Welcome to the November edition of the District 9560 newsletter.

This written edition brings together the key updates from the District Governor’s video message, along with additional district news, reminders and opportunities for clubs and members.

During the first four months of the Rotary year, District Governor Rita and Brien have had the privilege of visiting 49 clubs across District 9560.

These visits have highlighted the remarkable diversity of projects, fundraising initiatives and community service being delivered by clubs throughout the district. While it is impossible to recognise every initiative individually, several projects deserve special mention:

• The Fraser Coast clubs’ annual CRoW End Polio fundraiser, which encourages community members to cycle, run or walk while raising funds for PolioPlus.
  
  
• The Brian Prince Emergency Services Awards organised by the Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central, which recognise the contribution of first responders and emergency services personnel. This successful project could readily be adapted and delivered by clubs within other Rotary Community Groups.
  
  
• The Derby Day fundraiser conducted by the Rotary Club of Townsville Saints.
  
  
• The Eat Up program, supported by the Rotary Club of Litchfield/Palmerston in Darwin and the Rotary Club of Mackay North in Mackay. 

These are just a few examples of the creativity, commitment and impact demonstrated by Rotary clubs across District 9560.

District Governor Rita and Brien sincerely thank the 13 clubs that have already contributed to the 2026–2027 District Governor’s Partner Project in support of Friends of Himalayan Children.

Together, these clubs have raised $20,000 towards the district target of $80,000.

The project will support the construction of new student and teacher accommodation at Batase School in Nepal. This will help remove barriers to education and create brighter futures for children who may otherwise be unable to attend school.

Each club is being encouraged to consider making a contribution of $1,000 towards this important project.

The clubs that have already contributed are sincerely thanked for their generosity and early support. With the involvement of clubs across the district, this is an achievable target that will make a lasting difference.

District 9560 is pleased to announce that Rob Gibb, from the Rotary Club of Gladstone Midday, has been selected to serve as District Governor for 2028–2029.

Rob will now begin the next stage of his Rotary leadership journey as part of the district’s Governor team. District leaders and members look forward to welcoming Rob to the team and supporting him through the preparation, development and training that will lead to his year as District Governor.

Congratulations to Rob on his selection and the beginning of this exciting chapter of Rotary service.

Rotary Tropical North Queensland was announced as the winner of the Innovation Igniter Award at the Rotary South Pacific Conference in Melbourne on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The awards formed part of the conference’s Saturday morning plenary session.

The award recognised Rotary TNQ’s development of a practical and scalable regional framework connecting clubs through shared branding, digital marketing, collaborative events and membership pathways.

Facilitated by Rotary Community Leader Sam Dyer, the initiative enables clubs to retain their individual identities while pooling their skills, resources, ideas and community relationships. Through a shared regional website, social media presence, coordinated marketing and combined events, clubs have promoted one another, reached wider audiences and achieved outcomes that would have been more difficult individually.

At the heart of Rotary TNQ is a simple principle: clubs working together, not competing.

This Innovation Igniter Award belongs to the club leaders, Rotarians, Rotaractors and volunteers who have embraced the Rotary TNQ vision and contributed to its success. It demonstrates how Rotary Community Groups can become active networks for collaboration, public image, membership development and greater community impact.

Congratulations to everyone across Rotary Tropical North Queensland on this significant achievement.

November is Rotary Foundation Month, providing clubs and members with an opportunity to celebrate and support Rotary’s charity of choice.

Every day, somewhere in the world, a Rotary Foundation project is changing a life. A child receives access to education. A family gains clean water. A community receives support after a disaster. A health initiative reaches people who need it most.

These outcomes are made possible through contributions to The Rotary Foundation.

Every donation, regardless of its size, helps strengthen communities and improve lives. The Rotary Foundation is more than a charity. It is one of Rotary’s most powerful tools for creating lasting change.

District 9560 has established the following Foundation giving goals for the Rotary year:

• US$100 per member to the Annual Fund
  
  
• US$1,500 per club to the PolioPlus Fund
  
  
• Clubs already meeting these goals are encouraged to increase their contribution from the previous year by 10%

The district’s year-to-date Annual Fund and PolioPlus contributions are currently ahead of the amount contributed during the corresponding period last year. Clubs and members are thanked for maintaining this positive momentum.

Clubs that recently conducted End Polio Now activities, including movie nights and World’s Greatest Meal events, are encouraged to forward the money raised to The Rotary Foundation as soon as possible. Promptly transferring these funds allows them to begin supporting Rotary’s work rather than remaining in club bank accounts.

Contributions to the Annual Fund are invested for three years. Following that period, 95% of the funds become available to support Rotary programs, including district grants, global grants, Rotary Peace Fellows and other Foundation initiatives. This enables the district to help direct funding towards projects that deliver meaningful local and international outcomes.

