Dear Rotarians and Friends,
This week, over 37,000 Rotarians from more than 140 countries have gathered in Taipei for the Rotary International Convention. The reports filtering back are filled with high praise for the scale, warmth, and international fellowship on display.
Among the attendees are Graeme and Sue Peden, alongside Darren Perera, who enjoyed a wonderful reunion with our 2024/25 RYE inbound student, Abby, and her parents, Jen and Alvin. They were treated to a magnificent dinner on the 85th floor of the iconic Taipei 101 building. Graeme reports that Abby hasn't changed a bit—she is just as bubbly, happy, and gorgeous as ever! Both the local Taiwanese Rotary clubs and Abby’s parents pulled out all the stops to make our Perth team feel incredibly welcome.
Graeme also shared that Sunday’s Opening Ceremony was spectacular, capped off by a full orchestral jazz band. Incredibly, local Taiwanese clubs are currently oversubscribed with a waiting list to join—what a wonderful "problem" to have!
Looking ahead, the 2027 Rotary International Convention will be held in Barcelona, Spain, with registrations opening this September. It's never too early to start planning!
Upcoming Rotary Events Are you up to date with your bookings? We have a busy July ahead. We are almost fully booked for our Legacy Lunch this Friday. If you are yet to book and would really like to attend, please contact me direct - president@rotaryperth.org.au or phone - 0429 451077 and I will see what we can manage. Jill.
Perth Rotary Business Lunch | 5 June 2026
Four Women Who Have Never Rowed Before Take on the World's Toughest Row for Charity
Our lunch meeting on Friday, 5 June, was nothing short of inspiring as we heard from three members of an incredible four-woman team preparing to tackle the Atlantic Ocean this December. Their journey is a powerful testament to grit and determination. If you missed the meeting, we highly encourage you to follow their progress on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube (Search - Blades of Oary)
A special thank you to Rev. John, who did a fantastic job as Sergeant-at-Arms; thanks to his "fining" prowess and the generosity of our attendees, we raised an additional $1,000 to contribute to their fundraising goal.
Perth Rotary would love to support their campaign even further. If you are passionate about this cause and would like to step forward as a Club Champion to lead our ongoing support for this extraordinary team, please get in touch with President Jill
Perth Rotary | Centenary of Service: The Legacy Lunch is almost SOLD OUT - You do not want to miss out on celebrating with us as we launch 100 Years of Serving the State of Western Australia. If you are yet to secure your ticket and would like to attend, please contact President Jill direct via email or phone.
Event Details & Housekeeping
- Arrival: Please check in at the registration table upon arrival AND then move to your table. Parking: There is limited valet parking available at the Hotel ($45/car). Public Carpark at the Perth Convention Centre. (approx $27/car)
Exclusive Offer: Limited-edition centenary lapel badges, luggage tags & glass cleaners will be available for purchase at $5 each.
Schedule of the Day
12:00 PM: Arrival & Guest Registration (Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival)
12:30 PM: Guests Seated (A 3-course menu will be served, including wine on the table, tea, coffee, and soft drinks)
3:00 PM: Formalities Conclude (Cash bar opens)
4:00 PM: Event Concludes
Special Centenary Launch: 'The Book of Graces'
In commemoration of our Centenary, we are proud to launch 'The Book of Graces', celebrating the rich history of the Perth Rotary Club.
Signed copies will be available for purchase for $25 each following lunch.
Centennial Project Charity Auction
During the luncheon, we will host a live auction to raise vital funds for our Centennial Project: The Barry Marshall Research Institute for Infectious Diseases.
Item #1: A Swan River Journey of Perth’s Century of Milestones
Mark our centenary with a luxury experience that reflects the spirit of celebration and connection defining Rotary’s legacy.
A 4-hour private cruise aboard the luxury vessel ‘Maria’, offering panoramic city views and tranquil stretches of the Swan River for up to eight guests.
Inclusions: Curated catering and a selection of premium beverages.
Kindly contributed by a legendary member of Rotary. Subject to availability and weather conditions.
Item #2: A Golden Piece of Perth’s 100-Year Story
Own a magnificent piece of Western Australia’s natural history—a fitting symbol of the industry, enterprise, and community spirit that shaped our State.
A genuine gold nugget connecting WA’s proud mining heritage with Rotary’s century of service.
Specifications: The nugget weighs over 56 grams (with the gold portion estimated at approximately 28 grams).
Value: Estimated at approximately $5,200.
Kindly contributed by a champion of the industry.
We look forward to sharing this momentous occasion with you. Thank you for your continued support of the Perth Rotary Club.
A Centenary of Presidents | Perth Rotary Celebrating 100 Years of Serving the Community
Vienna Pops NYE Tickets have gone on pre-sale this week.
