Mrs Jarrett replaced outgoing president Ian Johnston at the club's 63rd changeover dinner on Monday night, but took it all in her stride, having held the top role previously, while a member of the Banbury Cherwell club in England.

"While it is an honour to be the first female president in Kiama, I prefer to think of myself as just another Rotarian, and I really look forward to the upcoming year.

"I am excited that two new board members are ladies, with Anne Doorn taking on Club Service and Administration and Kerry Brennan, Youth, while Heather Morton remains as International Service, and to have four of our 14 female members on the board is fantastic."

Mrs Jarrett served seven years with the Banbury Cherwell, 20 miles north of Oxford, before she and her husband moved to Hobart where she served a further eight years, including four as secretary.

"I can't see me changing things too much in my term because you don't change a winning formula and we have a lovely cohesive club, although we do have two new teams running the Antiques Fair and Festival of Choirs, which will hopefully include more youth."

Outgoing president Ian Johnston wished Mrs Jarrett well.

"For the 2014-2015 Rotary Year, International President Gary Huang chose the theme: Light Up Rotary and we accomplished this literally by lighting up Kiama Lighthouse to celebrate Rotary's 110th Birthday on February 23, 2015," Mrs Johnston said.

"Projects where we shone a light locally included Free Mental Health First Aid Courses for the local community, support for Ronald McDonald House which in turn assists ROMAC, and support for various local youth programs.

"Internationally our primary focus was on Papua-New Guinea and amongst other things we sent a team to Madang to help distribute items sent earlier by shipping container and to renovate the local Scout Hall, provided many Bundled with Love personal hygiene, birthing, sewing and school kits, and shipped medical and school supplies.

"We provided clean-water filtration systems for schools for underprivileged areas in Thailand and continued our long-term commitments to the Rotary International Foundation, End Polio Now campaign and Rotary Oceania Medial Aid for Children."