Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise

08/04/2026

I'm only one person - how can I change someone's life across the world?

Rotary Brisbane High-Rise has been a longtime supporter and fundraiser for the School of St Jude in Tanzania. One of their students, Sebastian Godwin Mollel, has held a special interest for several of our members.

Not only has Seb been able to successfully pass the exams to enter St Jude's and continue as a student, he has had to do so with a significant disability.

Seb lives with albinism which affects his eyesight. Over the years, Brisbane High-Rise has provided devices which have enabled him to be able to see what the teacher is writing at the front of the class as well as being able to read and write along with his fellow students.

We received wonderful news that Seb has been awarded a 100% fully funded scholarship to attend UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway, where he will study the International Baccalaureate Diploma for two years.

The scholarship is valued at NOK 905,000 (approx. TZS 244 million / AUD 133,000) and covers the full program.

This opportunity came through the UWC Tanzania National Committee after a competitive national selection process. Several teachers worked with Sebastian throughout the application and testing, which happened in Dar es Salaam last month.

We wish to congratulate Seb and wish him the best for his big move to Norway to study for the next two years. We know he will continue to excel and make his family and School of St Jude proud of his achievements.

This is a life changing opportunity and is life changing and will enable Seb to move forward with several options for study and a career. Congratulations to all of the teachers and students at School of St Jude for contributing to Seb's past and future successes.

Do you wish to change someone's life? Contact this page to find out how you can be a life changer.

21/03/2026

The Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise invites Rotarians, family and friends to attend our annual ANZAC Day Ceremony at the SS Maheno shipwreck. The SS Maheno was a hospital ship in Gallipoli and attended to, and transported several New Zealand and Australian casualties. It is now shipwrecked on K'Gari (Fraser Island).

DATE: Saturday, 25th April, 2026
TIME: 9.30am for a 10:00am start.
WHERE: SS Maheno, K'gari (near Eli Creek)

Everyone is welcome to attend - parking is available on the beach.
Should you wish to help us out as a volunteer, or require accommodation (you don't plan to camp) contact the email address in the photo.

17/03/2026

Rotary Brisbane High-Rise has several members who love to help out at working bees at Act For Kids. The outdoors area is now an inviting safe place for children to play, relax and interact with their counsellors.

Act for Kids is a for-purpose organisation that provides evidence-led therapy and support services to children and families who are at risk of harm, including domestic violence and child abuse.

If you would like to help out children or homeless people; improving the lives and education of others - either here in Brisbane, or internationally, come and meet us, or contact this page for further information.

We know you'll love what we do and getting to know new friends and contacts.

Grateful for the incredible Rotary Club of Brisbane High Rise volunteers who came along—rain or shine—to support our Wooloowin centre! ☔💜
Their hard work around the clinic and playground makes such a meaningful impact on the children and families we support. Thank you for lending your time, energy, and heart.

01/03/2026

𝙃𝙐𝙍𝙍𝙔 - 𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬 - 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 10 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2026.

Brisbane Rotary Art Show is back with a first prize of $20,000 in 2026!

Spanning 2 weeks in inner Brisbane CBD, the Brisbane Rotary Art Show 2026 attracts thousands of visitors.

Make sure you don’t miss your chance to exhibit in this exciting exhibition.

Enter now and show us your best work!

Entry link in photo.

Image: artwork by Josephine Hill

09/02/2026

Calling all artists!
Entries for the Brisbane Rotary Art Show 2026 are officially open!
This is your chance to showcase your talent, creativity, and hard work.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of something truly special and support a good cause!
This year, proceeds will benefit Youngcare and Coffee Brigade, making a real difference in our community.

For more information visit our website.
Link in photo

Image: artworks by Ai Shah

09/02/2026

Calling all artists!
Entries for the Brisbane Rotary Art Show 2026 are officially open!
This is your chance to showcase your talent, creativity, and hard work.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of something truly special and support a good cause!
This year, proceeds will benefit Youngcare and Coffee Brigade, making a real difference in our community.
For more information visit our website.
Link in photo
Image: artworks by Ai Shah

Rotary Club of Paddington
Youngcare Australia
Coffee Brigade Brisbane

28/01/2026

19/01/2026

Make a difference to someone's life - here in Australia, or overseas, through a tax-deductible donation to the Rotary Foundation Australia.

To find out more, contact us through this page or come along to one of our breakfasts on Thursdays, 7am for a 7.30am start at the United Service Club, 183 Wickham Tce, Spring Hill.

You will leave, having eaten and being inspired by incredible speakers and enthusiastic, motivated members who also want to make a difference.
RSVP: [email protected]

16/12/2025

For anyone struggling with their thoughts around the Bondi shootings, please read.
Look for the helpers and who is doing good.

