Across District 9620, a quiet transformation is reshaping how Rotary connects with volunteers. At the centre of this shift is Volunteering Queensland, providing clubs with new opportunities to expand their reach, strengthen projects, and build stronger community connections.
Traditionally, Rotary clubs have relied on members and local networks. While effective, larger and more ambitious projects now require additional support. Through Volunteering Queensland, clubs can access a diverse pool of motivated volunteers, students, professionals, and retirees, who are actively seeking meaningful opportunities to contribute.
This platform offers more than just extra hands. It enhances project delivery, improves outcomes, and allows volunteers to experience Rotary’s values and fellowship firsthand. In many cases, this can lead to ongoing involvement, whether through membership or as “friends of Rotary.”
Importantly, it also responds to growing public interest. Each year, D9620 receives numerous enquiries from individuals wanting to volunteer. This partnership now provides a structured and effective way to connect those people with Rotary projects.
Leading this initiative is District 9620 Volunteer Coordinator, Chris Wright (PDG), who has been actively promoting the program across clubs.
To support members, a learning session will be held on 7th June at Bostock House, equipping members with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the portal effectively. The session will cover:
Setting up and promoting volunteer opportunities
Managing applications and selecting suitable candidates
Ensuring volunteers are well briefed and supported
This hands-on approach ensures clubs are not only encouraged to participate but are fully equipped to succeed.
The message is simple: this is an opportunity not to be missed. By embracing Volunteering Queensland, clubs can grow their volunteer base, deliver larger projects, and showcase Rotary to a wider community.
For more information, contact PDG Chris Wright on 0413 055 177 or email 001chriswright@gmail.com.
ROTARY NOMADS ARE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS – Gympie Music Muster, August 2026
Key dates / our role:
22-30 Aug, 9 days – FESTIVAL CAMPING – Run checkpoints for vehicles & people entering the muster site
27-30 Aug, 4 days – MUSIC FESTIVAL - Manage parking operations for day-ticket holders
What we need:
We mainly need more volunteers for the 4 festival days, but welcome anyone who can help for longer. Daily shifts are about 4 hours if working 6-9 days. If working just the 4 festival days, total effort will be about 22 hours.
What you get for your contribution:
4-day Festival ticket (worth $500) with free time to see some of your favourite artists.Camp with Rotary Nomads team; hot showers, toilets, access to potable water & 240v power. You’ll need your own camping setup (whether van, motorhome or tent)Work & socialise with a fun group of community-minded volunteers while helping a great cause; The Gympie Music Muster is not-for-profit – all proceeds go to charity and local community groups.
We only have a few spots left to fill, so get in quickly. Registrations close at end-June.
Maila, a Tropical Cyclone lingered for days in the Solomon Sea causing severe damage and devastation to infrastructure and villages in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands before slowly tracking West to cross Bougainville again causing severe damage and devastation to roads, buildings and villages as it crossed the island of Bougainville. Cyclone Maila continued to slowly track west, and although decreasing in intensity, it is continuing to bring damage and devastation to isolated islands in the Milne Bay Province of PNG.
Communities need to be assisted in dealing with widespread damage to buildings and communities including bridge infrastructure and access roads.
Our aim as Rotarians and Rotary clubs is to assist individuals, families and communities who sustained damage and were victims of the cyclone. Where possible we will help with the immediate aftermath of the disasters, but we are also looking to the longer-term recovery of the communities.
Rotary Clubs in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are currently in the planning stages for a number of projects for disaster relief. As each project matures it will be submotted as a RAWCS Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) or RAWCS Rotary Overseas Aid Fund (ROAF) project.
In anticipation of these projects, RAWCS has established a disaster appeal to fund these projects and we are seeking donations from clubs and individuals to fund the projects. Your contribution would be very much appreciated.
GIST DATE CLAIMER – DISTRICT GRANT APPLICATIONS CLOSE 31 MAY
ROTARY D9620 DISTRICT GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 26-27 YEAR
Is your Club considering making a District Grant application for the 26-27 Grant year?
Applications are open now and the closing date is 31 May 2026.
Information regarding D9620 District Grants is available on the D9620 website. Just Google d9620 district grants and open the Foundation - District Grants page.
Please contact the District Grants Committee d9620districtgrants@gmail.com if you have any queries or would like assistance in preparing an application.
I look forward to receiving an application from your Club.
David Kearney
D9620 District Grants Sub-Committee Chairman
SUPPORTING THE ROTARY FOUNDATION MAKES DISTRICT GRANTS POSSIBLE
Because small connections can create a big impact.
Any further questions about Mirror of Hope and Tommy's visit, clubs are free to contact me, Valerie Simons, Rotary Club of Paddington, +61 458 149 028 or email valeriesimons@gmail.com.
Welcome to the Gist! Rather than send multiple messages per week to club officers in the hope that they will channel your interests and pass on what is important to you, we will be sending one digest email per week using the Clubrunner platform which lists new things in the top section, and reminders of old news in the bottom section. That way, you only need to scan the top half of one email per week to get the Gist, and everyone gets the Gist!
This e-bulletin is published by your District Administrator and Webmaster to let Rotarians and any other subscribers know about what is happening in the district. The GIST is for time-sensitive brief stories sponsored by the District, a Rotary club, or a Rotary RAG or Fellowship.
District Announcements
Club event announcements
RAG and Fellowship event announcements
Event notices will run once only in the "Breaking News" section, and events will continue to be published down below in the "Event Reminders" section until the event has passed.
Articles that report on past events and projects, anything of enduring significance, and anything else that does not fit the GIST publishing guidelines should be sent to the District Newsletter editor at newsletter@rotary9620.org.
How to get an Event in the Calendar
To get an event in the Calendar, please send the following information to gist@rotary9620.org:
Mandatory: The text that you would like to appear in the calendar entry. Should include a teaser as to why someone would like to attend the event, ticket prices, etc etc. The text cannot include potentially sensitive information like email addresses, phone numbers and bank account details. If you wish to communicate these, put them in an image or PDF file that can be linked as a download document.
Mandatory: Date, Time, Location. Please include the postcode in the location as this is needed to generate the location map. (Or the event could be online of course.)
Mandatory: Name of a Rotarian in the district who is the primary contact for the event.
Strongly recommended: An image to go in the calendar entry detail page. Landscape format works best.
Optional: Documents about the event like event flyers, etc etc. Max size: 5MB
Optional: Links that might be useful like bookings links, the home page of the charity you are supporting, etc.
How to get an event notice in the GIST
The GIST is published on Sunday. The deadline to get an event notice in every Sunday's GIST is midnight Friday. Requests coming in after Saturday morning will be handled on a "best effort" basis. To get an event entry in the GIST, please do the following:
Mandatory: Get the event in the Calendar (see above)
Mandatory: An image in square or landscape format to be the article. If you send an image that is in portrait format, it will be cropped to square according to the GIST editor's judgement. It's OK to send a PDF Flyer - the editor will just do a screenshot and use that.
Optional: SHORT explanatory text which will go under the image. 200 words max. Long explanations should go in the calendar entry.
