I joined the Rotary community as an idealist. I was fresh out of high school, looking for a way to volunteer. Don Kerley, a Rotarian from Glen Waverley RC, helpfully pointed me in the direction of a soon-to-be-chartering Monash Rotaract at the time. 

When first joining and in the midst of university, when time was easy to give, and there was a group of young people with similar values for the first time in my life - I thrived. I went from quivering 1-minute speeches at RYLA, to being the MC at a District Conference (knees still shaking at this point), to presenting a breakout at RICON in Melbourne.  I went from PD Director, to Club President, to Chair of Rotaract Australia. Rotaract and then Rotary, has grown with me. My involvement has surged when I have more time, and as now, when my priorities lie at home, it has lightened. I’m grateful for the flexibility in that, as my belief in what we do has not changed.

Undoubtedly, there was growth…..

As a new Rotarian, Andrew speaks of his insight after attending the Rotary D9815 &D9830 Conference in Hobart March 2026, highlighting: 

• the value of a district conference as it had a comprehensive program with both external and Rotary speakers at a relatively low cost.

• the value of connections that Rotarians had in rekindling friendships or making new. 

• and even though I had a level of casual exposure to Rotary the conference gave me a much greater appreciation how vast both locally and internationally Rotary International is contributing and making a difference.

See more upcoming opportunities: 

• 2026 Rotary International Convention 13-17 June Taipei Taiwan 

• Rotary South Pacific Conference 2026 30/10-1/11 2026 Melbourne 

• D9815 Conference 2027: challenge to change 12-14 March 2027 Rydges Hunter Valley Resort NSW

Two club projects included in the 60 Year 60 Stories celebratory publication from Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).

Read “Water, dignity and hope in Ethiopia” from member Tony Stokes and “Small build, big impact” by member Mark Balla. 

In Ethiopia we partner with International Needs Australia and in India we partner with The Rotary Foundation 

Both projects facilitated through Operation Toilets trading as  we can't wait an initiative of Box Hill Central Rotary in 2015. 

Check out all the 60 stories of RAWCS  “enabling global good”.