District Governor Update - May 2026
Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Friends,
As we move deeper into the final quarter of our Rotary year, I’ve been reminded time and again of the strength, generosity and spirit of service that defines District 9685. The past several weeks have taken me across our NSW State Districts, our clubs, our communities and our shared projects, and I continue to be inspired by the dedication I see everywhere.
We closed March with the Ryde Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards, a wonderful celebration of vocational excellence and the values we hold dear. Early April brought the RIWA Award nominations launch, followed by the Easter long weekend, where many clubs were active in their communities. I had the pleasure of joining the Glenbrook Rotary Markets on Easter Saturday, always a vibrant reminder of Rotary’s presence at the heart of local life.
As daylight saving time ended, our District work continued at a pace. I reached out to our District Portfolio Chairs to encourage strong participation in this year’s awards, then spent time with the Lower Blue Mountains Rotary Club, and shortly returned to Ryde Rotary for their Vocational Awards. That same day, we celebrated a milestone for youth engagement with the chartering of the Rotaract E‑Club of DownUnder, a proud moment for all of us.
Planning for our 2027 District Conference is progressing well, with speaker development underway. I also joined the RCG‑5 Beaches cluster, attended a DG Partner Project Presentation with Social Impact Rotary, and participated in the District Rotary Foundation Committee meeting, each of which reinforced the depth of leadership and innovation across our District.
A standout moment this month was the G‑Train, COTA and Past District Governors’ luncheon at Wenty’s, where I had the honour of presenting the Rotary International Service Above Self Award to Dr Hasan Sarwar. (Please read more below.)
The final stretch of April was filled with community connection and club celebrations: a Falls Prevention session via Zoom, the Ryde Rotary Club’s 80th birthday, and the always‑uplifting Catwalk for a Cause. ANZAC Day was a privilege to observe through multiple services, including Glenbrook and the Tamil Community Service, before laying a wreath at Wenty Leagues. Club visits continued with Kenthurst and St Ives, and preparations for our new Membership Initiative Proposal—to be launched at District Assembly- are finalised. We closed the month with the RIWA Award nomination deadline, and I’m delighted by the strong engagement from clubs.
Thank you, Rotarians, for your energy, your leadership and your unwavering commitment to “Service Above Self.” Every event, every meeting, every project reminds me how fortunate we are to serve together.
District Governor Michele Ellery
Service Above Self Award Presentation
As we move further into the Rotary year, May brings a powerful focus on Youth Service Month—a time to celebrate and support young people in our communities and recognise the vital role they play in shaping our future.
🌏 Youth Service Month
Across our district, I have been continually inspired by the dedication and creativity of our clubs. May is Youth Service Month, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible impact we have on young people through our programs and initiatives. From supporting Interact and Rotaract clubs to mentoring young leaders and providing scholarships, your efforts have been shaping the future.
I will have the pleasure of attending several Model United Nations Assemblies (MUNA) across the district, including the Central Coast, Northern, and Western MUNAs. These events showcased the outstanding talent, confidence, and global awareness of our young people and highlighted the powerful role Rotary plays in developing future leaders.
Rotary International Presidential message
Definition: Rotary re‑districting refers to the formal process by which Rotary International adjusts, merges, or divides district boundaries to maintain effective governance and membership balance.
Recent communication has been shared with all members regarding the proposed redistricting across Australia and New Zealand, including its potential impact on District 9685. This is a significant and important process, and all Rotarians are encouraged to stay informed and engaged.
A series of upcoming webinars was open to all members, providing further insight and the opportunity to ask questions and, hopefully, have any queries answered.
Our District is a strong community of Rotarians committed to Service Above Self, volunteering their time, skills and treasure to improve the lives of others in our communities, locally and globally. Club operations, projects and events will not change and continue as normal. I, along with the District Leadership team, am available to answer any questions or receive feedback and will work very hard to support our members during the transition in readiness for the 1st of July, 2028.