Dear Rotarians and Friends,
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Immediate Past President Manu Gupta for chairing our first meeting of 2026. While I was away attending the Australian Rotary Foundation board meeting in Sydney, Manu’s leadership ensured a seamless start to the New Year.
Special thanks are also due to Club Services Director Wendy Campbell. When the Parmelia Hilton was unavailable, Wendy successfully secured the Royal Perth Golf Club as our venue. Feedback indicates that the service, ambience, and guest speaker were exceptional, maintaining the high standards our members expect.
For those interested in the proceedings of the Australian Rotary Foundation board meeting, I have shared a related article in Rotary on the Move, which you can access via the link below: ROTARY FOUNDATION ON THE MOVE - FEBRUARY 2026 And for those wishing to dive a little deeper - please click on this link for the Rotary Foundation - Annual Report 2025 | Rotary International
D9423 | UP, UP and AWAY... 2026 Conference. Have you registered? 
Registrations are now open. Join us in Northam from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March 2026, for a weekend of fun and fellowship whilst celebrating 80 years of service to the Avon Valley Community. More information regarding booking procedures and list of speakers can be found by clicking on the following link: https://rotaryperth.org.au/Stories/district-conference-march-2026
Upcoming Rotary Events Are you up to date with your bookings? We have a busy February ahead:
Perth Rotary Business Lunch Meeting | THIS FRIDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2026
Invitation: Social Procurement & Real Jobs with Anthony MacShane
The Pros of Cons: Supporting the Justice-Impacted into Meaningful Employment
Join us for an insightful session with Anthony MacShane, Co-Founder and General Manager of Reboot Australia.
Anthony’s journey is one of powerful redemption. Having transitioned from a path that nearly led to incarceration to leading a national social enterprise, he now mentors and employs individuals leaving the justice system.
In this pragmatic presentation, Anthony will share the strategy, statistics, and storytelling behind eight years of Reboot Australia’s success. Attendees will learn how to:
Access overlooked talent pools of justice-impacted individuals.
Transform social procurement obligations into genuine commercial wins.
Implement proven tools to support those with significant barriers to employment.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 20th February 2026
Time: 12:15 PM for a 12:30 PM start (Conclusion at 2:00 PM)
Location: Parmelia Hilton Perth | 14 Mill Street, Perth
Cost: $60.00 per person (Cash bar available)
Secure your place here: Book via TryBooking Bookings close 3pm Tuesday 17th February
Regionalization Update
The Rotary Zone 8 Regionalisation Pilot is a ground breaking initiative designed to revitalise Rotary across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands by streamlining governance and providing more direct support to clubs. A key feature of this model is the creation of Rotary Community Groups, where clubs collaborate based on geography or shared interests to amplify their local impact. Perth Rotary Club belongs to the Swan 2 Surf Rotary Community Group.
Originally set to conclude in 2026, the pilot was recently extended by the Rotary International Board to June 2028. Please click on the following link for a direct update from Jennie Herring, Chair, Regional Council Rotary South Pacific. https://bit.ly/3OgVOO9
Pocket Forest Project: Hyde Park Festival Update
Last Saturday, a dedicated group of volunteers met at Britannia Road Reserve in Leederville to finalize preparations for our Pocket Forest exhibit at the upcoming Hyde Park Festival.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Bruno Fic and the Rotary Club of North Perth for their tireless work in coordinating the Hyde Park Fair each year. Their efforts provide a vital platform for Rotary Clubs to showcase impactful community projects.
We invite you to visit our booth to:
Learn about the Pocket Forest Project—an innovative urban greening initiative delivered in partnership with Murdoch University, the Town of Vincent, and Rotary.
Participate in our community activity by helping us "make a black cockatoo."
Connect with the team behind the Swan 2 Surf / Black Cockatoo Forest banner.
Swan 2 Surf Rotary Fellowship
Regional Community Group (RCG) Sundowner
With 17 Rotary Clubs in our Community Group, we have a unique opportunity to combine our expertise, resources, and passion to create a significant impact. We invite all members to join us for an evening of informal fellowship to strengthen these professional and personal ties.
When: Friday, 6 March 2026 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: Steve’s Hotel, Nedlands
Details: Informal sundowner; drinks at own cost.
There is no formal agenda—just an opportunity for Rotarians from across the Swan 2 Surf RCG to enjoy good company a
nd foster new connections. Every member from every club is warmly encouraged to attend.
