MC: Peter Davis
Reflection: Barbara Yerondais - Transcript later in this bulletin
Guests and Visiting Rotarians: Details appear later in this bulletin
After welcoming members and guests, President Philip Cornish outlined a membership-focused meeting featuring: Dr Dimitrios Salampasis on Davos 2026; Past President Mary Barry on the “For a Meal” volunteering program; Patricia Matuschka reflecting on her first year of membership; and Past President Reg Smith with an update on the Melbourne Arboretum, where he serves as Board Chair.
For a Meal – Volunteering Opportunity
Past President Mary Barry invited members to participate in the upcoming “For a Meal” event—an initiative established in 2017 by the Rotary Club of Canterbury to provide emergency meals for communities affected by disasters across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
More than 3,000 volunteers from 36 Rotary clubs have contributed to producing around 150,000 meals. Rotary Melbourne has been actively involved since 2023, partnering with RMIT to deliver three events and pack over 30,000 meals.
The next event will be held on Wednesday 23 April at RMIT’s Swanston Street campus, with a target of 10,000 meals. Volunteers work in teams across a 90-minute, hands-on session. Beyond humanitarian impact, the program engages younger participants and showcases Rotary in action. Thanks were extended to Yidan Xi for her coordination, and members were encouraged to register.
President Philip also acknowledged Colin Honey following recent health challenges and congratulated Mary Barry and Deb Yin Foo on the successful Horsham Conference road trip. The multi-district summit, attended by 400 Rotarians, was particularly meaningful given the region’s recent bushfire hardships. He then called on President Elect Dr Carol Bond to take over the meeting as Chair.
Melbourne Arboretum Update – Reg Smith
Carol began by introducing Past President Reg Smith who outlined significant progress in the Melbourne Arboretum following approval of its Development Plan by the City of Whittlesea in January. This milestone has shifted the project from planning to delivery, creating urgency and momentum.
The Arboretum will be a 58-hectare native landscape in Melbourne’s rapidly growing northern corridor—an area under pressure from dense development. Focused on Australian flora, especially eucalypts, it will serve as a centre for ecological restoration, education, research, and community connection. At twice the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, it represents a major long-term environmental and social asset.
Founders have invested nearly $2 million, enabling 3,000 trees to be planted, six forest zones established, and extensive soil rehabilitation nearing completion. A long-term ecological management plan is in place.
The project now enters a pivotal phase, with priority on enabling infrastructure—roads, power, water, and basic visitor facilities—without which public access, education, and investment cannot be unlocked. This early infrastructure is critical to attracting philanthropic and corporate support.
Looking ahead, the Arboretum aims to develop a scalable ecological stewardship model for broader application across Victoria. Engagement with government, universities, and partners is progressing well. Reg concluded by highlighting Rotary’s role and framing the project as an expression of building a more connected, sustainable society.
Member Behind the Badge – Patricia (Tita) Matuschka
Carol thanked Reg and introduced Patricia (Tita) Matuschka who reflected on her first weeks as a Rotary Melbourne member, expressing appreciation for the Club’s warmth and inclusiveness. Originally intending a short stay in Melbourne, she now divides her time between Australia and Germany.
An academic researcher specialising in SMEs, Tita studies their role in economic systems, access to finance, digitalisation, and regional challenges. Her international work brings valuable comparative insights.
Despite frequent travel, she has actively engaged in Club initiatives. Her first experience was with “For a Meal,” where she connected with students and gained new perspectives outside the classroom. She has since joined the Young Achievers Award program, contributing to candidate interviews—an experience she finds particularly meaningful given her own academic journey.
More recently, Tita has joined the bulletin team, enabling her to contribute remotely. She noted the importance of strong communication and digital tools in supporting active participation. She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to contributing to the Club.
Davos 26 Insights – Dr Dimitrios Salampasis
After congratulating Tita, Carol introduced Dr Dimitrios Salampasis, Associate Professor at Swinburne University of Technology, who brings global expertise across academia, industry, and policy. His work spans FinTech, emerging technologies, and geopolitical analysis, supported by international fellowships and contributions to organisations including the World Economic Forum.
Reflecting on his experience at Davos 2026, Dimitrios described it as a unique global convening operating across two tiers: high-level political leadership and a broader ecosystem of parallel events where much of the practical exchange occurs. He noted the relatively limited Australian presence.
Key themes included declining trust in institutions and the need for adaptive, accountable systems; economic uncertainty and modest global growth; and the central role of innovation in driving productivity.
Artificial intelligence was a dominant focus, particularly its impact on industries, jobs, and governance. Dimitrios highlighted the importance of “AI sovereignty” and “data sovereignty,” advocating for frameworks balancing global collaboration with accountability and societal values.
Climate and sustainability were also central, with growing recognition of environmental risks and the opportunity for “nature-positive” economic models.
Dimitrios also explored emerging themes such as ethical technology, human rights, and trauma-informed innovation. He emphasised the accessibility of Davos, where meaningful exchanges with global leaders, academics, and innovators are possible.
He concluded that participation in forums like Davos builds credibility, strengthens global networks, and enables thought leadership—bringing valuable insights back to local contexts. A lively Q&A session then followed.
President Elect Carol closed the meeting, noting the next luncheon on 15 April at No.35 featuring Charlie Thomas, CEO of the Victorian Farmers Federation. She also extended best wishes to members observing Passover and Easter.
You can view the video recording of this meeting by clicking here.
Please note that technical issues prevented complete recording of the video content, but the audio is fine.
