Newsletter #1 | President Jill 

Dear Perth Rotary Members and Friends, 
 
How exciting to be given the opportunity once again, to work alongside this great club as we lead into our Centenary Year.  One Hundred Years of serving the Community of Western Australia is an amazing legacy and a privilege for us to know that we have all contributed in some small way.  We have every right to be proud and loud about the achievements of Rotary and particularly the achievement of  this Club… However… our work is only just beginning.  Together we are at our Best – and that goes for not only this club but the whole of WA.  Hence our Centenary Celebrations are a Celebration of Rotary throughout Western Australia.   
 
 
On behalf of all Perth Rotary Members I wish to once again express my sincere gratitude to Immediate Past President Manu Gupta for his leadership this past year.  It has been a pleasure to work alongside Manu, I have learnt a great deal from his style of leadership; dedication; enthusiasm and passion for all things Rotary.  Manu has lived and breathed the 4 way test and put Perth Rotary at the forefront of everything he has done.  Manu, Harsha and Mansha are currently overseas enjoying a much needed and anticipated family holiday.  Enjoy the break Manu, and we look forward to your return in August.  On behalf of all Perth Rotary Members….. Thank you Manu.
 
Thank you to Kathryn Wackett & Nan Walker for the many hours they put in, making the decorations for the Changeover Dinner.  The room looked spectacular and this can only be achieved through hard work and dedication as well as attention to detail.  Nothing was overlooked.  Thank you to Wendy Campbell and her team who helped ensure we were organised on the night with run sheets; prezi/av requirements and so many other little details that all contribute to a fabulous evening.   Thank you also to the Rotary Singers who once again entertained and honored us us with their humor and talent. 
 
It was with a great deal of pride that we were able to announce the inaugural winner of the Perth Rotary John Garland AM Membership Award 2024/25.  The recipient was none other than Perth Rotary's longest serving member, Mr Don Mazzucchelli OAM.  Don first joined the club 28 February 1969.   Don was President of the Perth Rotary Club 1981/82 and Chairman of RYLA and Shell Operation Livewire which initiated in the 1990’s. He has mentored students into business and maintained regular attendance to Rotaract meetings during this time.   Don and Maxine together have hosted many Rotary Exchange Students and visited them on their travels to Europe.  Some of the Rotary Exchange Students have returned to visit and stay with Don and Maxine with their own children.  In the past twelve months, Don has been responsible for monitoring the Membership enquiries and forwarding the same to the Membership Committee for action.  Don is an exemplary member of the Perth Rotary Club and we thank him for his years of service and continued active engagement with the Club.  Congratulations Don.   It is also an opportunity to honor PP John Garland AM, who has no doubt introduced more members to the Perth Rotary Club than any other member.  John's commitment to the Club, to Rotary and to our project's is second to none.   Thank you John for your continued endorsement of Rotary, the 4 Way Test and enthusiasm for the Club. 
 
All in all, it was a night of celebration and great fun.  Thank you to those members who braved the wild weather and the traffic to venture out on a Friday evening to celebrate our Club.  A fabulous night which will long live on in our memories.  
 
 
 
I am looking forward to hosting my first meeting for the 2025/26 Rotary Year this coming Friday 4 July 2025 and invite you to join with me to hear from Entrepreneur, Change Agent and Investor Gordon Cole on the topic: “Impact for Change” - Empowering First Nations Business.  Gordon led the establishment of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a Director on First Australians Capital. He is based on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Country) in Boorloo (Perth).  He will share with us the journey of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focusing on how First Nations led initiatives lead to greater outcomes.

The booking link is https://www.trybooking.com/DCYSS.   Please book as soon as possible to assist with providing accurate catering numbers to the Parmelia Hilton.  

