Council of Past Governors
Past District Governors are invited to submit a short bio, outlining the theme of their year, listing their achievements and outcomes.
Peter Campbell
Ray Brand
Governor 2003-2004
District 9630
Ray was born and grew up in Brisbane. He joined the Queensland Police Service as a Cadet and was sworn in as a Constable after serving three months in National Service. His Police service took him to a number of towns and cities throughout Queensland including Brisbane, Dalby, Chinchilla, the Brisbane Juvenile Aid Bureau, Mt Isa, Townsville and Warwick.
He retired as the District Superintendent of Police, Townsville, after 35 years in the Police Service. He then commenced his own business as Owner/Manager of ‘Fred’s Garden Service’, operating in the Mt Gravatt - Sunnybank area.
Ray’s Rotary service commenced in 1978, when he was inducted into the Townsville South Club. He has held many offices in Rotary, including Sergeant, and as a Director of all avenues of Service, and as Secretary. He was particularly involved in leading teenage Exchange Teams from New Zealand through North Queensland in District 9550.
Ray has been a member of a number of Rotary Clubs including, Mt Isa, Warwick, Townsville and currently Mt Gravatt. He served as President of both the Rotary Clubs of Mt Isa and Mt Gravatt. He was Chairman of Group Study Exchange and Friendship Exchange in District 9630. In 1992 Ray was Group Study Exchange Leader of the GSE Team from District 9630, exchanging with District 1030 in the Newcastle area of Britain.
He has served as Assistant Governor, Clubs for the past two years
The Rotary Club of Townsville awarded Ray Paul Harris Fellow Recognition in 1990, for outstanding services to the community and to the Club. He was also recognised by the City of Townsville for service to the Townsville community and awarded ‘Monarch of the Townsville Pacific Festival’ in the same year.
For many years he played competitive tennis and squash but now prefers the slower game of golf. He has been involved in many activities in his local Church and community, particularly in working with young people in the many towns in which he has lived. Current community service includes being Chairman of St David’s Neighbourhood Centre, Coopers Plains, where he served for 8 years as a Board member. He assists the Centre with activities including outings and fellowship for older people in conjunction with an established community aged care service
Ray and Ann reside in Calamvale, a suburb in Brisbane south, and have three adult children, Mark, Kathy & Kylie, and five grandchildren. Ann is also a recipient of Paul Harris Fellow recognition from the Rotary Club of Mt Gravatt
Ray looks forward, with Ann, to the privilege and challenge of serving District 9630 as District Governor in 2003- 2004.
Ross Forgione
Governor 2002-2003
District 9630
A Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Archerfield, and Paul Harris Fellow, Ross has served his Club in almost every executive position including Secretary, Sergeant, and Directorships and twice as President.
At District level, his roles have included District Trainer, District Team Leader for the Club Service Training Program at District Assembly, Honorary Lawyer and Trustee of the District Project Rotary Trust, Chairman of District Public Relations Committee and two terms as Assistant Governor. He is, or has been, a board member, honorary lawyer or advisor to many other educational, sporting, legal, social and cultural organisations.
Born in Calabria, Italy, Ross migrated, at the age of four with his parents and brother John to Sydney, Australia. He attended state primary school and Liverpool Boys High School, but left at the age of fourteen. He undertook various jobs, including management of the family’s mixed business. He later resumed studies at evening college, matriculated, and was awarded a scholarship to Teachers College, which he attended before studying law.
He undertook his legal studies and completed his Articles of Clerkship in Sydney and Brisbane. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, he has also been awarded the post graduate degrees of Master of Arts in Applied Ethics from Griffith University and Master of Laws [Advanced] from the University of Queensland.
Ross has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, Solicitor and Attorney in the Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales and the High Court of Australia. He has also been admitted as Notary Public for the State of Queensland. Since 1977 he has been principal of his own legal firm and is practicing in most areas of law at Algester and Sunnybank Hills, Queensland as Forgione Lawyers and Notaries.
He is also a Senior Counsellor with the Queensland Law Society, which involves the provision of confidential advice to other lawyers on all ethical and professional matters. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Queensland Law Society Mentoring Steering Committee that formulated a scheme to assist young legal practitioners in their professional development, by the use of mentors. He has lectured in Commercial Law and delivered papers on the globalisation of legal services at international law conferences.
Ross regards his opportunity to be Governor of our District during 2002/2003, when the Rotary International Convention is to be held in Brisbane, as a special privilege and honour that shall provide him with even greater opportunities to serve Rotarians in our great District and Rotary International.
