Australian of the Year

Dr Neal Fogarty has made an extraordinary voluntary contribution to Australian society through his work over four decades with Rotary, where he turned service into measurable community impact.  

Neal’s ability to motivate volunteers into effective teams to convert goodwill into action has been evident throughout his Rotary career. When Neal served as district governor of Rotary International District 9700, he guided Rotary clubs to deliver approximately 67,500 volunteer hours and raise $1.3 million for local and overseas projects.  

As president of the Rotary Club of Murrumbidgee Canberra, Neal led the club in hosting a mother and baby from Tonga for extended medical treatment. Together, the club provided care, advocacy and emotional support throughout a complex medical journey.  

Under Neal’s leadership, the club also funded a three‑year PhD scholarship for research into children’s leukemia at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Neal believes that community service must address immediate hardship while also investing in long‑term solutions.