G'day, I am Maureen Henderson - President of the Rotary Club of Toowoomba City for 2005-06. We are "The Friendliest Little Club in Town".

Our club is the youngest of the seven clubs in Toowoomba and was chartered on 13 December 1991 with Janet Abberton as President - the first club in Toowoomba to invite women as members.

Formation of the new club was achieved through considerable preparatory work by Janet with the assistance of Nevell McPhee, a Past President of the city's oldest Rotary club, Toowoomba, and a Past District Governor.

With the support of District Governor Pat McMonagle and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Toowoomba, the new club's Charter came to fruition after an initial meeting had been held on 2 September that year.

Other Presidents of Toowoomba City have been: Rowan Monteith (1993), Judith Gibbins (1994), Max Schibrowski (1995), Gayle Hogan (1996), Carolyn Roberts (1997), Jim Curtis (1998), Caroline Cottman (1999), Dennis Bateman (2000), Joan Mladenovic (2001), Brian Turner (2002), John White (2003), Judith Gibbins (2004) and Kerry White (2005) .

For a relatively small club, we have achieved lots of good things for Rotary, and had fun doing it. In partnership with the Harley Davidson Owners Group in Toowoomba we run the annual Cruise for Cancer usually held in August (see Community for more details). The club has been a consistent supporter of the Youth Exchange Program - both inbound and outbound, as well as other New Generations programs.

We have also been involved in many projects in Vocational, International and Community Service areas, including Vocational Service Awards, support for a student - Albert Peter - at Gemma Sisia’s famous St Jude's School in Tanzania, and annual Trivia Nights to aid Toowoomba Hospice.

There is much more to the Rotary Club of Toowoomba City, as you will see on this site. It is certainly an honour to be President of such a Club. If you would like to share the experience, please feel free to attend a meeting - normally Friday lunchtime at Regents, Perth Street (Phone 4632 5226).

Yours in Rotary

Maureen Henderson