 
CONGRATULATIONS - PP Jeffery Leach   Once again, Jeff participated in the Vinnies 2025 CEO Sleepout.  With our collective help, Jeff raised $26,620 this year alone.  Over the past 14 years, Jeff has raised $163,000 sleeping rough for one night.  It's cold, it's uncomfortable and he isn't getting any younger, but each year, Jeff puts his own comfort to one side in order to raise a phenomenal amount of money in support of those less fortunate.   Congratulations Jeff.  What a champion and what an inspiration.   A Rotarian who shows by example what it is to live the 4 Way Test and to put Service Above Self.....    This year - there were 76 CEO's who slept out.  They raised a total of $857,654.00 with 2849 supporters contributing.    

 

This week we farewell our 2024/25 RYE Student Abby Lin PHF.  Abby has been an extraordinary addition to our club these past twelve months and we paid tribute to Abby with the awarding of a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her endeavors these past twelve months.   Abby has raised funds; volunteered; represented D9423 as well as Perth Rotary at events; an exemplary student at school and with her host families; pushed the boundaries and taken part in Rotary Activities that were well outside of her comfort zone; learnt to swim and taken on board any and all advice given with grace and sincerity.  Abby has become an avid Docker Supporter and was able to attend a winning game at Optus Stadium with her host Dad, Andrew last weekend.  Thank you to her Host Families; Graham & Susan Peden; Ian & Viola Belton and Kathryn & Andrew Wackett.  We could not run the exchange program without your generosity.   Abby, we thank you for your contribution to our club, we wish you all the very best and we will miss you.  Next year the Rotary International Conference is to be hosted in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 13th to 17th. It will be hosted at the Taipei Dome and the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Perhaps we will see you there!   Abby flies home in the early hours of Sunday 6 July.  If anyone is able to attend Terminal 1, Perth International Airport to farewell Abby, we will be there from 9pm, Saturday 5 July 2025 to see her off.  All members are welcome.  

It is with a great deal of excitement that we are able to announce our 2025/26 Outbound RYE Student - Justice.  Justice has just received confirmation from D9423 that he is heading to Italy for 2026 representing the Perth Rotary Club and D9423.  Justice has attended our lunch meeting of 6 June and our Changeover, Friday 20 June.  Justice is currently studying to complete his year 12 exams and we wish him every success for his studies and look forward to following his year of adventure in 2026.   Our 2025/26 Inbound Student, Elliot Notelaers hails from Faimes, Belgium.  Elliot arrives in Perth in the early hours of Thursday 31 July.  We look forward to welcoming him to our club meeting, Friday 1 August.   We are still looking for Host Families.  If you would like to put your hand up, please contact our Youth Director - Kathryn Wackett for further information.  

PERTH ROTARY CLUB CENTENARY 1927 - 2027

We unveiled the Perth Rotary and hence, WA Rotary, Centenary Logo at the 2025/26 Changeover Dinner.  The Logo celebrates not only Perth Rotary Club’s Centenary but that of 100 years serving the whole of the Western Australia Community.   This logo will be available for use by all Rotarians in relation to our work in the community.  With thanks to Ashley Whitworth for his design assistance.  Please look out for the order forms in the coming weeks and consider glamming up your wardrobe with a Perth Rotary Centenary Shirt…  or if you are from another club, you might consider ordering a Shirt with your own Club logo + the WA 100 Years Logo. 

One of our proudest achievements in the past 98 years is the establishment of the WA School of Medicine at the University of Western Australia.  It was a great privilege for us to have Professor Barry Marshall, Nobel Prize Winner and graduate of that school ….that we helped create, join us at the Changeover Dinner.  The foresight of Perth Rotary Club Members and Rotarians throughout Western Australia in 1955 who worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds to establish the Western Australian School of Medicine is legendary and long been celebrated.   The school has prominent researchers and clinicians amongst its faculty and alumni, including Nobel Prize laureates Barry Marshall and Robin Warren;   recipients of the Australian of the Year award Fiona Stanley and Fiona Wood; and world renown cancer researcher Richard Pestell AO. The medical school has produced 11 Rhodes Scholars.
 
