MC Past President Bob Glindemann
Reflection: Past President Adrian Nelson (The transcript is published separately in this Bulletin)
Rotary Melbourne’s final meeting of the Rotary year, its 5,130th meeting, was also the 2026 President’s Changeover Lunch — a fitting occasion to reflect on a year of service, recognise outstanding contributions, welcome a new member, and formally induct Dr Carol Bond as the Club’s 110th President.
President Philip Cornish welcomed members, visiting Rotarians and guests, including District Governor Peter Shepheard and incoming District Governor Graham Hope. A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Vice President’s Encouragement Award — the Axel Award — to Deb Yin Foo. Deb was recognised for more than two decades of dedicated service to Rotary Melbourne, and particularly for her outstanding contribution to membership engagement and development. Her work in following up inquiries, welcoming prospective members, supporting new members and strengthening fellowship has made her a central connecting force within the Club. In response, Deb emphasised that membership growth is a shared responsibility, observing that the more people Rotary Melbourne brings in, the more it can do for the wider community.
The Club also welcomed its newest member, David Chauhan, classified in Business Management Leadership. In his brief response, David spoke strongly of his belief that leadership must be rewired to serve humanity, and that many of the world’s challenges are ultimately leadership challenges.
District Governor Peter Shepheard then acknowledged Rotary Melbourne’s ongoing support for The Rotary Foundation and End Polio, before making a surprise presentation to Mary Barry. Mary received Paul Harris Fellow recognition, becoming a PHF3 Sapphire, in acknowledgement of her district-level work on membership and belonging. Her contribution to helping clubs create stronger cultures of belonging was warmly recognised.
In his final address as President, Philip Cornish reviewed a year of substantial achievement and change. He thanked the Board, office bearers, directorates, committee leaders and members for their service. He highlighted the completion of a new three-year strategic plan, the continuing development of the Club’s Public Benevolent Institution, progress in membership engagement, new cause-based and special interest groups, strengthened communications, environmental initiatives, the MOU with xpand, international links with the Rotary Club of Osaka, community service projects, youth and vocational programs, and Rotary’s long contribution to eliminating endemic trachoma in Australia.
Philip also reflected on Rotary Melbourne’s legacy, including its role in chartering other major Victorian clubs, its links to the Baker Institute, and its continuing connection with the legacy of Sir John Monash. He concluded by recalling why he joined Rotary: to make a difference and deliver.
Dr Carol Bond was then formally inducted as President for 2026–27. Carol thanked Philip for his collegiate and generous leadership and spoke of her recent experience at the Rotary International Convention in Taipei. Inspired by Rotary’s global focus on membership, peace and the final eradication of polio, she invited members to reflect on their own “Rotary why” — the personal story of how Rotary has changed them.
Carol described Rotary as both a builder of projects and a builder of people, creating purpose, belonging and fellowship in a world marked by loneliness and division. She pledged collaborative leadership, a focus on peace as an intentional practice, and a commitment to opening Rotary Melbourne’s work to wider participation.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of Rotary Melbourne’s new promotional video, Beyond the Title, a celebration of Rotary as a place where purpose meets people.
This link will take you to the recording of the meeting.
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