Book NOW - https://www.artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au
Membership Update
Annual invoices will be distributed to all members by Friday, 19 June 2026. As we enter our historic Centenary Year, please note that the deadline for membership non-renewal notifications was Monday, 15 June 2026. If you have not already done so, any outstanding notifications must be submitted in writing via email to either our Club Secretary (secretary@rotaryperth.org.au) or Membership Director (membership@rotaryperth.org.au). All renewing members are expected to pay their dues in full, or under the terms of a payment plan negotiated with the Club Treasurer.
Please note that your invoice is accompanied by a letter outlining some key changes to our lunch fee structure for 2026/27. I encourage you to take the time to read it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email (president@rotaryperth.org.au) or phone (0429 451 077).
Welcome to our New Satellite Club | Elizabeth Quay
We are delighted to officially welcome Elizabeth Quay Rotarians as Satellite Club Members of the Perth Rotary Club as of 1 July 2026. EQ members will continue to meet fortnightly on Thursday evenings at The Shoe Bar, and all Perth Rotarians are warmly encouraged to join them.
Last Thursday, John Garland and I attended EQ’s lively and interactive session, 'Closing the Generational Divide.' Stephen R. Covey quotes - "Seek first to understand, then to be understood," - A central theme running through the workshop as it explored generational trends in the workplace, balancing work focus with life harmony, and navigating how different generations give and receive feedback.
Facilitated by Daniel Tan from The Positive Difference alongside Elizabeth Quay leadership, it was an enlightening, humorous, and insightful evening. To cap off a wonderful night, we also celebrated the induction of the world's newest Rotarian, Om. Welcome to the family, Om!
D9423 CELEBRATION | 11 July 2026
Out and Ab
out with Perth Rotarians
Last week was filled with exciting connection and planning. I sat down for a wonderful catch-up with Rotarian Sharon Wood-Kenney, shortly after a productive coffee meeting with Rotarian David Preece. We are thrilled to be combining the unique skills and professional expertise of both Sharon and David to develop an exciting new professional development opportunity for our members. Set to launch this Spring, it highlights the rich, diverse, and vibrant professional culture that makes our club so unique. Stay tuned for more details!
Supporting Vinnies CEO Sleepout: PP Jeff Leach
This Friday, 18 June, Past President Jeff Leach will once again Brave the cold and sleep rough to raise vital funds for those experiencing homelessness. Jeff has a remarkable track record of fundraising for this cause. If you are in a position to support his efforts again this year, please click here to read Jeff’s story and make a donation.
Rotary Youth Exchange: A World of Connection
Our Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program is buzzing with activity as we prepare to welcome, send off, and greet returning students. RYE offers a deeply rewarding opportunity for Rotarians to build lifelong global connections. We are currently looking for host families; if you would like to experience the joy of hosting a student—even for a short period—please reach out to our Youth Director, Kathryn Wackett, at youth@rotaryperth.org.au.
Our RYE Global Snapshot:
2027 Outbound Ella Pritchard: I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Ella this week. In a wonderful 'small world' moment, we discovered that Ella’s mum, Joanne, and I actually went to school together at Iona Presentation College!
Welcome Back, Sho! The Inouye family caught up with our 2017 Inbound Student, Sho Ogami, who was back in Perth for a few days. He only just missed being able to join us for the Legacy Lunch!
Taipei Reunion: As mentioned, Graeme and Sue Peden had a fantastic catch-up with Abby during the RI Convention in Taipei.
Farewell to Elliot: Elliot has just three weeks remaining in Australia. It has been an absolute privilege hosting him this past year, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.
Perth Rotary Board |
Board Meeting | Tuesday 4 Aug 2026. agenda items to our Club Secretary - secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
Our focus is clear: defining the trajectory of Perth Rotary beyond our first 100 years.
Please feel free to contact any of the Directors as listed below with your views and/or comments.
PERTH ROTARY | FELLOWSHIP DATES for your diary.... 
In the meantime, you can show your support and pride by ordering our special Centenary Shirts and Caps.
Please click on the following link to place your order: https://shop.fullypromoted.com.au/perthrotary. You have the option of ordering shirts in either Blue/Yellow or White/Navy colour combinations.
Sincerely,
Jill Dawson OAM | President Perth Rotary 2025/27
- Perth Rotary Centenary Meeting Wednesday 1 July 2026 rsvp - president@rotaryperth.org.au ** Please note change of date/time
- Perth Rotary Board Meeting 5.30pm, Tuesday 4 Aug 2026. Any agenda items, please send to Club Secretary - secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
- Century of Service: The Legacy Lunch | Friday 19 June 2026
- Business Lunch | Friday 3 July 2026
- Vienna Pops NYE Concert | Thursday 31 December 2026
- RI Conference, Tapai | 13 - 17 June 2026
- D9423 2025/26 Celebration at the Mecure Hotel | Saturday 11 July 2026
- Zone 8, South Pacific Conference, Melbourne | 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2026