Lynn and Ross have four children, Vincent, John, Joseph and Melina. Ross enjoys music, traveling, reading, films and television, walking and mowing grass (on a ride-on mower, of course!).
Don Hay
Governor 2001-2002
District 9630
Don Hay – Governor 2001-2002
There were many highlights and exciting times and events during the year. In Anaheim, USA, we had the truly wonderful experience of joining 530 Governors and spouses from all over the world.
Training Programs need to be enjoyed. Lasting friendships begun at PETS-one, continued at PETS-two and the District Assembly. I was very proud to be associated with all as we planned for a most rewarding year.
Seminars were held for The Rotary Foundation, ARHRF and Membership Development and Retention.
There was an emphasis to finish what we began in 1980 – to eradicate the world of Polio by 2005.
Europe was declared Polio free in June 2002.
The Group Study Exchange with District 1050 in the UK was an outstanding success and just one of the highlights of our Conference when the City went to the country, “Just East of too Far West” to enjoy the hospitality of Chinchilla, in the Year of the Outback. There were so many excellent speakers. People heard Sr. Catherine Jackson’s story of Zimbabwe and gave generously to support the Braille Library and the Children’s Village. Another, sponsored by Beenleigh Rotary, was our Ambassadorial Scholar, Shane Scott. He sees his struggle with Cerebral Palsy as a challenge, not a disability and has the courage and conviction to achieve his professional aims. Rotary is glad to give him support.
Space allows no more than a special thank you to all who contributed to the successes, when we showed that, Mankind is Our Business.
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Max Cribb
Governor 2000-2001
District 9630
Max was educated at Brisbane Grammar School. He was a Director and shareholder of Associated Planners Financial Services, and was one of the first in Queensland to be admitted to the International Association of Financial Planners, and gained his ACIP as a member of the FPA. He sold his practice to retire in January 1998, after 25 years in Financial Planning.
Joining Rotary as a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Jindalee, he then spent several years with the Rotary Clubs of Brisbane, Wynnum and Manly, and now Mt Gravatt. He was Club President in 1996/97, District Governor 2000 – 01. Max is a member of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians, Commodore of the Queensland Fleet 1994-95, International Regional Rear Commodore for Queensland & Northern Territory 1998-2000 and International Rear Commodore 2003-05. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Diamond Circle Benefactor to The Rotary Foundation and member of the Bequest Society.
The Theme for 2000/01- “Create Awareness and Take Action”.
The highlights of Max’s year:
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Mel Langley
Governor 1999-2000
District 9630
Mel Langley began his working life as a filing clerk with the Australian Guarantee Corporation Ltd. in Brisbane in 1955. He spent the next 30 years in their employment, which involved several interstate transfers as promotional opportunities beckoned. He resigned from this organisation in 1984 as General Manager - Consumer Division, Head Office, Sydney.
During his sojourn with AGC in Western Australia, Mel was inducted into Rotary in 1976 as a member of the East Perth Club. When he returned to Queensland in 1979 he became a member of the Rotary Club of Brisbane. His ultimate appointment to AGC HO precluded any continuation in Rotary service due to the heavy demands of this national position.
He was re-introduced to Rotary in 1991 and was inducted as a member of the Cleveland Club. He has served as Sergeant, Club Service Director, Treasurer and President. At District level he has acted as the District Governor's Representative - Group 2 and became one of the inaugural Assistant Governors' upon the introduction of the District Leadership Plan in 1997/98.
In 1999 - 2000 he served as District Governor in 9630 and since then has had further involvement in the District as Finance Committee Chairman, District Trainer, Chairman of Trustees and Project Manager of the District Headquarters development. In 2000, he was invited to join the Board of the Host Organising Committee for RIC 2003 to represent D 9630.
Ø The RI Theme for his Rotary Year as Governor was:- ROTARY 2000:
ACT WITH
CONSISTENCY
CREDIBILITY
CONTINUITY
There were many highlights for the year and include:-
Ø The District Conference at Conrad Jupiters particularly the quality of the speakers including Ron Clarke MBE, Gail Austen OAM, Gemma Rice, Archbishop Hollingworth, Mark Bagshaw and Allana Arnott.
Ø The Millennium Ball where "Formal attire" was the order of the day was an outstanding success. To see the Youth Exchange students regaled in their finery was a delight; a view expressed by the gathering as a whole. The Alan Brown Big Band capped of an excellent night.
Ø The Chartering of the Rotary Club of Carindale after several years of unsuccessful attempts was extremely pleasing indeed, especially as their numbers have increased to such an extent that it is now the 15th largest Club in the District as at the latest statistics available.
