By Aaron Cordy
THERE’S a new governor in town, and she’s ready to bring hope and a local feel to the district. Tatura local, Juineta ‘Neta’ Kirby was sworn in as District 9790 Governor in Wangaratta earlier this year. Making Neta the first local Governor since Keppel Turnour of Shepparton, in 1976-77, and the first governor from Tatura. The district encompasses as far as Sunbury, Mt Beauty, Holbrook, Jerilderie, Deniliquin and everywhere in between.
Two passions Neta is focused on along with Rotary will be at the forefront of her reign. The first: Life’s Little Treasures. A charity dedicated to helping families of premature babies, which Neta and her family have taken on as a project. The second: Rotary is saying no to domestic violence, which Neta and Rotary Club Tatura are right behind.
“So many times, when I go and speak about both projects, people come up and say I’m a survivor, my child and my children were in the hospital for months,” said Neta.
Outside of Rotary, Neta has dedicated her life to the well-being of children as an educator and therapist and now works as a Sandplay Therapist in Tatura and with Goulburn Valley Centre Against Sexual Assault in Shepparton. Which she is passionate about, along with cruising the road on her three-wheeler, Can Am Spyder.
Neta’s involvement with Rotary began in 1997 when she became the second woman inducted into the Tatura club. Achieving life membership after 25-year years in 2021.
In April next year Shepparton will gear up to the 2024 district conference, with 64 clubs expected to attend. It’s a busy time for district 9790, but it’s in the right hands with Neta.