Perth Rotarians are on the brink of creating yet another lasting legacy project for Western Australia, as we get ready to launch  an appeal for funding to create an Infectious Disease Research Centre  within the University of Western Australia.  I sincerely thank Past President, John Garland AM who has been the motivating force behind this initiative and who has the foresight and entrepreneurial drive to link Community; Business and Government with the goal of raising the necessary funds and enthusiasm for such a venture.  The importance of the continued research in to infectious disease, developing a centre of excellence at UWA and the positive impact of medical research within our community cannot and must not be under estimated …    Researchers are the hidden giants of our community…. Away from the spotlight – deep in their labs, but so important.  Please SAVE THE DATE - Thursday 14 August for a launch event to be held in conjunction with the University of Western Australia.   More information to come.  
 
At the Presidents Cocktail Party in January of this year, Past President Manu announced that Tiny Homes was to be a Perth Rotary Club Centenary Project.  Graham Peden, Community Director and Rotarian David Wee have headed up this project.  Rotarian Tony Goldfinch has worked alongside the project leaders to formulate the framework to enable the project to proceed.  Tiny Homes addresses the need for housing for our vulnerable youth, particularly those emerging from the Foster Care System who sometimes find themselves without housing once they reach the age of 18 and no longer considered an adolescent.   We will keep members informed as the project progresses.  A huge amount of time and effort has been invested into this concept and we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes and impact as it progresses.  
 
Hang on to your hats... Jump on Board... the next two years are going to be a wild ride, but so much fun .... provided you join with us. 
  • Please book to attend our club meetings as soon as the invitation is sent. 
  • Please block out the 1st and 3rd Friday's of the month in your diaries for Perth Rotary Club Lunch Meetings. 
  • Please engage with the Club... we cannot do anything without you.  

 Yours .... in Rotary Service, 

 
Kind regards,
Jill Dawson OAM | President Perth Rotary 2025/27
 
 
 
PERTH ROTARY CLUB COMMITTEE & SUB COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR
  1. Perth Rotary Board  Meeting, 5.30pm, Tuesday 8 July 2025.  Any agenda items, please send to Club Secretary - secretary@rotaryperth.org.au 
  2. Perth Rotary Centenary Events Committee Meeting; 5.30pm Wednesday 16 July 2025.  Please rsvp:  Jill Dawson - jill@quairadingearthmoving.com.au if you would like to join this Committee. 
UPCOMING EVENTS - PERTH ROTARY CLUB
  • Farewell Abby as she returns home to Taiwan Saturday 5 July 2025.  Dinner at the Claremont Yacht Club | Wednesday 2 July 2025.  Booking Link:  has closed. 
  • Perth Rotary Business Lunch | Friday 4 July 2025.    Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DCYSS.
  • Perth Rotary Business Lunch | Friday 18 July 2025.    Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DCSKL
  • Perth Rotary Business Lunch | Friday 1 August 2025.  Booking link: tba
  • Perth Rotary Bonfire Night | Saturday 9 August 2025.  RSVP - Amanda Matthews <amanda@jjleachgroup.com.au>  4pm to late.  BYO everything.  
  • WA Centenary Event | Save the Date.  Thursday 14 August 2025.  Octagon Theatre, UWA.  
UPCOMING EVENTS - D9423 AND BEYOND
  •  KDT Outback Dental Adventures - Book Launch.  7pm, Friday 1 August 2025.  Owen Homoeopathics, 443 Great Eastern Highway, Redcliffe.  RSVP - janowen@h-e-c.com.au 
  • RMB - 1st Tuesday of the Month.  5.30pm, ANZAC House.  
  • WA Centenary Event | Save the Date.  Thursday 14 August 2025.  Octagon Theatre, UWA.  
 
 
 
 
PERTH ROTARY CORPORATE MEMBERS