This week we welcome DG Mark for his official visit. Let's revisit Mark's details
Meet DG Mark Williams
Mark Williams was raised on a 50,000-acre cattle station on the Burnett/Dawson watershed and was educated by correspondence and School of the Air until he was sent away to boarding school in Toowoomba at the age of 12.
At the end of grade 12, Rotary changed Mark’s life forever by giving him the opportunity to spend a year in Germany on the Youth Exchange Programme. It was in this year that Mark learned that he had interests in culture, history, and languages.
On return to Australia, Mark attended The University of Queensland where he studied a dual degree in Electrical Engineering and Honours Computer Science. From there it was a move of about 100m to the Computer Centre of the University where Mark worked for the next 12 years, interrupted by a year as a research associate at the University of Stuttgart in Germany. During his time at The University Computer Centre, Mark worked on data communications, and as the new guy on the block he was given the new technologies like the Internet. At about 3am one morning in 1989, Mark completed the first connection to the global Internet in Queensland.
While working as an engineer, Mark pursued his passion for languages and gained a BA (Hons) in Chinese. In 1998, to take the language to the next step, he resigned from his role of Chief Engineer at the Computer Centre to start a new career in Product Marketing for network equipment vendors, based in Beijing, where he stayed for 17 years. During that time, he undertook a number of roles in Product Marketing, pre-sales solutions architecture, business development and channel management.
Returning in 2015, Mark finally got around to joining Rotary with the Rotary Club of Brisbane. He has served as Secretary and President of the Rotary club of Brisbane, and at district level, Mark has spent 3 years as District Webmaster.
In 2025-2026, let's strive to
Unite for good for Rotary,
Unite for good for our Club
and
Unite for good for our Community.
Allan James
President
Rotary Club of Salisbury
Last Meeting
Attendance Report
8 members, 2 guests
Upcoming Events
13th January 2026 - District Governor Official Visit
10th February 2026 - Club Birthday
Club Updates
While we are rebuilding, our caterer is having difficulty catering for our small numbers. Ace has agreed to provide meals for one meeting a month at which we will pay for a minimum number.
On the other meeting/s we will either self cater or simply not have meal. This may also give us a chance to get through some more business.
Next Meetings
Tuesday 27th January
General Meeting
Tuesday 10th February
Birthday Meeting
Duty Officers
Chair: Allan James
Sergeant: Alan Charles
Fellowship: Debbie James
3 Minute Musings/Rotary Information: Johnno Chen
Friends of Rotary, Partners and non-members are welcome to attend
If you cannot fulfil a designated duty officer role please make arrangements for another member to take over your role.
Only payment via EFT or bank transfer is accepted.
Rotary International News
United Nations and Rotary celebrate 80th anniversary of UN charter
Leaders affirm their organizations’ historic, enduring relationship
Members of Rotary International joined representatives of the United Nations on 11 December to observe a key milestone in the quest for global solidarity: The 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN charter. Leaders from both organizations reflected on and reaffirmed the principles the UN stands for.
“In the 1940s, when the world was torn apart by war, visionary people began to ask the most urgent questions of all: ‘How could trust be rebuilt across borders where violence had reigned? And how would humanity guard itself against repeating its own worst mistakes?’” said Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. “In that pivotal moment, Rotary was one of the few organizations in the world that stepped forward with both hope and ideas.”
Since its start, Rotary has been a place for genuine connection
In the summer of 1910, while visiting his cousin in Chicago, P.A.C. McIntyre, a businessman from Winnipeg, heard about a club where people of different trades and professions gathered weekly to share friendship and perform community service. Since members of the club rotated their meetings at one another’s offices, they settled on “Rotary” as a fitting name. Keenly interested, McIntyre met with Paul Harris, the young Chicago lawyer who had founded the first Rotary club there five years earlier.
During their conversation, Harris explained that the club was intended to restore the sense of camaraderie and community he had known growing up in small-town Vermont but found absent in urban life. “Everywhere there were people but nowhere a familiar face,” Harris recalled in his autobiography as he described the loneliness and social alienation that he and others had experienced. He wanted to establish a place for people to come together — not just to conduct business, but to form lasting, genuine connections.
Impressed by Harris’ vision and Rotary’s early success in Chicago and other U.S. cities, McIntyre returned to his hometown and formed the first Rotary club outside the U.S. in 1912. That one club in Winnipeg soon became dozens and then hundreds in Canada as the passion for fellowship and good deeds swept across the country.
Are you ready to connect with like-minded leaders and make a lasting impact on communities worldwide? Join us for the 2026 Rotary Combined Districts 9560, 9620 and 9640 District Conference at Royal Pines, where our theme is “Reaching Across Boundaries.”
From inspiring keynote speakers and project reports, to networking sessions with community champions, we’re bringing people together from all over—uniting passions, sharing innovations, and embracing diverse perspectives.
At Rotary, we believe that when we stand together, we can move mountains. “Reaching Across Boundaries” means tearing down walls, forging new partnerships, and creating solutions that transcend borders and barriers.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something extraordinary.
Register now for the Rotary Combined District Conference 2026 at Royal Pines:
Reaching Across Boundaries. Together. We’ll shape a brighter future—one connection at a time!
Golf Tournament Friday 1st May
Chef's Choice Welcome Banquet Friday evening 1st May
Conference Sessions Saturday 2nd May and Sunday 3rd May
Boogie Wonderland 70s and 80s Gala Saturday 2nd May
Since its start, Rotary has been a place for genuine connection.
Duty Officers:
The Chairman speaks to the Guest Speaker prior to the start of the meeting to obtain introductory information. The Chairman must also check with the President for any special duties during the meeting.
Directors and Members are to advise the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting if they which to give a report or speak during the meeting.
The Fellowship Officer is to meet each Visitor individually and escort them to the Registration table and introduce them to the Duty Officers. The Fellowship Officer is to assist with the issue of the Visitor’s card and to introduce the visitor to the club members.
Apologies should be emailed to the Club Admin no later than Monday morning.
We acknowledge the First Nations people as the original inhabitants of Australia. We recognise, respect and celebrate the cultural distinctions of First Nations people and value their rich and positive contribution to not only Queensland but also to the broader Australian society.
Mark Williams was raised on a 50,000-acre cattle station on the Burnett/Dawson watershed and was educated by correspondence and School of the Air until he was sent away to boarding school in Toowoomba at the age of 12.
