When I accepted to take on the role of President at this great club at one minute before midnight last year, I immediately adopted the detailed planning and big ideas that then incoming President Bev Brock had developed over considerable time.

12 months ago, I spoke of dreaming big and bringing those ideas into reality - big ideas, new projects, new events and new volunteer experiences. We have achieved all of these and more.

In the past couple of weeks, we have truly celebrated the achievements of Rotary Melbourne for 2022-23, both at our Vice Presidents Reporting Day where VP Catherine Baxter referred to the 140+ events and activities we have engaged, and our Changeover Lunch on Wednesday.

With our volunteering experiences, our members have been hands-on, whether guiding cyclists Around the Bay, planting trees, assisting at the RIMERN and DIK warehouses, or packing 12,000 disaster relief meals in two hours. What is so pleasing is that our newer, younger and potential members have engaged as volunteers.

Our International Service team led by Carol Bond has engaged in life changing projects in particular across Asia and the South Pacific that have saved lives with water and health advancement, immunising children, crisis response and training, and education.

Our Youth & Vocational Service team led by Iqbal Reta has enabled young people to dream big, with mentoring, leadership and awards.

Incoming President Chris Sotiropoulos has again led the club’s Community Service team,  our work in Community Welfare helping those experiencing homelessness and we raised significant funds via our Christmas Appeal for Rochester Flood Relief. Last Sunday I again spoke with Rochester Rotary President Heather Watson who is still working to determine where our relief will have biggest impact. Our Health & Ageing Committee has also increased the club’s work on mental health, trauma recovery, as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The establishment of Rotary Melbourne PBI is a big deal. It will enable the club to achieve even greater humanitarian service goals, helping us to raise more funds by deductible gift recipient (or DGR) status and be eligible for charity tax concessions.

This year has been our first full Rotary year without lock downs since Melbourne was turned on its head, and we now live differently, work differently and embrace Rotary differently. Our club has started to “Imagine Rotary” in a new light. We aim to hold onto traditions whilst balancing the needs and desires of the modern Rotarian.

Amanda Wendt this year has been our district’s youngest governor, the first under 40, and Rotary Melbourne’s first female District Governor in our 102-year history. It is 47 years since the club’s previous District Governor, Frank Newman in 1975/1976. Amanda has been a special advocate for our club across Victoria.

The Membership team led by Bernie McIntosh continues its focus on attracting new members and engaging our existing members, and providing member care supporting members’ health, family, or life in general.

We especially remember members and friends of the club who we lost over the past 12 months, including Gillian Hibbins, Max Hardman, Cynthia Edgell, Alex Buchanan, Maree Garland and Barbara Read.

Our Club Events and Fundraising teams led by George Giamadakis and our Communications & Partnership teams led by Cas Burr have enabled us to remain a vibrant club. For me personally, I loved having Brad Hodge speak at our lunch prior to the T20 Cricket World Cup with the Consuls General of Pakistan and Sri Lanka asking him curly cricket questions. I loved Professor Andrew Pask telling us how in Jurassic Park-style he would bring the Tasmanian back to life. And I loved Prof Sharon Lewin inspire us at our Thomas Baker Oration.

We’ve held a snooker night, gin tasting, saw Picasso at the NGV, and visited the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute.

It's also been an honour to represent the club at many special events, emphasising the esteem in which our club is held, including the Coronation of King Charles event at Government House and laying a wreath in the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate the Battles of Amiens.

This year we enhanced existing traditions and created new ones. It’s been a pivotal year for our 88 year old Rotary Park which was renamed the Rotary Melbourne Peace Park. With a club picnic and the End Polio Now walk, hundreds if not thousands visited the park throughout the year and it now has its own website celebrating each individual Rotarian commemorated there. The new Rotary Peace Bells – a permanent legacy in Melbourne for Peace, Rotary, and our club in our newly renamed park – are an embodiment of turning dreams into reality. Project leader Rob McGuirk advises me that we now have Rotary Clubs across Australia and the world, from Calgary to Singapore wanting to replicate this iconic initiative to promote peace.

We have also enhanced relationships, such as with the City of Melbourne’s Parks & Gardens team, with whom our spectacular Rotary Melbourne Flower Bed will remain in bloom opposite the Victoria Barracks in St Kilda Road until August.

It’s been a truly international year for our club, and as such, it was delight to present the Wittner Mentor Award to our our club’s ultimate ambassador, Chris Wang. For decades, Chris has engaged with Rotarians around the world and built relationships for our club. This year, we all were able to see the fruits of this internationality.

For a small group of us, this was the special opportunity to travel to Japan to celebrate our sister club in Osaka’s centenary with Chris. For all of us, it was participating in the Rotary International Convention held in Melbourne this May. So many of our members participated in this once-in-a-generation event, including our international cocktail party, the tennis tournament, and plenary sessions at Rod Laver Arena. It was the most outstanding Rotary event in Melbourne in the last 30 years since we last hosted the Convention.

Such events don’t happen by themselves and the convention is a significant achievement of our entire club. At Changeover, Past President Mary Barry received the Forth Bridge Award for her work as Chair of the Host Organising Committee. So many other members have made contributions is so many different ways before, during and after the convention, including the major role in submitting and winning the bid for Melbourne.

My friend Robert Fisher said in his Presidential Valedictory address:

“Everyone says what a privilege it is to assume the Presidency of Rotary Melbourne – and it is – but only when you’ve experienced it for yourself do you realise how others view it; what is expected of you in it; and how necessary it is to respect the history and past achievements of our great Club while honouring the role of President.”

I have been fortunate to have many special experiences in Rotary, but none more so than being President of this Club. The Rotary Club of Melbourne is like no other club in Australia and I thank all of our members for making it so. Rotary is about the people.

I especially wish to thank and acknowledge the leadership and wisdom of our Club Executive Committee where so much happens behind the scenes. Thank you to John, Catherine, Peter, Chris and Sumeer.

With our Club Changeover complete, tomorrow we officially commence the new Rotary year led by an outstanding man and Rotarian Chris Sotiropoulos. It has been special to work so closely with Chris over the last 12 months, and I can’t wait to see his skills and expertise used to further benefit our club.

Thank you all for your support. Thank you to our members, to our friends, to our families. To you all, keep up your marvellous work and continue to ‘Imagine Rotary’ and more big ideas for the Rotary Club of Melbourne!

Yours in Rotary,
President Adrian

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