We are one, but we are many”   (Bruce Woodley, 1987)

The words of Bruce Woodley’s legendary song aptly describe District 9640. On the one hand we have a special unity of purpose in Rotary; on the other we have great diversity geographically, economically and culturally.

District 9640 cuts across the New South Wales- Queensland border and is located between Grafton in the south-east, Goondiwindi in the north-west and the Gold Coast in the north-east. Clubs in District 9640 include Rotary Clubs, Satellite Clubs, e-Clubs, Passport Clubs, Corporate Clubs, Rotaract Clubs, Interact Clubs and a Rotex Club, comprising in total almost 1770 members.

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Industries in the district range from Australia’s best-known tourist area at the Gold Coast to a plethora of rural productivity in dairy cattle, sheep, beef cattle, wine, cotton, wheat, seafood, fruit, and sugar cane. Culturally there are many wonderful art galleries, museums, and music centre’s, and our District is home to three universities, a number of TAFE colleges and many fine schools.

Our clubs are involved in many and varied service projects at home and overseas. In addition to Rotary International projects like Polio Plus, Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM), Group Cultural Exchange (GCE),  Peace Scholars, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC), Ambassadorial Scholars, and Matching Grants, our clubs have developed some wonderful community programs like Our House (Ballina and Ballina on Richmond), Bowelscan (Lismore), Opera in the Vineyard (Stanthorpe), Centenary Hospital Helipad (Yamba, Maclean, Iluka-Woombah), the Wheelchair Project (Surfers Sunrise)Rotary Youth Driver Education (Hope Island) and GC100 Charity Cycle Event (Parkwood).

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There are also marvellous programs for young people such as Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN), National Youth Science Forum (NYSF), Rotary Youth Transition Seminar (RYTS), and Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)

These projects represent exciting exemplars of how our Rotarians “embrace humanity” and at the same time reflect how diversity and unity resonate in our District! 

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Rotarians are committed to making the world a better place. They work in local communities and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education, promote peace, and eradicate polio.  

To find out more about Rotary join a club near you (click on "When and where we meet") and get involved in any of the great programs. 

 Make a difference in the world!
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You can volunteer even if not a Rotary member. Use the Volunteer Offer form at the bottom of this page.

Rotary Volunteers are men and women who assist Rotarians in community projects at home and abroad. Many of them become associated with Rotary Clubs as “friends” of that club and may join the club after being involved for a time as a volunteer. Some examples of volunteers working with Clubs are as follows:

  • Surfers Sunrise: Volunteers work in a “men’s shed” converting bicycles into wheelchairs and also building structures for their Children’s House of Hope project in Samoa.
  • Southport: Volunteers work with the Rotarians in the club to run a children’s carousel in Broadbeach. Money raised from this project is donated to various Gold Coast Charities.
  • Broadbeach: Volunteers work with club members to maintain a fleet of “motorised scooters” for seniors who are not able to afford their own scooter. The scooters are provided to such seniors at a very low rental. 
  • Ashmore: This club does volunteer work in the “New Hope Cambodia” project in one of the poorest areas in Siem Reap. Their program involves education, health, and hospitality training. 
  • E-Club NextGen Queensland Australia: This Club runs an Outback Safari and provides food for the Birdsville Races. A number of volunteers and friends of club help out in both of these activities.
  • Parkwood: This club runs a charity cycle event the GC100 to raise funds for the homeless and disfigured children. Volunteers are required as marshalls and other roles at the event held in September.

Why not volunteer, it is a great opportunity to "give back" to your community.