Rotary Foundation / International Report

The Rotary Foundation is our own charity and half of the money donated to it comes back to us in the form of District grants after a period of three years. I continue to encourage members to contribute to the Foundation for the very tangible benefits that it provides. Members contributed through the Centurian Fund and also by donating directly to the Foundation. As an example of the repute and prestige of Rotary, an anonymous person donated $1,000 to the Foundation after talking about the work of Rotary with Anne Christensen.

The club continues to support The Polio Train Initiative and again donated $1,500 to the Program. This money was then multiplied by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on a two for one basis, effectively becoming $4,500 for the continuing Rotary Polio Eradication Project worldwide.

The club has continued the 30-year tradition of hosting our own citizenship ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by the Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown and was also attended by the federal member for Cunningham Allison Byrnes MP. Thirteen new Australians were welcomed by all those present, in a lavish and suitably formal ceremony that will be unforgettable for all the recipients and is a pinnacle event of our Rotary year, taking place on 6 May 2026.

International Toasts remain a part of our meeting structure, where members research an international club and present that club’s efforts to the meeting, showcasing that Rotary is an International Organization. To this end, the club has been keen to develop another International Project of the type that members could travel to and witness in operation and $15,000 has been allocated towards a suitable project.

My thanks go to all those who contributed to the various projects of this important portfolio.

Yours in Rotary,

KEN POTTER
Director - Foundation and International 2025-2026.