Immediate Past District Governor 22-23

Paul Thomas AM & Kathryn Thomas

23 Ocean View Dr

Wallaroo SA 5556

Mobile: 0438 821 356

In 1977, sponsored by the then Rotary Club of Kadina and hosted by the Ashikaga East Rotary Club, Paul spent a year in Japan as a Rotary Exchange Student. This was the commencement of his Rotary journey. He was later a Charter Member of both the Rotaract Clubs of Kadina and Maitland. Joining the Rotary Club of Kadina in 1985 and was President in the 1995/1996 year when the club changed its name to the Rotary Club of Northern Yorke Peninsula.

The Rotary Club of Ashikaga East, Japan awarded Paul a Paul Harris Fellow in 1995 in recognition of his ongoing commitment to Rotary. The Rotary Club of Northern Yorke Peninsula awarded a Sapphire Pin in 2019. Paul is married to Kathryn, and they have lived overlooking the waters of Wallaroo Bay since building their home and marrying in April 1988. He always acknowledges Kathryn's support.

Local Government has dominated almost half of Paul's life. He is the former Copper Coast Council mayor and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to local government, the Northern Yorke Peninsula community, tourism and cultural events in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours. After 28 years, Paul retired from Local Government in November 2018.

During his time in public service, he was a delegate to committees including the Farm Shed and Tourism Centre, Yorke Peninsula Tourism and Regional Development. He also chaired the Northern Yorke Peninsula Private Hospital Board and NYP Health Service Board. Paul was part of the organising committee for the Kernewek Lowender for approximately 33 years, including as president from 1997 until 2013, created a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd in recognition of services to Cornwall.