Value your assets

January/February 2026

I’m not going to lie… I’m pretty proud of this edition. Not the edition itself, but the incredible breadth of projects and initiatives that seem to have magically crossed our path over the past few months. Even more magical is that so many of these opportunities have organically intertwined with each other.

From catching up with President-elect Yinka and hearing his thoughts on the progression of Rotary youth leadership; to his impromptu breakout session with under 45’s at the Rotary South Pacific Conference, which led to a systemic progression plan from Interact to RYLA to Rotaract to Rotary in our zone; to the RYLA Oceania ELEVATE retreat in the Blue Mountains, which is actively and intentionally developing Rotary youth leadership progression; it seems that Rotary in our region is on a positive and progressive path forward.

And what led from a wonderful opportunity to be part of the RYLA ELEVATE retreat, was the opportunity to be part of a community event hosted by the Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise, where we heard the heartbreaking yet inspiring story of Peter Joseph AM, who tragically lost his son, MJ, to suicide. Since then, Peter has built a legacy in MJ’s name that we now know as the Black Dog Institute. His story is not only a tribute to his son’s legacy, but a reminder that speaking from the heart can quite literally change lives.

And, so, while two vastly different stories, what circles back around from that interview with Yinka and the interview between Peter and journalist Emma Rossi, is that the way we move forward is to tell our stories – be they Rotary stories or our personal stories. Both of their messages are clear: telling our stories can be hard. They are often deeply personal but we need to be brave and speak up.
Stories matter. Not just the polished success stories, but the honest ones – the moments of doubt, growth, loss and transformation that shape who we become. When we tell them, we don’t just inform; we connect, inspire and empower both others and ourselves.

As Yinka says, if we want Rotary to thrive, we must restore the emotional connection that keeps people engaged, motivated and proud to belong.

We do that by telling our own stories. Rotary’s impact is measured not only in the projects we deliver, but in stories told, heard and carried forward.

So, as we welcome in 2026, let’s be brave and speak up. It will transform lives!

Meagan Martin
Editor, Rotary Down Under