Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair-Elect Ian Riseley has announced that PDG Bronwyn Stephens will take on the role of Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor for Zone 8, commencing 1 July 2022.

Article by RI Director Jessie Harman

Bronwyn is a member of the Rotary Club of Brighton North and was Governor of District 9800 in 2018-19. She has been actively involved in Rotary service, amongst other things, as leader of an educational Vocational Training tour to Cambodia in 2016, Chair of District Managed World of Difference project, and enthusiastic contributor to Donations in Kind Inc multi-District warehouse as honorary treasurer and “resident librarian”. Currently she also Chairs a multi-Club project providing care bags and clothing to all clients presenting to mental health units at two major public hospitals in metro Melbourne. In recognition of her commitment to Rotary service and the ideals of Rotary, Bronwyn was recognised with Royce Abbey Award and Paul Harris recognitions.

In her professional life, Bronwyn was a nurse, specialising in a range of fields, including Accident and Emergency, Cardiac Care, Remote Island Nursing and Day Surgery. For the last 12 years of her career Bronwyn and Mark owned and operated a small private hospital with 2 operating theatres and 10 beds. Bronwyn acted as both a nurse in all clinical areas and oversaw all aspects of administration of the hospital.

Bronwyn and her husband Mark, also a Rotarian, are keen supporters of The Rotary Foundation as members of the Arch Klump Society and The Bequest Society.

Bronwyn’s sense of empathy and compassion underpin her commitment to The Rotary Foundation. “Living in Australia with safety, comfort, freedom and wealth gives cold comfort sometimes knowing of other world citizens’ oppression, poverty, disease and horrors. When Rotary gave me a vehicle to assist through volunteering and bringing ideas to fruition, The Rotary Foundation then opened my eyes to possibilities to make sustainable efforts and huge programs of enormous capacity, with the lowest administration component of any charity” she added. Now, I can smile as I have experienced many wonderful and hope filled endeavours involving folk in their own situations, driven by their own requirements. Personally I have been in the midst of several of these in Cambodia, India and Africa. To touch, see, hug and love those in countries with extreme poverty has been a troubling and difficult path. Also, bush fire relief efforts closer to home enabled by large Rotary Foundation grants were immediately beneficial to rural communities”.

“I contribute preferentially and substantially to The Rotary Foundation for these reasons and more. When invited to a role where I can discuss my own experience with others and learn of their own personal choices, without hesitation I accepted” Bronwyn said.

Bronwyn is keen to share the benefits of giving to The Rotary Foundation with others in the Zone. With her passion for giving and her commitment to the ideals of Rotary, we know she will do it well and we wish her every success.