The two Rotary clubs of Brisbane High-Rise and Paddington involved in staging this Art Show have impressive records of community and development service, including very strong commitments to youth through support for the many Youth programs offered by Rotary.
The following are just a few community projects recently completed or in progress by these two Rotary clubs:
Rotary Clubs exist for the development of service through community and international projects simply to enhance and improve people's lives and their communities. The membership of Rotary clubs is comprised of people who endeavour to follow Service above Self. Encouraging the promotion of high ethical standards in business and the professions is one of the primary objectives of all Rotary clubs.
Through Rotary international, The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs around the world, Rotary’s most significant single project worldwide has been the provision of funding and volunteers to eradicate poliomyelitis through the Polio Plus program. In the late 1980's there were typically 350,000 new cases of polio each year around the world. Now, there are just a few new cases each year in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, other philanthropic bodies and the United Nations this is an significant and ongoing program to eradicate the disease.
Other great work making a difference in the lives of people and carried out with funding from the Rotary Foundation and clubs include programs against malaria and other insidious diseases in the countries geographically close to Australia.
The Rotary Foundation also provides funding for Peace Fellowships to allow postgraduate studies in peace and conflict resolution at six universities around the world. The University of Queensland is one of these six institutions.