03/09/2026
MEMBER HIGHLIGHT | Wayne Wright
Meet Wayne Wright: 54 Years of Community Service
Wayne Wright's journey into community service started when he was just 16, helping out with the Miss Australia Quest in his hometown of Mareeba. That was 54 years ago. Now 74, he's still going strong.
Rotary has been a huge part of Wayne's life. He's held Secretary, Treasurer and President roles across clubs in Bundaberg, Mount Isa South, and Toowoomba South. He was the inaugural President of both the Interact Club of Mareeba High and the Rotaract Club of Mareeba. These days he's a Charter Member and Secretary of the Metropolitan Club of Toowoomba.
One of his favourite memories is from Mount Isa in the 1980s, when three Rotary clubs teamed up to run the Mount Isa Rodeo. It brought in a million dollars. Wayne ran the counting house, strictly bank staff only, with the cash locked in the bank safe overnight. Wild times!
Outside Rotary, Wayne has been involved in Lions Clubs, Clean Up Australia Day, the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, and volunteered at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. He even won the Boystown Art Union back in 2002. His eldest son reckons it was a reward for all the years Wayne has spent helping others.
Wayne has met so many great people along the way, and it's only deepened his love for community service. As he puts it, it gets in your blood. And he's not done yet!
