The new place has shops, roads and people and everything is new and exciting, but you don't have a connection.

I moved from outback Queensland to Port Macquarie in September 2017 to take up a position as a journalist at the Port News.

Born and raised in Adelaide, upending my life wasn't something new, but my new home and life here was.

I decided quickly I needed to get involved in the community outside of work hours. This is where I discovered Rotaract.

Rotaract, and Port Macquarie's branch Hastings Rotaract, is a service organisation for 18-30 year olds under Rotary International.

In the Hastings, we have five Rotary Clubs but Rotaract in this part of the world is a bit of an anomaly.

I was invited to join and after the group found out where my skills lay I became communications director a few weeks later. A few months after that we needed a district representative - someone to advocate for young people across an area from Coffs Harbour to Lightning Ridge and down to Gloucester.

Always up for a challenge, I put my hand up and before I knew it I was travelling across the Mid North Coast and through northern NSW talking to Rotarians and young people about why young people should be invested in and mentored to help others.

I've made trips to Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree, Old Bar, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide engaging with people talking about Rotaract and the potential of young people.

I also had the opportunity to go to Hobart in September 2018 to meet and listen to people from all over Australia and New Zealand talk about all the good work being done by Rotary and Rotaract throughout the world.

I signed up to help organise the national Rotaract Australia conference held in Adelaide in February 2019. Being in my home town, I was keen to showcase where I had grown up but blend that with my new found community.

Since then I have organised training sessions, been published in national magazines and delivered dozens of talks to people across the state about the need to empower young people to help them achieve their best.

Rotary as an organisation does an incredible job investing in young people sending them on leadership and science camps, youth exchanges and funding in school programs but there is a disconnect between school leavers and young professionals and what people traditionally think of as Rotary.

My travels have given me a chance to see up close how Rotary operates and just how dedicated Rotary and Rotaract members are in my community, across NSW and around Australia.

I joined Rotaract to make friends after moving to a new place but after the past year I have made friends around the world and had opportunities friends outside Rotaract could only dream of.

I have come to realise that if you have an idea, or a way to make a difference no matter how big or small, Rotaract and Rotary can help you achieve it.

To me it is humbling to be part of an organisation that values people and passion and I know no matter where I go or no matter what happens, the Rotaract and Rotary family are there to support, mentor and guide young adults and to celebrate all of our successes.

On June 29, I was honoured to receive a Paul Harris Fellow, one of the highest Rotary accolades.

It still seems surreal. I am blown away by the award and it has been an absolute pleasure travelling thousands of kilometres around the country empowering young people.

Thank you must go to my mentor past district governor Lorraine Coffey and her team and particularly Rotarians in the Hastings for all their support, mentoring and encouragement over the last year.

I am so proud of all the work I have been able to achieve and I can't wait for my next challenge.

Not that I have to wait long, as I am now the communications director for Rotaract Australia.

I am excited the work I have been doing across NSW can be extended to a national audience and young people can hear the message loud and clear they can do anything and Rotary will help get them there.

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