Contributions to the PolioPlus Fund are put to work immediately in support of Rotary’s continuing effort to eradicate polio throughout the world.

The district’s PolioPlus Challenge continues to gain momentum, with 31 donors participating so far.

Under the challenge, each eligible US$100 personal donation to PolioPlus will be matched with a further US$100 contribution made in the donor’s name.

Members who have not yet participated are encouraged to consider joining the challenge and helping Rotary move closer to the worldwide eradication of polio.

Clubs should now have established a date for their Annual General Meeting and arranged for their annual financial statements to be completed and audited or reviewed, as required.

Club officer elections should be conducted at the AGM. At a minimum, clubs should elect or confirm their:

• President-elect
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Other board and leadership positions being filled

Once appointments have been finalised, incoming officers should be entered into My Rotary as soon as possible.

Recording incoming officers early ensures that members receive relevant correspondence, role-specific information and invitations to upcoming training. It also assists the district in communicating with incoming leaders about President-elect training, District Assembly and other development opportunities.

Guidance on conducting a club AGM is available on page 31 of the District Directory.

The applicable deadlines are:

• Northern Territory clubs: 30 November 2026
• Queensland and Timor-Leste clubs: 31 December 2026

Clubs should also watch for an email advising the date and arrangements for the District AGM. In addition to the district financial statements, several motions will be provided for clubs to consider before the meeting.

Dates have now been established for President-elect and district training assembly during the first half of 2027.

Clubs are asked to enter the relevant dates into their calendars and avoid scheduling fundraisers, barbecues, working bees or other major activities on the same weekend.

This training is conducted only once each year, making it important for incoming leaders to attend. Clubs should ensure that their president-elect and incoming board members are aware of the applicable dates.

All incoming board members are strongly encouraged to attend District Assembly. Participation is not limited to board members, and any club member interested in learning more about Rotary leadership, district programs or club operations is welcome to attend.

Clubs that regularly sponsor students to participate in a Windeward Bound voyage are encouraged to reserve a place as soon as possible. Positions for July 2027 are filling quickly.

Clubs in the Gladstone area may wish to consider Voyage 3, which will sail from Brisbane to Gladstone. This will provide families with an opportunity to see the vessel arrive and potentially visit it in port.

A club can reserve a place by paying a $1,000 deposit, with the nominated student’s details able to be provided at a later date.

Windeward Bound is particularly interested in welcoming students from regional and outback communities, including Emerald, Longreach and Mount Isa.

Clubs that have not previously supported this program are encouraged to consider sponsoring a young person from their community who would benefit from this distinctive leadership and personal development experience.

District membership is continuing to grow steadily, with a net increase of 62 members recorded so far during the 2026–2027 Rotary year.

This is an encouraging result and reflects the work of members who have invited people to attend club activities, participate in service projects and discover the opportunities Rotary provides.

The district goal is for every club to achieve a net increase of at least two members by 30 June 2027.

Membership development is not solely the responsibility of club presidents or membership chairs. Every Rotarian has a role in inviting people to participate.

One of the most effective ways to introduce someone to Rotary is to invite that person to:

• Participate in a service project
• Assist with a fundraising event
• Attend a community activity
• Meet club members in an informal setting
• See firsthand the difference Rotary makes

An invitation to become involved in meaningful service can be the first step towards welcoming a new member into the Rotary family.

Tickets are now $200 per person for the Million Dollar Rotary Foundation Gala Dinner, presented by Wellness Embodied and featuring Past Rotary International President Jennifer Jones.

The gala will celebrate District 9560’s ambitious goal of raising US$1 million in cash contributions and bequests to The Rotary Foundation.

The district has already raised an impressive US$415,200, representing more than 41% of the US$1 million goal.

A fundraising tracker is available on the district website so clubs and members can follow the district’s progress.

Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and event information are available through the links included in this newsletter and on the district website. Special discounted accommodation arrangements have also been negotiated for those attending.

Members, clubs and Foundation supporters are encouraged to secure their tickets and be part of this significant district celebration.

Clubs will soon be planning their end-of-year and Christmas celebrations.

These occasions provide an opportunity to thank members, recognise achievements and acknowledge the volunteers, families, community organisations and project partners who have assisted clubs throughout the year.

Clubs are encouraged to invite the volunteers who have supported their activities and include them in the celebrations. It is also an opportunity for members to enjoy fellowship and reflect on everything their clubs have achieved during the year.

District Governor Rita and Brien wish all clubs and members an enjoyable and productive November.

There are no club anniversaries being recognised in November. However, District 9560 congratulates the following 19 members who will celebrate significant Rotary service milestones during the month.

Clubs are encouraged to acknowledge these members and their years of service at an upcoming meeting or club activity.

District 9560 thanks each of these members for their sustained commitment to Rotary and for the contribution they have made to their clubs and communities.

If you need help accessing your club's district email account, please lodge a support request with our District Systems Team.