Rotary celebrates 100 years in Queensland

In 2023, we celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Queensland. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our past accomplishments and to imagine what Rotary can achieve in the next 100 years.

Rotary International is a worldwide organisation with more than 1.4 million members who deliver community service both locally and internationally. Beginning in Chicago on February 23, 1905, the organisation became international in 1911.

On November 24, 1922 a meeting of business and professional men was called in Brisbane and on May 29, 2023 the Rotary Club of Brisbane was granted its Charter by Rotary International.

By 1927, Rotary Clubs had formed in Rockhampton, Townsville and Mackay. Although World War II inhibited further development of Rotary by 1939 many new clubs had been formed in Queensland.

Clubs are divided into districts and Bribie Island is included in District 9620. This district has more than 2000 members incorporating southern and south-east Queensland and includes Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Nauru.

Clubs are organised around Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service: Club, Community, Vocational, International and Youth. Recently, areas of focus have extended to basic education and literacy; peace and conflict resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water; sanitation and hygiene; community and economic development; maternal and child welfare and support for the environment.

Membership is open to any person who is willing to serve their community locally, nationally and internationally.

Bribie Island Rotary Club was chartered in March 1988 and has actively served the community since. The club aims to involve the community in our Rotary projects and functions such as the monthly community markets; the Australian Rotary Health Mental Health Walk (in October); youth projects such as Rotary Youth Driver awareness; youth leadership awards; youth programme of enrichment; youth exchange program and the National Youth Science Forum. Rotary’s most far-reaching international service has been the eradication of Polio and Bribie Island Rotary Club has made this one of our priorities.

If members of the Bribie community are interested in Rotary you can reach them through:

1. Bribie Island Rotary Club meetings (for dinner on Thursdays at the Bribie Island Hotel at 6pm).

2. By visiting www.rotarybribie.info or their Facebook page.

3. By email bribierotary@gmail.com or phone 0406 373 218.