Please check the roster for the next few weeks and advise Vicki Kersey and David Ungar if you
will be away that week. Meeting jobs will be allocated via email before the meeting.
Meeting Roster
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9/07/2026
Richard Diaz
Rita Fellows
Jun Huo
Mok Singh
16/07/2026
Ken Clark
Ray James
Kath Koch
Ross Smith
23/07/2026
Tony Heading
Bren Milsom
Hannah Murray
Geoff Stonehouse
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LAST WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
The speaker last week was our very own Andy Rajapakse. Andy highlighted that Rotary’s core challenge is not membership but leadership, with around half of departing members leaving due to poor leadership at club and district levels. While the club is strong in membership growth, service projects, and Foundation giving, it lags in developing leaders beyond the club, despite having produced two district governors in 70 years. Rotary’s mission and values—friendship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership—were emphasised as the pathway to creating lasting change in ourselves and our communities. Members were urged to step into the 12 key club roles, mentor new members, and consider district, zone, and international positions, with over 1,000 leadership opportunities available worldwide. The message concluded with a call to act now, not procrastinate, and to “learn on the job” by accepting new leadership responsibilities.
THIS WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER
Ree Ali, Community Development Officer, from Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) will be our guest speaker this week. ADA Australia is a not-for-profit, independent, community based advocacy and education service with 30 years’ experience in supporting and improving the well-being of older people and people with disability.
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WHAT'S THE BUZZ THIS WEEK?
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
4 July Humpbacks & Highrises BBQ
18 / 19 July Kokoda Parking
21 August Bunnings BBQ
See events links on the left for sign-up sheets and more information
Meeting Information
Youth Exchange News
Lucy, the club’s Argentinian exchange student, returns today to Gold Coast Airport! Thanks were extended to Yvette for her support as host mum.
Service & Fundraising
The recent Bunnings barbecue raised $1,505, and Bunnings donated six branded Monopoly games for use as prizes. Volunteers are still needed for the upcoming Humpbacks and High Rises barbecue.
Member Recognition & Rotary Convention
Bren and Sue received the Medal of Merit for work in Timor-Leste, and PDG Andy was recognised by the Multicultural Social Network. Andy and Michael Cooper attended the Rotary International Convention in Taipei, where Andy spoke on innovative membership and clubs.
Club runner information
If you do not have your Club Runner login information, you can go to the Club Runner website, scroll down a little and click on “Send me a Magic Link”. Enter the email address you gave to the club, and you will receive an email. Click on the login button and then select the club website. Go to ‘My Clubrunner’ and then ‘My Profile’. The ‘Edit’ button is at the top right and you can add/change any information on your profile. Click ‘Save’ and you’re done!
If you’re really feeling techy, you can download the Club Runner app.
If you would like any help resetting your password, or downloading the app to your phone, please let us know. There are a few members who can assist you.
We are looking to use Club Runner more for information and rosters, so it would be great if everyone is able to log in.
Congratulations again to Bren and Sue for their Medals of Merit awarded to them from President Ramos Horta in honour of their outstanding contributions to the Bakhita Centre in Ermera and Bobonaro.
Ross Smith seems known to most nearly anyone who attended high school on the Gold Coast. At our last Bunnings BBQ, he caught up with Darren - a student at Miami State High School in 1984, when Ross was the Deputy Principal. Darren was in the same year as President-Elect Vicki.
What a Day!
June 29th - International Fisherman Day
July 1st - International Chicken Wing Day
July 4th - International Cherry Pit Spitting Day
Just Sayin'
“Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.”
Two clubs, one vision: creating lasting impact together
By Rajdeep Dutta, Rotary Club of Aarohee, Calcutta, India
There are evenings that feel less like a formal meeting and more like the beginning of a meaningful journey. My visit to the Rotary Club of Battersea Power Station, England, on 14 May was precisely that — warm, insightful, collaborative and deeply inspiring.
I was representing my club as 2026-27 secretary. Few venues can rival the symbolism of Battersea itself — a landmark that once powered a city and now continues to power conversations, creativity, community, and connection. Quite fitting, perhaps, for a Rotary gathering focused on how to Create Lasting Impact. Read more here.
Rotary Down Under
Raising the profile of preparedness
By delivering practical emergency kits while raising awareness of personal preparedness, Hawke’s Bay Rotary clubs are strengthening community resilience and reinforcing Rotary’s public image as a trusted, proactive force in times of crisis.
On the east coast region of New Zealand’s North Island, Hawke’s Bay Rotary clubs have combined to provide Emergency Grab Bags for households.
Emergency Grab Bags is a project initially established by Rotary clubs following Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, to pack and distribute emergency supply kits to families in the Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay, an area that suffered enormous damage.
Rotary International Convention in Taipei concludes with inspiration and a call to action
By Wen Huang
From powerful performances and speakers to global service commitments, more than 38,000 people celebrate Rotary’s global spirit.
The Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan, ended on a high note as singer Leona Lewis brought thousands of attendees to their feet with a stirring performance that included the resilience anthem “Fire Under My Feet” during the closing ceremony on 17 June.
Taipei’s warm hospitality was on full display as hundreds of Rotary volunteers formed a human corridor outside the venue, greeting departing attendees with cheers and celebratory gestures. Read more here.
Ross Smith seems known to most nearly anyone who attended high school on the Gold Coast. At our last Bunnings BBQ, he caught up with Darren - a student at Miami State High School in 1984, when Ross was the Deputy Principal. Darren was in the same year as President-Elect Vicki.
