District Governor 2025-26 Opening Remarks
28th June 2025 | District 9685 Changeover | Wentworth Leagues Club
Good evening, Rotarians, Rotaractors, family and friends,
It is a true honour to stand before you this evening as your incoming District Governor for 2025–2026. I’m filled with gratitude, excitement, and a deep sense of responsibility as we begin this new chapter together. I stand before you on the shoulders of many great leaders.
Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt thanks to Immediate Past District Governor Niranjan Deodhar and his wonderful wife, Vinita. Niranjan, your calm, thoughtful leadership and tireless service have made a lasting impact on our District. You have navigated challenges with grace and strengthened the core of our Rotary family, and we are all the better for it. Thank you both for your dedication and commitment.
As we now move into the new Rotary year, I do so with a clear intention: not to start over, but to build on the solid foundation you’ve laid. Many of your focus areas—club strength, leadership development, and partnerships —remain key pillars of the year ahead. It has also been an exceptional few weeks with the announcement of a new Rotary International President for 2025-2026, Francesco Arezzo of Italy, replacing Mário César Martins de Camargo. He is supporting a powerful and timely theme: Unite for Good. It calls on us to lead with compassion, collaborate with purpose, and amplify our collective impact.
This year, our focus will also be Building on What Matters Most. That means:
● Empowering clubs to lead with confidence, creativity, and strong community connection.
● Expanding impact through visible, high-value projects that engage and inspire.
● Nurturing leaders at every level to ensure Rotary stays vibrant and relevant for the future.
● And continuing my commitment to mental health—advocating, educating, and supporting with heart. More information will come later.
● Empowering clubs to lead with confidence, creativity, and strong community connection.
● Expanding impact through visible, high-value projects that engage and inspire.
● Nurturing leaders at every level to ensure Rotary stays vibrant and relevant for the future.
● And continuing my commitment to mental health—advocating, educating, and supporting with heart. More information will come later.
Of course, I am not doing this alone. I am incredibly fortunate to be supported by a dedicated and capable District team. They have done a great job preparing for the year and let me introduce our District Chairs.
- District Governor-Nominee - Haran Ramachandran OAM
- District Finance Chair – Stephen Thorp
- District Secretary – Adele Bruens
- Immediate Past District Governor – Niranjan Deodhar
- Administration Chairs – PDG Lindsay May OAM & Russell Grove
- Community Service – PDG Mina Howard
- District Rotary Foundation Chair – Haran Ramachandran OAM
- International Services Chair – Frank Portelli
- Vocational Chair – Ruth Vumbaca
- Youth Chairs – Bass Bhaskaran & Lucian Keegel
I would like to acknowledge the Committees and project leaders across these portfolios as well.
Also, an important connection between the clubs, Regionalisation pilot and District is the Rotary Community Leaders:
- Group 1 Russell Zimmerman
- Group 2 Jade Catherall
- Group 3 Phil Isaccs OAM
- Group 4 Russell Grove
- Group 5 Ruth Vumbaca
- E-Clubs Amanda Barnes
I am so grateful to have each of you and your teams as well and I am looking forward to collaborating with the Rotary Community Leaders on this journey.
Tonight, could not have been possible without the wonderful talents of our fabulous Emcee Jamie. Organising tonight’s event Julie Thorp, Russell Zimmerman, My club, Lower Blue Mountains Rotary club, President Pamela Noal, Dream Team Karalyn Brown, Amanda Roots, Photographer Maureen, Michelle Westlund, and Jade Catherall. Thank you also to everyone who donated the wonderful raffle prizes tonight, with proceeds providing Respectful relationship bursaries.
Thank you to my husband David, for supporting my passion for Rotary and becoming a MOD (Michele’s Official Driver) and my family for their support, my club, Lower Blue Mountains and my other family ‘Winter RYPEN’. Love you guys. Before I close, I personally invite you all to register for our District Conference, a very special combined event with District 9660. It will be held in Newcastle, March 20–21, 2026, under the theme Together for Tomorrow.
It promises to be a transformative weekend, rich in inspiration, connection, and purpose-driven conversation, inspiring and motivating speakers with surprises along the way. I truly hope to see you all there. Our conference chair Bob Kay Smith, has flyers at the ready!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your District Governor. I look forward to a year of collaboration, impact, and connection. Together, let’s Unite for Good—and continue to build a Rotary that matters.
Thank you.