When there's a tragedy - when evil is unleashed on the world - people often share the quote ascribed to Fred Rogers that we should "look for the helpers".

If your kids are struggling to comprehend this incomprehensible massacre on our shores, here are some helpers you can point to:

1. The hero who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen.

Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, was just passing by when he heard the shooting. With no fi****ms or self-defence training, he charged one of the gunmen from behind, wrestled the rifle away, and pointed it back at the attacker - forcing him to retreat.

Ahmed was shot twice in the struggle and is recovering in hospital. Countless people are alive because he didn't hesitate. I find myself in tears just thinking about what he did. Heroism is not a big enough word for me here.

2. The police and ambos who risked their lives and gave all they had to protect and preserve life.

Emergency responders flooded the scene, literally putting themselves in the firing line.

Two police officers were shot while protecting the community and are currently in serious but stable condition after surgery. They ran toward danger while others ran away. I am in awe.

3. The woman who shielded a little girl throughout the shooting.

A father searching desperately for his daughter found a stranger lying on top of her, protecting her with her own body. The woman had been shot but told him: "I've got your daughter, I've been protecting her."

He said to her, "You've saved my daughter's life. I'll be indebted to you for the rest of my life." How do you ever thank a person for that kind of courage? For that level of sacrifice?

4. The everyday people who performed CPR, applied pressure to wounds, and gave first aid.

Footage shows civilians crouched beside victims, performing CPR, stemming bleeding, moving the injured to safety - all while uncertain if the danger had passed. Bystanders rendered aid for 40 minutes to keep victims alive until paramedics could take over.

5. The countless people who have lined up to give blood.

The lines at donation centres snaked around buildings this morning. Lifeblood issued urgent calls for O-negative blood, and Australians showed up. Blood banks are now working to open additional appointments because so many people want to help.

In the face of unspeakable hatred, look at what humanity offers in return: courage, sacrifice, protection, healing, solidarity.

That's what you tell your children. Evil tried to win yesterday. The world can be brutal. But look at all these helpers.

19/11/2025

What is the Rotary Foundation?
It is Rotary's own charity which is considered amongst the top charities in the world. "It has received the highest possible rating from the leading charity assessment organisation, Charity Navigator, for over a decade." (https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/rotary-foundation)

Here in Australia, we also have the Rotary Foundation Australia which is part of the international foundation.

The Rotary Foundation has funded grants for
* Basic education and literacy
* Community economic development
* Disease prevention and treatment
* Maternal and child health
* Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
* Water sanitation and hygiene
* Environment

The bid to end polio, worldwide, is the number one goal of the Rotary Foundation. All donations towards Polio prevention are matched 2:1 by the Bill Gates Foundation. We are slowly winning the war with only 9 cases in Afghanistan and 30 cases in Pakistan to 4 November 2025. (Data reported to WHO HQ on Week 25 in 2025)

The Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise has been recipients of grants from the Rotary Foundation recently, including:
* Providing play equipment and gardening facilities at Act for Kids - a service for abused children
* Providing new and improved teacher residences, and a safe playing field and courts, at the Mamba school, on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
* Funding talented high school science students from outback Queensland to come to Brisbane to visit QIMR Berghofer and be exposed to science careers. We will be providing ongoing, online mentoring to these students.

Make a difference for someone else. Come and see and hear about what we do and how you can become involved. The opportunities to help or to extend yourself and your talents are endless.
Contact us at [email protected]

03/11/2025

Coffee Brigade provides food and coffee, 365 days a year, around inner-city Brisbane. They have 2 vans which travel out each day, with 3 people (usually volunteers).

We have already had a couple of early rising volunteers help out on the van to serve people, chat and give a welcoming smile.

Yvonne T, from Brisbane High-Rise reported, "On Wednesday 22nd October, I worked my first shift on the Coffee Brigade van. To the best of my knowledge, others that have worked on the van are Bill, Kerstin and David.

I was paired up with 2 other experienced volunteers, Don and Luke.

Our first stop was extremely busy but I suspect this had something to do with the BBQ that was being hosted by a local school. Straight up I was introduced as a ‘newbie’ and was welcomed with smiles all around.

The second stop at Kangaroo Point was very quiet (no BBQ here) and then we headed over to Spring Hill.

All in all, we served almost 170 cups of coffee and sandwiches. Mochas were a common request and at one point I was even asked for a cappuccino!

Coffee Brigade have a well organised system going and their friends rely strongly on the service they provide.

There is no reason to have any reservations about working a shift with Coffee Brigade. It was not a daunting experience. If anything, it was a pleasant interaction, saying good morning to everyone and helping them along with their day."

If you are interested in going out with other volunteers to work on the van, contact or [email protected]

Alternatively, you may wish to help out, a little later in the day, by making sandwiches. (also contact above)