began as a relatively straightforward concept, a shed to shelter aeromedical patients being transferred to aircraft - thanks to compliance requirements - became a far more complicated undertaking. Originally estimated at around $300,000, the project has grown to approximately $2 million and has needed a five-year commitment, extensive fundraising, and a critical partnership with Central Highlands Regional Council. Handover is expected later this year.
The second was the R.I.S.E. Solomon Islands project, delivered by the Rotaract Club of Paddington. Their team initially planned to refurbish a school library in Su’u, but quickly discovered the building was beyond repair. This forced the team to adapt the project at very short notice. What followed was a complete rebuild, delivered in partnership with the local community over a 10-day period and handed over to the students in the second half of last year. A remarkable feat.
Both presentations were powerful reminders that worthwhile projects rarely stay neat, simple or predictable. Scope changes, costs increase, challenges emerge; and progress can be frustratingly slow. But with determination, effort and persistence can come meaningful community impact.
As we prepare to celebrate our Club’s 50th anniversary this Saturday, it is worth reflecting that our Club has its own history of ambitious projects, service initiatives, and community impact. Different scale certainly, but the same underlying principle applies.
For 50 years, members of this Club have reached beyond themselves to identify needs, back ideas, build partnerships, and deliver projects that have genuinely helped our community.
All Toowoomba Rotarians, Partners, Friends of Members are warmly invited!
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 28th May 2026
Time: 12.15pm
Venue: Downs Club, Toowoomba
Cost: $37.50 per person
Enjoy lunch and view a ShelterBox on full display, followed by a presentation from PDG Paul Roger, Chairman of ShelterBox Australia. Hear about the urgent needs worldwide, especially with recent natural disasters and ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has displaced over two million people.
Bookings & Payment
Email your club’s name and attendee names to: secretary@rcte.au
Make payment to: Rotary Club of Toowoomba East
BSB: 034 221
Account Number: 924 659
Reference: “Your name and club” (e.g. “abcd” Toowoomba or “efgh” Metro)
Bookings are essential by Monday 25th May, so please advise early to ensure smooth arrangements and logistics. Your prompt reply helps us notify the venue and organise the event seamlessly.
For any further information Contact
Tony Jarroush PP PHF (1)
Mobile: 0418 700 640
We look forward to seeing as many as possible!
RC Toowoomba East - Project at Grace House Siem Reap Cambodia
On Wednesday 8th of April 2026, the RCTE Board approved the proposed project at Grace House. Ann Brownlie is the Chair of the Australian based charity running Grace House spoke to our RCTE meeting on March 26th.
Provisional value of $5000 was agreed for the project including;
Construction of playground / sensory walls
Maintenance projects at the School including painting
Some payment allocated towards student activities / sponsorship
The proposal is to now seek RCTE Rotarians who would like to participate. The aim is to get a party of 10 (5 couples or 3 couples and 4 single Rotarians etc) to travel to Cambodia.
Taking advice from Craig Mathieson the most suitable time for a team to visit Grace House is late January
The proposed travel arrangements are;
good fares with Singapore Airlines exist in late January, $1300 return approx. This is economy value and has 25kg of checked luggage.
The flights leave at 23:45pm and arrive the next day at 09:50am. Short stopover in Singapore
Suggest leave on Thursday 21st January and arrive on Friday morning. Book early check in or even the night before and have Friday as a free day.
Saturday (23rd) and Sunday (24th) doing tourist stuff.
Monday(25th) – Friday(29th) working at Grace House.
Saturday and Sunday (30th and 31st) more tourist stuff.
Fly out Monday 1st at 16:45pm arriving in Brisbane the next day at 07:15am.
Travel costs, accommodation and travel insurance will be paid for personally. Craig Mathieson and Ann Brownlie have organised a deal – see below. Some form of deposit (cost of flights) will be required in the near future to reserve your spot on the team.
The deal that has been put together includes:
Cambodian visa
Return economy airfares
Arrival Transfer
10 nights accommodation (twin/double) with breakfast
4 days of touring with guide and transport
Temple passes
Visits to the local Circus and Apopa Rats
Made in Cambodia Markets
Transport and Lunch for the project at Grace House
Farewell Dinner
Costs are Twin Share/Double Room Total: AU $2750.00 per person and Single Room Total: $3350 per person
The club will sort out the rotary insurance for the work undertaken in Cambodia.
I am actively seeking expressions of interest from those members who would be interested in undertaking this exciting project.
A fee will apply to any member late with an apology regardless of whether the number attending on the meeting day of the meeting is over, under or equal to what the Club Secretary submitted to the Downs Club. This fee will only apply to meetings at the Downs Club or any other club meeting where attendance numbers have to be stipulated prior to the meeting.
A Club member will be charged a meal fee of $20 if they
fail to submit any apology before 11am on Tuesday for the meeting the following Thursday (48 hrs later)
need to submit a late apology due to changed circumstance.
Fail to show up after indicating they would be present.
The members owing a fee of $20 will notified by the Club Secretary and Club Treasurer via an emailed
Late apology fee notice.
The fee can be paid by direct credit into the RCTE Club account or by adding $20 to the $35 meal fee at the next club meeting
Rotary Club of Toowoomba East Day Sheet
Apologies 30.04.2026
Wayne Barnett, Dave Birrell, Adrian Bonica, Rod Brilliant, Rod Brown, Gary Campbell, Jim Charlton, Shane Fisher, Dave Groves, Peter Hardwick, Roger Klaassen, Andrew Kratzmann, Conor Martin, Peter McLoughlin, Gav Roberts, Toby Sandell, Allan Schefe, Doc Smith, Paul Stephenson, Ross Watt, Matt Wentzel, Mark Winter
