Master of Ceremonies – Peter Davis
Reflection: Past President, Peter Dakin – included later in this bulletin
President Philip welcomed visitors, guests and members to the Club’s 29th meeting of the Rotary year, and the 5112thmeeting on our 105th year.
Philip made special mention of Guest Speaker, our own Professor Jeremy Oats AM and Elena Suprihartono, hosted by Past President Kevin Sheehan, who was the inaugural Cynthia Edgell Gift recipient in 2025. The full list of visitors and guests is appended at the foot of this Bulletin.
President Philip announced the forthcoming visit of Past Rotary International President Rotary Foundation Chair Elect Jennifer Jones for lunch on Wednesday 25 March, where he will address the Club.
Philip also announced details of the Club’s Bushfire Support through Donations In Kind will be finalised by the Board on the evening of 18 February.
Dr Rosemary Nixon, AM, then came to the podium and delivered a light-hearted introduction of Professor Jeremy Oats AM, a Rotary Melbourne member and highly respected and acclaimed Obstetrician as guest speaker.
Jeremy then proceeded to deliver an insightful and evidence-based address examining the growing phenomenon of “free birthing” — where a woman chooses to give birth without the support of a registered midwife or doctor. His remarks were framed by a recent maternal death in Melbourne that has drawn renewed public attention to the risks associated with unsupervised birth.
Providing historical context, Professor Oats noted that while home births were once common, advances in obstetric training, midwifery education and hospital care have significantly improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. Today, around 95% of Australian births occur in hospital settings, with a small proportion of planned home births supported by qualified professionals. Free births, however, remain rare.
He distinguished clearly between supervised home birth and free birthing. International studies show that planned home births for low-risk pregnancies can achieve outcomes comparable to hospital births — but only where skilled midwifery care and rapid hospital transfer are available. Free birthing removes these safeguards.
Professor Oats explored the reasons some women choose this path, including previous traumatic hospital experiences, concerns about medical intervention, and a desire for autonomy. However, he highlighted significant risks where antenatal screening, labour monitoring and emergency response capacity are absent.
He concluded that while maternal choice must be respected, the challenge for maternity services is to improve communication, continuity of care, respect for patient autonomy and post-birth support. Strengthening these areas, he argued, is key to reducing the tragic outcomes sometimes associated with unsupervised birth. Click here to view Jeremy’s address.
After a lively Q&A session, Chair of the Day, Rosemary thanks Jeremy on behalf of all present, and present to legendry Wilderness Wear 200% Australian made socks.
Rosemary closed the meeting, reminding members that our next meeting on 25th February at No 35, Sofitel on Collins, will feature Renewable Energy consultant, Alberto Balbo.
