President Catherine, DG Elect Peter, Rotarians and guests,

I am honoured to have been given this rare privilege to be the President of this remarkable club. A club which has made and continues to make, an impact on the lives of people locally, nationally and internationally.

We have much to live up to and more importantly we still have much to do.

The chosen theme of the new Rotary International year is to “Unite for Good”; we do and we will, both here and around the world.

Even as a trusted brand Rotary, doesn’t get the credit for our efforts, from the global, like the polio campaign, to the local, assisting with shelter. So you all have a job to do, to “like” Rotary Melbourne posts on social media and spread the message in other ways.

And while talking “likes”, a message to my fellow boomers, you’re OK!

I see the club as focusing on the following activities in the coming year;

• It is time to renew and develop a new Strategic Plan for the club for the rest of the twenties. We are at the end of the first quarter of the Century. We find that we are now exist in a CBD with significant hybrid working and shorter weeks. We need to ensure that we remain relevant in the CBD and wider metropolis.
• Membership growth and retention is the key to what we do. This depends on us all. Our fraternity and events remain important to encourage this. We will retain our welcome to all generations. We are proud that our members who span from 24 to 89 years of age.
• Our targeted humanitarian programmes are at the core of what we are about and these reflect the seven pillars of Rotary International. We will continue to support and develop our programmes.
• Rotary Melbourne has established a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) fund registered with the Australian Charities & Not-For-Profit Commission (ACNC). The PBI which will be used to support the projects and causes of Rotary Melbourne. I look forward to working with the established board of the PBI. Our fundraising efforts need to be appropriately targeted to support the PBI programmes and other causes.
• As a club we will look to simplify how we do things. We do seem complex at times. By making it easier to find out about us; join and join in, it should improve member experience. We to need to ensure all members can easily find a niche.

I suspect each President of Rotary Melbourne thinks about how they can contribute to the success of the following President.

I would like to thank President Catherine for doing that for me! I hope to be building on her wonderful legacy with the board and the rest of the club in the coming year. I hope I can continue to seek out Catherine’s counsel and example.

I certainly aim to be working with President Elect Carol Bond to see how we can build on successes from year to year and learn from experimentation in Rotary Melbourne but elsewhere as well. The South Pacific Rotary pilot project is likely to continue in supporting innovation and working on local projects with other Rotarians. I look forward to working with our friends in the District.

And remember, just being a member helps us if you’re having one of those busy corporate years.

I rest easy in the knowledge that there are many wise heads in the way of the world and those of Rotary in the club; especially past presidents whose counsel I seek and which is freely and generously given. I’d like to thank the members of the board and the many leaders in the club for your efforts, it is much appreciated. Thank you to you all. And of course without the support of my wife Debbie and family, including Rachel and Robin who are here, I wouldn’t be able to do this.

Pres. Kennedy was inaugurated in the week I was born. It is now felt that his famous exhortation in his address, saying “do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, couldn’t work today. Politically inadvisable.

And yet we belong to a community, in Rotary Melbourne, that do ask, what we can do for our community; what we can do for our nation and what can we do for the globe. I know we will continue to ask to meet needs.

I know as a third generation Rotarian that my father and grandfather were both exemplars of putting service above self. So thank you for doing so.

I also know that as I take on this important role in the life of the city and rotary more broadly in our 105^th year I join a group of people who want to make a difference. And to you all as members and supporters of this club thank you for whatever you do. We work best when we enjoy ourselves as well.

Here’s to a wonderful Rotary Melbourne year 2025-26.

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