“Friendship, Leadership and Service have given the WRC its strength, successes and resilience over the past three decades. Hold these qualities close as future challenges unfold.

An enduring gift of Rotary is the opportunity it provides for building solid, long-term friendships. To crew, long standing and recently piped onboard, embrace this invitation to build and enjoy your circle of Rotary friends. June Webber, David Bradley and I sit together in the front row, new friends then, long standing friends now. To the newest members of the club: Jennifer & Dennis, Hamilton, Les and Arnold I encourage you embrace and enjoy Rotary. Build your own friendships. Get to know your fellow crew. Care for each other.

Along with friendship, a great asset of the WRC is its excellent leadership, past and present. Men and women, sharing the load, allowing the club and its crew to flourish. 

From our first voyage we welcomed and accepted women as professional members. The club and district benefitting from this rich vein of leadership—blending gender, business and cultural diversity into our unique nautical brand.

Friendships and leadership found their purpose in Service above Self—the great insight and legacy of Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris. Paul recognised egos and self interest needed to be left at the front door, so that the personal talents and contacts of members could be pooled together for helping others.

That is Rotary’s way and what the WRC has done for over 32+ years. Collectively channeling the positive energy and expertise of its members to help others in abundant ways, nourished by friendship. As elder and older Charter President, sitting Down Under, it gives me great pleasure to witness the long and impressive list of WRC projects that continue to flow, bringing benefit to others.

Long may you continue and enjoy your breakfast.”