Ø The membership forum held in February 2000, which resulted in a publication being produced as a guide for Clubs to use in their quest for membership, has been widely recognised and welcomed Internationally.
Ø In excess of $70,000USD was raised for the Rotary Foundation in this year.
Ø The introduction of a more accountable and manageable administration of this District was developed through the formation of a District Board of Management.
Ø The approval by in excess of 94% of Clubs just prior to the end of Rotary Year 1999-2000 to proceed with the development of our own District Headquarters was testamentary evidence that both members and Clubs want Rotary to provide a more visible and professional identity in this District.
Ø The Fellowship displayed by Clubs and members was exemplary.
This was a year with many challenges but it proved to be very satisfying nevertheless.
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Merv Richens
Governor 1990-1991
District 9630
Introducing PDG Merv Richens:
I served Rotary International as District Governor along with Patrick McMonagle and Graham Christiansen in the year “Preserve Planet Earth” was introduced: 1990 – 91. We were the “green jackets” and were promoted by our then World President, Paulo V.C. Costa as his “Golden Governors” with the year theme of “Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm”
My district was 964 – later 9640, which covers most of the Gold Coast down to Grafton in Northern NSW, and then west to St George. Pat McMonagle and I agreed to change the district boundaries in our year to allow St George to be included in D 9630.
Other highlights of the year was to be the host of an international Rotaract Conference (Interota) on the Gold Coast and to have Australian of the Year 1991, Fred Hollows as speaker at our conference speaking on his work in Eritrea. A fund raising campaign was launched at this conference that led to the donation of over $50,000 for equipment for Eritrea and the start of the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Margaret and I fortunately owned our own business and with family and staff support were able to dedicate sufficient time to really enjoy a year of service to Rotary that became a life changing experience. Through this year we made many life long friendships with Rotarians within our district, neighbouring districts, throughout Australia and the whole world. The internationality of Rotary is one of the most memorable impressions learned during this time.
The year of service as an officer of Rotary International has given Margaret and me on going opportunities of further service, and wonderful experiences. These include:
At the end of the day, the real joy is to be a Rotarian and I look forward to many more years of service through my club, Logan Sunrise.
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Bill Mann
Governor 1986 - 1987
District 9630
Having being elected DG in the year 1985, a considerable change came over my lifestyle in the years that were to follow.
I had been a diaryman all my life. My time was spent on the farm with little chance of visiting or touring, as the cows which were my living, needed first priority.
I relinquished dairying in 1985 and turned my interests to vealer raising and wheat growing. I found mfyself able to devote more time to Rotary. My year was a wonderful experience, meeting in Sydney at the Institute with other DG’s of the 1986/87 period and forming friendships, which lasted ever since.
My predecessor, Nev Eastern, was a wonderful help and may I enclourage all DG’s to assist their DGN’s as much as practicable. It will mean so much to their year and Rotary education.
My year opened with a large gathering at the Chinchilla Civic Centre, 364 attending with a generous number coming from the city clubs.
One of my ambitions was to promote a stronger relationship between city and rural areas. A district committee was formed. This committee organised a busload of students to travel out from the city to as far as Roma for experience in rural living for a week. In return students from Roma, Chinchilla & Dalby returned on the bus to work experience in the city. This proved highly successful and built an interchange with city and country clubs, which still remains.
The year 1986/87 was the major launching of the Polio Plus Programme. District 96930 has played an important role in supporting this health project.
A highlight of my year was a matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation; being given to PDG Dick Walker to carry out a literacy project in Thailand to which the District contributed $4000.00. This programme has had ongoing benefits.
A happy occasion for me was to send the 1st all female GSE team to District 502 in USA/Candada under the leadership of PP Arthur and Rosemary Hall.
The Rotary Conference was held at the Conrad International. A large crowd attended and we were privileged to have Dr. Gordon Moyes from the Sydney City Mission as a keynote speaker, and also Dr. Keith Tronc. The management staged a magnificent show for us on the Firday night followed by a spectacular dinner and Ball on the Saturday night.
The Theme for the year “Rotary Brings Hope” was challenging and will continue to be with dedication and inspirational leaders.
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Pat Galligan
Governor 1996 - 1997
District 9630
Patrick Vincent Galligan was born in Brisbane in 1944. He is a fourth-generation resident of Goodna, his family having lived there since 1881. Pat. joined Rotary at age 26 in1971 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Ross River in Townsville and became Secretary of that club three months later. Due to a change of employment and residence he later joined the Port of Townsville Rotary Club which he served as Director and Sergeant-at-Arms.
