For more than 110 years, Rotary members have been addressing challenges around the world.
Grassroots at the core, Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organisation of international scope. It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.
Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”
Paul Harris
Rotary founder
Our ongoing commitment
Rotary members have not only been present for major events in history — we’ve also been a part of them. Three key traits have remained strong throughout our history:
We’re truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Today, members in nearly every country work to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.
We persevere in tough times. During World War II, Rotary clubs in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally, and after the war, Rotary members came together to rebuild their clubs and their countries.
$26.50
The amount of the first donation to The Rotary Foundation in 1917
$500
The Rotary Foundation's first gift, made to the International Society for Crippled Children in 1930
We’re committed to service, and we’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only three countries — down from 125 in 1988.
Ready to make history with us?
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS
DISTRICT 65
1931-32
Harry M Cummins*
1937-38
J. Burgess Watt*
1943-45
J. Burgess Watt*
1948-49
Eric Cuthbertson*
Service is my Business
1951-52
Rev. Harold Ralph*
Rotary is Hope in Action
DISTRICT 282 - Tasmania and parts of Victoria
1959-60
Dr. W.N.Bill Oats*OBE
Build Bridges of Friendship
1961-62
Alfred A. Freak
Kindle the Spirit Within
1965-66
Max Cleaver*OBE
Action, Consolidation and Continuity
1966-67
Dr. John Grove*CBE
Better World through Rotary
1967-68
Tim Jacobs*OAM
Make your Rotary Membership Effective
1970-71
John W. Emmerton
Bridge the Gap
1971-72
H.W. ‘Bill’ Bertram*
Goodwill begins with You
DISTRICT 283 - Tasmania alone as a District
1972-73
Tim Jacobs*OAM
Let’s Take a New Look and Act
1973-74
Basil Warner*
A Time for Action
1974-75
Dr. Athol Corney*
Renew the Spirit of Rotary
1975-76
Eric Webster*
To Dignify the Human Being
1976-77
Dr. Geoff Haward AM
I Believe in Rotary
DISTRICT 983
1977-78
Alan Abbott*
Service to Unite Mankind
1978-79
Graeme Davis OAM
Reach Out
1979-80
Jim Loughran*
Let Service Light the Way
1980-81
W. ‘Bill’ Bale
Take Time to Serve
1981-82
M.D. ‘Jock’ Geeves*
World Understanding and Peace through Rotary
1982-83
Bob Taylor*
Mankind is One - Build Bridges for Friendship
1982-83
M.D. ‘Jock’ Geeves
(Recalled to complete term)
1983-84
Barry Dadson
Share Rotary - Serve People
1984-85
Reg Lightfoot*
Discover a New world of Service
1985-86
Fred Edwards*AM
You Are The Key
1986-87
Campbell Gunn*
Rotary Brings Hope
1987-88
Allan Leth*
Rotarians - United in Service - Dedicated to Peace
1988-89
Harold Ogilvie*AM
Put Life into Rotary - Your Life
1989-90
Dr. John Thorne AM
Enjoy Rotary
1990-91
Brian Beardwood
Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm
DISTRICT 9830
1991-92
Sydney C. McClymont OAM
Look Beyond Yourself
1992-93
W. Leigh Milburn*
Real Happiness is Helping Others
1993-94
Peter Blesson
Believe in what you do - do what you believe in
1994-95
Geoff McLennan OAM
Be a Friend
1995-96
Geoff Rankine*
Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace
1997-98
Assoc. Prof. Don McTaggart
Build the Future with Action and Vision
1997-98
Maurice Hill*
Show Rotary Cares
1998-99
Richard Chugg
Follow Your Rotary Dreams
1999-2000
Bill Brundle
Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity
1999-2000
Una Hobday
Act with Consistency, Credibility, Continuity
2000-01
Tony Hennessy
Create Awareness, Take Action
2001-02
Lew Pretorius AM
Mankind is our Business
2001-03
Bob Sydes*
Sow the Seeds of Love
2003-04
Kevin Shadbolt
Lend a Hand
2004-05
Muriel Heron
Celebrate Rotary
2005-06
Paul Grubb
Service Above Self
2006-07
Lou Johnson
Lead the Way
2007-08
Bernie Charles*
Rotary Shares
2007-08
Kevin Shadbolt
(Recalled to complete term)
2008-09
Michael Perkins
Make Dreams Real
2009-10
Ian Shuey
The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
2010-11
Ted Richey
Building Communities Bridging Continents
2011-12
Peter Murfett
Reach Within to Embrace Humanity
2012-13
James Wilcox
Peace Through Service
2013-14
Bruce Buxton
Engage Rotary, Change Lives
2014-15
Ken Moore
Light up Rotary
2015-16
John Dare
Be a Gift to the World
2016-17
Gerard Blizzard
Rotary Serving Humanity
2017-18
Tony Colman
Rotary: Making a Difference
2018-19
Ross Carlyle
Be the Inspiration
2019-20
Michael Cooke
Rotary Connects the World
2020-21
Michael Plunkett
Rotary Opens Opportunities
2021-22
Heather Chong
Serve to Change Lives
2022-23
Bob Calvert