The meeting was opened by MC Tony Battaini, and the reflection written by Ruth Carlos Martinez was delivered by Trevor Nink.
President Catherine Baxter proposed the loyal toast and after the break for meal service welcomed members and a long list of visitors and guests which can be viewed later in this bulletin.
Past President Adrian Nelson then came to the podium to introduce Dr Sarah Gosper, from Monash University who was then inducted as a Corporate Designee member by President Catherine. In her brief response address Sarah explained that opportunity for Rotary to assist in providing rich vocational experiences for Monash first year undergraduates participating in the University’s Global Immersion program. Learn more about Sarah later in the Bulletin.
President Catherine then reminded members and guests of the opportunity to nominate young people for the Clubs Annual Young Achiever Award. Which is fully explained later in this bulletin. She highlighted the upcoming Picnic in the Park on Wednesday 12 February, (see bulletin article below) and the annual Arts Committee Architectural Walk, led by Barbara Yerondais on Friday 28th February (details also provided later in this bulletin).
After congratulating and confirming acceptance of Honorary membership of the newly elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece, President Catherine invited Robert McGuirk to the podium to introduce Nick for the delivery of his first State of the City address to the Club.
Nick Reece, began by expressing his gratitude for his honorary membership, and shared his impressive background. This includes his service within the Council, business, law, and journalism. He highlighted his significant contributions to men's health through Movember, which he helped to found 20 years ago, land social enterprise via the Big Issue, emphasizing their positive impacts on society.
Nick's vision for Melbourne focuses on making it the best and fairest city in the world, promoting prosperity and inclusivity. He prioritizes city safety, cleanliness, and economic vibrancy, alongside major investments in parks and gardens to enhance Melbourne's green spaces. He also supports ongoing projects like the Greenline to improve public spaces and connectivity.
Nick discussed initiatives to improve city safety through uniformed safety officers and better lighting and conveyed a commitment to making Melbourne accessible to both drivers and cyclists. He assured that while bike lanes would be expanded, it would be done sensibly, addressing bottlenecks and safety issues.
Overall, Nick emphasized his dedication to working hard and collaboratively to ensure Melbourne's growth and prosperity, and in the Q&A following his address confirmed his commitment to completing the Greenline Project which was initiated by former Lord Mayor, Sally Capp.
Nicks address can be viewed here:
or by clicking here
The full meeting recording can be viewed by clicking here.