Upon returning to the Brisbane/Ipswich area in 1982, he joined the Rotary Club of Goodna of which he is still a member. Pat. has served this club in many positions and was President in 1989-90. He has had 100% attendance for all but three years of his Rotary service.
He has served as Chairman of several District 9630 committees, including Rotary Information, Finance, Friendship Exchange and Polio Eradication and as District Treasurer.
Pat. was District Governor in 1996-97 when R.I. President Luis Giay’s theme was “Build the Future with Action and Vision.” A major focus during this year was on the “New Generations” i.e. people under thirty years of age.
He was pleased to be able to charter the Rotary Club of Forest Lake and the charter night of the Port of Brisbane Rotary Club was also held during his year as District Governor.
As both the 50th anniversary of Paul Harris’ death and the 80th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation occurred in 1997, clubs were also strongly encouraged to build the future by supporting The Rotary Foundation.
Pat. is a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation, being both a Benefactor and Major Donor.
Further service since being District Governor has seen Pat. appointed to a number of international and national positions. These have included Zone 7 Coordinator of the PolioPlus Partners Task Force, Zone Institute History and Archives Committee and Chairman of the Rotary Fellowships Task Group for the R.I. Convention, Brisbane 2003.
He has been to numerous Rotary Conferences and has attended five Rotary International Conventions.
Pat’s profession is accountancy and during the past decade he has specialized in taxation and company compliance/corporate governance.
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Nev Easton
Governor 1985 - 1986
District 9630
Rotary International President 1985/86 Edward, F, Cadman
Theme for year was “YOU ARE THE KEY”.
1985 July 1. Clubs in District 37.
Polio Plus, The polio plus scheme was launched and initial District donations exceeded expectations.
1986 Rotary reached the one million member mark. We were able to celebrate this achievement just eighty one years after the idea of Rotary was born.
The Rotary house appeal was launched to purchase a building in Sydney to get a permanent home. For “Rotary Down Under”, this appeal was also well supported by all District Clubs.
New Clubs. Toowoomba Garden City and Sunnybank Hills were commenced and they operated as provisional clubs prior to being chartered.
Conference Venue. Toowoomba Show grounds hosted by all Toowoomba Clubs. The Keynote speakers were much appreciated and all received a standing ovation.
Hazel Hawke. She brought greetings from the Prime Minister. The national media were very interested in her views.
Rotary International President’s special representative Bob Cerwin and Elaine from USA.
Bob’s main speech was very entertaining as well as being humourous.
Ted Noffs of Life Education fame. Ted’s speech declaring war on drugs and his experiences in Kings Cross was very timely and greatly interested all participants. His visit was supported by a Life Education Caravan which we were able to borrow from Lismore.
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Darrell Rieck
Governor 1980 - 1981
District 9630
The World President of Rotary this year was Ralf J Klarich of Finland – his theme was “Take Time to Serve”.
The District at this time extended from Cunnamulla in the west across the Darling Downs, all Brisbane Clubs south of the Brisbane River, all the South Coast, and across the border as far as Byron Bay.
A gathering of 458 Rotarians, wives and friends gathered at Toowoomba on the 28th June 1980 to witness PDG Dick Walker install Darrell Rieck, accompanied by his Rotaryanne Kath into the office of District Governor.
The year started with 57 Clubs and 2263 members and finished with 62 Clubs and 2387 members.
Four new Rotary Clubs were chartered during the year, these being Ipswich City, Mudgeeraba, Goodna and Loganholme.
The Rotary District Conference was held in Toowoomba 13-15 March 1981 with 1293 attendees from every Club in the District but one Benny Santos and his lovely Reming from the Philippines represented the World President and they thoroughly endeavoured themselves to us all.
Special Anniversary Celebrations were held during the year for seven Clubs making it a busy year for the District Governor.
A special weekend of Rotary Information and Fellowship was held at Mitchell on 9-10 May 1981 to assist Western Clubs.
Youth Exchange was active within our District with 28 Outward Bound students and 26 Inward Bound.
We shared a Group Study Exchange with District 5490 Anigona, USA – five members participated in each team.
District Assemblies were held at Gatton and Beaudesert. The RYLA camp was held at Camp Leslie, Warwick on 4-10 April 1981.
One of our Districts major community efforts was to help Dalby at the time of and clean up of their major flood in February 1981.
