Rotary International District 9550 is one of the most diverse Rotary Districts in the world, covering 1.5 million square kilometres north of the 21st parallel in the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia, and East Timor (Timor Leste). The District is vastly diverse, and includes the world heritage areas of Kakadu National Park and the Great Barrier Reef, rainforests, tropics and the outback. The District is renowned for its agriculture, cattle, fishing, horticulture, mining, sugar cane, tropical fruits, and tourism. District 955O has 50 clubs and about 1300 members.

Within our District, East Timor covers an area of 15,000 square kilometres and has a population of about one million people. Its natural environment is marked by stunning mountains, beautiful beaches and reefs, lush forests and, depending on the season, rushing rivers or dry river-beds.

However East Timor is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. The problems faced by East Timor are compounded by the lack of infrastructure and a critical shortage of skills in most areas of vocation. The East Timorese regard education as the most important priority in the development of their country, because it is the lack of people with the expertise and technical skills to rebuild the country that remains the most critical stumbling block for development. The Rotary Club of Dili was chartered in 2002.

Multicultural Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, and has a population of about 100,000. It has a young population and vibrant economy, Charles Darwin University, and a major liquefied natural gas plant that commenced production in 2006. Darwin is the closest Australian city to Dili in East Timor, being only a 1 hr 45 min flight away. There are nine D9550 Rotary clubs in the Territory, with six in Darwin.

Townsville is situated on the east coast of North Queensland. It has a population of about 160,000 and has an excellent James Cook University that is renowned for its Marine Sciences. There are 12 Rotary clubs in the area. Throughout towns to the south are another five Rotary Clubs, a fertile sugarcane farming region, and the famous Whitsunday beaches and islands.

350 kilometres north of Townsville is the lush, tropical city of Cairns. It has a population of 140,000 and is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is home to seven Rotary clubs, with another 12 clubs located in towns to the north, south and west.

900 kilometres west of Townsville and in the outback is Mount Isa, the mining, industrial and commercial centre of Northwest Queensland. There are four Rotary Clubs in this region.