Bill served as President of Rotary International during the 2006-2007 Rotary year. His dedication to Rotary spanned over three decades, during which he held numerous significant roles, including: 

• Rotary Foundation Regional Coordinator for Australia and New Zealand (1989-1991) 

• Chair of the Regional Magazine Editors Conference (1992 and two subsequent occasions) 

• Member and later Chairperson of the Rotary International Communications Committee (from 1993) 

• Rotary International Director (1998-2000), serving as Treasurer in 1999-2000 

• Trustee of the Rotary Foundation (2008-2012), serving as Chairperson in 2011-2012 

• Chair of the Branding Committee (2012-2014) 

• Chair of the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (2012-2018) 

• Chair of the Peace Programmes Overview Committee (2018-2019)   

In recognition of his outstanding service, Bill received the Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and Citation for Meritorious Service, as well as a Distinguished Service Award from Rotary Down Under. He was honoured with the Queen's Service Order for Community Service in the 2007 New Zealand New Year’s Honours List and was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013. Both Bill and Lorna were awarded the Royce and Jean Abbey Foundation award in 2024. A dedicated Rotarian, Bill was also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.   

Beyond his professional achievements, Bill was a cherished member of the Pakuranga Rotary Club, where he returned in 2019 after concluding his international service. His wife, Lorna, was a steadfast partner throughout his Rotary journey, contributing significantly to various initiatives and sharing her extensive Rotary knowledge.