R-districting – planning continued during the year with an acknowledgement from Rotary International of our proposal to regroup Clubs in Districts 9630 and 9650 into three Districts effective 1 June 1982.
After a very busy and rewarding year it was good to hand over to the new Governor Ken Smith and his Rotaryanne Betty on 27 June 1981.
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Dick Walker
Governor 1979 - 1980
District 9630
Dick Walker is a member of Salisbury Rotary Club, Queensland, Australia.
His professional life was in education, where he served as principal of several high schools and then as an administrator and researcher in teacher education. He served on a number of state and national and professional educational bodies, particularly in the field of literacy education.
Dick was governor of District 9630 in 1979-80, with James Bomar as President of R.I. and the theme “Let Service Light the Way”. That was the year of Rotary’s 75th Anniversary and one made memorable also by the achieving of club quotas for the launching of the 3-H program, established by PRIP Clem Renouf in the previous year.
Since then Dick has served Rotary International as member and chairman of a large number of R.I. and regional committees and task forces, and as a Group Leader at two International Assemblies; and he and Fay have represented the President of R.I. at district conferences in the USA, the U.K. and New Zealand as well as Australia.
He has played a major role in generating and sustaining Rotary's international literacy effort and he is currently Special Adviser to the Literacy Committee of R.I. He has been awarded two Presidential Salutes for literacy projects, the Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Rotary’s Service Above Self Award. He has been awarded an AM in recognition of his contribution to literacy, and an honorary Doctorate in Education from the Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, for his contribution to education in Thailand.
With three adult children and nine grandchildren, Dick and Fay have had a busy family life, but they have worked for many years for the intellectually disabled and the aged. Dick was Chairman of the Intellectually Disabled Council for 8 years and is currently a member of the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal of Queensland.
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Bob Sellers
Governor 1976 - 1977
District 9630
Bob was born and educated at Toowoomba Grammar School where he was cleared of blame at the inquest into the Chemistry Laboratory explosion of 1941.
Graduated as a Pharmacist from QUT in 1949 and practiced Pharmacy for fifty years, almost getting it right! The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia awarded him life Membership in 2001.
Invited into the Rotary Club of Toowoomba by an unsuspecting Rotarian in 1967, Bob later served as President of that Club in 1971-72. He Served as Governor of District 263 (now District 9630) in 1976-77.
Together with his wife Marge, conducts a Depot in Toowoomba for the collection and sorting of Pharmaceuticals, School Books etc for DIK in conjunction with District 9600.
A former Governor on the Foundation Board of the University of Southern Queensland, Bob is currently a Director of Toowoomba Empire Theatre Pty Ltd.
During a long career in Public speaking, Bob has spoken in front of the Prince of Wales, Duke of Wellington and several other well-known hotels.
The Darling Downs Farmers Association awarded him an E.I.E.I.O
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Bill Hamilton, AM
Governor __________
District 9630
W.L. (Bill) Hamilton AM B Econ B Ed (Qld) M Ed (Alta) Th A; Paul Harris Fellow and 2 sapphires. Partner Hazel.
RI President Hugh Archer’s Theme: “Enjoy Rotary”.
Rotary Clubs of Longreach (1967), Nundah (1969), South Brisbane (1969). Club President 1978-79. GSE Team Leader to Oregon 1978. Member or Chairman of district committees for Interact, GSE, The Rotary Foundation, Scholarships, ARHRF, Literacy Promotion, Community Concerns, TRF Alumni Association, RAWCS.
Unfortunately, the year will be remembered because of the Charleville floods. A District Relief Fund was set up and Rotary clubs and individuals throughout Australia responded generously. Our Toowoomba clubs made a magnificent effort, transporting loads of material needs to the town. The District administration team, especially the active rehabilitation efforts of the RC of Charleville.
Bill’s changeover from the late Ted Llewellyn (a fine person and a dedicated Rotarian) was somewhat different when the incoming DG, along with a group of fellow South Brisbane Fellows, danced the Pas de deux from Swan Lake, tutus and all. Later, Bill and Hazel appeared wearing the traditional dress of their Indian friends, Satish and Sunanda Koushik, D 3130, from whence the next GSE team would come.
Bill’s District Conference, which attracted a large attendance, was held at the Chandler Sports Centre. This was a challenge, because general opinion was that a conference held in Brisbane would not be successful. The Saturday night dinner was held around the Olympic Pool and the entertainment was provided by Olympic divers and Synchronised Swimmers.
PDG Dave Mayo chaired the Australian Aboriginal committee, which provided a four-wheel drive vehicle for the community at Hopevale.
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