The Bigger Picture of Rotary

Darwin Sunrise is part of the worldwide Rotary International organization , and seeks to do most of its work within the local community , but supports and is supported by the global network of Rotary Clubs.

 Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. All your questions will be answered as you immerse yourself in the Rotary International Website here 
ROTARY'S FOUR WAY TEST
Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Rotary is organised at the international, zone, district, group and club level to carry out its programs of service around the globe. A Rotarian is a member of his or her Rotary club, and the club is a member of the association known as Rotary International (RI). Each club elects its own officers and board of directors and enjoys considerable autonomy within the framework of its constitution and the Rotary International Constitution and Bylaws. See below for District Organization

Formed in 1989 you can trace our beginnings here .

 District Structure  - 9550

The 45 Rotary Clubs of Rotary District 9550 cover twenty percent of the Australian continent or about 1.2 million square kms.

The district covers approximately the northern half of Queensland and the Northern Territory (NT) combined. In a district this size there is an enormous range of geographic diversity. It includes the lush rainforests of the tropical north coast of Queensland, Kakadu National Park just outside Darwin in the NT and the arid outback of western Queensland and the NT. The remote areas of Thursday Island and the Torres Strait are found in the northern part of our District whilst the south is bounded by Tennant Creek (NT) and Airlie Beach (QLD).
The District was extended in 2002 to include the Rotary Club of Dili, in Timor Leste.

The group approach adopted by our district enables much closer linkages between clubs within a defined geographic area. Each group has an Assistant Governor and appointed group representatives for many of the district committees. This devolved structure promotes greatly improved communications within our vast and diverse district.

The District Governor (elected annually) is an officer of Rotary International and is directly responsible for the administration of the district. The district headquarters rotates from group to group usually based on the District Governor's location. Similarly many of the district officers and committees come from the District Governor's group for administrative convenience. 

Club History Timeline

Established 1989 Darwin Sunrise is one of the newest clubs in the District
Our District is divided into seven administrative Groups. The Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise is in Group 1 and comprises all the Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Katherine and Tennant Creek clubs, all within the northern part of the Northern Territory. The Rotary Club of Dili was included in Group 1 in 2002.

1921-1930

Rotary Club of Melbourne formed 1921 

Townsville Club sponsored 1926
Cairns club sponsored 1930
Innisfail Club 1937

1931-1950

15  Clubs added to  District 955 

1958

Rotary Club of Darwin formed

Sponsored by the Port Adelaide Rotary Club

1960 - 1970

Slow Start  

Darwin North  (1964)
Darwin South  (1968)

1971 -1988

High Growth

Katherine (1977)
Tennant Creek (1982)
Litchfield - Palmerston (1982)
Port Darwin (1983)
Nightcliff  (1985)
Nhulunbuy (1987)

26th July 1989

Unusual Beginnings

The provisional club of Darwin Sunrise started meeting in April 1989 with the aim of chartering July 1st, however the District Governor (DG) at the time had other ideas. It was reported that a Rotary Club admitting women was “not to be chartered on his watch “ and the Charter was blocked until after handover of the new Rotary year giving us the unusual Charter Date of 26 th July 1989.

2002

Rotary Club of Dili

After Dili's Independance in 2002 , although there were some moves to start a Rotary Club a few years earlier, it was not until the UN Transitional Government handed over to the new Government led by Xanama Gusmao that the Rotary Club chartered with 32 members. Crossing International Borders caused some issues for the Rotary International governance model , overcome by a unique Australian Solution to form a Company - District 9550 Limited.