This past year has been an incredible journey filled with remarkable achievements, profound impact, and unwavering spirit.
As the District Governor, I have been fortunate to witness your passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Rotary's ideals. You have inspired me with your tireless enthusiasm, your innovative ideas, and your steadfast determination to make a difference.
Mountains have been moved by individuals and clubs in our district. You have immunised children in the Pacific islands making an impact on health and wellbeing internationally. You have supported NSW parents who are facing the unimaginable experience of a stillborn child. You have educated our youth who are starting to drive, making an impact on reducing casualties on the roads in our community. You are planting trees, leaving a lasting impact on a healthy environment for generations to come and we are showing those generations that we will put our money where our mouth is to value our planet and their future. You are partnering with community service organisations to give shelter to young people in distress, to provide technology and assets to developing countries, to provide food and warmth to patients in local hospitals. Truly, the wonder of being a district governor is the culmination of our organisation. Every individual action, added up across our district makes an unfathomable contribution to our humanity.
As I have travelled the district I’ve been greatly encouraged by the conversations and advocacy for reconciliation in our communities. At the district level, we listened to First Nations voices and established a fruitful partnership with Reconciliation Australia.
Our district board and operations team has been more diverse this year than in any previous year. Our leading Rotarians on the operations committee bring diverse perspectives from their differing demographics. This allows the operations team to make decisions with greater wisdom and world views. This modelling and leadership is being picked up by clubs in our district. I firmly believe that this diversity will lead to greater inclusion and a Rotary legacy we can all be proud of.
Our projects, both big and small, have transformed lives and inspired hope where it was once scarce. Whether providing clean water to those in need, supporting education initiatives, or eradicating diseases, our collective efforts have brought about real, tangible change. Together, we have proven that by joining hands and hearts, we can create a world that is more just, more compassionate, and more inclusive.
Our District also grew contributions to Rotary's Polio Plus program by nearly 17%. This globally impactful Rotary program continues to prove its important in the face of the recent re-emergence of polio in a few hotspots around the world.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as your District Governor. As we celebrate the culmination of a year of service and teamwork, let us continue to embrace the spirit of Rotary in everything we do. Let us never forget that we are part of something much larger than ourselves—a global network of individuals dedicated to making a positive difference. Together, we can create a world of peace, goodwill, and lasting change. I can’t wait to see our next achievements under Andrea’s leadership.
District Governor Geraldine Rurenga
DISTRICT 9705 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ichael was a committed Rotarian who began his journey when he was selected by Blackwood Rotary, to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award when he was 17 years old. The Rotary club then asked him to be a charter member of Blackwood Rotaract in 1977. He joined Rotary Club of Canberra South in 1986 and apart from a year in the Toorak Rotary Club in 1997 he was a member at Canberra South until it closed in 2017 then becoming a member of Tuggeranong Rotary. Tuggeranong made Michael an Honorary member in 2021.