Prost Update 2026
Peace Begins at Home - 2026 Special Invitation: 2026 Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting (The Rotary Mega Meeting)
You are specially invited to join us as a Special Guest at the upcoming 2026 Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting.
📅 Date: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
⏰ Time: 9:30 PM (AEST)
📝 Registration: Click here to register
https://forms.gle/MHTV83qsom4HJo4BA
This International Mega Meeting will feature distinguished global peace and Rotary leaders, including:
• Mark Daniel Maloney – Past President, Rotary International (2019–2020)
• Steve Killelea – Founder & Executive Chairman, Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), and Founder of the Rotary–IEP Ambassador Program
The 2026 Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting is designed to mobilise peace advocates, families, community and faith leaders, multicultural associations, Rotary leaders and members, civil society organisations, and global changemakers from around the world. The meeting seeks to reinforce a vital truth: sustainable global peace is built through daily actions, shared values, and strong relationships—beginning at home. Today, rising violence, conflicts, family violence and abuse, along with increasing youth gang and community-related violence globally, highlight the urgent need to strengthen social cohesion, youth belonging, and family-level prevention. These challenges call for Rotary-led, community-driven initiatives, hybrid peace events, and strong collaborative networks.
While policing and security responses remain essential, lasting peace and safety depend on preventive, community-led approaches that foster positive identity, inclusion, and resilience—particularly among young people and families most vulnerable to alienation and peer-driven violence. Moments like these remind us that peace cannot be taken for granted.
They call us to renew our commitment to grassroots peacebuilding, starting within families, groups, and communities—where values are shaped and a sense of belonging is nurtured.
Why Peace Begins at Home Matters
Sustainable peace starts locally. Many wider conflicts are rooted in:
• Broken relationships
• Intolerance and exclusion
• Violence within homes and communities
Good News Perth Rotary Club Members 
Youth Exchange Update: WESTERN AUSTRALIA | RYE APPLICATIONS HAVE BECOME CENTRALISED.
Rotary Youth Exchange: 2027 Outbound Applications Now Open
The Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program offers students aged 15–18.5 a transformative year-long international exchange. Living with Rotary host families, students experience a new culture within a highly supportive and safe environment.
We are pleased to announce that applications are now officially open for the Outbound Exchange departing in January 2027.
Updated Application Process
As previously communicated, the RYEWA Committee is trialing a new streamlined process for the 2027 intake:
Application Window: Now open until 24 March 2026.
Initial Submission: All applications must be sent directly to the RYE District Committee at applications@rotarywa.au.
Review & Allocation: Following a desktop review, the Committee will allocate candidates to an appropriate Club for interviews by 30 April.
District Interviews: Candidates recommended by their local Rotary Club will proceed to the District Interviews in June
Contact Information
Should you have any questions regarding the 2027 Outbound Program or the new application trial, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Jill Hanna ryechair9423@rotarywa.au Mobile: 0409 232 752
Perth Rotary Board
The Board next meets Tuesday 3 March 2026. Portfolio Directors are calling members to committee meetings so as to progress our various projects. You are asked to please attend when invited so as to share the load of our Community Engagement and Project Work.
LIFT THE LID WALK | save the date
PERTH ROTARY | FELLOWSHIP DATES for your diary.... 
Centenary Merchandise
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 color combinations. A special thank you to Ashley Whitworth for his dedication in developing the logo and ensuring these items are available at an affordable price.
For members of other Rotary clubs, Ashley can also include your club's logo in place of Perth Rotary's. The Centenary of 100 years of Rotary Service to Western Australia is a celebration for all in WA Rotary, and we encourage everyone to join us in marking this significant milestone.
Sincerely,
- Perth Rotary Membership Committee Meeting | Wednesday 18 February 2026. rsvp membership@rotaryperth.org.au
- RYE Club Info Session | Thursday 19 February via zoom at 7pm. rsvp: RYE Chair, Graham Fardon ryechair9423@rotarywa.au
- Perth Rotary Centenary Meeting Wednesday 25 February 2026 rsvp - president@rotaryperth.org.au
- Perth Rotary Board Meeting 5.30pm, Tuesday 3 March 2026. Any agenda items, please send to Club Secretary - secretary@rotaryperth.org.au
- Business Lunch | Friday 20 February 2026
- Blessing of the Fleet | Friday 20 March 2026
- D9423 Conference | 13 - 15 March 2026
- PETS Training | 21-22 February 2026
- Foundation Grants Seminar | 8 March 2026.
- District Assembly Training | 12 April 2026
