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OUR LEADERS
 

Our leaders at Rotary exemplify all of the qualities that make our members extraordinary: integrity, expertise, and a commitment to service.  Below you will find the profiles our current and future District Governor's whose responsibility is to lead and inspire the entire District.

 

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DISTRICT GOVERNOR
JOHN OOMEN
Rotary Club of Evans Head
Narelle and I moved from Forbes NSW, via Melbourne, to Casino in 2017.  We started an ICT business in 1994 in Forbes and it continues today in Casino.
 
I was introduced to Rotary in 1998, joining the Rotary Club of Forbes. This is a traditional evening Club and I struggled with attendance back in the days when attendance was measured closely.
 
Forbes Rotary decided to sponsor a breakfast club, the Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea in 2003, to accommodate people like myself and 24 other Charter members. I was their Charter President and Narelle, their Secretary.
 
One Saturday evening in 2017, Fr Peter Slack noticed a couple of new parishioners and invited me to his Casino Rotary Club, which I joined in 2018. I was accepted as President of Casino in 2019, and served as Assistant Governor from 2020-2023.
 
In 2021, I assisted PDG Andy Rajapakse and PP Geoff Austin to establish a new Rotary Club in Evans Head, which Casino sponsored.  A Club with energy and fresh ideas appealed to me so, in 2022, I transferred to Evans Head.
 
I seek challenges and am excited to be given this opportunity to support DG Lisa and the entire District team in whatever way I can during the coming busy year.
 
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECT
DEB FRUGTNIET
Rotary Club of Broadwater North
Deb is Gold Coast born and lived her whole life between here and a little town in Central QLD, Yeppoon. As the middle child of 6 and Aunty to 26, family is incredibly important to Deb and her hubby of 25yrs Craig. They have 2 beautiful daughters Lily & Macy, the very best son in law Locky and a darling little grandson Layken.

For 30yrs Deb worked in hospitality across numerous roles, but a few years ago made the change to Disability Support where she found her true calling. Deb is an advocate for disability inclusion and respecting differences in others, she loves helping her clients live their best lives and empowers them to grow their confidence and independence.

Deb is a Past President and has held numerous Board positions over her 11yrs as a member of Rotary Club of Parkwood. Deb is also incredibly passionate about raising funds and awareness for Cancer Council QLD after losing her mum Razzel to leukemia in 2010. Since then, Deb has raised almost $200,000 in her mum's honour and will continue to do so into the future. Deb is also a founding member and chairperson of The Jack Beasley Foundation which is raising awareness and education around youth violence.
 
Deb is a charter member of the new Rotary Club of Broadwater North which officially formed in early 2025.
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR NOMINEE
GARETH HUNT
Rotary Club of Coomera River
Gareth has lived on the Gold Coast with his family, Past District Governor, Lisa and Sarah since December 2010.
 
Gareth had previously had some involvement with Rotary through Lisa's Rotaract connections in Sydney.  As a host parent for a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Mexico, Gareth was able to experience the work of the Rotary Club of Hope Island, and in March 2013 joined the club as a member.
 
Various club roles followed, including public, youth director, secretary and club president in 2016/17.  Gareth then joined the Rotary Club of Coomera River in 2021 where Lisa and Sarah are both Past Presidents.  Again, various roles followed including youth director, secretary and then club president in 2025/26.
 
Gareth has a passion for youth programs and has served in various roles at a District level as chair of the RYTS program and, currently, Youth Programs chair.  Gareth has also served as District Public Image Chair, managed the District website and supported Lisa in her role as District Governor in 2024/25.
 
Outside of Rotary, Gareth has held specialist roles in the Human Resources field supporting remuneration and benefits for a variety of organisations, and currently leads a team supporting the JAPAC region for a large multinational in the information technology sector.
 
Gareth looks forward to serving the District as Governor in 2027/28.
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IMMEDIATE PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR
LISA HUNT
Rotary Club of Coomera River
Our District 9640 is closely linked to Lisa’s family history and she is proud to have the opportunity to be a leader for Rotary in our district.
 
Born and raised in Southport, Queensland, Lisa started her association with Rotary after moving to Sydney on 1993.  Lisa was the Charter President of Camden/Narellan Rotaract Club (D9750) in 1994.  In April 1995, she was then selected to be part of the Group Study Exchange team (GSE) from D9750 Australia to D2350 Sweden.   .  
 
Lisa moved back to the Gold Coast in December 2010 with her family, Gareth & Sarah, and the connection with Rotary then expanded to include all three.  They are all members of the Rotary Club of Coomera River, of which Lisa and Sarah are past presidents.  Gareth is a past president of the Rotary Club of Hope Island.  These experiences reinforced Lisa's passion to make a difference locally and globally.
 
At District level she has served in various roles, including as an Assistant Governor, Membership Chair and Conference Chair.
 
Professionally, Lisa has over 20 years’ experience working in senior executive roles in for industry-leading businesses across Australia and New Zealand, building on 10 years in banking and finance.  In parallel with a successful career, Lisa has achieved a diverse range of achievements, so make sure you take time to chat to find out more about Lisa.
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ROTARY COMMUNITY LEADERS (RCLs)
GROUP 1 (NSW)
Robert Blanchard (Grafton Midday)
 
  • Alstonville
  • Alstonville Plateau (Satellite)
  • Ballina-on-Richmond
  • Ballina Lifestyle (Satellite)
  • Byron Bay
  • Casino
  • Evans Head
  • Grafton
  • Grafton Midday
  • Iluka-Woombah
  • Maclean
  • Mullumbimby
  • Upper Richmond
  • Yamba
     
GROUP 2 (QLD)
Andrew Lowry (Jimboomba)
 
  • Beaudesert
  • Boonah
  • Fassifern Valley
  • Jimboomba
  • Scenic Rim Rotaract
  • Scenic Rim Sunrise
  • SEQ Wildlife Rescue
GROUP 3 (QLD)
Anthony Zirilli (Burleigh Heads)
 
  • Burleigh Heads
  • Broadwater North
  • Gold Coast
  • Gold Coast Corporate
  • Mermaid Beach
  • Young Mermaid (Satellite)
  • Surfers Paradise
  • Surfers Sunrise
GROUP 4 (QLD)
Rob Brown (Hope Island)
 
  • Ashmore
  • Broadbeach
  • Broadwater-Southport
  • Coomera River
  • Coomera Valley
  • E-Club NextGen
  • Hope Island
  • Mudgeeraba
  • Nerang
  • Northern Gold Coast Rotaract
  • Parkwood
  • Southern Star ROTEX
GROUP 5 (NSW & QLD)
Gae Ferris (Lismore)
 
  • Banora Tweed
  • Currumbin-Coolangatta-Tweed
  • Goonellabah
  • Kingscliff
  • Kyogle
  • Lismore
  • Lismore Networking
  • Lismore West
  • Mt Warning AM
  • Murwillumbah
  • Murwillumbah Centrak
  • Summerland Sunrise
     
GROUP 6 (NSW & QLD)
TBC
 
  • Allora
  • Goondiwindi
  • Stanthorpe
  • Stanthorpe Flexitime (Satellite)
  • Tenterfield
  • The Granite Belt
  • Warwick
  • Warwick Sunrise
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FURTHER INFORMATION