The second Century of Rotary service, 40 years of Rotary communication from Rotary Down Under and we've had a facelift!

Without doubt, the challenges will continue to come thick and fast year after year for Rotary, and all aspects of our organisation must be up to the task of providing modern, efficient and effective service.

Rotary Down Under has undergone several major re-designs during its 40 years and we are grateful for the valuable professional assistance from David Brown Graphics on this occasion.

Our senior staff make many personal visits to Rotary clubs during the course of any one year, we survey Rotary clubs and members within our circulation area regularly, and we are in regular contact with District governors and various other Rotary leaders.

Rotary Down Under is your magazine. It does not belong to the editor, to any Rotary leader or committee. It belongs to Rotarians who chose to subscribe to it as their officially approved and prescribed Rotary regional magazine and it is therefore absolutely vital that we are constantly mindful of the wishes and needs of members.

This magazine is designed to look more like a business magazine. The type size is the same but we have moved to a new type font in RotisSerif, similar to the very popular Times but regarded as a little more user friendly.

We've tried to open up the magazine a little. And finally, watch for the addition of our lifestyle section in September.

Titled Rotarian Life it will have the effect of producing TWO front covers on your Rotary magazine and provide more variety in reading, as requested in our last reader survey.

Constructive comment will be appreciated. Please take time to tell us what you think of these changes to your Rotary regional magazine.

The inbound Group Study Exchange team from District 5500 in Arizona donated $US1,800 which is sufficient for a further three tanks!
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Suva North, Fiji, is looking for a World Community Service partner to build a dam and provide a reliable water source for Rukiruku Village. Still in the Fiji group and District 9920, Taveuni Island is currently seeking medicines and medical equipment, including walkers and wheelchairs.

More sewing machines for PNG: The Rotary Club of Brighton, S.A., has gathered a further 36 sewing machines, this time for dispatch to a women’s training centre in Papua New Guinea. The first collection of 28 machines went to a women’s training centre in the Solomon Islands and proved most successful, enabling the women to set up a sewing business which generates income for their families. Brighton Rotarians Alison and Mark Rogers service the machines before dispatch. Another 10 machines could well find their way to Africa.

Air marshal at Tauranga: The quality guest speakers keep coming to the Rotary Club of Tauranga, N.Z., and there is sometimes a local connection. Then Club President Vern Pain recently welcomed the New Zealand Chief of Defence, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, to a special evening at the club. Air Marshal Ferguson, an ex-student of Tauranga Boys College, was pleased to return to an area with many fond memories.