Speakers

Wendy, Brisbane High-Rise club member, two times District Governor and international board member of the Rotary Foundation will be telling us all about the "DNA" of Rotary. 

Many of our members are new and do not know what is around in Rotary and what is available to them.  Our longer term members may not be aware of more recent additions to Rotary or what may no longer be done. 

Matt Kearney commenced as Chief Executive Officer of 3rd Space on 20 April, 2026. Born and raised in Ipswich, he began his career in South East Queensland before spending the past decade with St Vincent’s Health Australia, most of that time serving as Executive Director of Mission & Health Equity at St Vincent’s Public Hospital Sydney.

Matt has maintained a lifelong connection to homelessness services, beginning as a Rosie's volunteer in the early 1990s. He brings governance experience through board roles with homelessness organisations and holds a Master of Counselling, a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Matt is deeply committed to strengthening compassionate, dignified services and improving supported pathways to housing for people experiencing homelessness.

 

Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital - People in Action

Christine West, a Rotarian from Albany Creek, will share the remarkable journey that has taken place over the past 10 years — from community advocacy to self-representing in the Environment and Planning Court to challenge local councils and developers to ensure room is left for wildlife in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.

Christine’s persistence and vision have since led to the establishment of the Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital, with the project now securing $15 million in State Government funding to build a dedicated wildlife hospital at Dakabin in North Brisbane.

This project is also creating an exciting opportunity for Rotary involvement. Rotary clubs are being invited to help fit out the hospital with vital medical equipment so it can operate at full capacity from day one. Sponsoring equipment will create a lasting legacy in our own community while supporting the care and rehabilitation of native wildlife for generations to come.

 

BIO

Christine West – Community Advocate

Christine West is a wife and mother of three young adults, deeply committed to her community. Since 2017, she has served in various roles for the Albany Creek Scout Group and became a valued member of the Rotary Club of Albany Creek in 2018. Christine’s passion for community service and environmental advocacy led her to become a Director of the Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital in 2022. Her tireless efforts have earned her the 2025 Federal Dickson Award for Excellence in Community Service and she also received a Queensland Day Awards for Pine Rivers 2025 for Excellence in Community Services.

Over the past decade, Christine has worked closely with local developers and the council to secure better planning outcomes that prioritise the preservation of wildlife corridors and natural habitats. Her advocacy has focused on protecting vulnerable species, including the koala and the wallum froglet. Through her team’s dedication, they have successfully influenced planning decisions, ensuring that the welfare of local wildlife is considered in development proposals.  Through her advocacy work, funding has now been secured for the creation of a new wildlife hospital in the Moreton Bay region.

 

Judith Smith

Australian War Widows Qld

State President & War Widow Director

Judy Smith began her professional career as a registered nurse and midwife, holding postgraduate qualifications in maternal and child health. Her nursing career spanned New South Wales, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea.

After relocating to Katherine in the Northern Territory, Judy served as Director of a community-based child care service and later as a Senior Officer with the Department of Health. In 1986, she was appointed Children’s Services Development Officer with the Katherine Town Council, undertaking a comprehensive assessment of childcare needs in preparation for the reopening of RAAF Base Tindal.

A lifelong community volunteer, Judy has held numerous leadership roles since the 1970s, including President, Treasurer, and Board Member of a wide range of sporting, civic, and health organisations in Katherine and on the Sunshine Coast.

Judy joined Australian War Widows Queensland (AWWQ) in 2013 following the passing of her husband, a World War II veteran. Since then, she has served as President of the Maroochydore Sub-Branch (2015–2020), Director on the AWWQ Board (2019–2022), and was elected State President in 2022.

AS state president, Judy is a member of the National Council of Australian War Widows Inc. She advocates on behalf of AWWQ  at Commonwealth and State forums and represents war widows at ceremonial occasions, ensuring the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families are honoured and remembered.

 

A shorter version.

Judy Smith began her professional career as a registered nurse and midwife, holding postgraduate qualifications in maternal and child health.

A lifelong community volunteer, Judy has held numerous leadership roles since the 1970s, in a wide range of sporting, civic, and health organisations in Katherine, N.T. and on the Sunshine Coast

She joined Australian War Widows Qld (AWWQ) in 2013 following the passing of her husband, a World War II veteran.

Since then, she has served as President of the Maroochydore Sub-Branch (2015–2020), Director on the AWWQ Board (2019–2022), and was elected State President in 2022.

Judy is a member of the National Council of Australian War Widows Inc. She advocates on behalf of AWWQ  at Commonwealth and State forums and represents war widows at ceremonial occasions, ensuring the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families are honoured and remembered.